but for now, he’d gotten in a workout with his team.
He’d held her in his arms every night, and after the very first night in the guestroom, she’d moved down the hallway into his bedroom. They hadn’t really discussed it. After the dinner with his teammates, they’d just gravitated there at bedtime. More of her things had ended up on Ethan’s dresser, and he’d finally just carried her suitcase in there as well.
It felt more intimate sleeping in his space—in his bed. Ethan’s bedroom was sparsely masculine, but she loved snuggling up with him beneath his sheets. Nothing felt better than Ethan’s muscular body wrapped around hers, and her nightmares had abruptly stopped when she began sleeping in his arms.
Things had progressed naturally between them. They’d done no more than kiss, and Ethan had always assured her that she was in charge. She’d definitely felt his arousal that morning as he’d spooned her in bed. Maybe it should’ve frightened her, but this was Ethan. The man who’d risked his own life to save her.
“That smells amazing,” Ethan said, walking into the kitchen in only his boxers. She couldn’t imagine feeling comfortable enough to walk around in nothing but her bra and panties, but he wasn’t shy in the least. And he looked damn good bare-chested. “You didn’t have to get up early and cook for me.”
“I wanted to,” she said, watching as he crossed the room toward her.
She squealed in surprise as he lifted her up onto the counter, ducked down, and kissed her. His lips were soft and full, and when he kissed her this way, she swore she could see stars. Kimberly spread her legs slightly, pulling him closer, and let him kiss her more deeply. He’d shaved and smelled of clean soap, but there was something real and raw about him as well.
She was shocked to feel her panties dampening. She was crazy attracted to Ethan but hadn’t expected to feel anything sexual for a man for a long time. Ethan pressed slightly closer as their kiss intensified, and then she felt his erection right between her thighs.
Kim gasped, shocked at how aroused she was, and he quickly shifted away.
“Sorry.”
She rested a palm on his bare chest, trying to catch her breath. “It’s fine, Ethan. I’m fine. God. You felt so good against me.”
His dark gaze met hers, and he kissed her again but made sure he wasn’t rubbing against her this time. “I don’t want to scare you,” he admitted.
“You don’t scare me, Ethan. I might not be ready to strip naked and go at it on the kitchen floor, but you kissing me is fine. More than fine.”
He chuckled, looking in amusement down at the tile. “My bed is much more comfortable anyway,” he joked.
“Yep. That too,” she said, heat washing over her face. “Help me down?”
He cupped her cheeks instead, looking at her intently. “I love having you here. I’ve never lived with a woman before, never had anything like this. I like you in my space and in my life. I know Hailey was joking about you moving out here, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
“I don’t want to leave you,” she admitted. “I can’t just up and move cross-country though. My job, my life—everything is back in Virginia.”
“I could see about transferring to Little Creek.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. “You’d do that?”
His hands moved to her hips, his thumbs tracing in small circles. She had on another set of lightweight sleep shorts and a tank top. Ethan’s touch through the thin cotton felt like it was burning into her skin. And with his large frame before her, she felt fragile and delicate.
“I would if it meant I could be closer to you. Hell. My family is on the east coast. I’d be closer to them, too.”
“But your friends and teammates…your entire career is here.”
“It is, but I could join a different SEAL team. You just went through hell. I know your family is back in DC. I’d understand if you couldn’t leave them. Little Creek is a hell of a lot closer than Coronado. We’d be able to see each other on weekends.”
Her eyes watered as she looked up at him. “This feels so impossible.”
Ethan stepped closer once more, and she spread her legs wider, letting him in as he gently ran his thumb over her cheek and swiped away a stray tear. “Not impossible. I want to make this work. To make us work.”