Page 138 of When We Ignite

“Ethan, for fuck’s sake,” I snapped, but he only shrugged again.

“Or kiss me.”

I wanted to argue, to call him out for being childish, but I couldn’t. Henry was right. If I wanted someone reasonable, I shouldn’t have fucked around with him. But knowing that didn’t help. I hadn’t felt the weight of Ethan’s age until right this second.

“Can’t do it, can you?” Ethan said, shaking his head and turning to walk away. “Fine, Sebastian. See you around.”

My body moved before my mind could catch up. I grabbed his arm, exhaling loudly as I stepped in front of him. Without another word, I cupped his face and kissed him.

Ethan grabbed my hair, holding me close as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved against mine with a ferocity that made me feel like we were the only two people in the world. I felt ridiculous—like a teenager again, playing some stupid game—but I couldn’t let him walk away.

When we broke apart, I kept him close, my forehead pressed to his. “I want you. You don’t have anything to prove, pet. You’re fucking perfect, and I wantyou.”

Ethan’s face softened, his eyes searching mine. “Take me home.”

I kissed him again, briefly, before lacing my fingers through his. “Let’s go.”

As we walked toward the exit, I caught Chris’s smug smirk and Henry’s wide-eyed stare.

I leaned toward Henry as we walked past them, keeping my voice low. “Get a car around the back for us,” I said, and he nodded, already pulling out his phone.

Without looking back, I led Ethan out, holding on to him like I might lose him if I let go.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

ASH

The entire ride back, I stared out the window, trying to calm the storm in my head. That had been reckless—too fucking reckless. If Chris decided to sell his story to the highest bidder, I could kiss my life goodbye. My job, my reputation, everything would be gone. And for what? To get this guy into bed?

I should call it off. Tell him to go home, get my head back in the game, and focus on my life. If I still couldn’t shake him in a few years, maybe then I’d revisit the idea.

Smart. This was smart.

But I couldn’t do it—I couldn’t make myself say the words.

We stepped off the elevator in silence, tension hanging heavy between us. When I closed the door behind us, the sound echoed through the apartment.

“You’re mad,” Ethan said simply, breaking the quiet.

“Yes, I’m fucking mad,” I replied sharply.

He stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, his face set in defiance, with not a shred of regret.

“You do realize he could tell everyone, right? If Chris wanted to, he could blow this whole thing up. You and I would be over. My career would be over. But you don’t give a damn, do you?”

“He already knew.”

“No, Ethan. Hethoughthe knew. He didn’t know for sure.Nowhe knows—because of that stunt you pulled,” I snapped.

Ethan crossed his arms tighter over his chest, his posture stiff. “I don’t want you to be public property.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?”

“Henry said you’re public property. That you just mess around with the same people. Chris came there thinking he could get you into bed because that’s what everyone thinks. But he can’t. You’re not public property.”

I stared at him, stunned. “I told you I wasn’t fucking around. I toldhimthat too. Did you think he’d ask me, and I’d just forget about it? That I have no self-control?”

Ethan finally broke eye contact, looking away, shame flickering across his face.