by Shannyn Leah
“I know you’re the girl who snuck out to old man Callaghan’s house with me.”
“One time.”
“It was more like half a dozen times.”
She scratched the back of her neck, recalling the creepy, dark nights when she’d looked for old man Callaghan’s dead wife’s ghost haunting the property on the cliff. “I really thought we were going to see a ghost.”
“Or maybe you wanted to hang out with me at the make-out tree.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? Is that what you were expecting when we went up there? Have you been thinking all these years I had secretly been hoping to make out with you?”
His nonchalant shrug suggested that all the above was accurate.
“I’m stepping outside. You ask her for whatever neon pink lingerie makes your fantasy and when you are in the window, I’ll snap a picture from outside.”
He pulled out his cell phone. “I changed my mine. You go choose an outfit and I’ll wait outside to take the picture.”
“No—”
“Can’t say no.”
“Stop throwing that at me!”
Creed took two steps toward her, his smoky eyes blazing at her. “I kissed a sign for you.”
“It was payback for kissing me without asking.”
His finger touched her chin. “Can I kiss you?”
“I told you questions between me and you are off limits with our can’t say no missive.”
He leaned closer. “Do you want me to kiss you?”
She leaned away from him. “I want you to go distract Ruby so we can get out of here.”
Creed stepped back and flashed his phone. “I’ll be outside waiting for your mannequin window premier.”
“No, no, no.” Aspen reached for him, but he moved around and out of the little red room leaving her alone with handcuffs, whips, and things she had no idea what to do with. Was that a sex swing?
When she didn’t hear the door chime and instead Ruby’s voice, she stepped back into the main area and found Ruby walking the shop with Creed on her arm.
“I love this lace pink teddy. Good choice.”
“I agree. Let’s add that to the pile.”
Pile? Aspen’s eyes shot to the counter where a stack of silk and lace undergarments were neatly folded. She walked over and touched the garments. What was he doing with all of this?
“And what about you?” She ran her hand down Creed’s arm. It amazed Aspen at how platonic such a romantic gesture was when Ruby did it.
Aspen leaned her hip against the counter and helped herself to some chocolate bark on a plate with a sign that said, “Have one.”
“What about me?” Creed asked.
“Do you need anything for tonight?” Ruby eyed him from head to toe, again in a completely platonic.
Creed didn’t look impressed with the idea. His lips began to form a negative answer, and Apsen walked to his side. “N—”
“He means yes.” Aspen looped her arm in Creed’s free arm and rested her head on his arm. “What do you have?”
Chapter Six
THREE FULL BAGS of lingerie, toys, and oils later, Aspen had come right out and asked Ruby if she could take a picture of Creed posing in her display window. He liked how she’d turned the picture back to him. Ruby had agreed ... with conditions. She’d take the picture if they posed a new matching couples’ outfit that had arrived for her website.
The speed of which the color had drained from Aspen’s face had been worth every purchase Ruby had talked him into. He now owned a banana hammock in every color of the rainbow.
“You couldn’t just get in the window,” Aspen hissed at him as she stepped out of the change room wearing a long black robe that matched his.
He’d left his robe hang open, showing off the new blue and white winter briefs. He wasn’t new to posing for underwear commercials—he’d done a Calvin Klein line a few years ago—and didn’t bother playing shy and awkward like his modeling partner. He left his shirt in the change room, revealing his bare chest, while Aspen’s robe remained tied tightly closed at her middle, her eyes darted nervously around the change room area.
Creed reached out and moved the slit of material by her neck aside, earning his hand a slap.
He chuckled and slipped his hands in the robes pockets. “If you hadn’t asked, she wouldn’t have asked us if we’d pose in her new outfits.”
Aspen’s eyes flitted about the room, on everything, but him. “We could have said no. No one would’ve had to know.”
“I’m not a cheater.”
Her eyes shot to him. “You’re telling that to the woman you had a one-night affair with.”
“Point taken.”
Her eyes traveled down his body for the first time. Instead of the desire he’d been expecting, she looked mortified. “Is that all you’re wearing?”
He nodded.
“I thought she gave you pants. Where are your pants?”
Creed shrugged. “And then she asked me if I’d pose in the briefs and I couldn’t say no.”
Aspen rolled her eyes, her fingers pulling the top of her robe higher up her neck. “Again, you could’ve said no and kept the truth to yourself.”
And miss her reaction? Not a chance.
“Are we ready?” Ruby breezed into the small area with a circular couch in the middle, mirrors on one wall, and a black and navy pattern on the other wall. A camera strap hung around her neck.
“Yes.” Creed dropped his robe, baring everything the briefs didn’t cover. Aspen’s eyes found his body this time and not their situation. She didn’t shy away from gawking at him until her almond-colored eyes found his and she turned five shades of red all at the same time.
“And you?” Ruby asked her.
“What are you using these pictures for again?” Aspen bit her lower lip so hard he thought she might draw blood. Her robe remained tightly in place.
