| |
AFTER THE PHOTOSHOOT—an awkward experience no matter how Aspen tried to rationalize it—Ruby insisted they keep the outfits they’d posed in.
In the safety of the private change room, Aspen leaned her back against the door and closed her eyes. She pressed her hand on her middle and inhaled deeply, held it, and let go slowly. She repeated this while sorting her thoughts.
So much had happened in such a short time. Creed had shared more with her in the last hour or so than all the conversations they’d ever shared. And the conversations all scared the hell out of her.
What did he want? Where would all this lead? To sex? Dating? To waking up tomorrow to him gone back to the city and her only having this one night to remember?
And so far, she’d spent most of night fighting with him and trying to keep her distance.
What kind of memory would that be?
The one night she had Creed interested in spending with her—and not restricted to a bedroom—and she’d all but ran from his every suggestion, every touch. What good would it do? She’d only wake up tomorrow and remember how awesome her restraint had been. That seemed boring and sad.
She opened her eyes and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could feel Creed’s touch on every spot Ruby had placed his hand. The edge of her shoulder where he’d been instructed to kiss her neck. Her outer thigh, where she’d been instructed to press her inner thigh against his leg. When both his hands had cupped her face and brought her lips inches from his. Every damn touch made her hot, wet, and wanting more.
Maybe it was about time she stopped being scared and took advantage of their situation. She refused to let her fear hold her back tonight.
She wanted to wake up tomorrow and have the same butterflies she’d had the morning she’d awaken next to him on the cliff on Mr. Callaghan’s property, sleeping in the crook of his arm. They hadn’t kissed, had sex, or even held hands that night, but it had been a memory she’d never give up. She might eliminate the part of the memory where Tess had slept on her other side, using Aspen’s back as a pillow... But other than that, Creed was right, it had been one of the best nights of her life.
Feeling a thrill of confidence, she pushed off the door just as there was a knock.
“Aspen? You good in there?” Creed asked.
She was better than good, she felt alive and free and—
Without over thinking her actions, she whipped the door open and grasped a handful of Creed’s shirt, pulling him inside the change room with her.
“What’s happening? Are you ok—”
Creed’s words were cut off as Aspen shoved him and he stumbled back, hitting the closed door. Her hands gripped each side of his head and she rose on her tip-toes, pressing her body against his body. She wished he was still wearing only the winter briefs.
Her mouth covered his in a hard and ravenous kiss that surprised even her. She’d never kissed so rough, but damn it felt so good. Creed’s arms wrapped around her, moving her tank top up and pressing his flat hands against her bare flesh.
She moaned in his mouth as one hand gripped the back of her neck and pushed her mouth harder against his. His other hand cupped her derrière and lifted her up. He flipped them around to press her body against the door, making their reflection in the mirror visible to her.
It was hot to watch.
Her legs were wrapped around his waist as his mouth trailed kisses down her throat. She wanted his shirt and pants off. She wanted to look at his bare ass in the mirror.
She leaned back against the door and tugged at his shirt. His mouth found hers again, wet, rough and wild.
“You taste like chocolate,” he breathed.
She licked her lips, enjoying this game more the second time. “You taste like chocolate.” She leaned forward but he pushed her shoulders back.
“Aspen, did you eat Ruby’s chocolate bark?”
She pressed her finger against the tip of his nose. “Did you eat Ruby’s chocolate bark?”
“No, because it has weed in it.”
Aspen blinked and leaned her head back. “Come again.”
“Weed. Marijuana. Ganja.”
Oh shit.
His lips cracked a smirk that Aspen couldn’t feel—or could she? She felt good. Too good. Happy. Too happy. Horny. Damn, she felt horny.
“Oh my god.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m high, aren’t I?”
Creed’s smile could not have been wider. “Yes.”
“Noooo.”
“Yeeeessss.”
She started laughing.
“How much did you eat?” Creed asked her.
“One or two or ... five. I can’t remember exactly.” She gasped and covered her mouth. “Did you eat some?”
He shook his head. “No. When she offered I just tucked it in my pocket.”
“I ate it.”
He laughed. “I know. It explains ... this.” He stepped away and she slid to her feet.
Her hands reached for him and she bunched his T-shirt in her fists to draw him back to her. “Don’t stop.”
“We are definitely stopping.” He unclenched her hands from his shirt and put them to her side.
“Noooo,” she whined. “You taste delicious and you feel amazing.”
“So do you, but I prefer a sober Aspen.”
She lifted her hands in the air. “I like chocolate bark Aspen. This has been her best decision all night.”
“Not that I don’t agree with chocolate bark Aspen, but I will wait for sober Aspen.”
She reached out and poked his chest. “Ohhh, Creed Nigh isn’t as big and bad as he tries to be.”
As swiftly as before—or perhaps her nice buzz was making everything go a little smoother—he swapped places with her. “I’ll let you get dressed.” He shut the door behind him.
“Your loss,” she called through the door before searching for her dress. She decided to keep her winter panties on as a fun memento of tonight and spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to zip up her dress.
Giving up, she left it halfway down her back and stuffed the rest of her clothes in a bag. She slung her jacket over her arm and felt pumped for their next mission.