Worth the Wait (Sexy Nerd Boys #1) (8 page)

Ethan

Red: Tell me a secret

Surprisingly things had fallen back into a comfortable friendship without much effort. With the exception of the new game we play that I like to call ‘tell me a secret’. While our friendship before the kiss had very strictly not discussed anything personal or sexual the ‘tell me a secret’ game opened a whole new can of worms.

A few times a week Abby texts me this phrase and I have to come up with something to tell her. And, it seemed that she’s looking specifically for personal and sexual answers. I look up from my phone to make sure there’s no one in the small bookstore who looks like they need my assistance before returning to the text.

Ethan: I don’t get into serious relationships because I don’t want to be like my parents.

Red: ...elaborate?

Ethan: They were in a loveless marriage, they hated each other, and he abused her. I always thought relationships seemed pointless.

I wait for a response but don’t get one. I breathed a slight sigh of relief now that the truth was out there. It’s not like it was that big of a secret, but it had affected so damn much of my life.

Ethan: Your turn

Red: ok...the thought of giving a blowjob makes me physically sick

Red: my ex used to force me to do it…

              My throat goes dry and my fists clench at her revelation. I fucking
knew
that piece of shit had forced her in some way. God dammit, it all makes sense now. No wonder she’s so skittish.

Ethan: dude sounds like a piece of work. I hope you know I’d never do anything like that

Red: well I’m a kickboxing pro now so even if anyone tried to hurt me I’d lay them out. No one is ever going to hurt me again

Ethan: there’s the bad ass bitch I know and love ;)

“Who could you possibly be texting that would put such a goofy grin on your face?” Asher, my coworker and friend asks.

I shake my head and look away with a smile.

“Now that I think about it, you’ve been doing that a lot lately. Don’t tell me infamous ‘one night stand’ Ethan actually has a girlfriend,” He says with surprise.

“Nope, no girlfriend,” I correct him.

I wish she was.
Whoa, where did that thought come from? I mean, obviously I’m in to Abby. I enjoy talking to her and we always have a great time when we hang out. And, I think at this point it goes without saying that I am insanely attracted to her. But, do I really want a girlfriend? The answer has always been a clear ‘no’. But, with that question racing through my mind with an image of Abby attached I’m not able to summon my usual ‘hell fucking no’ that typically is a knee-jerk reaction.

“But you want her to be?” Asher gives me a knowing smile. I wait for the visceral reaction that I expect to be there, that’s always there when a conversation even skirts the topic of commitment.

“I don’t know. She’s not into it. We’re just friends.” I throw out several excuses hoping that one of them sticks and he’ll drop this conversation.

He gives me another knowing smile. Asher’s kind of a douche now that I think about it. A customer approaches the register just in time to save me from any more of this stupid conversation.

Abby

A knock on the door startles me. Who would be knocking at our door? Ethan always walks right in like he owns the place and he’s about the extent of our usual visitors. Lee comes barreling out of her bedroom to answer the door. Ah, must be Nikki. I almost forgot I agreed to hang out tonight.

              Nikki steps into our apartment with her sister right behind her. I cringe inwardly. I know I don’t even know her but I feel like it isn’t even fair for there to be two people who look like that in the world.

              “You know Nikki, you can just barge right in like Ethan does. We don’t mind.” I smile over at her as I highlight a few sentences in my anatomy textbook.

              “You remember Remy right Abby?” Lee gestures at Nikki’s sister. I nod without looking up again. They all settle into the spaces around me and I decide I either need to give up on studying or move to my bedroom. I’ve been studying for three hours already so I decide on the former.

              “So Lee, you should text your sexy brother and invite him over,” Remy suggests immediately. I snort but manage to cover it with a fake cough.

              “Why, do you like my brother?” Lee laughs making no move to reach for her phone.

              “I like what I’ve seen so far, I know that much,” Remy twirls one of her long dark locks around her index finger.

A sick feeling snakes through my stomach. It’s not that I don’t think Remy has the right to find Ethan attractive. Hell, any woman with eyes can see that he’s a Greek god. I think I’m more worried about the idea that obviously Ethan is going to find Remy equally as attractive. Not to mention, from what I’ve heard it isn’t exactly hard to get Ethan into bed. So why should I even care? Ethan’s probably been with a different girl every night since I met him. There’s that sick feeling again.

              “I don’t need to text him, he’ll be here any minute,” Lee assures her with a knowing smile.

              “How do you know that?” Nikki asks curiously.

              “It’s almost six o’clock. For the past five weeks since school started every day after class Abby buries her nose in a book until six o’clock. And, amazingly Ethan show’s up right afterward, like magic,” Lee explains. “And while we’re on the subject of the two of you, did you two do the nasty while you were away two weeks ago or what?”

