Silence, it's unusually peaceful. The only thing audible is our shallow breathing. Ethan's arm wrapping around my naked waist as I lay on his, but so peaceful.

"Are you cold?" He murmurs.

"A little, why?" I look up at him, and he smiles cheekily as he stares down at my chest. I push him away at the shoulder and pull the sheet up slightly, as I shake my head. "Jesus."

"Don't hide from me." He says, his voice slightly whiny and I raise my brows at him.

"I'm cold, fuck off." I mutter, and he chuckles running his fingers through my hair, close to my scalp. I sigh, feeling comforted by the simple pleasure.

"I know a way to get you all warm." He murmurs, delicately leaving a kiss on my neck, following a little pattern down my collar bone. A quiet whimper escapes me, and I look up at him, reaching my delicate hand up to his face.

"You know I can't." I say, hating to even deny him of this. Yes, we may be naked in bed together, but I am sadly still on my period. Well, I was when I last checked, twenty or so minutes ago. Only lightly but still, I'm never doing anything with anyone whilst that's happening, I don't care how 'comfortable' they feel with it, I certainly aren't.

"I don't know, I think I can get you off without even touching you there." He tells me, his voice low and torturous, kissing just under my earlobe and I gasp when he runs his tongue over it.

"I'd like to see you try." I whisper, and he raises his brows at me.

"Is that a challenge? Because, I well and truly accept." He says and I bite down on my lip. I wonder what he has in store.

"Matt and everyone are just outside." I warn him.

"Well, you'll just have to be quiet, won't you?" He taunts, and I slowly nod. "Can I touch your clit or is that in the no-go zone too? Either way, I can still do this."

"Yeah, you can, but kiss me." I mutter, and his lips are on mine as soon as I ask. The familiar stir of butterflies awaken, and he eases my leg up over his waist, opening my legs for him.

"You're beautiful." He moves the fallen hair out of my face, kissing me again when I smile at the compliment. I kiss him back, slowly and sensually whilst his hands make their way down my body. I'm not nervous but definitely apprehensive for this.

"Mmm, whatever you do, don't pull a string." I whisper and he chuckles against my lips, dropping his forehead on mine.

"I'm not stupid, of course I won't." He assures and I gasp when his hand brushes my chest, and he smiles when he notices my reaction.

My whole body is in sensory overload because of my hormones, but he doesn't seem to mind, in fact he's loving my overly effective response to his touching.

He kisses my lips softly before moving his body, slowly maneuvering to hover over me as he trails open mouth kisses down my jaw, before surpassing my collar bone to my chest. My back arches, and I squeeze my legs together only slightly when I feel an aroused pressure between them.

Last night, after the movies, we were in bed talking and I let him go through my jewelry box that is kept at the side of my bed, and to my disappointment, he wouldn't let me pierce his nipple. Honestly, I don't blame him because first of all, I wouldn't have a clue what I would be doing, and second, when I had showed him how to insert the bars into my already pierced ones, he looked like he was going to pass out. Apparently big tattoo guy doesn't like needles which I find hilarious considering.

He had decided to give my left nipple a black bar, and then my right one a bright neon yellow. The decision for that, I'm still unsure of because it's a little random.

"Why the colors?" I whisper, and arch yet again when he runs his tongue over the yellow one.

"Nirvana – my ecstasy and peace." He murmurs, admitting that faster than I expected. My heart somewhat does a somersault, and he smiles up at me. "I know you love the band, the font being black and yellow. The actual definition of it, is you. You're my nirvana."

"Don't make me cry because I will cry." I say and he chuckles, obviously not believing that I'm on the verge of tears.

"You're serious?" He asks, cupping my face.

"I have an unhealthy amount of hormones rushing around my body right now. So, no, I am not joking." I tell him, sniffling slightly. I'm not being dramatic. He called me his nirvana, that's not something to take lightly.

"Jesus." He quickly kisses me.

"I'm ruining this." I say croakily, and he stifles a laugh, so I scoff at the man above me. "Don't laugh at me!"

"I'm sorry, it's just hard not to." He whispers.

"I promise, I'm not always like this." I assure.

"Okay baby, but do you want me to stop?" He asks and I shake my head, wiping the tears.

"No, I'm fine, see." I smile, and he smiles down at me, his smile beautiful and wide.

"My nirvana." He murmurs, kissing me softly and I moan against his lips, pulling him closer to me.

Again, his lips lower down from lips to my chest, and I whine when he nibbles down on the sensitive skin. A gasp, a moan and a whimper leaves my unholy mouth, and then another gasp when his spare hand reaches between my legs.

