Chapter 25

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Looking at him right now, I know that Eliza was right but what she didn't know was that I felt the same way about him, in fact, I'm pretty sure I didn't know that until recently either. I watch him hand a customer her drink with a wink and feel pressure in my chest, how did I never realize this jealousy was because I like him. It's been two week since I realized my feelings for him, since we kissed and since I broke up with Chris. That day, I lost my date for the annual Romero ball coming up this Saturday and mom has been begging me to bring a date. I've been hoping to ask Jaxon but can't seem to find the courage to, mostly since I told him off when we kissed. I notice Jaxon make his way towards me and take a deep breath.
"You owe me." I don't know what sane part of my brain thought that would be the best thing to say but I smile to cover up my unsurity. Jaxon raises his left eyebrow and sits down in front of me. "At the beach, when I won the volleyball game."
"Yes, I know what you're talking about Cyn." Throwing a lazy smile, he motions for me to continue.
"There's a ball this Saturday at 6 and I need you to be my date. It can be platonic, moms just been on my ass about a date and since Chris and I broke up he's probably not going to come and it's been on my mind and I just didn't know who to ask." I'm sure I would have continued rambling on had he not stopped me with a finger to my arm.
"Yea, sure." He nods his head before asking, "What color is your dress?"
"I'm thinking between a royal blue one or a green one." Pursing my lips, I try to see if I have a picture on my phone but am not able to find one.
"Wear the green one." My eyes lift off my phone to find his. "Green suits you, I think you should wear the green one." Before I can say anything, he gets up and goes back to the coffee counter. I find myself smiling as I get up and exit the cafe.

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Pinning the last curl up, I step back and take a look at myself in the mirror. Jaxon was right, the green looks perfect on me, contrasting perfectly with my strawberry hair. Clipping on a pair of dangling silver earrings and a matching necklace, I make my way downstairs where mom and dad are waiting with Owen. Dad comes up to me and kisses my forehead.
"You look beautiful sweetie." Mom nods her head in agreement and I extend my arms to hug both of them. Jaxon told me he won't be able to pick me up from my house but I still find myself checking to see if he's here.
When we get to the venue, my parents run off to make sure everything is ready as guests start pouring in. Owen and I take on our job to greet everyone. I'm greeting one of our investors when I feel a hand rest on my waist.
"I told you green would look stunning on you." Jaxons breath warms my ear and I feel my heart pound. Quickly dismissing the investor, I turn to my date for the night. The first thing I notice is that he's wearing a green tie with his tux, surprisingly he was able to match it to my dress without ever seeing it. Instinctively, I reach up and rest my fingers on the fine silk. His heart beats steadily under my hand, unlike my pounding heart. His hand leaves my waist and covers my hand causing me to look up at him through my lashes. If my heart was pounding before, I don't know what its doing now. His dark eyes stay on mine and the world around me falls away. I could stay there forever without protest but then his mouth opens and all I can think about were the way they felt on mine. "Would you like to dance?" 

The world comes crashing back and I notice that people have started to dance around us. Jaxon removes his hand only to gently grab me and pull me towards the dance floor. Resting his other hand onto my waist again, he pulls me closer and we slowly start into a waltz. As we spin around the room, the voices around me dissolve into nothing again and all I see are the pits on Jaxons face, the ones who have always captured my attention so easily. During the dance, I find myself wondering why I'm so attracted to him but thats dismissed quickly by the press of his fingers at my waist, its as if they belong there. Letting go of his hand, I reach up and wrap both my arms around his neck instead causing him to trap my waist between both hands. The effect he has on me is insane because all I can think about is how badly I want him, almost to the point of need. His eyes show that he feels the same and I realize that my attempts at pushing my feelings back were futile. No one matters except him as I pull him through the crowd and into the first room I can find. I don't have a second to say anything, not that I want to, before he has me pinned against the door. His lips find my neck and he makes his way around it, up my to my jaw before he takes a pause and all you can hear are our deep breaths. Why did he stop? I grab the lapels on his suit and tilt my head down so I can see his eyes which make me pause as well. He looks as if he is conflicted and in pain. I let go of him and try to make space between us but the door is behind me so thats pointless.

"You don't want this." It doesn't come out as a question but rather a statement. I feel my heart crumbling a bit, but before I can dwell into it too much, he gently rests his hand in my hair and pulls me up to him. His lips hover over mine and I yearn to feel them on mine but he doesn't give me the satisfaction. 

"That's the problem, Cyn." His voice comes out a little above a whisper and then I notice the way it gets husky and lust fills his eyes. "I do want this. I want you. So badly it hurts." And then Jaxons lips are crashing on mine and every thought flies out of my head. His hand cups the back of bare thigh and he lifts it while pushing me more into the door. His lips explore most of the skin that isn't covered by my dress but even then, its not enough for me. Jaxons fingers hitch my dress higher, leaving a trail of goosebumps. Wrapping my thigh around his waist, I try to take things into my hands. I tug on his black suit jacket and he easily complies, letting me pull it off him and discarding it somewhere on the ground. That's the most I get to before he has me tipping my head back as his lips go lower on my neckline. My finger grip his hair and and a slight moan slips my mouth before I clap a hand over my mouth. Someone must have heard it because there's a knock on the door, and then Jaxon's lips lift my skin, leaving me cold. His hand still rests on my thigh as he puts his forehead against mine and uses his other hand to make sure no one comes in. I can see his chest rising and falling rapidly as we both try to catch our breath. I close my eyes and relax my hands from his hair. After a couple minutes, he slowly lets go of my thigh and leans back. 

"We should go back, can't be stealing the CEO's daughter now, can I?" I open my eyes to see mischief in his eyes. Rolling my eyes, I take his hand to help myself stand and open the door. As we are leaving, Jaxon quickly grabs his jacket and folds it over one arm. We make it to the ballroom when he pulls me to face him. His thumb swipes under my lips and when he pulls it back, theres pink on it. "I wonder what got your lipstick in a mess." 

A stupid grin crawls up my face and my face heats up, a retort is on my lips when I see the person I least expected to see standing on the other side of the room with his eyes on my hand, which is resting on Jaxons chest. 

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