“You ask questions, like in truth or dare, but if you don’t want to answer the question then you take a shot. So the point is to try to ask things people are going to be too embarrassed to answer so that everyone ends up drunk.”
Well at least I’ll be trashed.
“I’ll go first,” Remy volunteers enthusiastically. “Ethan, my question to you is...how is Abby in bed?”
I can’t help but roll my eyes. Ethan chuckles and takes a shot without answering. Huh, that was kind of pointedly tight lipped. He could have easily just said we’ve never had sex. Not answering implies we have.
“Now it’s your turn to ask someone a question,” Nikki prompts Ethan.
“Okay, Abby what’s your favorite color?” He asks me.
I roll my eyes yet again.
“No need to go easy on me,” I chastise. “It’s blue.”
“I’m not going easy on you. I figured you’re going to end up plenty wasted anyway, no need to rush it.” I shove his shoulder playfully.
Several rounds later we’re all feeling decently tipsy and the questions are getting a lot more interesting.
“Nikki,” I slur slightly. “Is Lee a good kisser?” I ask exuberantly.
Lee looks mortified and Nikki winks at her before taking a shot. I squeal at the implication and Lee kicks me under the table.
I go to the bathroom and by the time I get back Remy is sending a predatory grin my direction.
“Ethan,” She doesn’t take her eyes off me as she directs her question at him. “How many women have you fucked in the last month?”
My stomach churns and I hope he just takes the shot, I don’t even want to know. We’ve been hanging out for a little over a month now, so the last thing I needed to know is how many women he’s had in his bed right after leaving me on the couch at night. Not that what we’re doing is romantic, or that he owes me anything.
“None,” He says easily.
My stomach jumps and Lee gives him an incredulous look.
“Don’t lie, just take the shot if you don’t want to answer,” Nikki scolds slurring her words.
“I’m not lying. The last time was August 23rd which was six weeks ago.”
The fact that August 23rd is the day we met doesn’t escape me. What the hell? Is that a coincidence? Why hasn’t he been hooking up with women like usual?
“Why?” Lee asks looking suspiciously between the two of us.
“Nope, it’s my turn to ask a question,” Ethan says evasively.
It’s not long before the room is spinning too much for me to stay at the table any longer.
“Bed time,” I announce before stumbling down the hallway towards my room. I hear someone behind me the entire way.
“Let me tuck you in,” His warm breath tickles the back of my neck. Goose bumps erupt all over me and I have the crazy urge to lean back into him.
“Lay with me?” I ask hopefully.
“Of course. But, I hope you realize they’re all going to think we’re riding the hobby horse,” He warns with a chuckle.
“First of all, they already think that. And B, nice Breakfast Club reference, that’s a great movie.”
“Okay, time to sleep drunky,” He instructs as he slides into the bed and pulls me against him so that we’re spooning.
“Why haven’t you?” I suddenly ask.
“Why haven’t I what?” He mumbles sleepily against my back.
“Had sex with anyone since we’ve met,” I clarify. Maybe I’m being presumptuous and it has absolutely nothing to do with me.
“I tried a few times and I couldn’t get into it. All I could think about was you, it didn’t feel right.”
“How is that even possible for you to have gone this long without sex?” I ask incredulously.
“Honestly?” He lets out a short laugh. “My right hand and my cock have gotten extremely well acquainted.”
I turn his words over in my head for several minutes, trying to understand their meaning. I roll towards him and bury my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his masculine scent. A tingle runs through my body and settles between my legs.
“Do you ever think about me?” I ask quietly, not quite sure I want to know the answer. Although the idea of him touching himself and thinking about me is pretty fucking hot.
“Every god damn time,” He growls pulling me close, his breath tickles my ear.
Maybe it’s the booze but before I can stop myself I run my tongue along his pulse point. A deep grumble comes from his chest and he whispers my name like a mixture between a prayer and a curse. I do it again and I feel him harden against my thigh. The tingling between my legs becomes a full blown ache. I feel like I might drown in my desire for him.
