Page 160 of When We Ignite

I stared at him, the honesty in his expression disarming. “Okay,” I said finally.

His face lit up with a boyish smile. “I can’t wait,” he said, biting his lip before leaning down to kiss me again.

My chest tightened at the thought. He didn’t want to close the door on us. Not yet. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you kiss everybody like this, Ash?” My voice was small, uncertain, but I couldn’t hold the question back.

Sebastian’s smile softened, and he shook his head.

I searched his face for any hint of a lie, but all I saw was truth.

His smile grew, and he pressed his lips to mine again. “I’ve never liked kissing anybody like I like kissing you.”

My fingers tightened in his hair as I parted my lips, inviting him in.

“I love kissing you, almost as much as you love it,” he teased, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“I do,” I admitted.

“Do you kiss everybody like this?”

“No. Definitely not. Nothing I’ve done even comes close to you,” I said honestly.

Something passed between us—something electric and far more intimate than what we’d just done. The way our eyes locked on each other, it was like the moment was suspended in space. Stretching in time.

Sebastian’s smile faltered, and I watched as his walls came back up.

His eyes drifted from mine, and he cleared his throat. “Well, I’m glad you’re liking me so far,” he said lightly, but the warmth from moments ago was gone. He sat up. “Do you want to eat anything?”

I watched him walk to the bathroom, regret twisting in my chest. “Sure, Ash.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ETHAN

Ihad a match on Thursday. It was part of a small tournament I’d signed up for before everything with Sebastian had started. I’d missed one match already, but still managed to make it to the finals. I told him about it over breakfast and he just blinked at me, surprised.

“I thought you weren’t serious about tennis,” he said, a slight frown creasing his brow.

“I’m not, but I still play tournaments,” I said, shrugging it off, but the frown didn’t disappear.

“Have you missed any games because of me?”

“Just the one you asked me to.”

His eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, he looked genuinely taken aback. “I had no idea,” he murmured, almost to himself.

I glanced at Aria, who was watching us with a curious expression.

“At what time is it?” he asked, turning back to me.

“You don’t have to?—”

“At what time, Ethan?”

“It’s at nine,” I said, taking another bite of my food.