Chapter 5

• Ethan tossed her the shirt she had worn last night and a fresh pair of boxers. Though oversized, they were better than being bare all day. He slipped into his sweatpants and shirt, tucking his phone into a pocket. Before leaving, he added his number to her phone and gave her one last kiss.
• "See you later, sweet Nathalie," he said, slipping on his socks and shoes before exiting the apartment.
• Nathalie stood in the hallway, still reeling from the earlier intensity. Her mind wandered to the possibility of him returning to fulfill their promises, but until then, she was left to her own devices.
• Needing her keys, the first person she called was Shina. Despite Shina's annoyed tone as Nathalie explained her predicament—leaving out Ethan entirely—she agreed to drive down and let her back in.
• "You need to give someone closer a set of keys," Shina advised sternly. "I love you, Alie, but I'm not doing this every week. We both know how you are with keys and stuff."
• This wasn't the first time Nathalie found herself in such a bind, though usually she could just visit her parents or call Daniel, her ex, who used to have a spare key.
• After resolving that issue, Nathalie messaged Ethan, asking if she could help with anything while he was gone.
• "Stay horny," Ethan replied when Nathalie asked if there was anything she could do to help. She rolled her eyes at his response, texting back to clarify, "I meant around the apartment. You said you only have a week. Is there anything I can do to help?"
• Ethan instructed her to find the moving boxes and start packing in the kitchen. He mentioned that his sister had already removed the personal items she wanted, making the kitchen a safe place for Nathalie to begin without worrying about touching anything sentimental. Feeling productive gave her a sense of purpose, alleviating the anticipation of waiting for him to return.
• After preparing breakfast and a cup of coffee, Nathalie felt more awake. Her initial longing for Ethan had subsided just enough for her to function. She decided to explore the apartment a bit more, opening doors and snooping around. The layout mirrored her own home, featuring two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room with an adjoining kitchen. Unlike her sparse setting, Ethan's place was filled with furniture and belongings—side tables cluttered with books and an unfinished crossword puzzle on the nightstand of the master bedroom. It occurred to her they had slept in the guest room last night, which made sense; it would have been odd to share a bed with such intimate history.
• As her thoughts wandered, Nathalie still marveled at the previous night. A one-night stand was uncharted territory for her, though she wasn't new to intimate encounters. Ethan was her sixth partner, but unlike the others, he knew exactly how to elicit her pleasure. His intuitive ability to push her buttons, or rather, to know when to bite, smack, or choke, was surprising yet exhilarating.
• Nathalie discovered sides of her sexuality she hadn't fully understood before. The biting was familiar—Daniel and a couple of others had done it, sparking excitement that led to rare orgasms. Yet Ethan's understanding of rough intimacy opened her eyes. He'd obviously had experience, but she didn't mind. He had unearthed preferences she hadn't realized, despite her slight unease at the revelations.
• The best part for Nathalie was Ethan's balance between force and gentleness; he never stepped out of line, always seeking her consent with his touch. The way his eyes searched hers to decipher her desires sent shivers down her spine. It was a level of attention she hadn't experienced for some time. Daniel had tried but often ended up frustrated, prompting her to fake satisfaction.
• Most of the day passed with Nathalie singing along to the radio as she tackled the kitchen. She began by sorting food, discarding expired items, and setting aside edible products for later meals. Collecting the old newspapers scattered around, she used them to wrap dishes and glassware for packing. By lunchtime, she had organized everything into boxes and then switched to cleaning. The kitchen was spotless by the time she finished, leaving a few essentials out for their convenience. She was confident she'd gain access to her own apartment once Shina arrived, but secretly hoped Ethan would linger here throughout the week.
• She didn't expect to be so eager for Ethan's return. Part of her didn't want Shina to arrive and let her back into her own apartment. But she knew she couldn't continue occupying his place while wearing his clothes—her sundress, though dry, was ruined.
• Nathalie opened the door for Shina, still dressed in Ethan's oversized shirt and boxers. Shina stared at her, questions pouring out as she entered, inspecting the apartment.
• "Was he any good?" Shina asked, shaking her head with curiosity.
• Nathalie blushed. "Yes, he was."
• "Holy crap, Nathalie, why didn't you mention this on the phone? And how old is this guy? Eighty? This place looks like it was decorated during the medieval times!"
• Nathalie chuckled, appreciating their shared sense of humor. "He's forty-one."
• "Holy crap," Shina replied, her eyes widening. "What's his name?"
• "Ethan."
• Shina repeated his name, a grin spreading across her face. "I'm so proud of you, Alie. Maybe moving here was the right choice. Look at you, all glowing in the afterglow of... whatever this is."
• "We didn't actually..." Nathalie teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
• "Why not?" Shina gasped. "Oh my gosh. Tiny little micro dick?"
• "No, no, it wasn't that."
• "Couldn't get it up? He is kind of ancient."
• "Stop guessing," Nathalie laughed, swatting her arm. "He didn't have condoms."
• "He didn't—" Shina's gaze shifted to the packed boxes. "Is he moving? And why wouldn't he have condoms? Every guy does."
• Nathalie explained the situation, watching as confusion flitted across Shina's face with every detail.
• "What's his last name?" Shina asked, pulling out her phone. "I'm going to do a deep dive and find out if he's been telling you the truth."
• "I don't know," Nathalie admitted.
• "What? Alie, you don't even know his last name? What do you know about him?"
• Not much, honestly. As Nathalie thought about it, she realized she knew very little about Ethan, but that was part of the excitement. She was eagerly anticipating seeing him again tonight, not because she expected to learn more about him, but because the mystery added a thrill. Sleeping with someone who was essentially a stranger felt like a new chance at a one-night stand. Although it meant she couldn't tick it off her list, considering it would technically be more than one night, she found the idea exhilarating.
• Shina persisted, eager to uncover Ethan's last name and uncover whatever secrets the apartment might hold. However, Nathalie was reluctant to violate his trust. He had shown confidence in her by leaving her to pack the kitchen, and she didn't want to betray that. Eventually, she persuaded Shina to accompany her back to her apartment, allowing her to change and freshen up. She had no idea when Ethan would return and desperately needed a shower, a chance to shave, and an outfit that made her feel prepared—unlike last night.
• "Wow, it's like you don't even live here," Shina remarked as she entered Nathalie's apartment for the first time. Shina hadn't been able to help with the move since Nathalie's parents stepped in, and Shina hadn't managed to take off work on short notice. Though initially upset about Nathalie relocating three hours away, Shina eventually came around, despite thinking Nathalie had acted impulsively. But here she was, ready to cover for Nathalie's unusual circumstance of being caught in a neighbor's apartment in his clothes.