Page 83 of A Certain Step
She raised her head, looking him in the eyes to confirm that she remembered.
“I was so sure that you’d figure out I liked you afterward. I had convinced myself that things would be weird. I kept having to remind myself not to end the call with three words—not to let them accidentally slip.” He lingered, tracing his fingers along her cheeks. “But now? I know we’re taking things slow, but I’m so deeply and irrevocably in love with you, Willa. I’m sure I loved you from the moment I heard you laugh. And every second we’ve spent together has only ever multiplied those feelings. Sometimes, I feel like I could explode—like, I don’t know how to contain the magnitude of my love for you.”
In stunned silence, Willa held his gaze. Her expression was soft and warm, brimming with what he gathered was fear and hope simultaneously.
And then she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding onto him for dear life. A muffled Ethan left her lips but nothing else for a few seconds. He brought her body as close as humanly possible from the position they’d been sitting in.
“I do remember that day. Often, actually, and when I used to think of it before we got together, I had to mentally stop myself from falling for you. But I love you, too, Ethan. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever find what we have. You’re the closest thing to real-life magic.”
“Do you love me more than treehouses?” he asked, eyes widened, a smirk rising along his mouth.
Dramatically, Willa cocked a brow. “Know your place, babe,” she deadpanned.
Ethan guffawed, tipping her over, he pressed his lips to her neck. She let out a low giggle and ran her fingers through his hair.
“I’ve got fifty years to convince you that I’m better.”
“What are you going to do, dump me at eighty-four?” she joked.
His hands drew lower to her thigh, and he squeezed. “No, I’ll die of sadness instead.”
She let out a loud laugh and kissed his lips with searing passion. “I love you more than treehouses,” she whispered.
“Thank fuck.” Ethan pulled her back over his lap where they stayed for a while, mouths pressed to each other.
27
ETHAN
Willa skipped to his side after the curtain call and nestled herself in the crook of his arm. He’d never get used to this—her nearness, her excitement. It’d been a month since the cast found out about their relationship. He and Willa had been closer than ever, together more often than they weren’t. No more hiding. Out in the open, at least here in the theatre.
Most of the cast had plans to go to Sam’s show tonight, and Ethan looked forward to it, missing putting on solo concerts more than he thought.
Willa followed him into his dressing room where he was struggling not to gape at her. She was back in the emerald bodysuit, the verdant hues bringing out the gold in her beguiling brown eyes. He wanted desperately to pick her up, set her down on his vanity, and kiss her senselessly until her cheeks reddened into the same color as the crimson on her lips.
She’d said she didn’t want him to tiptoe around her, but he knew she wouldn’t be ready for some of the things he wanted.
He let his hands trail to her hips, steadying her, holding her gaze. Willa wrapped her arms around his neck. “You look like you’re plotting something,” she remarked.
“I am,” he drawled. “I want to pick you up and set you down on the vanity, then kiss you until you beg me to stop.”
A sly smirk landed on her lips. “Let me take off my makeup and change, and then I’m all yours.”
“I want you in that costume.”
“Do you also want to explain to Marla that you’re responsible for a jewel loosening or a tear somewhere?”
She had a point.Dammit. He was sure he was openly frowning. “No.”
“Then I’ll be back,” she noted.
Ethan burrowed his face into her neck and sighed. “Okay.”
Willa came backto his room a few minutes later, makeup off, black fitted cropped top on, and denim jeans hugging her hips. He lifted her onto the counter and drew his hands to cup her ass. Her legs enclosed around him, and he groaned with need, heat pulsing through his bloodstream. Christ, this was a bad idea.
She kissed him hard and fast, her fingers raking through his hair with recurring strokes. He wasn’t sure of many things in life, but he knew that the moment he had more of Willa, he’d savor every second with her—preserve every curve of her body and the sounds she made into a sanctified space in his mind.
“Come to my place after you’ve showered, and we could go together. Your outfit is perfectly fine. You should wear it tonight,” she added.
