Seduced by Design

Molly I cornered Jaden in the passage as he came out of the bathroom. My head was spinning, and I leaned against the wall for support. I wasn’t drunk, but I wasn’t sober. Jaden smiled when he saw me, and I did my best to look sexy. I wasn’t sure if it was working since I probably smelled like beer. Corey had bumped into me, and I had messed some on my dress. “Did I take too long?” Jaden asked and I frowned in confusion. Take too long with what? I was tempted to make a remark about how he has been taking too long to get on the same page as me, but I shrugged it off. “The bathroom is free now,” he added, and I slowly nodded. Ah, so he was referring to the bathroom. “Ok,” I whispered more to myself than to him. I had tried everything to get Jaden to see me as someone more than just a friend. He had put a solid wall up around him and his kids. Not that I could blame him. However, tonight I was going to be a bit bolder than normal. Tonight, I was going to make my move. “Are you ok?” Jaden then questioned as he reached out for me. He stopped himself just before he made contact, and I watched as his hand fell. “Jaden,” I whined softly. “Molly, are you drunk?” he asked. I had seen him drink, but he probably wasn’t drunk. In fact, he was probably a lot more sober than I was. “Not quite,” I answered, and he nodded. “Jaden,” I said again as I looked up into his deep chocolate-brown eyes. Those eyes seemed to be looking for something and I took a deep breath before I pushed myself away from the wall. “Kiss me,” I pleaded. Jaden’s smile faded, and I hated that I had been the one to make his smile disappear. “No,” he said firmly, and I sighed loudly in annoyance. “Why not?” I asked. “Molly, we’ve already had this conversation. I’m not on the market,” he explained. Again. He was right. “It’s just a kiss, Jaden. I’m not asking you to marry me,” I replied sarcastically. Jaden stared at me, and I started to contemplate my life choices. Maybe I should just put myself on the market. Jaden wasn’t going to take the bait. No matter what I said or did. “Never mind,” I muttered as I made a move to step past him. I didn’t need to use the bathroom, but it was the only place I could escape to. Jaden reached out and this time his hands made contact with my arms. He held me firm and still as he searched my face for something. Those eyes. I sighed as I leaned into him, and he let me. One moment, I was leaning in, and the next moment he had me pressed up against the wall. His strong, firm body blanketed mine. The passage light cast a soft glow and as our breaths mingled, I felt like I was on a cloud. I closed my eyes because this wasn’t really happening. There was no way this was really happening. “One kiss, Molly,” he whispered, and I smiled in response. One kiss was all I wanted. I could smell his deodorant, and I breathed in deeply. It reminded me of being outside just after the rain had fallen. Fresh and wet. “f**k, you are beautiful,” Jaden murmured, and I shivered at the sound of his voice. Husky. Deep. Strong. I felt his touch as he brushed away my hair from my face. I was tempted to open my eyes, but I was afraid that if I did, then this dream would end. Jaden’s lips touched mine so softly, so gently, that I didn’t feel much at first. He hesitated, but slowly it felt like a familiar song as he gently explored my mouth with his. I sighed softly, my lips parted invitingly, and Jaden no longer hesitated as he deepened the kiss. The touch of his tongue against mine was a tantalizing dance that made me feel lightheaded and drunk on the taste of him. And as the most amazing kiss of my life came to an end, I shattered as reality hit me so hard it left me breathless. Jaden pressed his forehead against mine as he caught his breath. “Jaden…” I said as I opened my eyes, and the soft-spoken word broke the smell. Jaden pulled away, and I watched as he hurried down the passage and out of sight. I brought my hand up to my mouth and lightly ran my fingers over my lips. The earlier haze from the beer was gone, and my eyes prickled with tears. I quickly headed into the bathroom, and I silently cursed myself for being so stupid. When I had first thrown myself at Jaden, he had made it very clear that he wasn’t interested in a relationship. And when Damon and Vanessa had started messing around, I had considered making that same offer to Jaden. I hadn’t, of course, and now I knew why. That one kiss. That singular moment in time had ruined everything for me. I had wanted him before, and now I felt like I needed him. Jaden was a father first and foremost. His children were his priority, and I couldn’t blame him. I had asked for that kiss. I had ruined everything. I groaned as I pulled my long brown hair together so that I could wash my face. I spent another few minutes in the bathroom before I sneaked out and slipped into the room I shared with Corey. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I chanted as I moved around the room. How was I going to fix this? Could I fix this? I cursed my drunken brain for this mistake. I sat on the edge of the bed, and I closed my eyes as I relived that kiss. Hands down, the best kiss of my life.