“Abby, you have to stop,” He chokes desperately.
His words light another kind of fire in me. He’s obviously aroused, but instead of forcing himself on me and taking his pleasure, he’s trying to slow things down.
“Why?” I ask in a seductive tone that I hadn’t even known I was capable of.
I run my tongue along his bottom lip this time, dying to taste him. I nip along the seam of his lips and he parts them to let my tongue in. He tastes like cherry vodka and man. I part my legs, wrapping myself around him, and grind my throbbing center against his hard on. He moans into my mouth and entwines our tongues.
“Ethan, I want you so badly,” I whisper against his neck.
My panties are soaked and my body is tingling as I press against his hard cock again and moan. Ethan’s strong hands find their way to my ass and he grips me tightly with a groan.
“My god your ass is a work of art.”
My shaking hands reach for the waistband of his boxers and I reach inside to stroke him. Holy god he is so thick and hard. The throbbing between my thighs intensifies as I imagine what it would feel like for him to thrust inside of me.
Even though I’ve never had an orgasm it certainly feels like it might not take much for Ethan to get me there at this point.
“Please touch me,” I beg as I clumsily stroke his cock. He groans with appreciation.
“Dammit, I’m trying to be a good guy here but you’re making it extremely difficult.”
“Please, I want you.” I reach my other hand under his shirt and run my fingers along his deliciously defined muscles. “Don’t you want me?”
“Sweetheart, you have no fucking clue how badly I want you.” He places a gentle kiss on my forehead and eases himself away from me with a sigh. “But you are too drunk. If you still want me in the sober light of day tomorrow then believe me I will be on you like a fat kid on a cupcake.”
I can’t help but laugh at the image. I roll back the other way so that we’re spooning again and I feel his lips softly against the back of my neck before he whispers 'goodnight'.
Chapter 14
Ethan
Fuck my life. I swear to Christ there must be something wrong with me. Abby throws herself at me but instead of taking her up on her offer I tell her to go to sleep. Now I’m lying here surrounded by her amazing scent of apples and cinnamon, with her perfect ass pressed right against my throbbing erection, and she’s fast asleep. I did the right thing, dammit. The last thing I wanted was for her to wake up in the morning and hate me for having taken advantage of her.
The question plaguing my mind, and maybe it’s is all Asher’s fault, is ‘why?’. I’ve never had any qualms about getting down with a drunk chick before, especially when they’re making it clear that they’re dying for my cock the way Abby was. So, why in the hell did I turn Abby down when I haven’t been able to even think of another woman in over a month? The answer is obvious, but I really don’t want to examine it. What I want, right now, is to deal with the situation keeping me awake. I gently slide away from Abby and off of the bed. I wait a second to make sure I didn’t wake her. She’s snoring quietly and my heart gives a little stutter. I could get used to sleeping next to her. Fuck, so not going there right now.
There’s a li
ght shining out from under the bathroom door so I wait and try to adjust my hard on so that Lee doesn’t get an unwanted eyeful. The bathroom door opens and I’m surprised to see that it isn’t Lee.
“Ethan,” Remy purrs with surprise as her eyes fall on me. She looks me over and her gaze stops on my erection. “Looks like you could use a hand with that.”
My cock twitches at the offer. Maybe I should drown in meaningless sex like I always do. It’s safer that way, no one ever gets hurt. But, for some reason it just doesn’t sound as appealing as it always has in the past. I could fuck Remy now: it would be uncomplicated and it would feel good. But then what? Even though we’re just friends I get the distinct impression that I have one shot with Abby and if I were to do this with Remy that would be it. Abby would make sure I never got out of the friend zone. I would go back to meaningless sex every day but then I wouldn’t have anyone to text when I think of something funny, or to make me dinner, or to watch nerdy shows and do cosplay with. Holy fuck, I do want Abby to be my girlfriend.
