Rare Blend (Red Mountain #1)

51. Ethan

CHAPTER 51

Ethan

I HAVE RULES

“ I ’m sorry, what?”

I wrap my arms around her lower back and pull her against me, dipping my head to nuzzle her neck. “You heard me. We’re going home.”

She giggles, letting her head fall back. Fuck, I love that sound.

“You know, for someone who basically pushed me out the door, you sure are pretty demanding about me coming back home with you.”

I place a soft kiss on her collarbone while inhaling the vanilla coming off her skin. “I’m a stupid man.” I hold her tightly, probably suffocating her, but I need to hold her like I need my next breath. “The biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life was letting you leave, thinking I could ever go without you, no matter how temporary.”

She wiggles out of my grasp and goes to sit on the couch. I join her, but give her some space, even though it’s the last thing I want.

“And you decided this in the middle of the night? It couldn’t have waited until morning?”

I shake my head. “It couldn’t wait. I can’t go another day without you, baby.”

“And if I refuse to go?” Her voice is stern, but her smile is pure sunshine.

“Then you better get used to me, because I’m done being apart. I can’t do it anymore.”

She crosses her arms, eyes trained on me. “How do I know you’re not going to push me away again?”

“I wasn’t pushing you away. I wanted you to be sure, I didn’t want you to end up resenting me because you passed up a good opportunity.”

She looks down, twisting the ends of her hair. “I know that’s what you said, but it didn’t feel that way,” she says quietly.

“Come home.” My voice is a plea. If I have to beg, I will.

She peers over at me with her head tilted. Her eyes have a little challenge behind them. “Give me one good reason why.”

I reach for her, taking her hands in mine and hold her stare. “You’re my first thought when I wake up, and before my eyes even open, they’re looking for you. When I think about what I’m going to eat, I’m not thinking about what I want, I’m thinking about what you’ll want, because food is tasteless unless I’m sharing it with you. When I see something funny, you’re the first person I want to share it with, because your laugh is my favorite sound. When I pass a nice house, I don’t think about whether I like it, instead, I wonder if it’s your dream house and how can I build it for you. And when I walk by a jewelry store I’m thinking how long should I wait to go in there and buy the one thing that will make you mine forever. I’m more than in love with you, I’m in life with you. I want to do life with you, every day. I’m a greedy man, Marisa, I want all of your days, the good, the bad, the mundane. And after that, I want all your nights, buried between your legs, making you scream my name for the rest of our fucking lives. I want you forever, baby. It’s as simple as that.”

By the time I’m done laying it all out on the line, Marisa’s eyes are tear-filled. She leaps across the couch cushion between us and throws her arms around my neck, pulling me in close.

“That was some speech,” her garbled voice says into my neck.

“Thanks, I’ve been watching Nora Ephron movies all week, because I know how much you like them.”

Her giggle trembles, and when she pulls away to face me, I wipe a tear off her cheek.

“I have something to tell you.” Her tone is serious, and it makes my lungs squeeze. “I quit my job.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

She nods, smiling. “While I appreciate the groveling grand gesture, since you’re still only seventy-five percent forgiven, I was already planning to come back. As it turns out, I’m just as weak for you as you are for me and I couldn’t stand being apart.”

“So, you’re coming home with me?”

Readjusting, she moves to straddle me, pressing her chest to mine. “Yeah, but?—”

“There’s always a but.”

She smiles mischievously, cocking her head. “But I have rules.”

“Really?” I play with the ends of her hair. “What are these so-called rules?”

Her lips roll, biting her smile. “Rule number one, no visitors.”

I bark a laugh. She’s such a brat.

“I’m serious Ethan, we can’t have people dropping by our little love cottage. We have a whole week to make up for.”

Still laughing, I ask, “And rule number two?”

Her head lowers, and her lips hover over mine. “Me and you, we’re not friends.”

“Oh, yeah?” I breathe as my hands roam her body.

“Nope,” she sighs. “In fact, my feelings for you are way past friendly.” She stills, and cups my cheeks, brushing her thumbs over my beard. “I’m way too in love with you to ever be just friends.”

I close the distance between us and kiss her softly. “Say it again,” I whisper.

She smiles and brushes her nose against mine. “I love you. I’m so, so, so in love with you.”