a new job and it ticked me off. I was losing so much because of what Paul did. There was no way I could work with him anymore, let alone work every day at the scene of the crime.
We finally got to my apartment and I collapsed on the couch when we got inside. Ethan sat down next to me, pulling me to him. “Talk to me, angel,” he whispered in my hair. I relaxed and just soaked him in.
I looked in his eyes and touched my hand to his face. “I don’t deserve you,” I told him.
He looked surprised to hear me say this. “Why do you say that? Of course you do, babe.”
I scooted away from him so I could really look at him as we talked. “I really don’t, Ethan. I’ve put you through so much.”
His face continued to look confused, but he stayed still. “Aly, this is ridiculous. Why are you saying this?”
I didn’t know. My emotions were all over the place. Everything was hitting me. How I’d loved Paul for so long, Casey treating me like shit, knowing Ethan loved me, but not realizing my feelings for him. It was all too much.
“Everything is hitting me. I feel guilty for making you wait for us for so long. I wasted so much time pining for Paul. If I could go back, I’d change it all in a heartbeat.”
He snatched me into his arms, holding me close against his chest. “Shh, don’t even go there, Aly. We’re together now, and I don’t regret a single minute we’ve had together. I love you so much. Let’s just start fresh and not worry about the past.”
I felt the tears again and I hugged him tight. “I love you too, so much. Thank you. I’d be even more of a wreck if you weren’t here with me.”
He pushed me back so he could look me in the eye. “I’ll always be here with you, as long as you let me. I told you, you’re the only one for me. I will never love anyone else, Aly. It’s always been you.”
As he leaned over and started kissing me, all thoughts of Paul, Casey, and the pregnancy left my mind. I stood from the couch and held out my hand to him. He took it and let me lead him to the place we really wanted to be.
The next morning I woke up and was hit immediately with the previous nights events. The memory of Casey’s sneer and shocking announcement made sure I wasn’t going back to sleep anytime soon. I let out a sigh as I rolled over, smiling when I saw Ethan sleeping beside me. He was shirtless and on his back, his chest rising and falling with each breath. I reached out and ran my hand down it, reveling in the fact he was mine. I couldn’t help but chastise myself yet again for taking so long to see it. As I lay there, I was greeted with the memory of Paul’s face when he begged me to not let Casey change anything. How he could think her pregnancy wouldn’t change anything was beyond me, but I realized he was grasping at straws.
Ethan woke up and took me in his arms. I felt his hardness pressing on my leg and I smiled. “Good morning,” I said, laughing.
He flipped me on my back and got on top of me. “Oh, you think that’s funny huh?” he asked as he lowered his mouth to my breast. I gasped when he took my nipple into his mouth and started swirling his tongue around the peak. After a minute, he looked up at me with a grin. “Are you going to answer my question?”
I looked at him in a daze. What question?
He burst out laughing. “Glad to see I have that affect on you.”
I lightly smacked his arm, then brought his mouth back down to my breast. He groaned and happily gave me what I wanted. I doubted I’d ever stop wanting him to do that.
After we made love, Ethan told me he had to go meet his parents for brunch. They were leaving on an African safari the next day and wanted to see him before they left. I frowned yet again when he came out of my bathroom dressed and ready to leave.
“No frowns, babe. You know I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. We have the whole rest of the weekend ahead of us. I plan on keeping