Page 111 of Run
I look at Sophie, whose eyes are locked with Gino’s—and holy shit, even I can feel the air crackling between them.
“Well, look who it is! Mr. and Mrs. Knox and Lizzie Mitchell.” I turn to see an officer approaching. “You two just can’t seem to stay out of trouble, huh?”
“Deputy Clark!” Knox cheers in greeting, as if happy to see him from his kneeling position. “I thought you were on desk duty these days?”
The burly officer shakes his head as he stops in front of the guys. “You know, Knox, you’re really not in a position to be making jokes right now.”
“Would you believe me if I said this wasn’t our fault?”
Lizzie comes walking up and links her arm through the officer’s. “Oh, Clark, thank God it’s you. You’re not going to believe what happened …”
As she starts to rattle off a description of our evening, I approach the guys. Ethan looks up at me nervously. I get to him and cup the side of his face with my bandaged hand, running my thumb along his reddened cheek. “You OK?”
He nods and leans into my touch. “I’m sorry, baby. I know you don’t like violence.” Warm, chocolate eyes search mine. It’s true, and seeing him on his knees in front of the cops brings back a particularly bad memory.
“What happened?”
He nods his head to the side. “Gino here went apeshit. We let him pummel one of the guys a bit, then Knox and I had to drag him off before he really did some damage. When his friend jumped in, it turned into a little scuffle.”
I run my thumb along his jaw. “Why did you do it?” He frowns at my question, so I repeat it. “Why did you guys all push those dudes out here?”
Ethan shrugs. “Because Sophie is one of the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful souls we know, and she doesn’t deserve to betreated that way. And by hurting her they were hurting you, and Lizzie.”
I look at the ground. “Oh.”
“Ari, are you OK?” I return my eyes to Ethan. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking …” I trail off, and Ethan’s eyes search mine. “I’m thinking I love you.” In my periphery, I see Knox’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’m thinking no one has ever loved anyone as much as I love you.” I rub my thumb over Ethan’s jaw some more. “Your vulnerability, your loyalty, your complexity, your simplicity—I love it all.”
Ethan’s eyes glaze over as a lopsided grin stretches across his face. “I’ve loved you since I was sixteen years old and we danced in my backyard. Actually, I may have loved you before that, but we were so young and that makes it weird.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask. “Why didn’t you tell me you love me?”
His eyes dart between mine. “I was trying not to be too intense.”
“I love your intensity.”
Ethan’s throat rolls with a swallow as his eyes hold mine and he whispers, “Kiss me.”
Without hesitation, I lean down and—still cupping his face with one hand—slant my mouth over his. A moan vibrates from his lips as he deepens the kiss, his tongue and lips seeking. His shoulders move and the handcuffs clink behind him as he struggles with being restrained.
I pull away and Ethan shakes his head. “More,” he whispers, and I lean down and give him one more open-mouthed kiss, followed by one, two, three pecks before finally pulling away. The arousal bouncing between us is palpable.
I’m sure Knox can feel it, too, because I hear a “hot damn” come from him.
“Alright, ladies,” Deputy Clark addresses the guys. “You’re all free to go. The bartenders tell us you were provoked, and the two dipshits over there”—he nods at the hecklers—“have agreed not to press charges. So we’re gonna uncuff you and hope everyone goes the hell home. Got it?”
All the guys grumble. Another officer helps them to their feet, one by one, and uncuffs them. As they are each released, they rub their wrists, and I see Knox and Ethan have red knuckles. Gino’s, however, are busted open, and I can practically see them throbbing.
As soon as the officers retreat, Gino takes three strides right up to Sophie. “Go on a date with me,” he demands, and Sophie takes a step back.
“W— What?”
“Let me drive you home.” He advances on her.
“I, uh, I drove here.”
“Fine. Hold my hand as I walk you to your car.”
