Chapter 23 Eva
Stay.
It’s the one word that changed everything.
One simple word that carries so much weight.
Aston Beaumont broke his own rule.
But instead of making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, that one word terrified me.
A man like Aston doesn’t just break the rules for anyone. His personality thrives on structure and control, and everything he’s done tonight is against his normal behavior.
From the moment he told me on the dance floor that I was driving him insane and he never wanted to be just friends, my body took over. It was like some spell had been cast, and nothing could break it.
I needed to taste him, feel him all over me.
When he slid inside me for the first time, it was different from anything I’d ever experienced. No man has ever made me feel the way he did—this feeling of being empowered yet worshipped at the same time.
Being inside his penthouse and lying on his bed awakened something within me.
I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t thought about this moment. It’s one of those things I’d fantasized about, and acting it out was another mind-blowing experience. I exploded into this beautiful abyss, barely able to think straight when the moment was over.
As I lay beside him, naked and vulnerable, he asked me to stay before sliding back inside and pulling me back into a moment where all I want is him .
Aston is insatiable.
It didn’t stop the second time.
He devoured me all night long until we both collapsed from exhaustion.
I’ve lost count of how many times I blissfully buried the nagging feeling of not using protection even though I’m the one who stopped him.
He did pull out, coming all over my stomach the first time he went bare.
I take birth control, so at least I can relax and not worry about getting pregnant.
“I think you broke me,” I whisper, trying to hold back my smile but finding it impossible.
Aston brings my hand to his mouth, kissing my fingers gently. “I think you broke me .”
“You can’t break a stallion.”
He chuckles. “I’m a stallion?”
“Yes. I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve broken a woman in bed.”
Aston turns to lie on his side, watching me with his brows furrowed. “What makes you think I bring women here and spend all night fucking their brains out?”
I stare at the ceiling, unable to look at him. “You’re the billionaire every woman wants.”
He climbs on top of me so our eyes are forced to meet. “And you’re the untouchable woman every man fantasizes about. You don’t see how men react to you. Trust me, Everleigh, when I say my jealousy has been tested many times.”
“Please, I haven’t had sex in forever.”
“And why do you hold back?” he questions, staring at my lips. “Do you know how unbelievably sexy you are?”
“ Because… I don’t know,” I mumble. “Sex can be great, but it’s better when you have a connection.”
“But the doctor…” He trails off with a jealous tone etching his words.
I roll my eyes, pursing my lips. “I haven’t had sex with Marco, okay? We haven’t even kissed. Does that answer all your questions? I’m sure you’ve had sex with a ton of women in the last month.”
“No.” His stare bores into me. “I’ve been fixated on trying to have sex with just the one.”
“Well,” I say, unable to think straight. “I have nothing to say.”
“Good,” he affirms before sliding down and settling in between my legs. I moan with delight as he runs his tongue around my sensitive clit.
He can’t possibly make me come again.
Aston slides a finger inside of me, slow and easy, since I’m raw after the multiple times he’s ravaged me.
At a steady pace, the heaviness in my belly builds while his tongue circles my swollen clit to the point of no return.
I clutch his hair in my hands, riding out the orgasm until I can barely breathe.
Damn, he did it again despite me thinking I was done.
A yawn escapes me, and then another. I nestle into his chest, barely able to stay awake.
Beside me, I hear him whisper, “Good night, Everleigh.”
I wake to the sound of sirens blaring. It’s still dark outside, and Aston is fast asleep beside me. The clock on the bedside table says five past five in the morning.
The reality of last night is scattered around the room—the messy bed, our clothes strewn all over the floor, the one discarded condom we used. Neither one of us left the bed.
Slowly, I rise from the bed to use the bathroom, then put my dress back on while carrying my heels. Careful not to wake him, I keep my footsteps to a bare minimum.
At the foot of the bed, I stop to watch him sleep, admiring his sculpted chest exposed as he lies on his back.
This man is like some Greek god, perfect in every way.
My eyes are drawn to the tattoo on his chest, the one he got the night of his graduation. I still remember his cold stare as his friend inked him.
It feels like a lifetime ago, but in the same breath, like it happened yesterday.
But tonight, things changed.
In his touch, my body belonged to him. Our words in those heated moments, while careless, made us believe it was just us and would be just us forever.
