Chapter 3

  By the time Ashton wanders into the kitchen after his shower, I’ve set my plan into action.  I’ve put on some music, a club playlist on Spotify, and am swaying my hips along to the beat. I’ve changed into a low cut white tank and cutoff jean shorts. I wear both when I’m painting, so they’re covered in paint, well worn, and form fitting. I’m washing dishes and have made sure to splash water all over the front of my tank, making it see-through. You wanna play, Ashton? Game fucking on.

               I hear him walk into the kitchen and stop. There is a definite inhale of air as he takes in my appearance. I put an extra sensual sway into my hips, singing along with the music.  I act as if I don’t know that he’s there.

Putting the dishes away, I run my hands over my body, acting as if I’m wiping water on my clothes, making sure to run them over my stomach and down to my hips. As I finish putting away the clean dishes, I continue dancing.  My hands move to my hair, pulling the tie out of it and allowing it to fall around my shoulders.  I continue moving, getting lost in the song, running my hands through my hair, over my body, and into the air.

Suddenly, I feel his heat against my back.  I stop moving for a second, looking over my shoulder with a sly grin crossing my face.  He’s staring down at me, various emotions fleeting across his features.

“What are you doing, Sam?” he asks, voice low and husky in my ears.

I push back into him, our bodies connecting.  My back to his front, my ass rubbing against his crotch. I continue dancing, swaying against him.  “Just having some fun,” I whisper.

He doesn’t move for a second, his body rigid against mine.  I’m afraid that I’ve misjudged him, pushed him too far.  But then his fingertips run lightly down my arm from my shoulder to the tips of my fingers.  He takes my hand in his and spins me around, so that I’m facing him.  His eyes run down my body, lingering on my breasts, the material completely see-through from the water.

“Dance with me.”  His voice is the same husky and low tone as before, his eyes burning with something that I never thought that I’d see in them: lust.

I nod and move into his body.  My arms go around his neck, his to my hips.  Our hips move as one, seemingly fused together.  One of my legs is between his and he pulls me even closer to him.  He bends his head so that our foreheads are together and we lock stares as we dance.  I roll my hips and he groans lightly, biting his bottom lip.  The sight makes my mouth dry and I unconsciously lick my lips.  Ashton’s fingers tighten on my hips and his face moves into mine.  One of his hands cups the back of my head and his lips trail lightly along my jaw and up to my ear.

“What are you doing, Sam?” he whispers into my ear.

I swallow hard and open my mouth to respond when the music stops and my alarm goes off.

I slowly pull away from him, looking into his eyes.  “Food’s ready.”

I make to turn around and his hands tighten on my hips.  I look at him questioningly, arching my brow.  “What?”

His eyes seem to blaze for a second, his facial features grow sharper as he clenches his jaw.  But then he lets out a deep breath and steps back from me.  “Yeah.  Yeah.  I’ll, uh…I’ll get the wine.”  He slowly backs away from me and moves to the counter.

I turn around to grab my oven mitts, smiling.    Point for me.

—-----

I set the lasagna on the table and sit down across from Ashton.  He doesn’t look at me as he pours the wine and I try my best to hide my smile.

I serve the lasagna and we begin eating in silence.  I refuse to be the one to break.  It’s his move now.

“So, was that payback?” Ashton asks, finally looking at me, his face solemn.  “For the shower thing?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, grinning.

He stares at me for a second, before guffawing.  He laughs for several moments while I just smile at him and eat my food.

When he settles, he takes a bite before saying, “Alright.  I deserved that.  But just so you know, payback is a bitch.”

“Bring it, James.  You’ve barely begun to see the things I can do.”  I dip my finger into some of the sauce on my plate and bring it to my mouth, sucking it clean.

His eyes darken, his teeth running over his bottom lip.  “Looks like this is going to be a fun week.”