“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he said when it was clear Beau was finished.
“I know exactly what I’m asking for. Never doubt me, E,” Beau stated with a hard edge. “People often underestimate me. You shouldn’t.”
“So what? You were willing to jump in there and get your ass handed to you just to defend me?”
“Trust me when I say, I won’t get my ass handed to me.”
Why did the guy sound so sure of himself? It had happened to Ethan. Then again, it had happened when he was just a kid. Young and stupid and unashamedly naïve. Not anymore. He’d managed to erect that steel wall around his heart to keep others out and to keep himself locked in.
“And when you decide to talk to me, just know I’m here to listen.”
Ethan stared back at Beau, all of the fight draining out of him completely. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to argue. He just wanted… to feel. God, he just wanted to feel.
A brief head nod was all he could muster. After recalling what Beau had said to him earlier – Beau’s extremely graphic description of the things they’d done the day before, Ethan was having a difficult time concentrating on anything else. And he welcomed the opportunity to forget everything that had just happened at Moonshiners.
“I don’t want to talk,” Ethan told him.
“Tell me what you do want then,” Beau said, moving in closer until they were aligned from knee to chest.
“You. I want you. I want you to take my mind off of it all.”
“I can do that,” Beau whispered, leaning in. “But I’m not going to be rough with you. Not this time.”
Ethan wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that. Rough, no-holds-barred sex was the easiest way to wipe away all of the memories. If Beau was gentle and tender, the way they had been the first time, Ethan wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep himself distanced from him the way he needed.
“So take it or leave it, E. You’ve got me. As long as you want me. But tonight I want to take my time with you.”
Without talking, mainly because he didn’t know what the fuck to even say, Ethan grabbed Beau’s hand and led him to the stairs. It was his silent acceptance. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud, but he knew Beau understood.
Once they made their way up the stairs, Ethan’s nerves kicked in full throttle, but he didn’t falter as he led the way. He was pulled up short on his way to the bed, and he turned to face Beau, confused.
“Not yet. Shower first.”
“I already took a shower,” Ethan argued, although he wasn’t against the idea of showering with Beau. Maybe the heat of the water would loosen the rest of the strain in his muscles.
“Don’t argue with me, Walker,” Beau quipped with a sexy grin.
Ethan read the desire in Beau’s eyes and his pulse sped up, but this time it wasn’t fueled by anger. No, this was pure, unadulterated lust. And truthfully, Ethan was more than happy to put himself in Beau’s capable hands so to speak.
In fact, he craved it.
When Beau moved, Ethan followed. Once they stepped into the master bathroom, Ethan made a quick detour to the shower, flipping on the faucets, allowing the two showerheads on the wall and the rain showerhead to come on. He made sure the water was hot, but not scalding, just enough to ensure the last of the tension could be eased from his body.
Then again, he knew there would be an entirely different sort of tension where Beau was concerned.
When he made his way out from behind the wall that concealed the shower, Ethan found Beau leaning casually against the bathroom counter, his hands gripping the edge, one ankle crossed over the other.
Calm, cool. Or so Ethan thought.
When their eyes met, Ethan saw the thunderheads brewing, something exquisite and exciting, and it had nothing to do with fights or fury. This was… It was more than desire. More than need. He couldn’t even name it. But whatever it was, he felt it too. And oddly enough, he wanted it.
In fact, he wanted Beau – every part the man had to offer.
Ignoring the fact that he’d thrown caution to the wind, Ethan approached Beau slowly, not wanting to rush him, but not sure how much his control was worth at this point. He was having a difficult time focusing on what he was supposed to be doing, instead thinking ahead to the moment when nothing would matter except for the satisfaction of being in Beau’s arms.
“You know that you belong to me tonight, right?” Beau asked.
Awww, hell. Ethan’s dick heard the statement before his brain even processed the words.
“Mine, E. No one else is invited here tonight.”