“My online shop. I like my own photos of people wearing my stock. That way I can envision the product I sell. They speak to me.” She held her fingers up like a frame, closed one eye and peeked through it at them. “You two speak to me. Winter day, a couple newly finding love but loving each other their whole lives. Soul mates.” She peeked over her hand frame at Aspen. “Am I right?”
Creed slid a sideways look at his modeling partner and watched her chest rise with a deep breath. Her fake smile stayed planted on her lips as she was forced to say, “Yes.”
Ruby squealed, clapping her hands before dropping them at her side. “I knew it. But, as I promised, I will crop your heads out.”
“Do we need our heads cropped out?” Creed asked Aspen, only to watch her reaction.
“Yes.” She gritted, almost without moving a muscle around her lips.
“Robe.” Ruby held her hand out, obliging Aspen to untie the robe. She didn’t look at Creed, but she had all his attention. Her bare legs went on for miles before he saw the lace blue and white panties with a snow scene that matched his. There was a tiny bit of skin between the waistline of the panties and the silky, spaghetti strap tank top. Suddenly, he was acutely aware of the fact he was only wearing briefs. He suddenly realized seeing her in next to nothing, for the first time in five years, in front of a stranger, with a camera, might not be the best idea.
He cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from Aspen’s beauty. He’d have to think of that damn cold weather to keep his man parts at bay.
“Perfect.” Ruby took the robes. “Follow me.” She walked out through the beaded curtain and into the main shop.
Aspen spun around. “Follow her where? Where is she going?”
Creed shrugged and walked to the curtain, pulling it aside.
“I’m absolutely not going out there dressed like—” She looked down at her body and swept her hands over her front. “Like this. Where’s my robe?” She gasped. “Ruby took our robes. Did she take our robes?” Her body crashed into Creed’s side as she used him as a human shield as she peered a
round him and into the shop.
She gasped again. “She did take our robes!” She pointed at Ruby, who leaned against a railing, waiting for them on a second level loft. More twinkle lights, material, and boho decorations danced their way upstairs too.
“Creed? Aspen?” she called.
“She wants us to pose out there? The shop is open!” Aspen turned and headed toward the change room, but Creed caught her wrist and pulled her back against him.
“Aspen Hewitt, you have been running away and avoiding all the scary paths that have appeared in your life for as long as I can remember.”
“You don’t even know me. You haven’t exactly been around the last five years.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“And this isn’t scary, it’s insane. I’m not a model. I don’t have a model’s stick-thin body. I don’t know how to pose, where to look, how to maneuver my body, and she wants to put this picture on her website. No. Absolutely not. I am a business owner and this isn’t a game, this is my life.”
Creed ran his fingertips over her bare shoulder. “You’re beautiful.”
“But nothing like your model wife.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re nothing like my ex-wife. She would’ve begged Ruby to leave her head on the picture and tweeted the shit out of the page.”
She shoved his chest. “You’re not helping.”
He caught both her wrists and pulled her body flush against his. “You’re not wearing your glasses.”
“Sometimes it seems like you hit your head one too many times and random, irrelevant things pop out of your mouth at the weirdest moments.”
He chuckled. “You’re an adult. You’re too old to hide behind your glasses, or mousy hair.”
Her lips pinched together. “You think I have mousy hair?”
“Yes.”
“The longer you’re forcing me to stand here, the more I dislike you.”
“I invited you to more than one party in high school and every time you said no. Campfires at the beach, the town’s fireworks, but your answer was always no.”
“You were bad. All those events ended with you in trouble.”
He grinned. “Not all. Remember that summer night I was supposed to drive you and Tess to the library for some lame study group that neither of you needed?” He watched a little adventure flare in her eyes. “But instead I drove us to the cliff on Callaghan’s property. We ignored the no trespassing sign and climbed that fence to go watch the sun set from the cliffs. We spread out a blanket and the three of us chilled at the top of that cliff talking, laughing and just hanging out. Remember?”
Her hands relaxed and pressed against his bare chest. He eased his grip until he wasn’t holding her there any longer.
“Yes.”
“Did you have fun?”
“It was one of the best nights of my life.”
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. “Mine too. Let’s make another memory together, Aspen. One we can look back on in ten years and get the same butterfly, giddy feeling we had that night. Like the ones I have right now.”
Her breasts lifted and dropped with each breath. “You have butterflies?”
“Every time I see you.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know that you’re a charmer, right?”
He shrugged. “What do you say? Are we doing this lingerie shoot?”
“What choice do I have? I can’t say no.”
As they passed the counter, Aspen reached for a piece of chocolate bark, but Creed caught her hand just in time. He shook his head as they started up the stairs. Ruby had already offered him a piece or two of her marijuana snack, which he’d declined, and he could only imagine Aspen high.
Chapter Seven
AFTER THE PHOTOSHOOT—an awkward experience no matter how Aspen tried to rationalize it—Ruby insisted they keep the outfits they’d posed in.
In the safety of the private change room, Aspen leaned her back against the door and closed her eyes. She pressed her hand on her middle and inhaled deeply, held it, and let go slowly. She repeated this while sorting her thoughts.
