Page 64 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

Dean shook his head like he was working out an advanced calculus problem. “Seriously?” When neither Laney nor Ethan answered, he threw his hands up, storming away. “What the actual fuck?”

She didn’t move for a few seconds, a deer caught in headlights, but Ethan shrugged, a nonchalant smile curling his lips. “Could’ve been worse.”

She fell back on the bed, too embarrassed and overwhelmed to do anything else. No, it wasn’t the worst thing to happen to her, but it ranked pretty high on things she would rather not have happened. She was about to close her eyes and abandon the start of the day, but then Ethan dropped the pillow, and she was once again treated to the sight that was Ethan Marrero.

The guy was a golden god, and he didn’t even know it. He was lean yet cut in all the best places, with broad shoulders and a tapered waist. He bent down, the muscles in his back bunching when he grabbed his clothes from the floor, and stepped into his underwear then jeans, covering up his solid thighs sprinkled with dark hair.

That was when he caught her staring. Leaving his fly open, he strutted over to her and wrapped his hands around her arms, pulling her to stand up in front of him. He gently held her face between his palms and smoothed his thumbs over her cheeks before kissing her sweetly. As if he still needed to persuade her.

He didn’t. She’d lost the war, waved the white flag, and enthusiastically yielded to him. He dragged the tip of his nose along her temple then buried it in her hair. His chest rose and fell on a deep breath. “You smell good in the morning.”

She pressed up on her toes to align their bodies and kissed his neck, fanning her words out against his skin. “Youfeelgood in the morning.”

“My plan for my morning with you was very different. It involved way more of you naked and way less of your brother.”

As quickly as her desire bubbled to the surface was as quickly as it fizzled out at the mention of Dean.

“Do you think he’s really mad about us?” she asked, frowning.

Ethan untangled his hands from her hair. “It’ll be all right,” he said. “We’ll work it out, but first, you have to get dressed.”

He kissed her once more then dropped the sheet from her shoulders, exposing her body to him. His leering smile conveyed he’d rather be doing other things besides putting clothes on, yet he snatched his T-shirt from the floor and lifted his chin, in a silent order to raise her arms. When she did, he pulled the shirt over her head, but not before his fingers traced over the sides of her breasts and rib cage. Following the edge of the shirt, he caressed her hips and down to her backside, squeezing hard enough to pry a squeak out of her.

“Pants?” he asked with a tap to her thigh.

“Bottom drawer.” She motioned toward the dresser, and he dug through until he found a pair of gray sweats. He held them out for her to step into, and once she was fully dressed, he finally kissed her neck. The process of him dressing her was almost—almost—as good as him undressing her.

He finished buttoning up his pants then covered up his top half with his hoodie, zipping it up. After his socks and shoes were on, he gathered up his wallet, cell phone, and keys, then grabbed her hand. She must have looked nervous because he kissed her palm. “Don’t worry.”

But she was worried. She worried this would affect his friendship with Dean, not to mention her relationship with her brother. She still wasn’t sure what this thing was between her and Ethan, and she didn’t know what to tell Dean besides the fact that they’d had mind-altering sex last night. Though she didn’t think she should lead with that.

Ethan followed Laney into the kitchen, where Dean waited on the brewing coffeepot.

“Hey,” she said.

Dean didn’t answer, but his fingers did ball up into fists on the countertop.

“Can we talk, man?” Ethan asked, coming to stand in front of Laney.

She peeked around his shoulder in time to see Dean pivot away from the counter. His eyes narrowed on Ethan, even though his voice remained casual. “Sure, about what? How you fucked my sister?”

“Dean! You—”

“Hey. Whoa, whoa.” Ethan interrupted them. “It’s not like that. I understand you’re angry, but this wasn’t some flippant decision. This wasn’t a one-night stand.”

“Then what is it?”

Ethan stuck his hands on his hips, most likely trying to find words, and Laney took the opportunity to answer for him. “It’s a long time coming.”

Dean scratched at his jaw. “What do you mean? How long?”

“Since high school,” she admitted, stepping up to Ethan’s side. “We have history since high school.”

“I knew it! You were always sneaking off, talking to each other real quiet and secretive.” Dean thrust his fist in the air. “I knew it.”

He seemed almost victorious, and Laney glanced over at Ethan, gobsmacked.

“You’re not mad?” Ethan asked.

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