Page 8 of Trash the Dress

“Tell me to stop, Scarlett. Tell me now,” he whispers gruffly as he leans in to touch his head to mine.

I grip his forearm and let my nails bite into it just a little. “I can’t do that,” I answer breathlessly.

I close my eyes as his lips touch mine again. He kisses me like he’s afraid I’ll evaporate into thin air. Once he’s thoroughly left my lips swollen with his kiss, he stands upright again to push me back slightly. I’m propped on my elbows and notice his smirk before he leans over to trail kisses down my neck, and then further down to my chest. He finds my nipples and gives each one lavish attention before pressing kisses all the way down to my underwear.

I can feel his breath through the lace and then he pulls down the flimsy material. I’d normally feel self-conscious, but somehow, I just feel beautiful in this moment. I hear his voice again and it causes me to tense up for a second. “I’m telling you one more time, please tell me to stop.”

Instead, my answer is, “Please don’t stop, Zander.”

He groans before I feel his tongue on me. He holds me in place as he brings me close. Then he stops, causing me to open my eyes. I see him fumbling with something in his wallet. He pulls out a foil pack and holds it between his teeth as he unbuttons and unzips his pants. “Last chance, little sunshine.”

Once the protection is in place, he arches a brow waiting for my response. “I want you, Zander. I want this.”

I feel him slowly enter me as he watches me for any hesitation. Then he brings me back close to him again. We’re eye to eye as he thrusts in and out. His hands are everywhere, feeling every soft curve. My hands feel all his hard edges.

The minutes tick by in silence except for our rapid breaths, until I feel it. That undeniable sensation of the sweetest release I can ever remember having. I break the silence with a small whimper as it takes over and becomes a moan. He holds me close with his hands in my hair and his own moan sounds in my ear.

Once we both float back to reality, he removes himself from me and then grabs a paper towel, wets it, and brings it over to me. “This is all I have to help you clean up. I’d offer my shirt again, but…the yellow might end up where it doesn’t belong,” he says while smirking.

I gladly accept the damp paper towel. “Thank you. Who knew such a grump could be so thoughtful.”

He drops his gaze, and even though the smile is still on his handsome face, it becomes a little tighter. “Hey, I didn’t mean anything by that. It’s just, you put off the grumpy vibe to the world. I know just by spending the last few hours with you, you’re not. You’re more like a vault.”

He chuckles. “I’m not sure that’s better than grumpy.”

I laugh at the same time I feel heat in my cheeks again. “I mean, a vault is hard and locked up tight, but it’s protecting something valuable.”

His smile fades almost completely. “I’m afraid nothing about my heart is valuable anymore.”

I drop down from the table and stand in front of him. “One day, someone will make you see that it is.” I tap his chest just over his heart and allow myself to get lost in his dark eyes for a few seconds longer.

Then, I pull my lace panties back on before I walk away and add, “By the way, I’m stealing your shirt. I’m not putting that dress back on. You helped me trash it, and now I’m done with it. You can fold it up with your drop cloth and use it the same way if you want.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Zander

The drive back to Scarlett’s car is quiet. She stares out the window at the passing scenery. I glance over at her profile and something in me stirs. I always say no. I’ve been tempted many times before, but something about this woman is different. She flew right past the “no trespassing” and “do not enter” signs and broke through the carefully locked chains.

Not that it matters. After I drop her off at her car, I’ll never see or hear from her again. And it’s for the best. What’s left of my heart would never be enough for anyone, much less someone as wonderful as Scarlett seems to be.

I’ll wish her the best and bid her farewell. Unless she wants copies of her pictures. I focus my attention on the road that leads back to the church where her car is parked. Once there, she turns toward me. “I feel a little awkward now. I’m not a one-night-stand kind of girl. But that’s what happened,” she says nervously.

My confident little sunshine has lost her bravado now.

I turn to look at her too. “It’s okay. No need to feel that way. It happened, it was great, but it’s over. No strings, no need to do or say anything else.”

Her shoulders relax before she almost shouts, “Oh no! The table! We need to go back and clean the table!”

I can’t help but burst out laughing for the first time since I don’t know when. “It’s good. I wiped it down with an antibacterial wipe while you were getting dressed. You worry too much, little sunshine.”

Her cheeks are beet red as she closes her eyes and laughs while resting her head on the headrest. “I am a worrier. But I guess I’m lucky you have it all together,” she adds.

I get out and come around to open her door. “I don’t know about having it all together, but I can keep a pretty calm head.”

She gets out, barefoot and still wearing my white shirt now covered in paint. She unlocks her car and puts her things inside before turning back to me. “Can I get copies of the pictures later?”

“Absolutely, if you’re sure you want them,” I tell her.

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