His eyes meet mine, and he lifts up slightly, his body going lower. I'm unsure as to what he's planning right now, but I soon realize when he opens my legs. His eyes stay captured with mine as he opens his mouth and a string of saliva drops right down to my clit, and he chuckles at my expression. That was the hottest thing I have ever witnessed.

"You're not going down on me." I warn him in a hushed tone, keeping my voice level and unbothered but secretly, I'm freaking out over this man.

"I know, I'm just getting you wet." He murmurs, and my cheeks heat up at his straightforward talking. "You're blushing."

"Shut up." I whisper, then soon gasp again when he uses his thumb to spread the saliva over my clit. "Jesus- Ethan."

"Relax a little and be quiet. Remember, everyone is out there." He muses, finding this amusing, and I bite down on my lip, fighting the urge to kick him off me. My hormones better fuck off soon and go on a little trip in their favorite rocket ship like the Little Einstein's.

Everyone being Matt, Kieran, Lauren, Hanna, Jack and Wes. Everyone slept over last night, most of them crashing in the living room. Matt and Kieran used Lauren and Hanna's room for the privacy, whereas the rest just got all the blankets together and spare mattresses into the living room and spent the night in there. Now though, now they're all behind that door and this room isn't exactly soundproof, I know firsthand from past experiences.

Staying as quiet as possible, I swallow the moans when Ethan's thumb draws small circles on my clit, teasing me for a minute or so before he climbs back up my body. His lips find mine as he settles back at the side of me, getting comfortable but I don't break the contact our lips once found. Ours move together, his tongue colliding with mine, making me breathless and needy.

He lifts my leg back up and over his waist, the feeling of his erection prominently poking against my back. His left arm wraps around me, his hand running down my front, brushing my clit yet again whilst he cups and massages my breast with his other, that is partially crushed under my body. His lips find my neck as he continues repetitive circles, them getting faster, and my breathing becomes labored, a few incoherent words falling from my lips that don't even fathom a sentence.

"Relax, just let it happen." He whispers and I sigh, rolling my head back on the pillow as my body becomes motionless, pleasure falling over me.

I kept fighting it, I always do for some reason. It's a moment of total vulnerability for me, my body is consumed by another and he is in total control. My mind is blank, it's an escape. A beautiful escape.

"Cum for me, Francesca." Those words are the words I've heard him only speak in my dreams. His voice rough and intimidating yet not scary and actually quite assuring.

My eyes screw close and he covers my mouth as soon as a now muffled scream leaves it. My thighs squeeze together, but he doesn't move his hand or stop his movements as an earth-shattering pleasure overcomes me, driving me closer as I finally let myself go, letting my orgasm crash down on me.

"Ethan." I moan, looking up at him as I ride the wave, and he smiles, uncovering my mouth hesitantly.

"Hearing you moan my name is music to my ears, darling." He whispers, lowering his lips to mine and I muffle a whine against them. His middle finger is still drawing small circles on my clit, and it's overly sensitive right now, making it feel a little uncomfortable. He seems to know exactly what I was whining about, and he moves his hand from between my legs, smiling at me again.

"Thank you." I whisper.

"Don't thank me for pleasure." He murmurs back and I smile tirelessly. "Are you warm now?"

"Very." I nod.

"Good." He says, kissing the top of my head.

A cage of protection, a wall of peace, a bubble. I feel sane, and comforted as we lay like this, but in the back of my mind I can't help the consciousness slip in about the future. This is the present, so I'm going to try and live in it for once, and ignore the negative reserves I have for this... relationship?

"If you're done fucking in there, I'd like to get some clothes!" Matt yells through the door, and I groan, ducking my head into Ethan's chest. I can't believe they heard.

"Come in!" I yell back, and Ethan's eyes widen when I do.

"You're letting him in here?" He asks, amusement dancing in his tone.

"He lives with me; he's seen me naked hundreds of times before. We're under the covers anyway." I assure him with a little shrug, and he doesn't exactly look happy. "He's gay, Ethan, he's also my best friend, so my first point is beside the point because he could be totally straight and I wouldn't care because he's my friend, just like the girls."

"Yeah, well I don't like that other guys have seen you naked." He murmurs, kissing the side of my head and I smile at the slight possessiveness.

Then the door bursts open, and I raise my brows at the pink haired dude in front of me, a smirk worn on his face.

