Chapter 16: Playing with Fire

ELLIE

My heart raced. The hand he was about to use to knock on the door dropped to his side. His eyes shifted between me and Todd, scrutinizing. Mr. Morgan was completely drenched. Did he walk all the way here in the rain?

Todd brushed past me, clearly frustrated, and Ethan stepped aside to let him through. His eyes followed Todd down the hallway until I heard what I thought was the sound of Todd closing his apartment door. Then, Ethan’s attention returned to me.

“You’re quick,” he said sarcastically, giving me a once-over before turning his back on me and shaking his head. What was he thinking? Did he think I had slept with Todd? That’s probably exactly what it looked like. I stepped out of my apartment, following him.

“Hey! I know what this looks like, but it’s not what you think,” I called out, making him stop. “And why the hell are you soaking wet?” I let out a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.

“You think this is funny?” He turned around. “At least someone’s having a good time at my expense.”

“Don’t be dramatic!”

“Miss Brown, it looks exactly like what it seems.”

“Oh, yeah? And what does it seem like?” I challenged him. He stepped closer, way too close, deliberately invading my space. I tried to keep my legs steady and not think about last night. Without my heels, he seemed even taller, making me feel small. It annoyed me that I had to tilt my head up to look at him.

“That you’re just a hypocrite who used me to make your ex-boyfriend jealous,” he said, looking me directly in the eyes. I tried not to focus on how his lips looked so damn inviting and how seeing him angry made me want to rip off the wet beanie he was wearing and tug on his hair. Thinking about that wasn’t helping, Ellie.

“It doesn’t surprise me that you think so little of me after last night. I’m not proud of what I did. I’m sorry.”

“Are you apologizing?” he asked, skeptical.

“That’s what we do when we make a mistake, isn’t it?”

“So I’m a mistake?”

“No. My mistake was…” I glanced at Todd’s door. Was he listening? “Can we go inside? We’re in the middle of the hallway. You’re soaking wet, and I’m in a nightgown. Do you really want to talk out here?”

I turned, hoping he’d follow me. When I stopped at my apartment door and turned around again, he was still standing in the same spot. I waited until he finally gave in and walked inside. It didn’t seem like a great idea to be alone with him in my apartment, but what choice did I have?

“Did you sleep with your ex-boyfriend?” he asked as soon as I closed the door and turned around.

“God, no! But that’s none of your business.” Why did he care? It wasn’t like we had anything.

“Isn’t it?”

“Why would it be?”

“Are you kidding me? I deserve at least an explanation after what you did.” His completely drenched clothes made it hard for me to focus. He was wearing a heavy, dark hoodie. He was going to catch a cold, and besides, he was dripping all over my hardwood floor.

“Why are you soaked? You’re going to get sick, and you’re also ruining my floor. First, you need to get out of those clothes, and then we can talk.”

“For someone who didn’t want me to touch her, trying to get me naked is quite the leap,” he teased.

“Don’t be a jerk.”

“What’s your plan? That I wear one of your nightgowns?” he said, his gaze roaming over my body.

“Very funny. I should kick you out after that. Use my bathroom, and I’ll dry your clothes. You can thank me for the rest of your life.”

“I’m fine,” he said, making me sigh in frustration. What a stubborn man!

“Yes, but my floor isn’t, and then you’ll have to pay for it. The bathroom’s over there. Use a robe; it should fit,” I said, pointing to the bathroom door in the living room.

“You know this doesn’t make us even, right?”

“Don’t push your luck, Morgan,” I said, exhaling deeply as he finally gave in and headed to the bathroom.

My nerves were on edge. I went to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of ice-cold water. I tried not to think about him being naked in my bathroom. God, this was a terrible idea.

A few minutes later, I approached the bathroom door.

“So…” I cleared my throat. “Can you hand me your clothes so I can dry them?” He opened the door, startling me slightly. He was wearing one of my white robes, and his hair was now tousled without the beanie. The robe was slightly open, allowing me a glimpse of his muscular chest. I tried to keep my eyes on his face and ignore all the indecent thoughts flooding my mind.

“Will this take long?” he asked, handing me his wet clothes.

“At least thirty minutes. Are you going to tell me how this happened?” I looked down at the wet clothes in my hands; they were heavy.

“I was running.”

“During a storm?” I raised an eyebrow, wondering how he had ended up here.

“Weren’t you going to apologize for something?” he asked, his brow furrowing impatiently, as he crossed his broad chest with his arms.

“Did you run all the way from your place to here?”

“No. I was out for a run and decided to stop by.” I nodded. Why would he come all the way here?

“Alright. I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home,” I said, starting to walk away, then stopped and turned back. “But not too at home,” I added, narrowing my eyes. He just shook his head, ignoring me.

After taking his clothes to my small laundry room and putting them in the dryer, I returned to the living room. He was standing in front of one of my floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the rain still pouring outside. I cleared my throat to get his attention.

“Before I continue with my apologies… why did you come here?” I asked, stopping near the sofa.

“Isn’t it obvious? You owe me an explanation.”

“I thought it was pretty clear. I thought Todd would back off if he saw me with you.”

“And somehow, it had the opposite effect? Do you really expect me to believe that?”

“You don’t have to believe it if you don’t want to. But it’s the truth. So I’m sorry, I acted impulsively, it was a mistake.”

“You’re unbelievable. I spent the entire night trying to get closer to you, and at the last minute, you decided it would be interesting to use me and then slam the door in my face?” he said, stepping closer, making me instinctively cross my arms over my chest. My usual defensive stance.

“What do you want me to do? I’ve already apologized and said it was a mistake.”

“You keep repeating that. Do you think it helps, saying that what happened between us was a mistake?” He was now just a step away, putting my body on high alert.

“When I say mistake, I’m referring to my actions.”

“Didn’t you think I wouldn’t be so pissed if you had just invited me in?”

“What?” Of course, he wanted me to have invited him in. And part of me wanted that too.

“If you wanted to use me, you could have done it right.”

“I already told you I acted without thinking. I didn’t plan anything. I was just pissed because he texted me during our dinner.”

“So that’s why you turned into a bitch in the middle of the night?”

“You had nothing to do with it, so I’m sorry, okay?”

“You should apologize by finishing what you started. Do you think it was easy to sleep after the way you left me?” His eyes roamed over my body, and I felt like I was standing there naked, wearing only my black satin pajamas. The thought that he had touched himself thinking about me, just as I had done thinking about him, wasn’t helping.

“I’ve already apologized…” I tried to form a coherent thought as my breathing became more erratic.

“Stop apologizing. It only pisses me off more. And you lost the bet anyway.”

“What? You can’t use that...”

“Do you always answer the door dressed like that?” he interrupted, closing the distance between us as he stared at my breasts. He extended an arm, making me stop breathing and freeze in place. “I can see your nipples,” he whispered as his fingers brushed over one of my nipples through the satin fabric. I closed my eyes, feeling my entire body shiver.

“No,” I managed to say, even though my body was begging. I tried to keep my breathing steady while my heart pounded violently.

“The way your body reacts says exactly the opposite,” he said.

I opened my eyes when I felt his breath on my face, his lips just inches from mine. My entire body seemed to be drawn toward him. I wanted to grab his hair and kiss him desperately.

“All you have to do is ask,” he whispered.

If I didn’t step back soon, I knew exactly how this would end. I searched for the shred of reason that still remained beneath all the desire.

“Say it,” he demanded.