Chapter 20

After making me flustered in the car, he explained why we were at this unfamiliar place instead of the boutique where I initially planned to go.


Apparently, Jason's Italian designer friend Co owned this brand with his wife and this was the first flagship store they had opened in North America. Here, in Tennessee, to be exact.


He made me call Camille to inform her about the “sudden” change of plans.


And instead of waiting for her, he proposed to show me around.


I wouldn't lie; I did have my apprehensions, considering I was totally unfamiliar with the brand.


But with the way Jason carried himself, I knew he would never recommend me something mediocre.


He had a sense of style and he carried himself with poise and class. He had that aura around him—that of someone you can approach but can never cross.


So I agreed.


A hostess greeted us and guided us into a private room.


We were served refreshments and then we were asked what we'd like to see.


“We would like to have a look at your Raffinato collection,” Jason answered for me.


The hostess, who I got to know was the manager, seemed very professional but his answer put a crack in her poised demeanor.


She seemed surprised. But the expression on her face only stayed for a fraction of a second before she nodded her head, "Absolutely, Sir. We'd be delighted to show you our newest collection.


“Excuse me,” she said and left.


I looked at him and he was still wearing his aloof personality. I saw him reaching out for a piece of pastry from the tray and then placing it on a plate.


I never pegged him for a sweet tooth.


A second later, he held the plate in my direction and said, “Try it. These are custom-made for their guests. You won't find a taste like this anywhere else,” he said, and gestured towards the plate with his eyes.


I obediently reached out my hand and took it.


His praise of the sweet made me want to try it even more.


I carved out a piece of the pastry on a fork and held it to my lips before taking a bite.


“Mhmm…” I instantly moaned at the sweet flavor of caramel and chocolate, with a subtle hint of chestnut registered on my taste buds.


He wasn't lying when he said I wouldn't find this anywhere else.


“This is really good,” I said but continued to take bites of the pastry without looking his way.


He might not have known before but he would definitely know how addicted I was to sweets from now on.


And these were seriously good.


As I took the last bite from the fork, I relished in its taste and was savoring it until I felt something touching my chin.


I looked up towards him. He tilted my head in his direction and then moved his thumb from my chin to my lips.


“You're a messy eater,” he said in a husky voice.


Almost inaudible to anyone besides us.


And then he wiped the chocolate from the corner of my lips.


My cheeks burned in embarrassment. I really didn't realize where I was while I was eating it but all my embarrassment was forgotten when I saw him raising the thumb that he used to wipe my lips to his mouth.


My breath hitched in my throat when I registered his intentions.


His pink tongue poked out from between his lips and swiped over his thumb before he put it between his lips and gently sucked it clean.


The act made me red for all the other reasons except embarrassment.


I swallowed a lump in my throat and looked up to see his eyes staring at me with a bit of mischief and lust hiding behind his irises.


Our moment was interrupted when I heard the soft click of heels on the wooden floorboards.


The manager from before was walking towards us with a tray.


I took a deep breath or two to compose myself and pasted a nice little smile on my face.


“I apologize for the delay. The collection has not yet launched in the market so it was safely secured inside. Please have a look at it, Miss,” the manager politely apologized, placing the tray on the coffee table.


It held catalogs.


So that's why she looked surprised because this supposed collection wasn't launched in the market yet.


I picked up a catalog and started skimming through it carefully.


Going over every single piece that caught my eye and noted every detail.


I was about to finish the first one when Camille arrived.


She looked shocked at first when she saw me with Jason but a smirk was painted on her lips and she was sauntering towards us with Archer following her from behind.


I glared at her and made sure she received the message well through the eyes and did not end up making a fool of ourselves.


Gladly, she knew it wasn't the right place to execute whatever was cooking in her brain so she just introduced herself to Jason and then sat next to me.


Jason, being as chivalrous as he was, stood up and took the other couch after shaking hands with Atcher. And by the looks of it, they seemed familiar with each other.


Not in a “Hey, man, long time no see!” kind of way but in a “Hi. I've heard about you” kind of way.