“No, thanks,” I answer gruffly before edging past her to get to the bathroom.
I grasp my still hard cock and stroke rhythmically as I think of Abby. It’s become a habit lately, I never think of anyone but her. I picture her splayed on her bed with her legs spread wide, inviting me to touch her. I imagine how she would moan and writhe as I devour her with my tongue, sucking her until she comes in my mouth while screaming my name. Pleasure shoots through me and my cock pulses with relief.
Abby’s still asleep when I get back so I quietly climb back under the covers and pull her against me again. This time I don’t try to ignore the feelings swirling through me. I’m falling hard for this girl.
Abby
A sick feeling swirls in my stomach as soon as I open my eyes. I don’t think it has anything to do with the numerous shots of cherry vodka I had last night either. Okay, maybe it has a little to do with that. But, it has more to do with a shirtless Ethan fast asleep with his arm draped over me.
I made such a damn fool of myself last night. I was too drunk and so caught up in the things he was saying that I threw myself at him like an idiot. I was no better than Remy trying to seduce him. I had thought when I overheard him turning her down that meant maybe he had feelings for me. Then the whole thing came to light that he hasn’t had sex with anyone since we met. I don’t even know how to feel about all of the information I gained last night.
I was ecstatic last night. There had been these insane images of the two of us in some sort of exclusive relationship dancing in my head. But, he was right, in the sober light of day I can see how crazy that is.
He told me before, he doesn’t believe in love and he doesn’t believe in relationships. Not to mention the last thing that I need in my life is a relationship. I swore to myself last year there was no way I would put myself back in a situation where a man could hurt me. Sure, Ethan seems perfect now, but so had Justin. That’s not even going into the other thing, the thing that makes me unworthy of a relationship even if I did want one.
I quietly extricate myself from his arms and silently flee to the bathroom, pausing just long enough to snatch a tee-shirt and clean underwear off of my floor. I make quick work of making myself semi-presentable to leave the house and then take off before Ethan wakes up.
How the hell am I supposed to face him again after last night? The alternative sounds worse though, avoiding him forever. Not to mention impossible.
I just need space for a little while to let everything blow over. Maybe that’s what he needs, too. It’s obvious he’s confused, he doesn’t really want me, not for anything other than a quick fuck. Guys like Ethan don’t just wake up one day and decide that they want a woman for more than a one night stand. Last night I’d gotten emotionally drawn into a fantasy when he’d said he hadn’t been with anyone else since we’d met. But, there’s no way it’s more than just a phase.
I’m hard to get, that’s why he thinks he wants me so badly. If I give it up he’ll be bored with me before our clothes are back on. And, since a fun, dirty time is never going to happen it’s better if I give him space. He can bang whoever he needs to until he’s okay with us just being friends. The idea of him with another girl brings bile into my throat.
What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 15
Ethan
“So are you going to tell me what happened?” I flinch at Lee's accusatory tone.
“Nothing happened,” I grumble defensively as I fill a coffee mug and hand it to her.
“Then why did Abby sneak out of here at 6am like she was doing the walk of shame?” I flinch again. My heart sunk when I woke up to a cold bed instead of Abby still curled up beside me. I’d tried to convince myself that she just needed to get to the library really early. But, Lee confirmed my sneaking suspicion that Abby had, in fact, been avoiding me.
“Honestly, nothing happened. She was drunk and we kissed. She wanted more but I told her ‘no’. Then she fell asleep. That’s it,” I explain somberly.
Now I’m really glad I didn’t go through with sex like she had wanted. If she’s going to avoid me over a little kissing and grinding she probably would’ve been moved out by the time I woke up if we had fucked.
“Wow, there are so many things that don’t seem to belong in that sentence coming out of your mouth,” Lee marvels. “First of all, you kissed?”
“Yeah, we kissed last week, too,” I admit.
Lee's mouth hangs open in disbelief.
