12. Zeth #3
I slipped off the burgundy lapelled jacket and handed it to Millie.
That left me on display in my bare shirt.
I turned to the mirrors and motioned my arms back for Amby to slip his jacket choice onto me, daring him to dress me.
When he moved to stand behind me with the jacket, I caught his gaze in the mirror and mimicked his dare right back to him.
Amby took a breath as he slipped the jacket up my arms and over my shoulders in one fluid movement, and his hands ran over the tops of my shoulders in a way that sent awareness through my entire body.
“Oh, that looks handsome!” Emiline said.
I forgot Amby’s sister was there. I nodded at her, thankful she turned to her brother.
“Amby, why don’t you help Zeth tie on the ascot?
I’m going to help Millie change. I think we’ve found our ensembles for the day.
Back to the dressing room, girls,” she called, and Hattie joined her with Millie.
The curtain slid closed with a scrape of metal, and we were alone again. Amby drew close behind me until his body pressed to mine, stealing all thoughts as he whispered over my shoulder, “Swoon worthy.”
“What are you doing?” I exhaled. All power shifted to Amby, and it wasn’t the angry tension like before. Amby was being nice to me. I wasn’t sure if I hated it or wanted more. I should hate it.
Amby moved away and cleared his throat. “Nothing. Sorry.”
Before I could reply, Amby stepped off the dais, and I instantly missed him. I turned to watch him snatch something from a table and leap back up to face me.
“Do you want me to tie it, or would you rather do it?” Amby didn’t meet my gaze as he held out the ascot.
That simple question felt like a million questions in one, yet I was sure Amby spoke about clothes. But I wanted to explore this… distraction, even if it forgave the man who ruined my plans. “You can tie it on me.”
Amby’s whole face was red now as he avoided looking at me, and I grinned. He reached up and leaned in close to wrap the ascot around my neck. I didn’t care what the scrap of cloth looked like, only that Amby’s soft lips were mere inches from mine.
I watched them move as Amby first bit his lip and quickly let it go.
“I’m never good at tying these things properly,” he said.
His dark eyes darted up at me through his glasses before dropping back down, appearing adorably nervous as his fingers worked with the fabric, caressing the flushed skin of my neck.
Then Amby took a step back to observe me, putting a finger to his chin.
“It all looks great on you. You need something else to complete it. I happen to have just the thing. Give me your hand.”
I did so, raising my right hand between us, and Amby grabbed it lightly to flip it over while he fiddled for something in his jacket’s side pocket. Something silver flashed as he slid a small ring onto my pinky.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “What’s that for?”
“A ring. See how the stone is already changing colors? That’s for me to know what mood you’re in when I see you.
” He gave me a sultry stare as he twisted the ring on my finger.
I huffed at him but eyed the small stone with curiosity.
It was shifting, changing from a mottled green to deep purple, so dark it practically matched the silk of my jacket.
“Hm, almost black,” Amby hummed as he continued to hold my hand. He smoothed his thumb over the stone, and I had to admit the jewelry was nice. What I liked even more was the way his fingers caressed mine, how low his voice sounded as he said, “I’m sure we can do something to adjust that color.”
He was far too delicious to resist, so I leaned in to whisper against his ear, “Keep touching me, and I’ll need you to adjust something else.”
When Amby drew back, his eyes finding mine again, I thought he was going to turn me away, but he daringly yanked on my tie to draw me in close against his neck, and I groaned softly with encouragement.
He tilted his head sideways, granting me a clear swatch of skin above his collar, so I brushed my lips against him and felt his shiver, a splendid reward.
“What’s this?” he asked softly. “I thought you were angry at me.”
“I am. I’m fucking furious,” I mumbled against his pulse. I was already roused from our boldness. Glancing over his shoulder, I made sure we were alone in the shop and assured Amby, “But you’re too damn enticing. So be a good boy and touch me.”
The old Amby might have grabbed my ass. In fact, he’d done it many times when we were together.
But this new, older Amby straightened to look at me, his cheeks pink and his eyes sparking with hunger.
Maybe he saw the same thing from me, because Amby raised his hand and smoothed his thumb across my upper lip.
I chuckled against his thumb, enjoying the feel of his callouses against me, and spoke, “This isn’t where I wanted you to touch me. I was thinking lower.”
“That isn’t very gentleman like of you.”
“This is even less polite.” I wrapped my mouth around his thumb and sucked, making him gasp. I wanted this since I touched Amby’s hands in the parlor, and I wasn’t sorry for taking the chance since he was so warm and solid, and so damn delicious.
