My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 104: Because It’s You

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When Ethan finally pulled into my driveway, the sky had already started to shift into that soft bluish hue that comes just before night takes over. The porch light was on, casting a warm golden glow over the front steps, and for a moment, neither of us made a move to get out of the car.

The engine ticked quietly beneath us, cooling off in the stillness, and everything felt like it was on pause like the world was just waiting to see who’d break the silence first.

Ethan was tapping his fingers nervously against the steering wheel, a habit he always seemed to fall back on when he was anxious. I caught a glimpse of his profile in the dim light, noticing how his jaw would tighten and relax, like he was struggling to find the right words.

Finally, he took a long, slow breath and spoke.

"Hey... Noah," he said softly, turning to face me. "About what happened earlier. In the changing stall." His cheeks turned a light shade of pink as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I know I might have gotten a bit... bold."

I almost laughed because the weird ’bold’ definitely fit the moment.

But his eyes were serious, warm, and just a bit uncertain, and that pulled me back into the moment.

"I’m sorry if it was too much," he continued, lowering his voice to something softer, almost shy. "I care about you. I really do. And I remember what you told me before... about needing more time with the whole sex thing. I’ve been trying to respect that because I want to wait for you. I want to go at your pace. I just want you to feel safe with me."

He swallowed, the sound quiet in the small space of the car.

"But sometimes," he whispered, "you make it really hard to keep my cool. I don’t mean that in a creepy way; it’s just that I lose control a bit because you’re you. And I guess I pushed things a little too far, and I never want you to feel pressured or overwhelmed with me."

My chest felt tight, not painfully so, but full and warm, a little breathless. I reached over and lightly brushed my fingers along the back of his hand, and he immediately stilled, his gaze darting to mine.

"I’m not mad," I said gently. "I promise."

He searched my face, cautious. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," I nodded slowly. "I wanted it too. Maybe not... quite all the way yet. But I wasn’t uncomfortable." My voice dropped, instinctively shy. "Not with you."

Ethan’s shoulders relaxed, but only slightly, like he was still bracing for the worst.

I pressed on, hoping to ease his worry. "You didn’t make me feel pressured or trapped or anything like that. I liked it. I really did." I felt my cheeks heat up. "Actually... I enjoyed it."

His eyes widened a bit—surprised, relieved, and something warm that made my heart skip. He leaned in closer, not quite touching me yet, just studying my face like he was trying to memorize every little detail.

"Really?" he murmured. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I nodded again, feeling my blush deepen. "Yeah."

A slow breath escaped him, one that sounded like it had been stuck in his chest for ages. He lifted my hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it, soft and reverent and so Ethan that it made my stomach do a little flip.

"I don’t want to screw this up," he said softly against my skin. "I don’t want to rush anything. I just want you."

"I know," I whispered back. "And I want you too."

For a moment, we just sat there, hands intertwined, foreheads almost touching, with the sound of our breathing filling the quiet space between us.

He brushed his thumb over my cheek, his touch so soft it felt like a promise. "I’ll do better. I’ll go slower. Whatever you need. Just let me know."

"I will," I assured him. "And... you weren’t too much today. I mean it."

A faint smile tugged at his lips, not smug or teasing, just relieved and a bit overwhelmed.

"Good," he whispered. "Because if you asked me to forget that ever happened, I think I’d actually die."

A small laugh slipped out, the tension easing a bit. "I’m definitely not forgetting it."

And as I stepped out of the car, my legs still felt weak, in the best way possible.

Ethan insisted on walking me to the door, even though it was hardly a fifteen-second trip from the car. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, his cheeks still that soft pink he always got when flustered. The porch light cast a buttery glow over the whole walkway, making everything feel strangely intimate, like the universe was holding its breath just for us.

He nudged my shoulder lightly. "You know," he said, trying—and failing—to sound casual, "next time... maybe we should pick a spot that’s a little less... public. So no one barges in later, starting a scene about our hair or our clothes or whatever."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. "Next time?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow at him, because teasing him had quickly become one of my favorite pastimes.

He froze mid-step like I’d just delivered some life-altering news. Then he scratched the back of his neck, eyes darting away, voice dropping to that adorable low mumble he only used when nervous. "Well... yeah. I mean, it felt really good. I’d hate for that to be the last time we ever—y’know." His voice cracked just a bit. "Ever do something like that...we don’t have to go all the way, I just want to you feel good. Not just emotionally, but physically too."

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. Soft and warm, the kind that made my cheeks ache. "You’re such a dork," I said, bumping him with my hip as we reached the top step. "A very cute dork. But still a dork."

He groaned dramatically, covering his face with one hand. "You can’t call me cute right after calling me a dork. That’s emotional whiplash."

"That’s boyfriend tax," I teased.

Then he looked at me, really looked, and his smile softened into something that warmed me completely. He stepped in closer, hands finding my waist with that familiar gentleness he always had, like I was something precious. I felt myself melt a little, waiting for the kiss he always gave me before heading inside—the soft, lingering kind that settled my heart.

He leaned in, our noses almost brushing, his breath warm against my lips...

...and then the front door swung open.

We both jerked back like we’d been doused with ice water.

Adrien stood there, gripping the handle with one hand, eyes narrowed in a glare that could’ve sliced the porch in two. His gaze darted from Ethan’s hands still lingering on my hips to my flushed face, then back to Ethan, like he was piecing together a crime scene in real time.

I swear I could hear the Law & Order dun-dun sound effect in my head.

Ethan froze.

I froze.

Adrien’s eyebrow twitched.

None of us said a word.

It was one of those absurd moments where the universe seemed to pause and say, Ah yes, conflict.

"Uh..." I finally managed, my voice cracking in a tiny squeak I immediately regretted. "Hi?"