ETHAN POV
I broke the kiss just enough to breathe, just enough to press my forehead against hers for half a second, my chest heaving, my lips still brushing hers every time either of us moved.
“f**k,” I breathed, a rough laugh slipping in despite everything, because I couldn’t help it, because this—this—was everything I hadn’t even known I was waiting for.
My thumb brushed along her jaw, softer now, grounding, even as my body stayed exactly where it was, exactly where I wanted to be.
“You have no idea,” I murmured, my voice low, a little wrecked, a little too honest, “how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
Her answer wasn’t words.
Of course it wasn’t.
It was her pulling me back in.
Harder this time.
And yeah—
I was gone.
Completely.
She kissed like she fought—no hesitation, no holdi