              The sick feeling lifts slightly. I guess I hadn’t noticed the timing of when Ethan comes over. I always assumed he was coming over to see Lee, but now that I think about it he does spend most of his time here harassing me, talking to me, hanging out with me. I can’t help but blush as all eyes fall on me.

              “No,” I say firmly.

Lee and Nikki both exchange glances like they don’t believe me.

“We didn’t. We shared a bed but nothing happened. Like
nothing
nothing,” I insist

              “I get it. You haven’t given it up to him, you’re a challenge. Guys love a challenge. But, as soon as you let him get a taste of the goodies it’s like their pants are on fire they need to leave so fast,” Remy explains with the wisdom of someone who’s seen men pull that act too many times.

There’s that sick feeling again. Was that all this was with Ethan? It was obvious after the kiss that he wouldn’t object to something more between us. It was equally obvious he didn’t see me as a one night stand. If he did why would he have spent so much time getting to know me? Before I can continue to analyze this any further the door bangs open unceremoniously and Ethan saunters in, right on time.

He doesn’t seem fazed by the fact that all eyes are suddenly on him. In fact it seems like his eyes are only on me. Interesting.

              “What’s for dinner?” He asks me without skipping a beat.

              “I don’t know, I didn’t realize I was your personal chef,” I snap with feigned annoyance.

He raises an eyebrow at me questioningly.

              “You’re not, I guess I was just getting used to you cooking since we’ve gotten into a routine. But tell you what, I’ll cook for you tomorrow night.” He offers plopping down on the couch.

              “You’re going to make me dinner?” I ask suspiciously. “No ulterior motive?”

              “I didn’t say I don’t have an ulterior motive.” He winks at me and casts a charming smile in my direction.

I feel like everyone’s eyes are suddenly on me now as well.

              “Well, you’re on your own tonight. Help yourself to whatever’s in our fridge,” I offer.

He heads towards the kitchen and Remy is right behind him. Inexplicable jealousy grips me as I watch Remy saunter into the kitchen looking determined. I jump up before I can stop myself, both Nikki and Lee stare at me curiously.

              “I, uh, have to go to the bathroom,” I announce awkwardly before heading down the hallway towards the kitchen.

I stop in the hallway as Remy’s voice drifts towards me from the kitchen.

“We could go to your place and I promise I’ll show you a good time. Your reputation precedes you Ethan. And, I’m in desperate need of a man who is guaranteed to get the job done.”

Her voice is sultry and alluring, and about a million other things that I couldn’t be if I tried. I hold my breath unsure if I want to hear Ethan’s response. Obviously he’s going to say ‘yes’, why wouldn’t he?

              “I appreciate the offer. But, I’m going to have to pass,” He says politely.

              “What?” Remy sounds genuinely confused.

              “Don’t be offended, you’re just not my type,” He explains. Since when does Ethan even have a type?

              “I’m everyone’s type,” Remy argues. Ethan doesn’t respond, at least not out loud. I wish I could see his facial expression. “Let me guess, you’re into red headed, ball busters,” She says sarcastically.

              Ethan laughs.

              “It would seem so.”

              “Well, when you get tired of waiting for her to give it up you can give me a call.”

She must have written down her number for him. I tiptoe quickly to the bathroom so I don’t get caught eavesdropping.

By the time I get back into the living room Remy is sitting in my spot on the couch, about as close to Ethan as humanly possible. Lee looks at me with amusement like she’s watching her favorite soap opera.

Ethan opens his arms offering for me to sit on his lap. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time, thanks to my cuddle whore ways. Normally I try to avoid letting other people see that so that they don’t get some crazy idea about Ethan and I. But, hell I’m feeling a strong urge to mark my territory.

Not that Ethan is my territory, never mind. I snuggle into his lap and let his arms encase me.

              “You didn’t find anything to eat?” I ask.

He shakes his head. I sigh.

“What do you want me to make?”

He smiles triumphantly.

              “Mac and cheese,” He says hopefully.

I can’t help but laugh. His arms tighten around me before I can heave myself back off of his lap.

“Not yet, in a few minutes,” He says quietly, hopefully.

My heart squeezes a little at his tone. He
wants
me here on his lap, and he’s not even being pervy about it.

              “I’m bored,” Remy says with exasperation.

Nikki and Lee roll their eyes at her simultaneously then both break out in a giggle fit. They’re cute together. I wonder if they’ve kissed or hooked up. They seem close. It seems like
something
is going on between them.

