“Thanks! Stop please!” She smiled nervously, wiggling her foot out of his hold, unable to take the torture anymore. Although his touch on her bare feet felt heavenly, it invoked a reaction of a different kind altogether. She couldn’t control the urge to grab him and kiss him. With his hungry eyes probing into hers, she was sure that he could read the hunger in them.
“Don’t you like my massage?” His raspy voice indicated that his condition did not differ from hers. He stroked her foot in a feather-soft touch, going to her ankle and up her calf a little, causing a tremor to go up her body. His hungry eyes watched her reaction, sending a strange thrill all over him. Her reaction to him invoked a greater urge within him to touch her more.
“Umm, I do. I’m feeling better already,” she smiled nervously, unable to look away. His eyes trapped her in a staring contest while her body fought with her sane mind, ready to give in to the need to feel his lips on hers.
“That’s impossible! I hardly started my massage. Relax,” he murmured, his voice silky and smooth as his fingers trailed up her calf and down again. The touch caused her nipples to harden to taut peaks while she felt a throbbing need course through her body. No, she couldn’t do this. She had to get away before she lost everything to the charmer. Swinging her legs down, she abruptly stood up.
“Thanks, Ashton. I’ll leave now,” she said breathlessly, her cheeks flushed with color. Ashton looked surprised, but quickly recovered and stood up, too.
“What’s the hurry? It’s just 6:30,” he said in a hoarse whisper, but she didn’t want to stay a split second more. It was too dangerous with the mood he was in. “Is that fiance of yours waiting for you at home?” Hayley didn’t miss the jealousy this time, and neither did he hide it from her.
“Why would he? Don’t tell me you’re jealous of Jason?” she said with a nervous laugh. His eyes glittered dangerously as he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace, flush against his feverishly hot body.
“Yes, I am. I am jealous. I want you for myself. Don’t you get it?” he whispered in a low, angry growl. Hayley was stunned by his words, by the desperation in his tone. Dumbstruck, she gazed into his eyes, seeing the desire clearly reflected there.
“I want to be the first one to kiss you, Hayley. I don’t want anyone else to taste your sweetness! You’re driving me crazy!” he whispered, his eyes hooked onto her luscious lips that quivered a little at his admission. Her breath hitched when he reached out and dragged his thumb across her bottom lip in a rough caress. Her face heated up at his touch, making its way down her entire body till she felt the heavy pulse throb between her legs. Hayley couldn’t stop herself anymore. Seeing the tortured look on his face made her forget herself and grab his cheek to smash her lips to his.
Instantly, he delved his fingers deeper into her hair and grabbed hold of her head to dominate the kiss, as if waiting for her to cave in. His tongue glided across her dewy lips, savoring their sweet taste before biting her bottom lip to seek entrance. It was a hungry, predatory move, fueled by a burning need for to claim her as his. All good sense left Ashton the moment she innocently opened her mouth to his probing tongue.
A gasp escaped her mouth when his tongue glided into her mouth. It was a heavenly feeling indeed! How had she stayed away from experiencing it all her life? There was nothing mediocre with Ashton! The kiss, therefore, was out of the world! It was passionate, fiery, yet tender and lingering! She snaked her arms around his neck, playing with his soft, silky hair at the nape. She had always wanted to touch them, but never found the courage. He groaned with pleasure, closing his eyes finally to feel her touch. It was the most relaxing one he ever felt in his entire life and he didn’t want to let her go.
Tightening his hold around her waist, his mouth devoured every recess hungrily, unable to get enough of her. He always had women available to him at his beck and call, but he never felt such a powerful urge to kiss them, ever. With Hayley, his entire world turned upside down. He was painfully hard just by kissing her! What was wrong with him? How could he forget his situation? How could he take advantage of an innocent eighteen-year-old? He froze, his conscience winning over. Slowly releasing her mouth, he sucked in a staggering breath and released her. He turned his back to her, unable to see the hurt look in her eyes.
“I think you should go home, Hayley. I’m sorry! That shouldn’t have happened!”
Hayley stared at his stiff back and blinked with shock, unable to grasp what happened suddenly to change his mind. His apology came as a hard blow to her.
“I see. So it was a mistake, right?” she cried out, her voice quivering with hurt and humiliation.
“Yes.” There wasn’t anything to stay here for. Tears pricked at her eyes and she somehow picked up her mobile phone and shoes. Walking out of his cottage, she banged the door shut after her.
She staggered back to the parking area of her hotel and drove home. No, she wouldn’t cry at all for someone who didn’t care a dime about her feelings. It was so convenient for him to apologize after she gave him her first kiss. It was her mistake! How could she cave in knowing how he felt about relationships? Did she expect him to declare his undying love for her and marry her after the kiss? It happened that way in the movies! Why couldn’t it happen in real life?
The moment she drove into her house, she found Jason’s car in the driveway! Wasn’t he supposed to return to his estate today? She rang the doorbell and Elsa opened the door with a grim look on her face. She took in Hayley’s appearance and quickly fixed her before she could enter the house.
“Mr. Lowells is here. You can’t go inside in this condition!” she said in a low whisper.
“What’s he doing here?” Hayley asked in a whisper.
“I think they’re seeking admission for you in some reputed college near his place.” Hayley’s eyes popped out at the information. How could her parents dance to Jason’s tunes when she pointedly told them she wouldn’t change her college?
“Don’t react now in front of him. Talk to your parents later,” said Elsa, walking away towards the kitchen. Hayley took a deep breath and went inside the house to face them all. Her blood boiled in her veins at the man’s shrewdness. One meeting was all it took him to manipulate her family. She saw him laughing with her granny, and a pang of jealousy gripped her heart. It seemed he had already won them over in her absence.
“Oh, there you are, Hayley! Where had you been for so long? Your dad called Ms. McCain, but she said you had already left,” said her mom worriedly, while Jason gave her a look of disgust.
“I was with the girls but fell asleep after an early dinner,” she lied, to save herself from her mom’s interrogation.
“But your dad called Alyssa. You weren’t with her and Skylar.”
“I was at Eva’s apartment with her roommates.” It finally shut her mom, and she gave her an exasperated look.
“You should have called to say you won’t be home for dinner.”
“I didn’t know we were having guests to dinner, else I would surely have called. Now if you’ll excuse me. I need a shower.” They all looked displeased with her, but Hayley was beyond caring. They would anyhow do as they pleased without her permission. She went up the stairs to her room to freshen up.
After ten minutes, feeling much better, she opened her door to step out, when she saw her mom and Jason coming up the stairs. Why was he still here? She had expected him to leave! What were they doing upstairs?
“Jason wants to talk to you before he leaves, Hails,” said her mom with a radiant smile on her face.
“Oh,” she gasped in confusion. She could talk to him in the living room. Why was her mom bringing him to her bedroom? She wasn’t comfortable talking to him in private. Before she could protest, her mom led him into her bedroom.
“He wants to talk to you, Hails. Just cooperate, please,” whispered her mom, leaning in towards her.
“I’ll go downstairs to serve your dad his dinner.” Her mom escaped, leaving her with the hateful man.
“Sit down, Hayley. I need to talk to you,” said Jason with a solemn look on his face.