Page 76 of Sliding Into Love
“Morning,” he said, brushing his lips over hers with a grin before lightly flicking his tongue out and walking away. He knew what she was thinking, and he wasteasingher, damn it. And since she was looking, she noticed he’d changed out of his shorts into gray sweatpants, and seriously, was so much flexing required to retrieve a mug from a cupboard?
Two could play his game.
“You good for a few minutes? I need to get dressed.”
“Hmm? Yeah, go ahead.” He was distracted; Janna had latched onto his arm, trying to pull him to the stove to cook for them.
Ivy dressed faster than she ever had in her life. She chose her white shorts, knowing they set off her tanned legs, and a soft black tee loose enough to hang off one shoulder and gap open if she leanedjust so.And she conveniently forgot to put a bra underneath.
Then, when she emerged, she made sure to stretch and arch her back to reach the milk in the refrigerator and to stay doubled over longer than necessary when searching through the bottom drawer. She knew her plan had worked because there was a crash and a curse from Ethan’s direction. Smirking, she sauntered over to him and bumped him with a hip to move him away from the sink to unnecessarily wash her hands, then she leaned past him to grab a towel, and his breathing hitched.
“Ivy,” he growled low in her ear, drawing out her name, the syllables a caress against her skin. “If you don’t stop, the first time I fuck you will not be what I had planned, and it’ll just be me throwing you over my shoulder and bending you over the bed like a caveman. And you don’t want that, do you?”
Ivy did. She really fucking did.
“Plans?” she deflected.
“Rose petals and candles and wine and shit.”
“Ethan?” She hooked her fingers into his pockets and pulled him forward.
“Yeah?” Ethan’s eyes were dark from where he towered above her.
She put her face against his neck, tracing her tongue along a vein, and canted her hips into his.
“You owe the swear jar. Double.” Then she laughed, ducked under his arms, and ran away.
Eventually, they’d both calmed down enough for Ethan to convince the kids he would cook for them the next time he stayed over, and they settled for cereal instead.
“So, we’re playing at home for the next few days. It’ll be my first game back. Will you be there?” Ethan asked, dumping more Froot Loops into his bowl.
“Yes!” Jase yelled before Ivy answered.
“Do you want us to come?” Ivy asked, poking her spoon into the sugary dregs of her cereal.
“I always want you to come, Ivy.” Ethan’s voice lowered, and a flush crept up her chest. He chuckled. “I mean, of course, I’d like for you to be there.”
Somehow Harkness tricked me into telling her you’ll be at the game. And if Harkness knows, my mom knows. Which means she’ll probably be there too.
OMG I’ve never hung out with someone’s mom before??
It’s just my mom. It’s no big deal.
Just his mom,Ivy thought, scoffing.No big deal.Right. Laura Lorne had been so lovely and put together. And she was…not. Ivy had no clue what to talk about if she tried to start a conversation. If they’d even come in contact.
Ugh.
Not to mention she’d never met the parents of a man she’d dated, particularly under such awkward circumstances. Even if the word ‘dating’ seemed anticlimactic for what they were doing.
And Ivy was spiraling.
I’ve never met parents before, much less hung out with them.
I don’t know what to do!
She’s just a person.
SHE IS NOT JUST A PERSON ETHAN SHE IS YOUR MOTHER