This is Aston, not some man with a connection to my existing world. I’ve yet to think of an excuse to make Maddy believe it was a platonic night. Yet the longer I stand here and think about how I need to lie to my best friend, the more the guilt eats away at me.
It begins to suffocate me, questioning all my actions last night and every move I made that led me to right here.
With a deep breath, I take the initiative to leave, but not before removing the million-dollar necklace I am still wearing. I’m surprised it didn’t break when he had me in a chokehold, fucking me from behind.
Gently, I place it on the table beside him.
If I stay, my heart will only become more invested, and who knows what will happen next?
It has to be a goodbye.
At least—for now.
I leave the city and end up in my thinking spot by Peppermint Lake.
A sudden drop in temperature sends small snowflakes floating down from the sky. I glance up, allowing the snow to rest on my tired face. The cold ice, combined with the cool air, brings me back to reality and away from the noise of the city.
I close my eyes, caught in the memories of last night.
Every touch, every sound, replays like a movie on repeat.
When I open my eyes, I see Houdini has appeared beside me, making me gasp as I bring my hand to my chest. I’m pretty sure it’s him, if he is a him .
The same dark gray color and mottled skin.
“Okay, listen, if you’re gonna keep surprising me, could you at least make a sound? You know, ribbit ?”
A croaking sound emerges from his tiny body.
“Thanks, just a bit too late,” I mumble, then glance at him again.
“Do you want to know something interesting? I slept with my best friend’s brother last night, and things are so weird, I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.
Do I call him? Was it a onetime thing? I rode him bareback for Christ’s sake! ”
Houdini stills all movements. I knew it, he’s just as shocked as I am.
“I know, what was I thinking? I wasn’t! I’m never thinking around him. Why does he make me feel like nothing else matters?”
With a short and stout body, Houdini continues to sit in close proximity to me. I try not to make any sudden movements so as not to scare him.
“What do you think, Houdini? Have I caught feelings for him? If it’s a yes, jump back into the lake. If you think this is a fling I’ll get over, stay perfectly still.”
I wait with bated breath, but then Houdini spots a bug of some sort and hops in the opposite direction of the lake.
“Great, you’re of no help to me.”
As much as I want to stay here, ignoring all my problems, I know I need to head to the café and help Billie.
“I’m sorry I’m late!”
I rush through the door and straight behind the counter, where Billie is preparing two hot chocolates. There was no time for a shower, just a quick outfit change into a pair of jeans and a wool blouse.
His scent lingers all over me.
My entire body aches, and when I reach up to grab a clean plate from the shelf, I let out a groan, unknowingly.
“You look…” Billie falls short of words, observing me with her lips curved. “How can I put this politely?”
“Like death?”
“Freshly screwed,” she blurts out.
“Billie!” I gasp, surprised by her choice of words since she isn’t vulgar like Maddy. “That’s very unlike you.”
She shrugs, her smile fading. “Yeah, well… I could use the distraction.”
“Is everything okay with your mom?” I ask, worried.
“For now.” Billie sighs heavily, then smiles. “Anyway, can we go back to your exciting love life?”
“Okay, listen… there is no love, so technically, no love life.”
“Sure. So, was this bestie’s older brother?” Billie waits with hopeful eyes. “It was, wasn’t it?”
I glance around, then pull Billie into the kitchen. “Yes, but please promise me you’ll say nothing to Maddy. I don’t want her getting involved, and I already feel guilty for having to lie to her.”
Billie holds up her pinkie finger. “I swear I won’t. Only if you promise not to tell anyone a hot surgeon gave me his number, and he’s possibly double my age.”
“Age gap?” I grin with a nod. “You go, girl.”
“It was a very McDreamy moment. I mean, age ain’t nothing but a number, right?” Billie shakes her head, then places her hands on my shoulders. “Tell me everything that happened last night with Aston.”
I start with Aston appearing at the jewelry store and then continue with the rest of the night. As the story progresses, her eyes widen with enthusiasm.
“This is the most exciting thing to happen to you in the time I’ve known you,” Billie is quick to tell me.
“Really, am I that boring?”
“I wouldn’t throw around the word boring , more like picky . You red-flag all men before they even have a chance to prove their worth in the bedroom. Now you’ve had, like, what, multiple orgasms with the hottest guy ever?”
“A lady never tells. But let’s say six for all intents and purposes.”