Moonlight (Grim Gate 3)

His chest rises and falls as he inhales. “You’re right. I’m not worried Ruby is going to blow up a nuclear reactor with magic, but if someone wanted to hurt you, having magic makes it a hell of a lot easier. I can’t…I can’t defend you as well,” he adds, and I know that is what’s really bothering him. “I can’t even fucking go with you to this Covenstead door. I don’t like the idea of you going anywhere alone with someone we just met like that.”

“What do you want me to do then?” I ask, throwing my hands in the air as I heavily exhale. We’re supposed to be getting ready for a fancy date-night, not arguing like this. “Invite her over as if we’re dating her so we can get to know her better?”

“Of course not.” He strides over, strong arms clasping around my waist. “I love you.” He rests his forehead against mine and I feel all fluttery inside again. My anger melts away knowing that Ethan just wants to protect me.

Protecting and defending me comes naturally to him, just like it does for me in his regard as well.

“I worry because I care,” he says softly. “We do need to approach with caution and not just for physical safety. I don’t want you to get disappointed if you still don’t get answers about your aunt. If she told people she didn’t even have magical descendants, who knows what else she kept from your coven.”

“I know.” I slide my hands from his neck to his chest, watching my fingers run down his tattoos. “And I know I need to ultimately accept that I might never get those lost memories back. All I can do is move forward.”

“It turns me on hearing you all wise like that.”

I laugh. “Anything I do turns you on.”

Ethan nods and runs his hands down my waist and squeezes my ass. “That is true.”

I stand on my toes and kiss him. “But you’re going to have to wait until after dinner. If we want to make it to our reservation on time, that is.”

“Right now, I’m thinking I’d rather eat at home.” He wiggles his eyebrows and I laugh again. I am so freaking lucky to have him.

“You’ll have to wait until dessert.”

“Hmm.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I’m tempted to make another food-joke, but I think we’re already crossing the line into cringe.”

“Hah, right? And I totally wanted to say I have an appetizer for you.”

“Well, in that case.” Ethan fastens his hands around my waist and picks me up, carrying me to the bed. “I don’t want to be hungry.”

“You did not just say that,” I laugh.

“Is it working? Are you getting turned on?”

I laugh again as he falls onto me, and I welcome him between my legs. “A little.”

He moves his hand between my legs, rubbing my clit through the fabric of my underwear. “What about now?”

“That’s definitely working.”

“I figured it would.” He abruptly sits up and I’m left gaping at him

“Ethan Bailey. Get back here and finish what you started.”

“You’re right to say we need to hurry if we want to make it to the restaurant on time. We’ve only got about an hour until we have to leave, and I am going to take my time with you tonight.”

Good God, I know he’s right, and I feel all squishy inside thinking about it. Slowly letting out a breath, we move off the bed and then rush to get ready. Well, I rush to get ready. Ethan is out of the shower and dressed in ten minutes and I’m still drying my hair. I brought Romeo, my ferret, into the room so he could run around with some company, but he keeps getting into things. I t’s taking me twice as long to get ready since I keep having to get up and get him. I give him five more minutes before putting him back in his room and then go back to finish drying my hair. After it’s finally dry, I change into the dress I intended on wearing today and then quickly put on a bit of makeup. The I do a speed-job of straightening my hair, wanting to tame the bit of frizz that’s always around the crown of my head.

“Babe?” Ethan calls, coming back into the room. I’m standing at the dresser, putting an earring in.

“I’m almost ready.” I glance at Ethan’s reflection in the mirror as I put the back on my earring. “We won’t be late, will we?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He looks up from his phone, frowning. “Remember when I had the Order help cover up Claire’s death and I said I’d owe them?”

“Yeah, why?” I turn around, pulse picking up a bit when I see the look on Ethan’s face.

“Well, they called. My favor is due.”