Chapter XXVI ۞ Aaron ۞ Part IV

"NOT AS MUCH AS I DID!"

"Chose everything?" A nod. "Good, let's pay and go. I want to take you to have lunch somewhere else. I'm kind of annoyed of the restaurants in the mall already," I got even closer and held her my the waist, pulling her to me.

"Hm," she mumbled and on her toes, she crossed her arms around my neck, surprising me, making me feel hot again. "I'll love that, darling," she whispered before brushing a kiss on my lips. Provoking me.

Just like she did yesterday. And I responded on the same way. Tightening my hold on her waist and going for the kiss. Making her step on my shoes to reach me in a better pace. When I pulled away, I gave her one more soft kiss and caressed her cheeks.

"Or we could just go and eat at home," my voice descended three octanes and I stared deep into her eyes.

She bit her lips and her eyes went from my mouth to my eyes that were probably a darker shade of orange now. "We should eat something before going home. Then we can stay there for the rest of the day."

"Adorable, you look like newly weds," the attendant exclaimed grinning and only then I remembered that she was still here.

Blinking, I released her from my grip, keeping my hand on her back, "Thank you?"

"You are welcome!" She's quite dense. "Come, follow me. You just have to pay for everything and then you are free to enjoy each other's companies."

As we did, I noticed that she really followed my advice to chose everything she wanted. It was either that, or this girl really manage to sell thousands of things to Thays, with that sweet talk of hers. She must be amazing at completing her goal for sales at the ends of the month.

"Thank you, Giselle, I hope everything will work out for you and your dream to be a top model. You have my number now, so just contact me when you need. I'll make sure to put you in touch with the contacts I have on the US, in the UK, in Italy, and in France. You have the looks, the attitude, and the height necessary for a runaway model, I bet that your future will be brilliant, kid," kid? She does look young, but how old is she?

"It was an immense pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Rossetti. I'll be forever in debt with you for the help you are offering me!" Help?

"Talents like you need an opportunity to shine, kid. And it would be an honor to be your benefactor. So, just send me a text and I'll help you out. Being in touch with me will help you tremendously," then she winked at the girl and she blushed.

Yes. She has that affect on people. I get it.

"Thank you again, Mrs. Rossetti. And I loved the snakes," snakes? "You are lucky to have a woman like her, Mr. Vaughn-Solomon," she knows who I am? Did Thays told her? "She's not only smart, talented, and powerful at such a young age, as she's also the owner of an outstanding beauty. You are a lucky man to be able to have access to such a body. It's like the was sculpted by God!"

Ugh. This is so unfair. Even this kid saw her body and I haven't. And what snakes? And how can she say such a thing? Sculpted by God?

Fuck. Now I'll crave for her even more.

"I sure am lucky," I mumbled smiling.

Thays turned crimson again, "Don't say that, Giselle. It's embarrassing."

"It shouldn't be. If I had a body like yours, Mrs. Rossetti, I would go naked everywhere," oh, damn, she's bold.

"She's good like this," I brought her near me again. "Only I have the pleasure to have her like this. It's better this way."

She grinned, "You are right to be jealous." Then she winked and helped us out with the packages. "I hope everything will work out for you too. And if you get married, invite me. I'm rooting for you!"

Jesus, she's quite the bold child.

As we left, we said nothing.

I only broke the silence after we put everything in the car, and we were already heading to the restaurant, 21 minutes from the mall. "How old is that kid?"

"16," what?

"SIXTEEN?"

"Yeah. I had the same reaction. It's her part-time work in here. She's training to be a model, and I want to help her. She was potential. I know that because she showed me a video of her catwalk, and she's talented. But to have an actual opportunity is such cut-throat place, she needs a powerful backer, and I'm willingly to be that person for her."

After a minute in silence, I turned to her when the red light came in, "What was that kiss about?"

She might not have looked at me, but her face turned read again, "It was to help you. And because I lied to Giselle saying that we couldn't stay away from each other. She commented about how you couldn't stop staring at me," oh, "and I said that. So, not to crush the kids dreams, I just… impulsively did that. Besides, isn't you who said that we need to get comfortable with doing the thing we'll have to do in your family's island?" Is she anxious? She sounds like it.

"Hm."

After a second she turned to me with her eyebrows up, "What is it?"

"What is it what?" I asked while focusing in front of me again, since the light was green.

"Your 'hm' sounded weird."

I grinned, "Did it?"

"Sounded like you meant more than that!"

"Because I did," I said calmly while turning to the right and stopping in another red light. Then I turned my attention to her again. "Confess."

"Confess what?"

"You wanted to kiss me. That's why you did it."

Thays opened her mouth and then closed again, clenching her jaw and staring at me. "Don't do that!"

"What am I doing?"

"You are provoking me."

"We are provoking each other, no?"

She gulped, "I'm not provoking you."

"Oh, but you were. And you know it."

"…"

"Confess. I know you wanted to kiss me."

"Don't be arrogant, Aaron."

"I'm not being arrogant, Thays. I'm being honest. And I know that you wanted to kiss me because I wanted to do the same," I exclaimed and I turned my attention to the traffic again.

She gasped, "I did not."

"Lie as much as you want. Your face tells the truth. Have you realized how much you blush near me while you don't near other people?" She said nothing. "You should see your face, Thays. It's really funny."

"Don't mock me, Aaron," there was a warning in her voice. "Not on this. Do not mock me."

"I'm not mocking you."

"Yes, you are!"

As we arrived on the Italian restaurant I like, I parked on their private parking lot, but we stayed in the car. When I turned my attention to her again, her pupils were dilated. "I am not mocking you, Thays."

Her breathing got unsteady and I could hear it even with the space between us. "You shouldn't be doing this, Aaron."

"What am I doing, Thays?"

"Stop playing dumb!"

"You want me to be honest then?"

She gulped, "As long as you don't break out rules, then yes!" And our rule was strictly talking about sex, nothing but that.