"Good morning people." He says cheerily, and then frowns when he realizes his bed, well his mattress is no longer there. "Shit, where-"

"Out there." I say, pointing at the door, and then the realization falls upon his face.

"Well, I'll be out of your hair. I'm just grabbing some clothes before I got out." He tells me.

"Where?" I wonder.

"Somewhere with Kieran, I think we'll just grab a coffee or something." He says and I instantly sit up.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, what time is it?" I ask frantically.

"Ten." He tells me wearily and I quickly reach down to the floor, grabbing the shirt and I pull it over my head before basically jumping out of bed.

"What's wrong?" Ethan asks, sitting up in bed.

"I was supposed to start work an hour ago. Fuck, and I need a shower. Jesus Christ, I've never been late, I'm so gonna get fired." I say, closing my eyes when I get a little dizzy. I probably shouldn't have stood up too fast, and I'm also still recovering from that orgasm.

"Get a shower, I'll make you breakfast, and Ethan can try and butter up your boss when you get there." Matt says and I sigh, running my fingers through my hair, and Ethan quickly pulls my shirt down by the back.

"She's a middle-aged woman, most likely going through the menopause and is the worst person I've ever come across. Charm will get me nowhere. I might as well hand in my resignation now." I stress.

"Look, Matt is right. Get a shower, and I can see what I can do. She surely can't fire you because you were late for the first time ever." Ethan assures me and I nod, sighing as I turn towards him. "Go. Shower quickly."

"Fine, okay, I'm leaving." I say, nodding as I feel anxiety course through my body. Karen already hates me, now she'll hate me even more.

~~

After the quickest shower I've ever taken, and most likely the fasted I've ever put clothes on also, I'm ready to go, but before I do, I grab a slice of toast from the massive pile in the kitchen. Ethan's dressed, he's holding my jacket as well as my bag, my keys also in his hand.

"Okay, I love you all, we're leaving. If I get fired, someone make cookies and cocktails." I say loud enough for them all to hear, and Ethan laughs, rolling his eyes.

"You underestimate how well I can persuade people, especially women." He tells me, like that's supposed to make me feel any better.

"Bye, good luck!" Lauren yells, and I smile back over my shoulder.

"I'll grab your shoes, move it." Ethan says and I smirk, raising a brow at him.

"Bossy." I comment before leaving with a giggle, holding the door open for him since he literally has all my things in his arms.

"You wish." He scoffs.

"Ooh kinky, tell me more." I say, laughing before biting the toast, keeping it between my teeth as I take my jacket. I push my arms through the sleeves before I grab my white sneakers, and push both of my heals into them. I really should have put shoes on back in there because I really don't know what has been on the floor in this dormitory hallway.

"Just keep moving." He says, but a smile is still on his face.

We take his car, me driving it like always, because if we didn't, well he'd be stranded whilst I worked, so he promised to pick me up at one, that is if I don't get fired. I'm dreading this, I really am.

The drive is okay, I'm a little anxious because I hate confrontation, but with Ethan's hand on my thigh the entirety of the drive, my head is a little preoccupied to think about Karen. My thoughts were mostly him between my thighs, a memory from earlier.

I keep to the speed limit because despite me being in a rush, I'm not getting any tickets and also, I'm not one to risk the speed limit, that's just dangerous and I'm not the only one whom could get hurt.

As soon as I see the little café, Ethan signals for me to pull over in the disability bay and I do, frowning because I know we can't park here, but he opens the glove compartment in front of him, and puts a blue badge in the window.

"Ethan, I'm sure that's illegal." I say, shocked he even owns one.

"I own one, do I not?" He retorts.

"Who- What?" I ask, I'm so confused. "People that need this space, may need it."

"We need it, now come on." He says and I give in, I'm not fighting him on this because I know that no one parks here. I've worked here for a year now, and not once have I seen this parked in aside from an occasional person trying to get away with it but that costs them with a ticket.

"I feel like I'm doing something illegal." I mutter, grabbing my little bag from the floor near his feet.

"You climbed a church tower, and broke into a strip bar, so this is minor compared to that." He says, and I glare at him.

"I was a teenager!" I excuse myself.

"And you were only nineteen this year, now let's go." He says with a cheeky smile and I groan, opening the door.

Well, it's his car, not mine. He can do whatever he wants.

When we step through the front door of the café, the bell above rings and I instantly feel anxious, but as if he was reading my mind, he slips his hand in mine and I instantly feel calmer. Leah is behind the counter, but her facial expression as soon as she seems me doesn't look promising.

