Chapter 15 Eva
Vanilla isn’t always so bad, now is it, Miss Woods?”
My body movements still, frozen at his forced proximity.
The kitchen becomes increasingly hot, making my breathing uneven. The scent of Aston’s cologne is so intoxicating, like a mixture of soap and masculine energy all rolled into one.
Thinking straight is… is… challenging.
It’s just a scent. Remember the man who drives you crazy. It’s all a plot to lure you into some sort of trance so you forget about his unforgivable behavior.
Then, I accidentally feast my eyes upon his lips.
It all comes back.
The night he kissed me.
The night I wanted all of him.
I suck in a breath, fixated on his tongue, gliding against his fingers before his lips wrap around them and finish the sweet treat. A moan leaves my parted lips, but this time, I have no control. Underneath my skirt, moisture builds between my legs, and a dull ache torments every inch of me.
“I, um…” I’m unable to find the right words, overcome with brain fog. “Your tongue is…”
The corner of his mouth twitches as he presses into me. I feel him hard against my body, only adding fuel to the burning fire.
“You were saying?” he teases, leaning into my neck near my earlobe. “About my tongue?”
My body is ignoring any rational thoughts trying to fight their way through. With his body so damn close, the urge to taste him is too dangerous.
This is Aston Beaumont.
Get yourself together.
But Aston likes to win, and maybe just once, two can play his twisted game.
“I have work to do,” I whisper back, my voice firm, a spark of defiance flickering in my eyes. “And a date tonight.”
He pushes himself into me, lifting my hair in his fist while placing a kiss on my neck. My skin feels like it’s on fire, forcing me to close my eyes before my body betrays me entirely and combusts right before him.
“What makes you think I’ll let another man touch you?” he murmurs, running his tongue along my skin.
“I’m not yours,” I remind him while holding back my moan. “Anyone can touch me.”
Aston retracts his lips at a slow and agonizing pace. With his gaze piercing into mine, he raises his thumb and drags it against my bottom lip.
The desire to bring his mouth to mine and taste him is overwhelming, but then he runs his hand below my chin, against my chest, and continues as I take in a breath when he rests his hand on my thigh.
In a rush, I wrap my hand around his wrist, stopping him from doing anything else, but his wicked smirk becomes my damn weakness. I let go, freeing him to do whatever the hell he pleases, swallowing the lump forming inside my throat.
He slides his hand beneath my skirt and against my panties.
His eyes widen with a tortured stare, and at the same time, I throw my head back and bite my lip, desperate to control the urge to give myself to him entirely.
“Don’t do that, Everleigh .” He growls my name. “Don’t make me demand we fuck right here and now.”
My head falls forward as our eyes connect, and I become trapped in his commanding stare. I reach for his wrist again, and I pull him away this time. The loss of contact is unbearable, but watching him tortured in my presence spikes my adrenaline.
“I’m going to be late,” I inform him as his jealous stare torments me. “Can’t have the doctor sitting around waiting for me.”
He pulls back only slightly, pressing his lips together firmly. “Maybe I should send you to the doctor with your pussy dripping wet with my cum. Would that be a better solution?”
I roll my eyes to get a reaction from him. “And what makes you think I’ll let you come inside me, huh?”
Aston observes me with a mischievous grin. “Sweetheart, you’ll be begging me to come inside you. Mark my words.”
A vibration sounds in the quiet room. With his stare still dominating me, he reaches into his pocket and retrieves his phone to answer it. “Beaumont,” he greets coldly.
I sit in awkward silence while the person on the other end of the line is clearly having a good old rant. Bowing my head, I focus on the floor, thinking of ways to get myself out of here before my clothes come off. This phone call is the splash of cold water we both needed.
“The meeting isn’t for another twenty minutes,” Aston informs the person sternly. “I’ll fix it, trust me.”
I twist my body to release myself from his entrapment, then hop off the counter. As I press my hands on my skirt to flatten it, Aston ends his call.
He takes a step closer. “This isn’t over, Everleigh.”
Just as I’m about to tell him nothing started, a knock on the door distracts me. I glance at the clock, noting the time.
“It’s our delivery guy,” I tell him, thankful for the interruption. “You should probably go. Your meeting sounds important.”
Aston tucks his hand in his pocket, cocking his head.
Quickly, I leave the kitchen to let Jeremiah into the store. He waits patiently outside with boxes of soda and other supplies I ordered late last week.
