Page 46 of The Paris Chapter

We both smiled at one another. I realised we had spent the past five days in forced proximity in this apartment but now we’d be staying apart, we were choosing to spend time together. Carly’s words and the message from Joe faded away a little bit.

‘So, are you ready for me to beat you again?’ I asked, gesturing to the chessboard.

‘Fighting talk, Tessa?’

‘Always when it comes to board games,’ I replied with a smile.

‘Where does this competitive streak come from?’ He raised an eyebrow.

I considered that as he gestured for me to make the first move. I moved a pawn. ‘I’ve always played games with my family and I think they helped my overthinking. I can just concentrate on what I’m playing; my brain focuses on that and not on other things. Like right now, you’re watching me but I have tunnel vision for the game.’

Ethan moved a pawn too. ‘Oh, so I will never be able to distract you?’

I glanced up with a smile. ‘You can try.’ I quickly looked back at the board and took one of his pawns.

‘So, not even talking about what we did earlier could distract you?’ Ethan asked as he took his turn.

‘What happened earlier?’ I teased him as I moved my knight and took another pawn from him. I had a sip of my wine and glanced at him.

Ethan was frowning at the chessboard, and at my question, he looked up. ‘You can’t fool me. You want more.’

I hesitated as he made the move I was expecting. I tried not to show that. ‘Do you want more?’ I asked nervously.

‘How could I not?’ he asked with surprise.

His answer did take me away from the game for a moment. I was confused by how quickly he had reassured me. I wasn’t used to that. It made me feel good. I tried not to think about what Carly had said about linking my worth to men. I wanted to just enjoy tonight.

Ethan moved his queen and I tried not to react as he made the move I had been hoping for. I moved my queen into the perfect position. And then I smiled. ‘Checkmate.’

‘What?’ he asked, startled. He leaned closer and looked. Then groaned.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, you’re not,’ he replied.

‘Not even a little bit.’

Ethan sighed. ‘I will beat you one day, Elliot.’

‘I look forward to it, Taylor.’

‘Seriously, how are you beating me so easily?’

‘Your moves are easy to anticipate, Ethan,’ I replied with a shrug.

‘They are? Shit. I need to work on that then, don’t I?’ Ethan got up then and left the sofa to join me on the floor, startling me. I looked into those blue eyes of his and felt like I was in trouble.

‘What move are you anticipating now, Tessa?’

20

‘Surprise me,’ I said boldly.

Ethan looked taken aback for a fleeting moment but then he grinned and leaned in, putting a hand up to touch the back of my hair and draw me towards him.

I expected Ethan’s lips to meet mine hungrily but he kissed me gently, moving slowly and softly, planting small kisses on my lips with his. I let out a whimper.

‘God, that sound,’ Ethan said, breaking away to look at me, his eyes darkening. ‘I really like kissing you.’

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