Caught off guard, she kissed him back. One kiss turned into another until their pajamas lay forgotten on the floor. In that moment of intimacy, he wasn't the boy Clara remembered from their night together years ago. He was gentle, patient, deliberate, each touch reverent, as though memorizing her.
When it was finally completely over, it was past 9 a.m. She lazily laid against his chest, and they drifted back into deep sleep.
The next time Clara woke, Ethan was dressed and sitting on the couch. He was watching her, an unreadable expression plastered on his face.
Before he could speak, she awkwardly said, "I'm so sorry about what happened between us. You must think I'm some cheap woman who climbed on your bed. I know I've had quite a reputation, but I'm clean, so don't worry. I've only ever slept with two other guys. Sorry, TMI. One was in college, which was a huge mistake, and the other… from the scandal the other day. Both times with protection." She tried to stop talking, but she couldn't. "Trust me. I tried to be a bad girl, but every time, I couldn't cross that line. So, again, I'm so sorry. I'll move to the guest room today and we can forget everything that happened between us."