“So we are here to celebrate Ashlyn’s Closet and our five-year anniversary. You better watch out, Ashy, five years is a long time. I might be giving you a ring next time.”
My laughter filled the table, and I snorted at his words. His ridiculous statement calmed me down, and immediately settled the tension in the pits of my stomach. I lifted my beer to my lips and took a sip, while my gaze remained locked on him. He stared back at me with a wave of possession flicking through his chocolate brown eyes. It was unnerving, but in the best possible way.
“It better be a damn big one,” I stated, after lowering my bottle and placing it on the table.
“Noted,” he said with a wink.
We dug into the pizza, and my taste buds shot into overdrive with garlic and cheesy goodness. It was just as good as I remembered, or maybe even better, just like kissing Josh seemed to be better than last time. No. No. No. I could not think of that. I focused on my third slice and couldn’t contain my low moans of satisfaction. It sounded a little too sensual to be about a piece of pizza. Amusement hit my gaze as Josh shot me a warning look, which only encouraged me further.
“Stop with the sex noises!” He sighed, and I moaned with more vigor in response.
I wiped my hands and picked up my beer. The music continued around us, and I felt my body relax as beer flowed through my veins. Not having to sit on the knowledge that Ky and Eden didn’t know about Lachlan and me felt amazing. The weight on my shoulders had lifted, and now it might be possible for me to completely shut the door on that huge mistake.
We laughed, chatted, and reminisced about college for an hour. Everything we spoke of revolved around the past, and Josh hadn’t mentioned anything about kissing me within an inch of my life or finger fucking me at his parents’ house once. Just the thought of it made me blush.
“Shit, I’m vibrating.” Josh stood from his chair and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “It’s Ky. I’ll be two minutes.”
I pulled my own phone from my clutch as Josh disappeared through the crowd and away from the noise. My smile at seeing Eden’s name on the screen died when I saw Lachlan’s name taunting me. Without hesitating, I deleted his message before opening Eden’s.
Hi lovely, just checking in to see how you are. Let’s catch up for a girl’s night in when you move back to your place. What are you doing for your last night with Josh?
My fingers danced over the screen as I tapped in a reply.
Hey sweets, I’m actually feeling really great. Girls night in MUST happen. Josh surprised me and brought me to Rubie’s, so we are having beers and pizza, and supposedly celebrating our five year anniversary.
Her response was immediate.
Five years?
Eden was going to love this. Ever since her and Ky got together, she had been full force on the romance front, and everything made her swoon. This would be like shooting excitement through her body at a million miles per second and just waiting for the high to hit her.
Five years since he took my V card. He blindfolded me in the back of a cab and brought me here, then ordered the same pizza and beer we had the first night we met. I was shocked he remembered.
The blue bubble appeared almost immediately, and I could imagine the shriek of excitement that came out of her. Oh fuck, Ky would ask her what made her so excited. I couldn’t help but smirk, because I knew Josh would receive a text from Ky, or better yet he’d mention it during their current conversation. I looked over to where Josh was standing and met his gaze. He held up a finger, signaling that he was almost done.
My phone vibrated in my hand.
YOU ARE KIDDING ME! Oh My God. That is adorable. I always knew he was a romantic that hid behind that playboy exterior. Shit! Does that mean you two are going to have SEX!? Ashlyn, this is HUGE.
Her use of capital letters told me she was deliriously excited, and her idea that we were going to have sex was clearly brought on by the lack of oxygen her excitement was causing.
Eden, you need to breathe. It is just two friends having pizza and beers. No sex. Well, for me anyway. I have sworn off sex. No cock is getting in my panties. I need to buy myself a chastity belt ASAP. Gotta go, Josh is coming back. Love ya.
Josh pulled out his seat and placed his phone on the table, and I put mine back in my clutch. He leaned back, crossed his arms over his chest, and raised a questioning brow.
“Really?” He smirked and shook his head slightly.
“What?” I asked innocently, knowing full well what he meant.
“You had to tell Eden that we were here?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Of course. She is my sister from another mister. We tell each other everything.”
“Really?”
“Well, not everything,” I mused, my eyes darting away from his.
“Does she know about us?”
With wide eyes, I asked, “Us?”
“Yes, us.”
I shook my head because I didn’t know how to respond to that. The fact that he could render me speechless frustrated me. “Us” had so much meaning behind it. I needed to find me before I could even consider becoming an us. And an us with Josh? Not likely. The fun we had was what I needed. It had given me a fleeting glimpse of passion that I knew I still wanted, but it was a pleasure that I knew I couldn’t keep feeding. Especially not with the one guy who could destroy me.
“You play dirty,” I said softly.
“How do I play dirty?” His brow quirked.
“You walk around without a shirt, you have crazy awesome stubble, and you say sweet things to a damsel in distress. I had no hope. Combine those things, and I am officially back to being a college student crushing on the campus manwhore,” I said, while trying to hide a smirk. Everything I was saying was complete truth.
“Fuck, you’re hilarious.” He laughed.
“Joshua, I’m not trying to be funny,” I said, trying my hardest not to smile. “No more kissing or talk of kissing, and definitely no more fingers in my panties. You and I are friends, besties, buddies. I’m putting my black stiletto foot down. It’s not going to happen again.”
“It will happen again.” His brow lifted as he emphasized every word.
“No, it will not.”
“It will.”
“Why are you so damn stubborn and annoying?” I pouted, and knew that neither of us would back down.
“You know I’m right.” He leaned in and dropped his voice dangerously low. “If I was to grab your hand right now, take you to a secluded corner, and press you against the wall and kiss you, would you stop me?”
“Uh, y—, yes I would.” No, I wouldn’t. Shut up libido.
A shit-eating grin spread across his face, and he knew he had me. “Hesitation looks stunning on you, Ashy.”
That was it. I was done. I needed to get away before he got his bossy voice on and his hooded eyes that made him look irresistible. Fuck my life! “I’m going to order another drink.”
“See if they have a cocktail called Living in Denial. You should definitely buy one if they do.”
I pushed away from the table and flipped him the bird, while trying desperately to stop the playful smile that was begging to be unleashed. His deep laughter followed me as I darted through the crowd and made my way toward the main bar.
I couldn’t deny that my days and nights had been spent trying to refuse my basic needs in order to resist him, but the more I was around him, the more I failed. I should have never moved in with him. Distance was the only cure for this. I had been resisting his temptation for exactly five years, and at times I failed miserably—hence the two kisses and numerous orgasms I’d had in a matter of days.