Page 19 of Lovestrung

“Yes,” I squawked.

The frown deepened.

“You sound like a mouse.”

I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Do not. Sore throat,” I lied as I watched him move closer toward me.

A small smile played on his lips.

“Why are you so flushed?” he asked.

I lifted a hand to my cheek and felt like I’d been burned. What girl wouldn’t drool when they found a hot-as-fuck, half-naked man in her bedroom?

Oh, wait.

Why was Ethan here?

“Is there a reason you’re here?” I tried again now that I remembered the absurdity of the situation. “And half-naked?”

Pointedly I looked down and he grabbed a tight hold on the knot, preventing the towel from slipping.

“Sorry,” he grinned, “I was wondering if you have a spare toothbrush?”

“Oh.” His answer was entirely different than the one I’d imagined, but now that my brain had ceased short-circuiting, I felt the tension leave my shoulders and I bounced from the bed. “I think I can find one.” I smiled quickly as I passed him, taking care not to touch any part of him.

“Thanks.”

I turned right at my bedroom and walked down the narrow hallway, past the guest bedroom and stopped in front of the bathroom before switching on the light.

I stopped at the cabinet above the sink and reached up but then froze on the spot when I felt something warm brush my back.

“Here, let me get it for you,” Ethan murmured. My eyes flew to the mirror, watching his every move. I nearly whimpered when his abs flexed as he opened the cabinet, but tried to disguise it with a light cough. Ethan frowned again.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

All I could do was give him another nod. My tongue was tied up in knots and I felt heat between my legs that I needed to see to soon. If I didn’t, I’d go insane.

“Look, I…” he started but then bit his lip.

“Yes?”

As if he was pulling himself out of a trance, he shook his head and took a step away, his arm leaning against the doorway, thus boxing me in. The shutters were back in his eyes as he scanned me from top to toe, making me wish I’d chosen a safe, boring pair of pajamas for bed than the short, white nightgown with a deep V-neck that made my boobs a bit more visible than I was comfortable with. But laundry day wasn’t until tomorrow, so it was all I’d had to wear tonight.

“Nothing. Just tired, I guess.” His voice was deeper than before with a hint of growl in it that I couldn’t remember hearing before – but I liked it.

Snap out of it.

“Ah,” I mumbled and glanced down at my bare feet. “Me, too. It’s been a long day.”

“Were you really out on a date like Frederik said?”

The change in topic confused me. I raised my eyes.

“Yes. But, like I already told him, it was a complete failure. Why?”

He shrugged.