Grace.

Chapter 43.

Ethan gave me his jacket to cover myself with in the car. He even put the heater on. I was feeling cold. Both my feet were on the seat and I was facing him, my back leaning against the door. He was singing along to some song, and I took a moment to just look at him. He loved music. His voice wasn't so good but he didn't care. Tapping his hands on the steering wheel pretending to drum, we drove into the night, not a care in the world.
I had never set foot into Ethan's house. I was nervous, for some reason. It was really late at night and I didn't want his parents first impression of me to be bad. Speaking of parents, I had not spoken to mine the whole night! My phone was off. But did I care? Nope. I just wanted to be with Ethan.
He parked his car in front of the garage. The outside lights were on, and so was the kitchen light.
"That must be Dad," he said, opening the door.
I reached down to get my shoes and to put on the jacket because I had to look decent at least. My hair was wet, so I tried to brush it back with my hands so it would at least look neat. Ethan opened the door for me and I stepped out.
"Will he be mad?" I questioned.
"What for? He knows you're my date," he assured me.
"Do you think he'll like me?"
"Let's go find out," he smiled.
I looped my arm with his and stayed close to him as we went inside. Mr. Byers was having a glass of water in the kitchen. I stuck so close to Ethan I think it might've looked like I was hiding behind him.
"It's okay," he whispered to me.
When we walked into the kitchen, his dad turned from the sink to look at us. My heart dropped.
"Hey, Dad. Still up?" Ethan greeted.
"Hey, Son. Wanted to wait up for you. Is this the famous Miss Hills?" He asked, looking past his son to see my face.
I stepped out from behind Ethan, not letting go of him, to greet his dad.
"Hello, Mr. Byers. It's a pleasure to meet you. I apologize that it is under these circumstances. We didn't mean to stay out so late," I explained.
"Homecoming is one of the most important nights of your high school life. I'm just happy that you two are well and safe, and that you had a good time. You did have a good time, right?"
"The best! Your son is really quiet the gentleman," I expressed, tightening my hold around his arm.
"He's been planning this night for weeks. I'm really happy that you two enjoyed your night, Miss Hills. And you're welcome in our home. Anytime. Any day," he smiled.
"Thank you, Sir. That means a lot to me."
"Will you be joining us for breakfast tomorrow morning?" He looked at his son for confirmation.
"If she doesn't mind. I'd really like you to meet my mom and Katie," he pointed out.
"I'd really like that," I agreed.
"Great! I'll make my special blueberry pancakes," his dad beamed.
"You'll love them," Ethan whispered to me.
"Let me leave you kids be. Have a Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning."
And with that, he walked upstairs leaving us in the kitchen. One thing about Ethan? He loved feeding me.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, pulling out a chair for me to sit.
"Starving," I revealed.
He opened the oven and found a dish of pasta. He put it on the table and got out two plates. I was still wet and felt really cold. I had to get out of those clothes.
"Ethan?"
"Yeah?" He stopped.
"Can I...change out of these clothes? I'm still wet and I'm getting really cold," I shivered.
"Right! I am so sorry. Let's go up to my room, you could wear one of my shirts after taking a warm shower."
I jumped down from the chair and followed him to his bedroom. Do you think it was weird that we held hands all the time? Because we did. And I loved it! It was our way of showing each other affection, I guess. I think both of us were scared of saying anything so, showing each other how much we meant to one another was the easiest way. His room was the last one down the hall. He opened the door and I walked in first. It was a...guy room. A couple of football posters. A big comfy bed. His shoe collection. A study table. A radio. A computer. All of that jazz.
We walked to his bed and plopped ourselves on it. My feet were killing me! Ethan noticed me struggling to take my shoes off, so he helped me with them.
"You've got a pretty neat room," I noticed.
"Not as neat as yours. Can I confess?"
"Sure."
"I cleaned this room for a week. I didn't want my beautiful girl sitting in a swamp."
"Don't you clean it regularly?" I chuckled.
"I get so tired after practice. All I do is bath, eat and call it a night," he confessed.
"Did you mean a beautiful girl?"
"My. Mine," he clarified.
"You're so sure of yourself," I giggled.
"Can I tell you something? You won't believe me but..."
"What is it?"
He had done unstrapping the shoes and he threw them on the floor proceeding to give me a foot massage.
"You're the second girl after Martha from tenth grade to come into my room."
"You lie. Wait, that's right! You and Martha were a thing!" I remembered, gently nudging his shoulder with mine.
"For two weeks," he cringed.
"What happened?"
"I did. It was around the time my villain story started."
"In ninth grade? C'mon," I scoffed
"Stick around, Buttercup, and I might just tell you my story."
He got up from the bed and went into the bathroom to start the shower. He came back and drew out fresh towels for me. I got up from his bed and removed his jacket, carefully hanging it on the chair nearby.
