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Chapter Five

Ethan

Although Ethan was a positive person, he wonderedwhen the other shoe would drop.

The last few weeks were perfect for Ethan and Sebastian.The time they weren’t in class or studying in the library, Sebastian spent time with Ethan, in their loft.They cooked dinner together, sometimes attempted homework, but most of the time they spent talking or watching whatever was on TV.

It reminded Ethan of the years they’d spent in junior high and high school, where nothing mattered more than hanging out and talking about everything and nothing.

But somehow, the past month of living together becameintimate, at least for Ethan.They acted almost like lovers, only without the physical part of their relationship.

Ethan had woken up more than once in the middle of the night after a vivid dream about his friend, only to find himself wrapped up in the Sebastian’s arms as the other man slept on without being disturbed.Ethan would have to maneuver himself off the bed without waking his friend to relievehimself in the bathroom.But most of the time, Sebastian wouldn’t release his hold, so he had to take deep breaths and wait for his body to calm down before he tried falling asleep.

Most mornings, Ethan would wake cradled against Sebastian’s chest, warm and relaxed.He would savor those quiet moments until Sebastian stirred, and then Ethan would make himself get out of bed.He would shower first and then find one way or another to rouse Sebastian and push him toward the bathroom for his shower.

Ethan wondered if Sebastian thought if their nighttime ritual was strange.They would fall asleep on opposite sides of the bed but Ethan would inevitably wake in the middle with Sebastian holding him.

Sebastian never mentioned how they drifted toward each other in their sleep or hesitated before bed, so Ethan found himself eager for the day to end instead of worrying Sebastian would catch on to his feelings.Ethan believed they were plain to see if he looked hard enough.

After Sebastian showered and dressed, which meant he would pull on sweats before he stumbled toward the kitchen where he sat down and shoveled food into his mouth, Ethan would try not to stare at Sebastian’s exposed chest.

But more often than not, Sebastian was still sleepyuntil he had his three cups of coffee, giving Ethan time for his gaze to wander over Sebastian's muscled, tanned skin.

But the afternoon after class and the nights were the best.They would spend most of their time together and although neither of them had come out and said it, Ethan understood that somehow Sebastian's feelings for him have changed.

Ethan’s friend might not be as straight as he had once considered.

On that day, the Thursday before Halloween, everything had gone wrong from the moment Ethan woke.Their alarm hadn’t sounded because the power had gone out during the night due to a rare ice storm.Ethan had roused Sebastian a half an hour before their first class, and that meant no caffeine or breakfast for either of them.It made Sebastian grumpy but left Ethan with a headache.

Ethan’s late-morning lab ran an hour past the time it should have and the dull ache that had been there from the lack of coffee earlier in the morning had turned into a throbbing pain.

He sent a text to Sebastian sayinghe’d see him at home instead of the library, where they’d planned to meet, but Ethan hadn’t heard from him.Sebastian preferred texting to speaking on the phone, so Ethan figured he was in the middle of something or had a class that ran late.

But as Ethan climbed the stairs to their loft, he heard the reason Sebastian hadn’t responded. A woman’s loud laugh came through the door as he neared it.

Well, shit.

Ethan’s headache receded to a heavy thrum in the back of his head as a new pain ripped through his chest. He closed his eyes anddebated whether he should head to the library and start on the essay that was due Monday. But Ethanwas too tired to concentrate on his work and besides, he would have to deal with Sebastian’s new relationship sometime.

Although he’d hoped Sebastian would see him as more than a friend, Ethan now understood it had been wishful thinking on his part alone.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan reached for the handle and opened the front door with as much noise as he could make without being obvious.Although he preparedfor what he would see, Ethan sucked in a breath when he spotted a blonde, Sarah he remembered, sitting on Sebastian’s lap with her arms draped over his shoulders as she played with his hair.

Out of patience and in pain, Ethan dropped his backpack on the floor next to the door.The noise startled Sarah, who glanced at him with wide eyes before she scrambled over to the free spot on the couch next to Sebastian.

Ethan expected Sebastian to ask for some time alone with Sarah, but before he had the chance, Ethan walked toward the kitchen and away from the scene he’d come home to.Now the power was back on, he wanted to have his first coffee of the day and forget about everything.

He should’ve known better than to get his hopes up.He never had a chance with Sebastian.Lesson learned.

“Ethan.” Sebastian’s voice sounded panicked.

He glanced up and Sebastian'sface flashed relief as he moved away from Sarah and strode toward him.Ethan wanted to turn and avoid the conversation, but at that moment, Sebastian moaned his name and he froze where he stood.And of course Ethan’s cock liked the low, growling sound.

He waited for Sebastian to tell him what he wanted so he could escape.But when Sebastian came close enough, he banded one arm around Ethan’s waist and with his free hand, cupped the back of Ethan’s neck.Ethan’s eyes widened as he watched Sebastian move closer to him.

The kiss was better than he’d ever imagined.A moan escaped Ethan’s tight throat the first moment their lips touched.

It started as a brush of Sebastian’s lips against his.But when Sebastian tilted his head and deepened the kiss, the shock of pure electricity passed through him and he clutched at Sebastian’s waist.Ethan opened his mouth in time to swallow Sebastian’s moan, which sounded drawn from deep in his chest, and Ethan lost all control.