Which was good considering knowing me and Camille took our sweet time when shopping.


He was, of course, allowed to go but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want him here.


We went through a few catalogs together and decided on three dresses together.


While Camille was sure of her choice, I was a little confused between the two of my choices.


Camille decided on a gorgeous sweet pleated long-sleeved sheath dress. It had a slim waist and was strapless. Its ivory color brought out the color of her green-brown eyes.


And the moment she stepped out of the dressing room, Archie was already on his feet, walking over to her before he gave her a twirl and a kiss. His eyes were throwing hearts at her.


And God, I never thought I'd see this woman blush!


I smiled at their interaction and after telling her that this was it, I got up to try on my dresses.


I first tried on the red one; it was long-sleeved, reached my ankles, and had a beautiful sweetheart neckline.


The dress looked elegant and sophisticated, perfect for the occasion.


But the other one was just as pretty.


I knew I couldn't decide on them any sooner, so I decided to take everyone's suggestions.


As I stepped out of the dressing room, I saw Camille first. I was intentionally avoiding someone's eyes.


She gushed over how pretty it looked on me and I should take it. Archie agreed with her but I still wanted to try the other one.



As I turned around, I met his eyes. He was covering the length of my body with his eyes.


They looked hungry and I knew if we were alone, this dress would have definitely come off.


There, I decided to get this one for the banquet.


I told my decision to Camille and she was all too happy that she skipped through everything and asked the manager to show her some earrings that'd go with her dress.


I stepped into the dressing room and took the dress off. My eyes fell on the other one that was on the hanger.


Even though I had already decided on the red one, there was no harm in trying.


I picked up the dress and put it on.


But I didn't get out; I just stayed in front of the mirror and admired it.


It was a black slip dress with a flare on the left side that reached my thigh and it was backless.


The material was snug against my body. It was bringing out my curves in all the right places.


It was appropriate but not modest. It was both gorgeous and sexy.


I was still admiring the dress when the curtains rustled behind me and Jason stepped into the room.


I raised an eyebrow at him in the mirror.


He slowly walked in my direction and stood behind me. His gaze not once strayed away from mine through the mirror.


I was trying to decipher the emotions in his eyes when he took another step closer. Close enough that I could feel the heat from his body with us touching.


I sucked in a breath when I felt his hand on my back, which was naked from the backless dress.


His fingers traced up the path of my spine.


I could feel his warm breath fanning at my neck.


“You look gorgeous,” He muttered.


His voice thick and heavy with desire.


“Thank you,” I whispered back.


Barely holding a groan when his hand left my back and found its way around my stomach.


“If only we didn't have company, I would be fucking you in this very dress,” he said and placed a kiss between my shoulder blades.


“Well, there's no company here,” I muttered.


"Oh, you would want that, wouldn't you?” He chuckled and turned me around in his arms.


“Too bad I can't take you up on that wish,” he whispered as his mouth leaned down to mine.


Without wasting a second, I leaned up and met his lips.


Our lips molded together like puzzle pieces.


Needy and searching.


He pulled my bottom lip with his teeth and then released it before he came back again. This time meeting my lips with fierceness.


His tongue swiped the seam of my lips and even though I wanted to open them and welcome him, I didn't.


He swiped again but I refused, intent on irritating him.


But then he pulled my body more into him and gave a firm squeeze to my ass and I happily obliged and open my lips to him with a gasp.


Our tongues met and sucked onto each other.


Neither of us wanted to back down.


The sheer force of his kiss was making me dizzy.


I clung to him as we kissed each other until our lungs wanted to give out.


We kissed until our chests heaved and burned with the need to breathe.


And when we finally pulled out, with our breaths mingling in between us,.


I saw his hooded eyes looking down at my swollen lips.


His mouth was a mess, with my lipstick smudged across it.


And by the tingling that I was feeling on my lips, I was sure they were swollen and were looking very much freshly kissed.


My already racing heart skipped a beat when he whispered on my lips.


“You're beautiful”