“Next time? Trust me, I regretted it the first time.”
Sophie already knew the truth, but it didn’t make it any less painful as he waved it in front of her.
Sophie turned and caught Lori and Matthew watching them. Lori seemed desperate for insight on what was unfolding between the two of them. Sophie tried to seem casual but she wasn’t selling it to either of them.
Sophie brought her attention to the drink in her hand. The heat of her anger burned at her skin. “I hate you.” Her eyes flicked toward Ashton before she downed her entire glass. Her senses were now numb to the horrible taste and burn of the whiskey. There was only a slight warming in her stomach. Sophie stood up on her unsteady feet and stormed off to the dance floor. The rush of the new liquor fueled her body as she moved. She suddenly realized that she may have overdone her consumption. Her body felt lighter, the room swayed, the music called to her on a primal level, and she no longer felt the uncomfortable press of bodies as she moved to the music.
Strong hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a hard warm body. Her numb state of mind was driven purely by physical response and was no longer processing on a logical level. She knew it was Ashton. Excitement rushed through her at the sight of his hands on her body. She didn’t question it. She was fueled by the lust that the music pumped through her. She leaned into him, letting her soft curves press against him. He felt too good to be true, the way his hands moved over her. In her foggy state of mind she couldn’t think about anything other than wanting this.
Ashton leaned down against her neck, his breath hot against her skin. It caused an explosion of desire to blossom deep within her, and she reached up to pull him down to her. “Admit how much you want me,” he said close to her ear, causing her eyes to snap open. She spun around to face him. Her breath was still heavy with the need. She clamped her eyes shut, overcome with dizziness. She couldn’t believe she didn’t see this coming. She had actually encouraged him to touch her. Her illusion came crashing down. Why do I always fall into his stupid trap?
She ran off the dance floor and headed straight for the exit. She needed to get away from Ashton. He had a power over her that scared her. The cool night air offered little relief as she continued up the street without stopping.
“Sophie!” She heard her name being called. She didn’t turn around—she knew who it was. Ashton was probably trying to gloat about the fact that she practically had given herself to him on the dance floor. Embarrassment consumed her and burned away at the effects of the liquor.
She ignored him as long as she could but he remained insistently on her heels. “Why are you following me? If you haven’t figured it out, I’m trying to get away from you.”
“Your friends would kill me if they knew I let you walk home alone.” He justified his pursuit. “I know Jack well enough to know he would have my throat. He’s a stickler for chivalry.”
“Chivalry isn’t really your style, is it? Well, don’t worry your pretty little panties. I can take care of myself. I always have,” Sophie fumed as she heard his chuckle. She didn’t want to amuse him. She wanted to cause him great physical harm.
After another block, she swung around to face him. “What do you not understand about leave…me…alone? You’re the last person on this entire planet that I want following me home.”
“I hardly believe I am the last person, especially after that display on the dance floor,” he said in his irritatingly confident tone.
“Grrr…” She picked up her pace, hoping he would back off.
“Did you just growl at me?”
“I hate you!” She looked back and loathed the fact that he had long legs and seemed to be keeping up with her pace easily. I hate you so much!
“So you keep saying.” She hated that he was so unaffected by her, and she could barely think straight in his company. “Funny, I don’t believe you.”
When Sophie reached her apartment, she grabbed her keys from her purse. “Well, believe it!” Sophie yelled back.
“I’ll walk you to your door, that way I know you won’t trip and fall on your face between here and there.” His tone took on a more serious tone, making her nervous.
Sophie stomped up the flight of stairs to her door. “If you have some big plan to humiliate me even more, then I hate to disappoint you, but there is no audience here. I am at my door. Go away now.” When she turned around, Ashton was closer than she expected. He leaned in and muffled her gasp with his demanding lips. The kiss was so unexpected, but she responded greedily before she could register what she was doing. She pulled him closer, lost in a moment of pure physical weakness as she devoured his lips. She reveled in the way he knew how to kiss. In that moment she wanted him with more passion than she thought physically possible until a small breach of clarity shone through her fog of lust. Sophie bit down on his lip until she threatened to draw blood. Ashton pulled back abruptly with a curse.
“I told you you’d regret it.” She was determined to gain the upper hand in the situation. She hated the fact that she was breathless and could feel the heat in her face.
A sly smile spread across his face. Sophie noticed his lip already looked swollen from her bite. “Admit how much you want me.” He reached out for her, and Sophie slapped his hand away.
“I don’t want you.” Sophie tried to keep her voice calm but he rattled her.
“You’re biting your lip, Sophie. We know what that means.”
“I am completely unaffected by you, Ashton King, and I have hated you from the moment I saw you,” Sophie stated angrily. “Don’t ever kiss me again!” Why the hell did he just kiss me? “I hate you!”
His eyes dropped to her lips with a smile. It was an unconscious habit she cursed. Her feelings for him had always frightened her. What did it mean about her character to be attracted to someone who chose to make her life miserable? I am a mess.
“I hate you too.” He spoke with a tender softness that confused her. Then he turned on his heel and left. What the hell was that? Sophie stood in her hallway, completely confounded. She wasn’t sure what to make of the confusion that toyed with her thoughts, and the influence of the alcohol did not help the situation.
***
The next morning Sophie woke with a headache. It felt like someone was carving out her skull. She moaned as she crawled out of bed, heading straight to her medicine cabinet for something to dull the pain. Scrubbing her hands over her face, she reached in her shower to turn on the water. She screamed and stumbled backward when she noticed movement in her tub. Two mice were scurrying around, trying to find an escape. “Come on!” she complained as she went to her closet to find a bucket. “Of all days!” I hate my life!
Pulling back the curtain, she slipped on her cleaning gloves and tried to grab the furry little creatures. “You little buggers!” They evaded her grasp, darting around the slippery surface of the tub. Sophie screamed out in triumph when she clamped down on one of them. When she had them both contained, she set the bucket outside of her apartment door until she could deal with it. Although the bucket was deep, she didn’t want to risk them escaping inside while she got ready.
The hot water soothed her tired body, giving her renewed energy. The pain medication was starting to take effect—the prospect of getting through the day seemed more bearable. When she stepped out of the shower and looked at her reflection, memories of the night before came flooding back to her. The thought of Ashton against her lips caused her to cringe. She was disappointed that she had let things get out of hand. The fact that the memory brought heat to her face made it even worse. Her only hope was that she would never see him again. “I am so pathetic,” she moaned at her reflection.
Once Sophie was dressed and ready, she collected the bucket from outside. Surprisingly, Mr. Cleary opened after only a few knocks.
“Here, I brought you a present. I’m gonna need the bucket back, by the way.” She smirked as she thrust it into his hands. The shocked look on his face as he looked inside was priceless but Sophie didn’t stick around, even when he called after her.