Harper remained in place, crossing her arms over her chest. “I ate dinner.”
“Well, you’re eating for two now.”
She didn’t even try to prevent the eye roll. “I always thought that saying was so silly. A tiny fetus doesn’t need a large meal.”
Ethan stared at her a moment before shrugging. “I don’t know a damn thing about pregnancies, but I read that pregnant women might need frequent meals, and I thought you should eat.”
Harper stared at the spread and realized he’d ordered all this food...for her. Well, for the baby, but the fact he truly cared and wasn’t completely about ripping her clothes off was a little sweet.
But only a little. She couldn’t blow his gestures out of proportion. That would mean she wanted him to be kind and do cutesy things.
Ugh. Her hormones were all over the place.
“I don’t know what to do here,” he admitted. “But if you could come eat some fruit or something. Hell, whatever.”
Well, wasn’t that adorable? Someone was insecure and fumbling over his words. Yet seconds ago he’d been more than in control when he’d had her arched against him and silently begging him for more.
The man likely wasn’t used to being anything but in total control. Considering their current situation of being thrust into parenthood, she’d say that control would be a long time coming for both of them.
“Did you eat?” she asked, making her way to the wooden bar stool.
He nodded and pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge and set it in front of her.
“So you intend for all of this to be for me?” Harper laughed and selected a plump raspberry. “Have you ever seen me eat this much?”
She popped the piece of fruit into her mouth and welcomed the delicious burst of flavor. Maybe she was a little hungry, but she’d never admit as much.
“I wanted to make sure you had a good variety,” he defended.
“There’s enough variety here for the entire third floor.”
Ethan’s lips curved into another toe-curling grin. “I’ll take that as a thanks for my gesture.”
Harper grabbed a handful of blueberries. “And is that why you did this? So I’d be indebted to you and reward you as you see fit?”
“Talking dirty to me will get you everywhere.”
“Do you think of anything besides sex?”
Ethan’s intense stare stretched across the island, making her wish she could take those words back.
“My mind is typically on work,” he finally answered. “But when I’m around you, those thoughts become a little muddled.”
“Should I be flattered?”
Ethan circled the island and took a blueberry from her hand and held it up to her lips. “Flattered isn’t what I want you to feel.”
Her gaze dropped to that mouth that had caused her so much pleasure. When she shifted her focus back to his eyes, there was that passion, that desire she’d come to recognize from him.
“So we are back to sex,” she murmured, taking the berry from between his fingertips. She might have bitten him lightly, but just so he knew who was in charge here.
“Even though you’re carrying my child...” He stopped, shook his head and blew out a sigh. “Especially because you’re carrying my child, I want you more than ever. Maybe we should cool it, maybe we should end this fling, but I keep asking myself why. We’re adults who more than enjoy each other’s company, and we both have outside issues that are put aside when we’re together.”
She’d been telling herself those same things. Granted, she’d also told herself she needed to keep her clothes on around Ethan from here on out, but suddenly everything he said made sense. Why shouldn’t she seek this happiness, even if for only a few moments longer? There was no rule that just because he wasn’t putting a ring on her finger, they couldn’t continue their passionate nights until it was time for one of them to leave.
Right?
He took another blueberry and slid it back and forth across her lips. When she opened, he pulled the fruit away and covered her lips with his.