So much had happened in such a short time. Creed had shared more with her in the last hour or so than all the conversations they’d ever shared. And the conversations all scared the hell out of her.
What did he want? Where would all this lead? To sex? Dating? To waking up tomorrow to him gone back to the city and her only having this one night to remember?
And so far, she’d spent most of night fighting with him and trying to keep her distance.
What kind of memory would that be?
The one night she had Creed interested in spending with her—and not restricted to a bedroom—and she’d all but ran from his every suggestion, every touch. What good would it do? She’d only wake up tomorrow and remember how awesome her restraint had been. That seemed boring and sad.
She opened her eyes and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could feel Creed’s touch on every spot Ruby had placed his hand. The edge of her shoulder where he’d been instructed to kiss her neck. Her outer thigh, where she’d been instructed to press her inner thigh against his leg. When both his hands had cupped her face and brought her lips inches from his. Every damn touch made her hot, wet, and wanting more.
Maybe it was about time she stopped being scared and took advantage of their situation. She refused to let her fear hold her back tonight.
She wanted to wake up tomorrow and have the same butterflies she’d had the morning she’d awaken next to him on the cliff on Mr. Callaghan’s property, sleeping in the crook of his arm. They hadn’t kissed, had sex, or even held hands that night, but it had been a memory she’d never give up. She might eliminate the part of the memory where Tess had slept on her other side, using Aspen’s back as a pillow... But other than that, Creed was right, it had been one of the best nights of her life.
Feeling a thrill of confidence, she pushed off the door just as there was a knock.
“Aspen? You good in there?” Creed asked.
She was better than good, she felt alive and free and—
Without over thinking her actions, she whipped the door open and grasped a handful of Creed’s shirt, pulling him inside the change room with her.
“What’s happening? Are you ok—”
Creed’s words were cut off as Aspen shoved him and he stumbled back, hitting the closed door. Her hands gripped each side of his head and she rose on her tip-toes, pressing her body against his body. She wished he was still wearing only the winter briefs.
Her mouth covered his in a hard and ravenous kiss that surprised even her. She’d never kissed so rough, but damn it felt so good. Creed’s arms wrapped around her, moving her tank top up and pressing his flat hands against her bare flesh.
She moaned in his mouth as one hand gripped the back of her neck and pushed her mouth harder against his. His other hand cupped her derrière and lifted her up. He flipped them around to press her body against the door, making their reflection in the mirror visible to her.
It was hot to watch.
Her legs were wrapped around his waist as his mouth trailed kisses down her throat. She wanted his shirt and pants off. She wanted to look at his bare ass in the mirror.
She leaned back against the door and tugged at his shirt. His mouth found hers again, wet, rough and wild.
“You taste like chocolate,” he breathed.
She licked her lips, enjoying this game more the second time. “You taste like chocolate.” She leaned forward but he pushed her shoulders back.
“Aspen, did you eat Ruby’s chocolate bark?”
She pressed her finger against the tip of his nose. “Did you eat Ruby’s chocolate bark?”
“No, because it has weed in it.”
Aspen blinked and leaned her head back. “Come again.”
“Weed. Marijuana. Ganja.”
Oh shit.
His lips cracked a smirk that Aspen couldn’t feel—or could she? S
he felt good. Too good. Happy. Too happy. Horny. Damn, she felt horny.
“Oh my god.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m high, aren’t I?”
Creed’s smile could not have been wider. “Yes.”
“Noooo.”
“Yeeeessss.”
She started laughing.
“How much did you eat?” Creed asked her.
“One or two or ... five. I can’t remember exactly.” She gasped and covered her mouth. “Did you eat some?”
He shook his head. “No. When she offered I just tucked it in my pocket.”
“I ate it.”
He laughed. “I know. It explains ... this.” He stepped away and she slid to her feet.
Her hands reached for him and she bunched his T-shirt in her fists to draw him back to her. “Don’t stop.”
“We are definitely stopping.” He unclenched her hands from his shirt and put them to her side.
“Noooo,” she whined. “You taste delicious and you feel amazing.”
“So do you, but I prefer a sober Aspen.”
She lifted her hands in the air. “I like chocolate bark Aspen. This has been her best decision all night.”
“Not that I don’t agree with chocolate bark Aspen, but I will wait for sober Aspen.”
She reached out and poked his chest. “Ohhh, Creed Nigh isn’t as big and bad as he tries to be.”
As swiftly as before—or perhaps her nice buzz was making everything go a little smoother—he swapped places with her. “I’ll let you get dressed.” He shut the door behind him.
“Your loss,” she called through the door before searching for her dress. She decided to keep her winter panties on as a fun memento of tonight and spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to zip up her dress.
Giving up, she left it halfway down her back and stuffed the rest of her clothes in a bag. She slung her jacket over her arm and felt pumped for their next mission.
Chapter Eight
“HOW LONG ARE the effects of a few of these bark pieces?” Creed asked Ruby, who was munching on a piece as they talked at the counter waiting for Aspen to finish dressing. He didn’t want to stay in the change room in case she attacked him again. A man could only have so much restraint.