I smiled and took a bite of the pizza, trying to stall for time. I knew I was starting to like Ethan, but I wasn’t sure how much of my feelings I should admit to him. I wasn’t sure if he had serious feelings for me. Since we left Free Fall Adventures, neither one of us had brought up the fact that we’d shared that spontaneous, passionate kiss in the air. It was almost as if what happened up in the air, stayed up in the air.

There was yet another reason I was hesitant to be the first to reveal my feelings. I looked down at the engagement ring that seemed to weigh down my left ring finger and my stomach twisted with guilt. I had cheated on Connor. There was no denying that fact. I had decided to hang out with Ethan today, knowing deep down that there was nothing platonic about our relationship. Even though I hadn’t initiated the kiss with Ethan, I hadn’t stopped it. Instead I enjoyed it and had kissed him back. What was worse was I knew I wanted more than just a kiss.

I knew things were heading in the wrong direction with Connor, and I was pretty sure that I would break off our engagement when I had a chance to talk to him in person. But the problem was, I hadn’t done that yet. I was still his fiancée, and I had allowed myself to become involved with Ethan before I had ended things with Connor.

“Earth to Liv.” Ethan’s voice broke through my thoughts and I looked up at him.

“Oh. I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

For a brief second, he looked at me quizzically before answering my question. “I was just asking you how you thought I’d change since your first impression of me.”

“Oh right.” I met his gaze with a small smile. “Well, I don’t think you’re the cocky, bad boy type that you had initially let on. You’re actually pretty down to earth and sweet. You have a soft side under the hard exterior you try to project.”

“Wow, you make me sound like a pussy.” He frowned and then laughed.

I joined in his laughter and shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that. I think it’s endearing.”

He chuckled. “I guess I can live with that.”

“Can I ask you something?”

He leaned across the table and smiled. “Ask away.”

“Why are you still single?”

“Because I’m training to be a priest.” He could barely finish his sentence before he started laughing.

“Ha ha, very funny,” I said sarcastically. “Seriously, have you ever been in love before?” I knew I was prying, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to know more about him.

He met my gaze and I saw a warmth in his dark eyes as his face became more serious.

“Yes, I have.”

His response piqued my interest. “Tell me about her.”

“Well I had someone in my life once. She was my sunshine—the beacon to everything that was wonderful in my life. She was my best friend, my first kiss, my first love.”

“What happened to her?”

There was a wistful smile on his face as he thought of her, and I felt a pang of jealousy ripple through me.

“She moved away before I had a chance to tell her how I felt about her. We had promised to write and keep in touch, but as the weeks turned into months, months turned into years, her emails, calls, and texts decreased until there were no more. Over time, she had forgotten about me.”

There was a pained expression on his face and I felt my heart go out to him. From the way his face twisted in anguish, I knew he had lost her somehow. I could see the regret in his eyes. I could see the pain on his face. I could feel the yearning in his heart for her.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Before I could ask him more questions, the waitress came to our table with a birthday cake. Several dozen thin tapered candles were lit up on top of the cake as she placed the cake between me and Ethan.

“Did you do this?” I asked him in surprise.

“Happy birthday, Liv.” He smiled at me in a way that brought tears in my eyes.

“When did you get a chance to do this?”

“I ordered the cake before I picked you up earlier today, and then had it sent to Barbuzzo before you landed from your dive.”

“That’s so sweet of you.” I beamed at him.

“Don’t forget to make a wish before you blow out the candles,” he urged.

“But it’s both our birthdays today. We should both make a wish and blow out the candles.”

He smiled. “You can have my wish.”

I frowned. “But that’s not how it works.”

He laughed. “Okay, fine. I wish you happiness. I wish that you will quickly regain all your memories.”

My heart melted at his words and as we blew out the candles together, I knew that he was the guy I wanted to be with. He was the person I didn’t want to live without.

***

Two hours later, Ethan had pulled up in front of my place. He had invited me to stay with him tonight, but as much as I had wanted to take him up on that offer, it didn’t feel right when I was still wearing Connor’s ring.

“Are you sure you want to stay here tonight?” Ethan asked one more time as he got off his bike and helped me remove my helmet.

I nodded but felt my self-control waver as I looked into his deep captivating eyes.

Before I could get off the bike, he leaned forward and pressed my body down against the seat of his bike, and kissed me with a hard and rough hunger that left me gasping for air.

“God, I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” he groaned as he pulled away to catch his breath.

Before I could respond, his lips recaptured mine, this time more demanding and urgent as his tongue traced my lips before it plunged inside me to explore the recesses of my mouth. As our kiss deepened, the world around us seemed to disappear and all I could think of was the way his lips seduced and caressed mine, sending ripples of desire to run down my body and collect in intensity between my legs.

Then I felt his rough strong hand move down my body, and my skin prickled in anticipation of his touch. I gasped with pleasure as his lips left mine to nibble at my earlobe. His hot breath teased my neck as he whispered in a low, ragged voice, “Let me help you remember one thing you might have forgotten.” His words sent a shiver down my spine as his hand disappeared beneath my skirt and up between my legs.

I tried to think through my almost unbearable need for him to be inside me. “I—I shouldn’t do this right now,” I whimpered as my back arched up against his hand. “I—I’m still engaged.”

“To a man you can’t even remember, a man who’s not even here to celebrate your birthday tonight,” he reminded me. “So in my fucking book, it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t deserve you.” His fingers pushed aside my panties and moved along my opening. “What really matters,”—he entered me with two fingers, causing me to gasp in pleasure—“is how wet I’m making you right now.”

A part of me wanted to resist him and push him away, but my body refused to listen to my head. I threw my head back in intense pleasure as my hips rocked in rhythm with his fingers as they plunged in and out of my wetness, each time deeper and faster than the last.

Our eyes locked and when I saw the raw desire in his eyes, all I wanted was to feel him inside of me. “I want you to fuck me,” I panted.

“Tonight’s all about you, baby.” I could hear the restraint in his ragged voice as he watched me writhe in the throes of ecstasy. “I want you to come like you’ve never come before.”

Suddenly, I cried out for release as I felt his fingers curl inside me and hit my G-stop.

“Oh God…” My body began to quiver and my eyes fluttered uncontrollably as I finally approached my climax.

“That’s it, baby. Come for me. Come for me hard,” he groaned in a raspy voice. “I want to feel your pussy clench onto my fingers for dear life.”

Finally, I felt my release spasm down my body as I involuntarily tightened around his fingers in time with the spasms.

“God, you’re so fucking sexy, Liv,” he groaned as he slowly licked his wet fingers, savoring every drop of me.