More Than A Favor

Chapter 176

Ashton’s face wore a smile that was both helpless and affectionate as he said, “You’ve done this before. You have a history of it.”

I was left speechless, heat rising to my cheeks. Embarrassment and imitation mixed within me

Meme

He really was something. Instead of keeping his thoughts to himself, he had to spell it out so plainly. His emotional intelligence was surprisingly low for someone so perceptive.

“Elaine,” Ashton said softly, his tone teasing but gentle, ‘you were so bold when doing something wrong, but now you’re acting all timid. You haven’t changed a bit from when you were a child.”

I opened my mouth, ready to retort, but then his words sank in.

*Doing something wrong?”

I froze as realization hit me.

Last night. When I opened the door wearing the nightgown. He knew. He hadn’t thought it was an accident. He had seen through it–he knew it was deliberate.

Oh my god.

The car keys in my hand felt like they were about to snap under the pressure of my grip. My face burned as I stammered, “Who’s doing something wrong? It’s clearly you. You’re just…. mmm…”

Before I could finish, Ashton leaned in and kissed me.

It wasn’t the wild, passionate kiss from the night before. This one was soft, almost tender. His lips were cool from his moming run, but they carried a warmth that spread through me like fire.

I stood there frozen, unable to move. My eyes fluttered shut as I felt his lips against mine, the faint tickle of his breath, and the quickened pace of my heart.

Even as I was caught up in the daze of his kiss, I couldn’t help but notice him–his long lashes brushing his cheekbones, the sharp line of his nose, and how effortlessly handsome he looked so

close.

I felt breathless, as though he had stolen all the air from my lungs. His

now on, I’ll take care of the bad things,” he

face all the way down to my ankles. I kept my head

have no business with Dr. Bennett?” Ashton asked again, though his tone was less teasing this

to speak. I didn’t trust myself to form

I acting like

sometimes pinch my cheek, put his arm around my shoulder, or kiss my cheek in front of

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flustered back then.

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with Ashton, I felt like an inexperienced, shy girl experiencing her first

been pretending to be so composed and confident all this time. When we were at Amaty, I acted like this seasoned woman who knew how to handle relationships. But now? Now it felt like I was exposed,

Ashton said, breaking the silence.

quiet, still too embarrassed to respond.

eyes twinkling with mischief. “Elaine, do you know what you make me want

asked, finally finding

leaned in again, his cheek brushing against mine as his soft lips grazed my earlobe. “I

sending shivers down my spine. “Because the more I

you,

like it was on fire. I tapped his back twice in protest, but it only made him laugh. That laugh–deep, warm, and so very

his mouth with my

a tickling sensation

kissed my

recoiled slightly, startled, but he chuckled again, clearly enjoying my flustered state.