Page 76 of Mr. Aster
“You’re nervous,” he said in a low, humorous tone.
“Terrified is more of an accurate word.”
“What if I told you that you should take your own advice and apply it to allowing me to kiss you,” he said.
“You are half drunk, and so am I. We havenobusiness going down my wisdom road aboutnot being afraid to take the plunge and live your life.”
He retreated and nodded. “I guess I should agree,” he answered. “Though, if I sober up and I’m still thinking along thelines of what I’m thinking now, I will steal that kiss from you,” he smiled.
“Yeah, okay,” I said with a smile.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I believe you’re drunk. Now, let’s go.”
Things were getting too dangerously comfortable with this man, and I couldn’t allow that to happen. If he and I couldn’t behave ourselves while intoxicated, we had no business sharing a hotel suite.
I would not allow myself to fall for this man at any cost. I was a fun and lively person. I loved my life and didnotneed a devastating heartbreak to put a damper on things. Natalia tried to warn me about the truth about Sebastian Aster—or falling for the man—but she didn’t know that she didn’t need to warn me about him. I already knew. I wasn’t foolish. I wasn’t lonely and didn’t need this man or any man.
This would be something to end his dry spell, something he could enjoy and easily move on from, but it would most likely spell heartache for me. I wasn’t going down that road, but after seeing that damn look in his eye, I knew this was far from over.
Chapter Thirty-One
Sebastian
After an entire day of Darcy taking control and trying to get me to seehow things roll on theother side of the tracks—her words, not mine—I had to admit, the day rivaled some of the best times I’d ever had.
I loved her energy, her presence, and most of all, I loved her laugh and how her eyes ignited like gemstones when she smiled. We’d pulled back on the booze before and during snorkeling for obvious reasons, but the joyous energy from our Fear Factor lunch delicacies had remained.
I was now on a mission to keep this newfound sense of happiness and freedom I’d surprisingly found. It felt like I’d jumped off the ledge of where life had a stronghold tightened around my neck, and now, I was no longer merely surviving. I was full-on thriving. It was the best feeling in the world, and I would do everything in my power to keep this rush of good emotions charged up.
“How am I supposed to enjoy swimming in the pool if I have to see your gorgeous ass over there lounging in a bathing suit?” I questioned Darcy as soon as I completed a couple dozen laps in the pool. I’d been trying to work out the sensations I knew could not come into play, which were all the sexually related things that’d been crossing my mind about the gorgeous woman.
She pulled down her turquoise-rimmed sunglasses and grinned. “I’m in a one-piece, and I’m hardly showing any skin, so get your mind out of the gutter,” she said after I swam up to the side of the pool to chat with her.
“What are you reading?” I asked, nodding my head toward the e-reading device she held.
“Why does it matter?”
“Because it’s hot out, and the pool feels amazing. After snorkeling in the ocean, I figured you’d want to take a dip in the pool?”
“I planned on going for a swim, but you beat me to it with your record-breaking Olympic trial laps.”
“Well, I would have waited until later to get my laps in if I knew your sexy ass wanted to use the pool, too.”
“Very cute,” she said with a hint of annoyance. “You’re using all these flirty words on me, but you’d better keep swimming to keep any sexual ideas out of your head because it’s not going to happen, bud.”
“How could you tell I was sexually frustrated after having to watch you smack on dead grasshoppers all afternoon?” I teased.
“Well, it’s tough for me, too,” she tried to act annoyed. “I wassoturned on watching you snorkel, stopping every three seconds to check above the water for a dorsal fin because you were terrified Jaws was coming after you.”
I could tell she was trying to put up a front with me and continue our charade of acting like we weren’t remotely attracted to each other or bonded from our afternoon togethertoday. I could see through the imaginary barrier she was putting up and knew she was at least a little more comfortable in my presence.
“Ah,” I answered with a smirk. “Well, someone had to keep an eye out and protect you as you swam everywhere as if sharks don’t hang out in Mexico.” I saw her roll her eyes and thought to change the subject because I didn’t want any barriers to come up between us again. “Listen, beautiful,” I said genuinely, “get in the pool. I feel horrible for being in here while you’re out in the hot sun. I know it’s not an Olympic-sized pool, but there is room for two.”
“There’s also room for two in that king-sized bed, but we’re not sharing that.”
“You are so goddamn stubborn,” I said.
