“Fuck it,” I whisper, more to myself than to him as my hands rise to cup his now clean-shaven face, drawing his lips toward mine. You only live once, and I have a feeling if I deny myself of this, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.
I see his smug smirk of victory moments before his mouth connects with mine. My logical side says I should knee him in the balls for being so presumptuous.
Parting my lips, I tilt my head back to gain full access to his delicious mouth, surrendering myself to him completely. Ashton tastes and smells like everything I imagined he would—beer, mint, and all man.
I kiss him hard, my hands now sliding into his hair. He groans into my mouth as he presses his body flush against mine, pushing me further into the wall.
I can feel his erection against my stomach, and there’s something thrilling about that. How can someone like me turn someone like him on? Unimaginable. It spurs me on as I run my tongue along his plump bottom lip, tugging at his hair.
Ashton takes control and explores my mouth as his hands move over my hips, snaking behind me to cup my ass. A deep growl bubbles in the back of his throat as he gives my cheeks a tight squeeze, drawing me even closer.
His hardness pressed against my soft.
The intensity of our union kicks up another notch causing me to moan into his mouth. Nobody has ever kissed me like this before, and I doubt they ever will again.
It’s hot.
So damn hot I feel like I’m going to spontaneously combust.
Is it possible to orgasm from just a kiss alone? I wouldn’t know, but I’m pretty sure I’m on the verge of having a mini ‘O’ right now. I can’t get enough—I want to crawl down his damn throat.
Shifting his body slightly, his leg slips in between mine. Did he read my mind? Because his thick, muscly thigh hits me right on the sweet spot, giving the friction I crave. My body squirms.
Do not hump his leg, Emma. I repeat, do not hump his leg!
Ignoring that annoying inner voice in my head, I roll my hips forward, grinding into him like a dirty ho. I even whimper into his mouth as I do it. You’re a sick, twisted individual, Emma, but God, it feels good. So damn good.
My body climbs higher and higher, and I’m almost at the point of no return when panic sets in. But I can’t escape, he’s pinned me so tightly I can’t budge. My hands slide down to his chest, pushing on it. But he doesn’t relent his assault on my body.
Jesus, I’m coming.
Right here, right now, in the middle of the club, with an audience.
The shame.
My lips part, and my head falls back. “Oh, fudge,” I cry out as the most intense pleasure I’ve ever experienced rockets through me. I fist my hands in his shirt as white light permeates behind my eyes. My body zooms past the stars, pings off the moon, before plummeting back down to earth in a fully sated, yet satisfied bliss.
Holy hell.
When I finally reopen my eyes, I find Ashton watching me. We’re both breathless. Neither of us move for the longest time.
“Do you have any idea how hot that was?” Although I can’t see my face, I know it’s the color of my dress. I’m too mortified to respond. He rests his forehead against mine. “What are you doing to me, Em?”
I don’t know, but the things he makes me feel scare me.
I barely even know him.
He takes a step back, and a look of confusion crosses his face like he can’t believe this either. When he runs his fingers through his hair, I make my escape.
“I have to go.”
“Wait,” he says, capturing my wrist. “Don’t go.”
“I have to.” It was only supposed to be a kiss. It wasn’t meant to feel so good. I shouldn’t want to kiss him again, and again, and again. I don’t want to feel the things that I’m feeling right now.
The sheer amount of feels frightens the ever-loving crap out me.
Ashton pulls my body back to his, briefly closing his eyes. It’s like an internal battle is raging within him. He blows out a long breath before he finally speaks, “Come home with me, sweet-thing.”
“I can’t.”
His eyelids spring open, and for a moment, he almost looks hurt by the rejection. But a sliver of hurt is not enough to sway me. Things could get far worse if I even entertain the idea. I can’t put myself in that position.
“Please, Em.” I shake my head. I’m afraid if I speak, I’ll say something stupid like yes. “Give me one good reason?”
I could give him a thousand reasons.
I have no idea what time it is, but I’m pretty sure our kiss-fest went for longer than six minutes. Sliding the sleeve of his jacket up slightly, I look down at my arm. “It’s after midnight, so, unfortunately, it’s bye-bye sinner and hello saint. Besides, I have to be up early.”
“Did you just pretend to look at a watch… a watch we both know you’re not wearing?”
I clear my throat, diverting my gaze away from him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Ashton chuckles at my response, and again I know my face has turned as red as my dress.
Smooth, Emma, real smooth.
“And just when I thought you couldn’t get any more adorable.”
He thinks I’m adorable?
“I have to go,” I whisper.
Slipping out of his jacket, I hand it back. If I don’t walk away now, I know I’m going to cave. And as much as I’d love to go home with him, it’s not an option. I made a promise to myself many years ago that I’d never put myself in that position again.
Never.
Damn him, why does he have to be so hot?
This time, he doesn’t try to stop me as I turn and hurry away. Tears sting my eyes, and I don’t even know why. I feel like I’ve lost something, which is stupid.
In reality, I could never have a man like him, anyway.
It’s just after five in the morning when I lock my apartment and head downstairs. It’s still dark outside, so my eyes are everywhere as I walk along the concrete path toward my car. It’s parked by the curb outside the front of our building. I wouldn’t say Gardena is an unsafe place to live, but it does have its fair share of crime, so it’s a little unnerving whenever I leave this early.
As a precautionary manner, my car key is wedged between my middle and forefinger, the metal part is sticking outward. Any attackers lurking in the shadows better be wary, I’m prepared to take out an eye if necessary.
I lock the driver’s side door the moment I’m sitting in the car, placing the key in the ignition. But when I turn it, the engine doesn’t kick over. “Crap.” I’m not in the mood for this right now. I’m running on no sleep, and I still haven’t had my first coffee of the day, so bitchy Emma is out in full force. “Come on, Kitty, purr for Momma.” I give it three more attempts before giving up. “You know what, fuck you, Kitty.”
Reaching for my handbag, I swipe it off the passenger seat, slamming the door once I exit the vehicle. My shift at the animal shelter is from six to midday, Carla won’t even be out of bed by then. I head back upstairs to grab the spare key to her apartment. She won’t mind if I borrow her car. I’ll just leave her a note.
As I slip the key in her door, it flies open, tugging my arm and jerking me forward. Clenching my eyes closed, I place my hand on my chest as I take a step backward. “Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.”