More Than A Favor

Chapter 173 Get5> Menu I needed to cup with a reason... The phone in my hand vibrated twice. It was a message from Nora. It was a GIF of a woman in a sexy nightgown striking a seductive pose after a bath.

Nora had added a note: "You could give it a try." I rolled my eyes and sent back a facepalm emoji. Though I scolded Nora internally for being inappropriate, I couldn't deny that her suggestion had merit. It wasn't a terrible idea-l just needed to cup with a good excuse to show Ashton this side of me.

I walked to the bathroom to shower while brainstorming ideas.

Using Jeremy's message as an excuse wouldn't work-if I mentioned it, Ashton would surely stopfrom responding. Asking him to fix the water pipes was out too, as there wasn't anything wrong with them (and I couldn't exactly go breaking them).

Saying I was hungry and asking him to cook seemed like the best option.

With this plan in mind, I hurried through my shower. When I finished, I pulled out the sexy nightgown I had hidden away in the back of my closet.

The nightgown was one I had bought when Logan and I got engaged. Back then, I had imagined us building a life together, sharing our home, our dreams... and moments like this. But Logan had never even seen it. Now, Ashton would.

The black silk fabric hugged my curves perfectly, its sheen accentuating my figure in all the right places. The delicate lace trim added an air of mystery, and the way the fabric contrasted with my fair skin made it impossible to ignore.

Even I found myself staring in the mirror, thinking, This is enough to make anyone's mouth go dry. "Knock, knock." A knock on the door startledout of my thoughts. At this late hour, it could only be Ashton.

My cheeks flushed instantly. I raised a hand to pat them, trying to calm myself as I glanced at my reflection one last time. Then, I walked to the door, calling out, "Who's there?" "It's me. I made you a bowl of oatmeal." Ashton's deep, pleasant voice carried through the door, muffled but still unmistakable.

I swallowed nervously, my heart pounding. Ashton's timing was impeccable-he had savedthe trouble of finding an excuse to go to him.

I took a deep breath, tugged the straps of my nightgown a little lower for good measure, and opened the door.

"I was actually getting hungry," I said, leaning casually against the doorframe.

Ashton stood there holding a bowl of oatmeal, but his gaze quickly fell on me. I saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard. His reaction was immediate and obvious.

15:01 40.57% < Chapter 173 In my mind, four words floated by: It's working. It's working.

(-)6882) Mery But I pretended not to notice. Instead, I reached for the bowl while playfully praising him, "You're really on point with the boyfriend duties." Ashton averted his gaze, his ears turning bright red. He handedthe bowl, but I couldn't resist teasing him a little more.

As our fingers brushed, I felt the bowl tremble alightly in his hands before he steadied it. Then, he looked back at me, his gaze intense-like a flickering flame, ready to ignite.

That look sent a shiver down my spine. Suddenly, I had a bad premonition that things were about to escalate.

I tried to pull my hand back, but Ashton didn't let go.

My heart raced, pounding so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. I had been the one to start this, to provoke him, but now that he was responding, I found myself losing my nerve.

"Ashton, you..." I stammered, my voice faltering.

He took a step forward, closing the distance between us. Instinctively, I stepped back, but this only allowed him to move into the room, shutting the door behind him.

I found myself pressed against the shoe cabinet, trapped between Ashton and the wall. Both of us still held the bowl of oatmeal, and I couldn't help but marvel at how not a single drop had spilled despite the tension between us.

Ashton said nothing. He simply stood there, impossibly close, his gaze locked on mine.

I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes. A wave of regret washed overas I thought, Why did I think this was a good idea? Nora had encouraged me, but she had also warnedthat men couldn't resist being teased. I had acted on a whim, and now I was paying the price.

Still, I forced myself to stay calm. I could tell Ashton was holding himself back-that he was struggling to maintain control.

"The oatmeal's here. You can go now," I said, trying to sound composed, though my voice wavered sl ightly.

Ashton didn't move.

"Ash-" "Elaine..." he interrupted, his voice low and hoarse, like a feather brushing against my heart.

The sound of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. My nerves felt like they were on the verge of snapping, an indescribable sensation bubbling up inside me.

"Hmm?" I managed to reply, though my voice cout softer-almost seductive.

I bit my lip, embarrassed by the sound. I hadn't meant to sound like that.

Ashton's Adam's apple bobbed again, and the next moment, he cupped the back of my head, pullingclose and pressing my face against his chest.

1. a) 15:01 40.66% < Chapter 173 "Don't say a word," he murmured, his voice trembling with restraint.

I didn't understand what he meant.

Many "Don't move, and don't speak," he continued, his tone even more strained. "I'm afraid. I might not be able to hold back." My eyes widened. Was he saying he had those kinds of thoughts about me? "Stay still and be good," he added, his hand stroking my hair as if trying to soothe me-or himself.

But his other arm tightened around me, pullingcloser.

I was only wearing a thin silk nightgown, and he was dressed in a light T-shirt. The flimsy fabric did nothing to insulate the heat radiating between us.

I wasn't Nora. I hadn't studied medicine or physiology, but I knew my body was reacting to him in Ways I had never experienced before. My I nerves were alive with anticipation, clamoring for something I couldn't quite name. Ashton wasn't faring much better. His heartbeat, his breathing, the tension in his muscles-all of it betrayed the depth of his desire.

"Ashton," I whispered, barely audible.

I reached up, wrapping my arms around his back. My nails lightly o'm grazed his skin through his shirt, and I felt his entire body tense in response. He sucked in a sharp breath, his restraint visibly fraying. "Elaine..."

I pressed closer to him, the softness of my freshly bathed body brushing ΟΠ against him through the silk nightgown. It was an innocent yet intimate gesture, and I could feel the effect it had on him. mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1