"I don't have fancy soaps, unfortunately," he said, handing me the towel.
"It's okay. I'll make do with what you got."
"Okay. Let me give you space. I'll be downstairs preparing our food. Would you like water or juice?"
"Water, please."
He walked out and I got undressed, ready to feel the warm water on my skin. His bathroom was clean. His toiletries were packed neatly. Everything was clean. I didn't take too long. I only wanted to warm up and get rid of the lake water from my hair and skin. Ethan had said that I could use one of his shirts. I really didn't want to go through his wardrobe but I also didn't want to let him find me wrapped in a towel. Luckily for me, his shirts were in plain sight. I took a black one and slipped into it. It was big enough to cover me fully.
I was in the middle of drying my hair when I noticed something outside his window. It was a mattress! It had pillows, and a blanket...on the roof! It was the first time I'd seen such. Sounds weird, but their roof was flat so it wasn't dangerous. I opened the window and stepped out onto it. It was big, warm and cozy. It was also so peaceful and so...beautiful.
I laid back onto it and that's when Ethan appeared.
"Now, tell me why everything looks good on you."
Jerking up, I saw him jumping out of the window, his hands full with food. I quickly got up and took the glasses from him. We sat back down on the mattress, next to each other. The light from his room was shining from inside.
"One thing about me: I love pasta," he grinned.
"It is delicious. Aren't you going to get changed?"
"I will."
He took his shoes off, then his pants, then his shirt and then threw them inside his room through the window. He opened the blanket and got inside it. I followed suit. The food was absolutely delicious!
After eating, we cuddled into the blanket. We both still felt kinda drunk and high. Which is why even in the silence, we giggled and laughed at the things that happened earlier.
"But you standing in the middle of the hall looking so lost?" Ethan recalled, laughing.
"How'd you know I was thinking about that?" I laughed.
"Do you think anyone noticed?"
"Who cares?"
"Ha! Right. Of course you don't and you shouldn't. Everything about you is...amazing."
He stopped smiling and then moved closer me. His eyes focused on me, every bit of me. My skin, my big, brown eyes...my lips. He noticed a strand of hair hanging down to my face, he moved it, tucking it gently behind my ear. When he reverted his focus back to me, I was looking at him as well.
Gazing into his eyes...focused. None of us even realized how close we were to each other. The only thing going through my mind at that moment was having his lips touch mine. Having his arms around me as he drank me in. It wasn't a feeling I'd always had, but after spending so much time with him...I was starting to feel that I wanted more.
"Grace?" He whispered.
"Yes?" I breathed.
I could feel my eyes slowly close and heat rushing to my cheeks as he leaned in closer to me. Hand on my waist, mine on the length of his neck. He planted a gentle kiss on my lips and I couldn't help but notice how soft his were. Slow, tender and passionate.
He slipped a hand behind my neck, pulling me closer and drawing me in with every wave of emotion.
His frisky and bold demeanor only served to make me fall deeper into the madness. There was just something about the way he was kissing me. I could tell that it was a meaningful kiss. A kiss he'd been longing to have. It was not a 'making out' kiss. It was more like a 'you're always on my mind' kiss.
I breathed in the heady scent of his cologne as his lips met mine with both a tenderness and a hunger, a desperation. His tongue probed my mouth, and I parted my lips to invite him in, moaning into him. He gently bit my lower lip, a fierceness to his kiss I'd never felt before.
I wanted him to kiss me till I couldn't breathe. I wanted him to take my soul, and maybe even my heart. He felt so right, and that kiss confirmed it. It awakened a wave of emotions I never knew were in me.
With our heads resting against each other, we both gasped for air. I couldn't keep my hands off of him. My fingers trailed on his arms, and then on to his neck. I didn't have to do much to convince him that I wasn't enough of him.
He held me down on the mattress by my wrists, kissing along my neck, down to the edge of my collar. One of his hands traveled to my thigh. Mind you, I had no underwear on.
He gently squeezed, then traveled up towards my waistband. When he realized that I had no underwear on, he withdrew his hand from beneath the shirt. As he sucked on my neck, I pressed my body as much with his as I could. His scent, his warmth, his touch...I couldn't get enough.
He shivered in pleasure and I could feel his heartbeat against me. First fast from the exertion, then slow and calm. His lips departed from my mouth and he kissed the top of my forehead, his hand running in along my waist and hip.
And that's how I spent my night with Ethan. And when the sun rose up, we were cuddled up and cosy under the blanket. Ethan with his arm wrapped tightly around my waist and his head buried behind my neck, fast asleep. I too, with my back turned to him. Spooned in a very comfortable, warm embrace. It didn't even feel like we were sleeping outside.