Page 42 of The Reading

Everything was falling in line, except for one little problem…

Madam Brousseau.

“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, ignoring how my lady bits were telling me to shut up and just jump him already. “Is it sex only, or…I mean, won’t Mr. Thompson frown upon you dating one of your employees?”

“Maybe,” he admitted. “However, the bank doesn’t have a no-fraternizing policy, so he can object, but it’s not anything that he can fire either of us for.”

“I have another question.”

“Shoot.”

“Aren’t you worried about my intentions?”

His head jerked back, and it looked like he was trying not to laugh. “Your intentions?”

“Yeah,” I said seriously. “If we do this, how will you ever know that I’m not just with you because of my belief in Madam Brousseau’s prediction? Maybe I’m just settling for you because I can’t think of any other man in my life that might be a possibility. Have you considered that?”

Since I’d been home for a while, I had changed out of my work clothes and had thrown on a green tank-top, a pair of cut-off jean shorts, and some of those patient socks that had the grip on the bottom. Rachel was always giving us pairs. So, when Ethan’s hand reached out, hooked a finger around one of my belt loops, then yanked me towards him, I almost climbed him like a spider monkey. That move was so freakin’ sexy, and with or without Madam Brousseau in the picture, it’s been a while.

A long while.

“How about you let me kiss you?” he suggested. “And if you don’t feel what I’m feeling all the way down to your toes, then I’ll go back to being your boss, and you’ll go back to being my employee. No harm, no foul.”

Being pressed up against his hard body was making it hard to concentrate. I could feel the warmth of his body heat touching places that hadn’t been touched in months. Plus, those blue eyes of his were hypnotizing when you were this close up. When the pupils were blown with desire, even more so.

“You’re…you’re not…not worried about the prediction?” I stammered like a tool.

“I think you’re overestimating my character, Hattie,” he answered, his voice low, rough, and sexy as hell. “There’s nothing noble about the way that I want you. Even if you are only with me because of that stupid prediction, as long as you’re with me, I don’t care. That’s how badly I want you, baby.”

Baby.

That damn word.

The one word that had the power to make me stupid.

“Prove it,” I whispered, wondering how I’d never notice that look in his eyes before.

“‘You ladies simply have to only open your eyes to see what’s right in front of you. To see what’salwaysbeen right in front of you.’”

Well, my eyes were opened now, that’s for sure.

Letting go of the belt loop that he’d been holding me hostage with,Ethan’s hands came up to cradle my face, and a tingle danced down my spine, making me craze for what was next. I couldn’t remember ever feeling so excited for a damn kiss before.

Ever.

When Ethan’s lips touched mine, a small whimper escaped as I opened my mouth to welcome him inside. The second that his tongue snaked out to play with mine, my hands grabbed onto the fabric of his suit jacket, and I held on for dear life.

Christ, the man could kiss.

Ethan deepened the kiss, and I swear I could hear an angel’s chorus in my vagina. My hands slid up his chest, then anchored around his neck, possibly determined to never let him go again. Luckily for me, as soon as my arms locked around his neck, Ethan let out a deep groan, his hands sliding up to fist in my hair. The kiss got hotter, wetter, and more desperate as I tried climbing the man like he was the sexiest monkey bars on the playground.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I broke off the kiss. “My bedroom’s just down the hall,” I panted.

“Thank fucking Christ,” he panted back.

Chapter 5

Hattie~

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