Page 143 of When We Ignite

He nodded. “Please stop,”

I froze, alarmed. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, but I need you to stop. Please pull out.”

“Ethan—”

“Pull out,” he repeated, cutting me off.

I did as he asked, moving away immediately. As soon as I withdrew, he sat up quickly, his back to me, perched on the edge of the bed.

“Ethan,” I tried again, reaching out for him, but he shook his head.

“I need a minute,” he said, his voice clipped as he stood and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Panic coursed through me. What had just happened?

I discarded the condom and pulled on my briefs, knocking lightly on the door.

“Darling, are you okay?” I asked, my voice wavering despite my best efforts to stay calm.

“I need a minute.”

I rested my forehead against the door. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”

“Give me a minute.”

I backed away, defeated, and began pacing the room. Sitting, standing, pacing again—I didn’t know what to do with myself. The minutes dragged on, each one heavier than the last.

After what felt like an eternity, the door finally opened. I was sitting on the floor beside it, and my heart leaped the moment I saw him. Ethan stepped out, wearing my robe, his expression guarded.

Ethan’s face was flushed, his eyes red-rimmed and heavy.

I reached for his hand, feeling a surge of relief when he let me take it. “Come sit,” I said gently.

He nodded and lowered himself to the floor in front of me, his head bowed, staring at his lap. I tugged him closer, wrapping my arms around him and tucking him to my chest. Ethan curled into himself, burying his face against me.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, so quietly I almost missed it.

“Don’t be sorry. Please, just tell me what’s wrong.”

He took a deep breath. “It was too much.”

“Did I hurt you?”

“No. It didn’t hurt,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “Just like you said, it was uncomfortable, but not painful.”

I exhaled, relieved. “Then what made you bolt?” I asked, holding him tighter and resting my chin on the top of his head.

Ethan stayed silent, his breaths shallow against me. I waited, giving him the time he needed.

“You were inside,” he finally said, the words strained. “I didn’t think this would happen, and then you were, and I just felt…” His voice broke off again.

“Felt what, pet?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head, his voice trembling. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“What wasn’t supposed to happen? Us having sex?”