              “Oh, I know, let’s play a drinking game and get wasted!” Nikki jumps up and claps her hands in excitement.

Everyone seems to be in agreement so Lee goes to grab a bottle of cherry vodka we have in the kitchen and Ethan goes across the hall to grab some shot glasses. Not surprisingly all of his shot glasses have crude things imprinted on them. Nikki quickly grabs one up that says ‘anything dicks can do tongues can do better’. I distinctly saw her wink at Lee when she picked it up, too. Mine just says ‘money shot’, ew.

              “So what game are we playing?” I ask as I pour cherry vodka in each of the five shot glasses.

I attempted to find my own seat when Ethan went to get his glasses but as soon as he got back he hauled me back into his lap. Remy looked extremely irritated which was somewhat pleasing. Not that sitting in Ethan’s lap isn’t its own reward in a lot of ways. I shake that thought off.

“How about truth or drunk?” Lee suggests with a wicked smile.

I can’t say I love the sound of that, what with my assortment of secret baggage.

“You ask questions, like in truth or dare, but if you don’t want to answer the question then you take a shot. So the point is to try to ask things people are going to be too embarrassed to answer so that everyone ends up drunk.”

Well at least I’ll be trashed.

              “I’ll go first,” Remy volunteers enthusiastically. “Ethan, my question to you is...how is Abby in bed?”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. Ethan chuckles and takes a shot without answering. Huh, that was kind of pointedly tight lipped. He could have easily just said we’ve never had sex. Not answering implies we have.

              “Now it’s your turn to ask someone a question,” Nikki prompts Ethan.

              “Okay, Abby what’s your favorite color?” He asks me.

I roll my eyes yet again.

              “No need to go easy on me,” I chastise. “It’s blue.”

              “I’m not going easy on you. I figured you’re going to end up plenty wasted anyway, no need to rush it.” I shove his shoulder playfully.

              Several rounds later we’re all feeling decently tipsy and the questions are getting a lot more interesting.

              “Nikki,” I slur slightly. “Is Lee a good kisser?” I ask exuberantly.

Lee looks mortified and Nikki winks at her before taking a shot. I squeal at the implication and Lee kicks me under the table.

              I go to the bathroom and by the time I get back Remy is sending a predatory grin my direction.

              “Ethan,” She doesn’t take her eyes off me as she directs her question at him. “How many women have you fucked in the last month?”

My stomach churns and I hope he just takes the shot, I don’t even want to know. We’ve been hanging out for a little over a month now, so the last thing I needed to know is how many women he’s had in his bed right after leaving me on the couch at night. Not that what we’re doing is romantic, or that he owes me anything.

              “None,” He says easily.

              My stomach jumps and Lee gives him an incredulous look.

              “Don’t lie, just take the shot if you don’t want to answer,” Nikki scolds slurring her words.

              “I’m not lying. The last time was August 23rd which was six weeks ago.”

The fact that August 23rd is the day we met doesn’t escape me. What the hell? Is that a coincidence? Why hasn’t he been hooking up with women like usual?

              “Why?” Lee asks looking suspiciously between the two of us.

              “Nope, it’s my turn to ask a question,” Ethan says evasively.

              It’s not long before the room is spinning too much for me to stay at the table any longer.

              “Bed time,” I announce before stumbling down the hallway towards my room. I hear someone behind me the entire way.

              “Let me tuck you in,” His warm breath tickles the back of my neck. Goose bumps erupt all over me and I have the crazy urge to lean back into him.

“Lay with me?” I ask hopefully.

“Of course. But, I hope you realize they’re all going to think we’re riding the hobby horse,” He warns with a chuckle.

“First of all, they already think that. And B, nice
Breakfast Club
reference, that’s a great movie.”

“Okay, time to sleep drunky,” He instructs as he slides into the bed and pulls me against him so that we’re spooning.

“Why haven’t you?” I suddenly ask.

“Why haven’t I what?” He mumbles sleepily against my back.

“Had sex with anyone since we’ve met,” I clarify. Maybe I’m being presumptuous and it has absolutely nothing to do with me.

“I tried a few times and I couldn’t get into it. All I could think about was you, it didn’t feel right.”

“How is that even possible for you to have gone this long without sex?” I ask incredulously.

“Honestly?” He lets out a short laugh. “My right hand and my cock have gotten extremely well acquainted.”

I turn his words over in my head for several minutes, trying to understand their meaning. I roll towards him and bury my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his masculine scent. A tingle runs through my body and settles between my legs.

“Do you ever think about me?” I ask quietly, not quite sure I want to know the answer. Although the idea of him touching himself and thinking about me is pretty fucking hot.