Ethan holds my stare, his eyes whispering poetry I can feel. The awe, the passion, the aching want.

“I’m clear too. And I’m on the pill.”

His eyes flare and his tip dips inside me. My muscles tense up—nerves and anticipation loading my senses.

My first time—it’s significant.

For me and for him.

“Are you sure?” I ask, knowing this is going against his vow to my brother, which he takes seriously.

“I don’t think I can ever stay away from you, Lexy. I was a lost cause the moment I read your first entry.” He presses a soft kiss on my lips. “Maybe I’ll rot in hell for this. Liam will definitely kill me when he finds out, but…I can’t deny this anymore. I’m going out of my fucking mind trying to stay away from you.”

There’s a determined glint in his eyes, a surety in his voice. “It’s always been you, Nova. If my world burned around me, the only thing I’d want to save, the only person I’d want by my side…would be you.”

Tears spring into my eyes and I return his heartfelt words with a wobbly smile.

He chose me.

His face blurs in my vision as he leans in and kisses my tears away. Then, he trails his lips down my neck, suckling my throat before moving to my collarbone, then to my breast.

“So fucking beautiful,” he whispers reverently, then captures a nipple into his mouth.

Fireworks light behind my eyes, each dragging pull from his lips a direct pinch to my clit. His tongue alternates from sensual swipes to teasing flicks, which, combining with his tip inside me, are sending me off into the stratosphere.

He chases away the remaining nervousness inside me, leaving me starving for more.

I gyrate my hips, urging him on.

Wetness seeps out of me as he quickens his shallow thrusts, his cock dragging over my clit, my swollen folds, to my entrance, teasing it, before gliding back up.

Torture. I’m going to die from torture.

He works my other breast while his finger grazes my clit.

“Ethan!” I nearly careen off the bed when he pinches the swollen nub to the rhythm of his thrusting. The opening of my pussy pulses, wetness seeping out. “I need you. P-Please!”

He grunts, his breathing sounding heavier with each passing second. Then, he once again perches his thick tip at my opening.

Holding my hands, he stares into my eyes. “You sure?”

I nod. “Yes. A million times. Yes.”I’ve never been more sure of anything.

He thrusts in with one stroke.

I cry out as a sharp pain spears through me, stealing my breath. Ethan freezes, his muscles coiling with tension.

Shocked eyes meet mine as tears roll down my face. “Y-You…You’re…”

He’s at a loss for words.

Smiling, I lift my head and kiss him softly. “A virgin. Yes.”

A strangled growl rumbles in his throat, his cock twitching inside me.

He likes that he’s my first.I like that he’s my first.

“How? Your ex…how?”