He grabs my hips and spins me around. His hands come to my face, and he holds it in place, forcing me to look at him. “I’m going to pick you up at five?—”
“Kashton,” I protest. “We shouldn’t.”
“What are you hiding, Eve?”
My heart races. “Nothing.” I try to pull away, but he has my back against the counter.
“Prove it,” he challenges me.
My breathing picks up, and I try to think of a lie, but I have nothing. He’s got me flustered. Or maybe it’s the pounding headache. Gavin could be right, and I have a concussion. It’s messing with me. Making me crazy.
“Prove to me that you have nothing to hide and be my date.” His hands fall from my face and slowly glide down my shirt until he reaches the hem. He grabs a hold of the material and pulls it up.
I lift my arms on instinct to allow him to remove it. Tossing it to the side, I stand naked in front of him while he’s dressed.
My heart hammers in my chest, and my knees start to shake as his eyes take in my body. My skin heats up, and I feel lightheaded.
His hands come back to my face, and his eyes meet mine before he leans into me. My eyelids fall closed when our lips touch. I let him take my breath away as he kisses me—deep and passionately.
I push my body into him, letting my hands fall to his jeans. I begin to unbuckle his belt, but his hands grip my wrists, stopping me. He pulls his lips from mine, and I open my heavy eyes. “Come on.” He pulls me away and back to my bedroom.
We enter my bathroom, and he starts running the tub. “What are you doing?” I thought he was going to fuck me.
“I’m going to play with you,” he answers, popping open the bubbles and pouring some into the water.
That excitement returns, but my eyes drop to the water. “In the bathtub?” I ask, taking a step back.
He turns to face me, kisses my forehead, and ignores my question. “I’ll be right back.” Then he exits the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
I begin to pace, nibbling on my nails. I’m a functioning alcoholic. I don’t go to group therapy like Bill and Adam have both suggested, but I do know I have a problem.
The only thing is, I have lived alone for the better part of the past six years, so I don’t have to hide alcohol from anyone. And there’s no way Kashton is going to allow me to drink this early.
I start going through cabinets under the sinks, opening drawers, hoping that I have something somewhere. But I have no luck.
With one last Hail Mary, I walk into the closet and start looking through my dressers. I catch sight of a backpack on the floor and kneel. Unzipping it, I find a mini bottle of vodka from one of many private jet rides that Adam and I were on.
“Thank God.” I toss the backpack into place, and it hits the box that hides in the corner. Taking a quick look over at the closet door, I can hear the bathtub running but don’t think he’s back yet. I pull the box out and my heart races when I see the tape has been cut down the middle and the sides.
My hands start to shake. I haven’t opened this. It had to be Kashton. When was he in here? He said he hadn’t slept last night. He could have been all over this place. Or when he was here last night waiting for me to get home.
Shoving it back into the corner, I stand and make my way to the bathroom, closing the closet door behind me. I sink into the scalding-hot water and quickly unscrew the lid, tossing it back. I swallow the contents in one gulp just as the bathroom door opens.
TWENTY-SEVEN
KASHTON
Ienter the bathroom and sit down on the edge of the tub. Her eyes are on the bubbles, unable to meet mine. Reaching over, I turn off the water. “Give it to me,” I order.
She glances up at me. “Give you what?”
I reach out my hand in front of her and motion with my fingers. “Whatever was in your hand.”
“It was nothing.” She raises both of hers from the water, and I smile, shoving mine into it.
Fuck, it’s so goddamn hot, but feeling around the bottom, I find what I’m looking for and pull it out. “Then what’s this?” I ask, looking at the empty mini bottle of vodka. I saw her down it in the mirror when I opened the door.
“I wasn’t doing anything wrong.” She shrugs.