"Karen's here." She whispers as soon as I'm in ear shot.

"Fuck. See, I told you." I look up at Ethan.

"Leah, can you get her, so I can excuse my- Francesca, here?" He asks, and my heart drops, knowing he nearly said something else then. It's too early for that... right?

"Yeah, of course, but write me in your will." She says with a shrug before walking into the back.

"I'll write you into my will, you can have my car." He whispers to me, and I instantly smile knowing he loves his car, but then I remember we're talking about his will here.

"Thank you, but please keep alive, I like your face." I say, smiling as I take my jacket off.

At least the café is basically empty right now, and I hope it hasn't been too busy considering it's Saturday, and most people were probably out partying last night.

Before Karen comes back, I quickly grab my apron from the hook that has my name stitched in and I put it over my head. I look like I'm supposed to work here now, but I quickly stuff my belongings under the till where Leah and I keep our things, it's also where the safe is that we can use if we have anything expensive with us but I've never dared touch it.

"Ah, she finally arrives." Karen's bitter tone meets my ears, and I force myself not to cringe.

"I'm sorry I'm late, it won't happen again." I say, looking her in the eyes. I don't know how for an older person; she is so scary to me. She reminds me a little bit of a witch, actually a lot. Maybe she is. 

"Damn right, it won't because you won't have the chance." She says and my heart drops. No, she can't actually be serious.

"I'm sorry, miss... Karen. Francesca and I were running late. She stayed with me and my family last night, my parents are going through a very toxic divorce and I have a little sister, and Francesca, she's great with her, and it's over an hour away but we needed her last night. This morning, you may have heard, there was a terrible accident on the freeway. She wouldn't have been late otherwise. You can't fire her because of something out of our control happened." Ethan pleads with her, and I'm here in shock but I have to hide that. Parents, divorce, little sister, accident... he does really have an imagination.

"Yeah, I did hear that on the radio earlier actually, it sounded terrible. I'm sorry about your parents as well, divorce is a horrible thing." Karen nicely speaks to him, and I'm convinced I'm seeing a different person. There's compassion in her voice. Then she turns to me, oh no. "But Francesca, this is your first and only warning, next time, I won't be kinder."

Kinder? She was just about to fire me five seconds ago!

"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. It won't happen again." I say, nodding at her.

"Okay, don't just stand there, get to work. Until three today, is that okay?" She asks, and I nod even though I was only going to work until one, but I feel like I have no choice and I need this job.

"I'll pick you up at three for the gym, is that okay?" Ethan asks before he lowers his lips to mine. This is our first public kiss, and I have a feeling it's because Karen is standing in the same perimeter of us. He gives me a cheeky smile, lifting up. "Save your energy, Felix wants to see you in the ring with me."

"What?" I ask in shock.

"See you later." He smiles, leaving five dollars on the counter. "Your tip, Leah, thanks for the coffee."

"You're welcome." Leah waves before smiling up at me, mischief sparkling in her eyes.

"I'm getting to work." I say, passing her as well as Karen, grabbing the coffee filters out from underneath the counter.

I can't believe that just happened, and I'm about to do what when I'm at the gym. I think Ethan's becoming a little delirious to think I'm getting in a boxing ring with him. I barely know how to protect myself, nevertheless to an actual boxer. Measly college frat boys, I've kinda got it down to a T, but not boxers like himself.

~~~~~

A/N

So far, this is my favorite chapter and I honestly loved writing it even though it wasn't even planned. I was half asleep last night, listening to the playlist I have for this book, and I envisioned this chapter in my mind, so I noted it down and then I went with it. I wrote it in my phone first because usually I just write smut on my phone and hardly put it into my book, so I hope it was okay.

Ethan is becoming a simp and I can't!

Nirvana the band is amazing, and I grew up in a household full of rock music, there's posters and canvases everywhere in our house with different artists; The Stone Roses, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, Stevie Nicks and much more. But the word nirvana is so beautiful to me, and when I showed it to my sister, she nearly started crying.

If you didn't know, it means paradise, heaven, ecstasy, being alive, peace and oblivion. When he said she was his nirvana, it meant all of the above, and I honestly love it. That was totally unplanned too, it just came to mind as I was writing.

Question of the chapter:

What is your favorite song at the moment?

Mine is 'Shadows will fall' by Sam Fischer, but I do love the cover Anna Maynard did too.

I hope this chapter was okay.

Thank you for reading! Please comment your thoughts, vote by pressing the little star, and if you want, you can follow me too. Xx

3606 words!

~B