His expression turns serious, and goosebumps flare across my skin, and even though his voice is quiet, I can feel the heat of his intensity.
"How I love you, Cassie? It's like heaven and hell all wrapped up into one. I love you so much I worry that my chest will crack open most days. You know that old saying when life is good, that your cup runneth over? That's how my heart feels. It could be the size of a planet and still not be big enough for all the love I have for you."
"I feel the same way." I take a breath, bracing to voice something that has always played on my mind. "But Vanessa has one thing over me I can never compete with. She was your first love. And no matter how much I hate that, I can't do anything about it."
He's silent for a moment, and when I look up, I watch his expression morph from sympathy to determination, before he levels me with a steely gaze.
"Cassie, listen to me when I say this, because truer words have never been spoken. You are my first love. I didn't even know the meaning of the word until you crashed into my life, and I wouldn't change that for anything. You made me a better man, and every part of me loves you more than I can even describe. Compared with you, I didn't even like Vanessa."
The joy I feel is visceral and intoxicating. After so many years of thinking I'm his second choice, I'm beyond relieved to find out I've been wrong.
He tightens his arms around me when he sees my expression. "Cassie, you are my first, my last, and every love in between. How do you not know that by now? You're my one and only. And that's something no one else will ever be. And if you don't believe my words, then I'll sure as hell make you believe my actions."
When he kisses me, it isn't gentle. He tangles his fingers into my hair and pulls my head back so he can cover my mouth with his. I gasp when our tongues touch, and that only makes him kiss me more deeply.
A low moan echoes in his throat, and it breaks the last thread of my self-restraint. Within seconds, I'm unbuttoning his shirt with clumsy, rough fingers.
"Ethan, you're my one and only, too. And that's why I need you to take away this ache inside me. Now, please."
His hands become rough and needy. "You're okay doing this with my family downstairs?"
"As long as they don't walk in on us. Will they be suspicious that we've been up here for so long?" I tug the last button free on his shirt and rip it open before kissing his neck.
His entire body goes rigid with pleasure.
"Cassie," he moans as I steadily work down to his chest. "The number of fucks I give about anything that isn't your mouth right now is in negative digits."
I spin him around so his back is against the door. "Good. Because I've been waiting for this all night."
He buries his hands in my hair as I cover his body in kisses. Lips, tongue, and light teeth travel over the planes of his chest and down his abs. I use my hands to explore all the areas where my mouth isn't, and it's not long before his pants are hanging open and I'm sliding my hand into his boxers.
"Jesuuuus. Cassie ..."
He squeezes his eyes shut and leans his head back against the door as I stroke, applying firm pressure. He's so lost in what I'm doing, he doesn't even notice me sinking to my knees until I take him in my mouth. Then his eyes snap open, and the muscles in his jaw clench as he stifles a moan. Keeping quiet is never easy for either of us, but I can tell he's trying. I understand why. It's one thing for his family to suspect we're up here screwing each other's brains out. It's another for them to get vocal confirmation.
As I continue to suck, I can tell it's getting more difficult for him to stay quiet. When I add my hand to the mix, he lets out a loud grunt.
"Shhh. If I have any chance of looking your family in the eyes when we get back downstairs, they can't know what I'm doing right now. If you can’t keep quiet, I'll have to stop."
He looks down and wraps my hair around his hand. "If you stop, Santa will put coal in your stocking instead of the raging orgasm ordered from your fiancéee. Better not risk it."
Now, there's an effective threat. I go back to work but make sure to keep Ethan's gaze the whole time. I know how much that drives him crazy.
He watches in wonder as he slides in and out of my mouth, and when the urge for him to make noise becomes unbearable, he pushes air out between his lips on an extended, "Ffffffffffff."
"Are you trying to tell me something, Ethan? Ffffff, what?"
He pushes out a breath as he leans his head against the door. "Ffffuck!"
Fast as lightning, he picks me up and throws me onto the bed. We both ignore the loud crash when I land. The dark mischief in his eyes makes me scurry back toward the headboard as he advances on me.
"Underwear off," he says in a dangerous tone that makes me shiver. "Now."
Yes, sir.
I barely have time to slide off my thong before he's pushing up my dress and pressing me down into the mattress.