“Hey there, Jeremiah. You’re early.”
He tips his head with a grin. “For you, I like to come on time.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” I tease.
With my hand holding the door open so Jeremiah can wheel his cart full of boxes inside, Aston exits the kitchen with a less-than-pleased expression.
Jeremiah is cute. We flirt, but that’s where it ends. If I’m being honest, most girls in town think he’s cute and friendly. There is nothing I can fault him on. Perhaps he is vanilla—universally liked.
“Mr. Beaumont was just leaving,” I announce, shooting Aston a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. “Your meeting?”
“Yes,” he responds, keeping his tone arctic. “I have business to take care of.”
Aston walks to the door but stops just shy of where I am standing. Jeremiah continues to unload the boxes as Aston inches closer. “Another one wanting to get you into bed. My, my… aren’t we popular in town?”
I have half a mind to slap him in the face. “That’s an asshole thing to say. Go, Aston.”
And with his shoulders back, radiating superiority, he turns and walks toward his car.
Maddy has spoken for a solid thirty minutes about veils. She’s still undecided if she wants one.
However, being her best friend, I listen and give advice occasionally when I can get a word in, even though my head is elsewhere.
“The veil is supposed to symbolize purity, innocence, and modesty,” Maddy sputters in a panicked tone. “Am I any of those things?”
My phone vibrates, alerting me to a text message. My lips press together firmly as I read the message with anticipation.
Marco
The Mountain Lounge just called me. Apparently, there is some electrical problem and they’re closed for the night. Any suggestions of where we should meet? I’m more than happy to cook dinner for you if you’re up for staying in. I promise to behave
The truth is, I haven’t responded to his earlier text because I completely forgot.
After Jeremiah left, I locked the shop, came home to lie on the couch, and stared into nothing.
I needed time to process what happened earlier with Aston and cool myself down because finishing what he started was too tempting.
Then Maddy called, leaving me no time to think about anything else.
I quickly respond.
Me
Raincheck? I’m sorry, Marco. It’s been a long day and I have an early start tomorrow. Are you free later in the week?
I don’t want him to think I’m not interested.
“Eva, are you still there?” Maddy questions.
“Yes,” I answer quickly. “The veil. Just wear it if you want, and if you don’t, so be it.”
“That’s all you have to say?” Maddy complains before continuing, “What’s gotten into you? Is it the doctor? Does he have a small ding-dong?”
I scrunch my nose. “Please don’t call it that. It’s disturbing. And for the record, I haven’t slept with him.”
“Oh, right. So what’s the problem?”
“One of many…” I trail off, careful not to mention Aston. “Veil aside, the string duo is booked. I’ve got some things to check off tomorrow, and then I’m free for dress fitting on Friday.”
Maddy squeals. “Fabulous. What would I do without you?”
“Get married at city hall?”
“Funny! I won’t lie to you, I don’t blame people for doing exactly that.”
We end the call with a promise to catch up tomorrow. As for me, I yearn for complete silence to decide my next move.
I stare at Marco’s text again.
He is a great guy with so much potential. I mean, how many men like Marco will I cross paths with in my lifetime? The dating pool is slim pickings. Well, at least, in Cinnamon Springs it is.
Aston got to me.
My fingers quickly type another message to Marco, but then I erase it.
None of my words are coming out the way I intend them to.
Frustrated, I throw my phone onto the other side of the sofa and head to the kitchen to grab something to eat.
As I pull open the cupboard door on the hunt for something to satisfy my craving, I hear the ping across the room.
“Don’t read it,” I say out loud to no one but myself. “Food. You need food because you’re hangry and not making any good decisions right now.”
I find some chocolate and devour it to cure the cravings for sex, which have consumed me since the moment I saw Aston lick his fingers. With a mouth full of fancy chocolate my brother sent me from France, I drag my feet back to the sofa and grab my phone.
Aston
Are you behaving, Miss Woods?
A smile graces my lips, much to my annoyance. Obviously, the chocolate has cured my mood.
Me
Not really. I just shoved expensive French chocolate in my mouth. I don’t know how long it’s been sitting in my cupboard.
Aston
You do know you own a donut store. If you were craving something sweet, you could probably find it in your store kitchen. Maybe something vanilla?
I sink into my cushions, relaxing for the first time today.
Me
Are you only texting me to see where I am or who I’m with? Stalker, much? Remember, I’m single, and the doctor checks all the boxes.