“I thought that was the number one unbreakable rule in your book. I mean, your ‘one night only’ rule has exceptions if the girl seems capable of not forming an attachment. But, I thought that Jamie, that girl in high school you were obsessed with, was the only girl you’d ever kissed.”
“Ugh, yes, alright. I don’t know, there’s just something about Abby,” I rub my face in frustration. I hardly understand this myself, how does Lee expect me to explain it to her?
“And, since when do you turn down sex with a drunk chick?”
“That was a first,” I nod in agreement.
“So, do you like her?” She asks incredulously.
I fidget under her scrutiny. Lee has been my best friend since the minute she was born. There’s never been anything I haven’t told her. But, it feels like putting words to what I’m feeling towards Abby will give her the power to break my fucking heart. Who am I kidding, we’re already there.
“Yeah, I do.”
Lee chokes on the coffee she just took a sip of.
“Holy shit, have you told her?”
“No, she’s like a skittish stray cat. I don’t want to make any sudden movements and scare her away,” I say with a laugh.
Lee laughs and nods.
“Well, just give her time. I’m sure she’ll come around.”
Abby didn't respond to any of my texts today, including the witty zombie apocalypse ones that usually get her. I decided to cook dinner for her anyway in the hopes that she'll decide to come by. Since I can't actually cook anything, other than bacon and eggs, I decided to buy a frozen lasagna and garlic bread. It seemed easy but also gave the impression that cooking her dinner took some thought on my part. I never thought I'd be this awkward guy trying so hard to impress a girl. A tentative knock on my door makes my heart jump. I check the oven timer one last time so that I don't burn dinner then I go to answer the door.
Abby gives me a timid smile but doesn't make a move to come in.
"Sorry, I wasn't sure if you were alone," She says awkwardly.
"Why the hell wouldn't I be alone if I invited you here for dinner?”
She shrugs and finally steps into my apartment.
"I don't know. Everything feels weird, I'm not really sure of anything right now," She explains.
"I know we haven't really known each other all that long, but have I ever had someone here when you've stopped by?"
"No, but I figure eventually it’s bound to happen."
"I’m n
ot even going to dignify that with a response Red," I shake my head. I thought my intentions were pretty clear with her, but maybe not. I open my mouth to attempt to explain. But, she beats me to it.
"Sorry about last night, I was drunk and...you know...hormones take over sometimes. I think I should buy a vibrator so I can learn to satisfy my needs. I don't want to act like an idiot again in the near future."
Hello hard-on. There is no way that comment wasn’t designed to get my attention. And, it worked like a fucking charm because I am totally focused now.
My gaze lands on her lips and I'm mesmerized. The first time we kissed we were both stoned, the second time we were drunk. Would sober Abby even let me kiss her?
The distance between our lips seems insignificant. It would take no effort at all to simply lean forward and taste her. Everything in me begs for it. She shifts uncomfortably under my gaze. Shit I’ve been staring way too long. She eases away slightly and the space between us now seems like a cavern.
She rises from the couch and heads into my kitchen under the guise of checking on dinner. I feel like an ass. Finally, she comes back into the living room and her expression has changed significantly. Instead of looking timid she looks determined.
"Although, I wouldn't even know where to begin. Maybe what I need is for someone to give me an orgasm first, then I can work with that in my own exploration."
That invitation is all I need to hear.
Abby
Ethan closes the space between us and encases me against the wall. I tense momentarily, waiting for the panic I expect to engulf me. But, although his stance is commanding it isn’t threatening, he’s clearly anticipating a rebuff.
I’d spent the whole day trying to figure this whole thing out. I turned off my phone and resisted the urge to text him. Instead of paying attention in a single class today I was lost in my thoughts. What I had finally decided was that I don’t want a relationship, but I certainly do have physical needs. And, it seemed like Ethan is on the same page. It’s perfect actually, once I thought about it in such simple terms.
Worth the Wait (Sexy Nerd Boys #1) Page 8