I sucked harder and watched his eyes go wide. “You… are definitely… not a gentleman,” he breathed as if he enjoyed stating that fact.
I hitched my hands into his jacket pockets to tug him against me, wanting him to feel what he was doing to me.
Amby tensed, his other hand pressing slightly against my chest, but he didn’t move away.
That was encouraging. Our eyes locked, the stare between us magnetic, fiery.
Amby gazed at me as if he wanted something else of his in my mouth.
Then my fucking stomach rumbled, protesting loudly. Apparently, my lack of food since yesterday meant Amby’s thumb didn’t count as sustenance.
“Hungry?” Amby asked, his brow furrowing.
I pulled back with reluctance and let his thumb pop out with a wet smack. Then I huffed low and raked a hand through my hair to hide how deeply I must be blushing. I didn’t know what to say, so I answered with the truth, “Starving.”
I was starving for Amby’s attention. One touch, one look, one teasing dare, and I couldn’t get enough of him.
It was so confusing to have him back in my life again, especially when I should be hunting myself a spouse, but he was the only person who ever drew my eye.
He had an energy that pulled me in and wouldn’t let go.
Even entering the shop, it was Amby I saw first. And heaven help me, I was starving for him.
I was also damn hungry for lunch.
Spinning my back to Amby, I tried for casualness. I made myself look at the suit he picked out for me. The ascot was eye-catching, a black and amber paisley that drew out the amber in my brown eyes, so I liked it. That was annoying. I wished I hated it.
Amby’s demeanor seemed to change as he asked, “Would you… like to get something to eat? Perhaps at the cafe. We can get tea and sandwiches.”
I turned to eye him with doubt as I shrugged off the jacket and handed it back to him.
I loved the jacket too, but there was no way I could afford gold buttons and silk.
Shedding the expensive material made me feel like I was turning back into the poor washer boy.
And joining the Somersets for tea was more of a dream than reality.
Amby’s family had the money and time to waste a Thursday afternoon at the bakery cafe, but I had to wait until my con was complete, until I had some stranger’s money to spend.
Fisting my hand, something tightened on my pinky, and I glanced down to find Amby’s ring still on me. The stone was gray now, mocking me in a way, but I was reluctant to pull it off. Amby gave me a gift, even if he meant it as a joke, and I liked the damn thing.
Amby was still watching me, so I grumbled out, “No, thank you.”
He made his way to the counter and picked up a basket. “Well, we do have some leftovers, which is even better. Cornbread and soup. Arthur made too much. You and Millie are welcome to take it.”
I blinked at him, wanting to tell him we didn’t need it, but on the other hand, realizing how much my body did need it. Millie too.
“I’ll just set it here.” Amby placed the basket in the chair he sat in earlier. “Feel free to take it if you want.”
His kindness made my head a bit woozy, or maybe the lack of food was getting to me.
I nodded at him and stepped off the dais, heading back into my dressing room to fetch my things.
My heart was racing as I removed the paisley ascot and hung the silk on a hook.
I forced my breath to return before pulling my stained jacket back on.
Then I picked up that brown jacket from the stool, the one that would cost the least, and started to leave when the ascot Amby chose caught my eye. I took that too.
When I slid the curtain open, Hattie made me jump by being so close, leaning against the dressing room entrance.
She wasn’t watching me; she was simply waiting.
As soon as she saw me, she said, “I’m glad you’re back in Everdeen, Zeth.
I always hoped you’d write to us. I sent Millie a letter not long after you both left. ”
“Oh? I don’t recall her ever getting one. I would have remembered.”
Hattie’s face fell slightly. “It came back in the mail. Amby wrote letters to you too, but no matter. I’m so glad we reunited.”
Before I could ask her to elaborate, she rejoined her family at the entrance and kissed Amby’s cheek with a sisterly peck.
He took her arm and glanced around her at me, so I strolled over to give Emiline my choices and pretended that the letters meant nothing.
So what if he cared enough to write? He obviously never bothered to post them. Maybe they were angry letters.
I grabbed the basket of food from the chair and caught Amby’s curious gaze but turned to my sister instead. “Mils, you ready?”
“Oh, yes. I’m leaving everything here and need to return for another fitting.” She chuckled at Amby and his sisters, looking far happier than when we entered. New clothes and the company certainly brightened her disposition.
I was reluctant to admit that I enjoyed myself too, even if I didn’t get what I wanted.