For several seconds, she was quiet, then she said, “If you think it would help, I could… talk to her. Not even to explain it, I could just say I was lying about everything to my dad to save you because I understood the circumstances.”
He shook his head. “I told her the truth, no point trying to lie about it now.”
“Oh. Well… I’m sorry.”
Instead of answering, he lightly ran his hand up the back of her shirt, noting that her skin was cool, and she was only wearing a thin sweater with no coat.
“You’re cold,” he finally said. “We shouldn’t keep standing out here.”
Casting an apprehensive glance at his house, she lifted her eyebrows.
Understanding her wordless hesitation, he nodded. “I don’t really want to be here right now either.”
“Maybe we could get a room?” she suggested, somewhat hesitantly.
Glancing down at her, he said, “I’m not sure what’s going on with my family, Willow… I mean, I’m still hoping they come back…”
“I know,” she said quickly, holding his gaze. “I figured you might need a friend.”
The corners of his lips tilted upward. “Yeah, I could probably use one of those.”
Willow flashed him a little smile. “Well, you’re in luck. Unless you want to be alone?”
Ethan shook his head. “No, I don’t want to be alone.”
Skimming her fingers along his sides, she replied, “Good.”
---
They barely made it inside the hotel room before Ethan dropped his bag, turning Willow to face him and backing her against the wall. Her warm gaze met his and she smiled softly, gripping his hips and pulling him up against her.
“Did you ask for this room, or should I reevaluate my opinion of Fate?”
Ethan chuckled. “I requested it.”
“You’re such a romantic,” she teased, rolling her eyes.
“Oh yeah, that’s me, Mr. Romantic,” he said dryly, leaning in to trail kisses up her neck.
Tilting her neck to give him better access, she said, “Deny it all you want, actions speak louder than words.”
“I just wanted the room with the Jacuzzi,” he murmured, his fingers brushing against her stomach, fingering the button on her jeans.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“I’ve imagined doing unspeakably pleasurable things to you in that Jacuzzi.”
“Ooh, unspeakably pleasurable? We might have to make that a reality.”
Reaching for the hem of her sweater, he grabbed it and pulled it over her head, tossing it on the floor. His mouth went back to her neck, starting at the top and making his way down to her collar bone, then lower, leaving lingering kisses along her breasts as his hand made its way down her hip, over the curve of her ass and squeezing.
Releasing a little moan as she squirmed against him, Willow asked, “Should we move this to the bed?”
Smiling slightly, he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and took her hand, leading her over to the bed.
---
“I should probably go home soon.”