Page 149 of Withered

His eyes change into something I’d describe as lust and hunger. I broke eye contact first. “What about the bow?”

He groans, “I’m not wearing a fucking bow.”

I usher the assigned guy in to help Jake with his bow.

“Rose.” Jake throws daggers my way.

“Just let me see. We can decide later.”

Because he couldn’t reach Jake, the man stood on a small stool. He helps Jake with the bow while Jake keeps a boring, uninterested expression.

After he’s finished, I agree a bow is overkill for someone like Jake. The guy looks at us and says, “It doesn’t need any fitting. You are free to take it as is.”

I thank him while Jake goes back to change.

“Rose,” Jake calls me. His head pops out of the room, and I ask, “What is it?”

“I think the label got caught somewhere. Help me with this,” he asks, and I stand near his door.

I open the door wide to check the label, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me inside, locking the door behind him. Before I could say anything, he covers my mouth and presses my back against the glass mirror.

I mumble against his hand, but my words don’t make sense. I lower my eyes to his hand and then to him, ushering him into removing it with a confused and angry look.

My hands are full of my purse and latte. I drop my purse and try to pinch his hand, but he catches it.

He takes the latte and places it on a nearby table.

“Quiet, Rose,” he says softly as he lowers his head. “You wouldn’t want someone to walk on us, would you?”

My eyes go wide, and he slowly removes his hand. I don’t get the chance to speak as his hungry and impatient mouth crushes mine in an eager kiss. I let out a gasp, and Jake takes it to his advantage. He slips his tongue inside and explores every inch of mine.

He’s still dressed in a tux, and the sight makes my mouth water.Go big or go home?I made my choice by kissing him back with equal passion.

His hand disappears under my shirt, and I shiver because of his cold fingers. His hand travels upwards, and he leaves my lips, growling against them.

“No bra?” He asks, his green eyes almost black.

I shake my head, and he kisses me again, his hand resting on one of my breasts and caressing it. I break the kiss breathlessly, and he drops his hand as well.

“Now turn around,” I say. “Where did the label get stuck?”

Jake gives me a confused look. “What are you talking about?”

“There wasn’t anything,” I ask. “You just wanted to kiss, didn’t you?”

He grins. “Smart.”

I can’t do anything but chuckle. I grab my purse and latte and go, but I stop at the door. “I was going to kiss you in the car, but we did that already. So, forget about it.”

“We’ll see.” Jake winks at me.

We get his tux, then go to the parking lot, and drive home.

He pulls up in front of my driveway and turns off the engine. I take my bag from the backseat, which contains my dress, and leave the other bag behind. Jake pulls out a smaller bag and hands it to me. I look inside and find two boxes.

“How come there are two boxes?” I give him a puzzled look, and he leans on the steering wheel.

I open the first box to find the pumps. I pull the second one out and open it.

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