From the hospital, Sabrina and Ashton went to the grocery store.Neither of them was very hungry, so Ashton suggested to cook for her.
"I owe you one meal a week. That kitchen needs to be used, and I get to show off." Ashton said cheekily.
In the grocery store, Sabrina pushed the cart behind Ashton who would stop occasionally to inspect the item before putting it back on the shelf or in the cart.
"Do you like eating these?", Ashton asked while gesturing at broccoli.
"I can"t wait to get a taste." She responded dreamily.
Ashton"s eyebrow twitched. She didn"t look at the produce at all. "Are you talking about the broccoli or about me?"
Sabrina giggled. "I didn"t realize you are pointing at the broccoli."
Ashton laughed. He likes it when Sabrina is playful.
When they reached the apartment, Sabrina removed the cardigan.
"Wow!" Ashton exclaimed.
"That dress is… Uhm… Well-fitting." He stumbled over his words.
Sabrina smiled. She knows that "well-fitting" is a comment about her cleavage. "I picked it while thinking about you."
"About me? Really?"
"Mhm…", Sabrina hummed in confirmation and moved closer to him. "My plan was to seduce you."
"Well, it"s working. You are taking my breath away." Ashton leaned closer and pecked her lips. He stepped away before she was able to grab him.
"Let"s cook." He was already halfway to the kitchen.
Sabrina snorted in frustration. Does he think that he can escape her? But she knows that if they start making out, they will not cook and probably not eat either (food). She told herself to be patient. She can eat Ashton later.
They both put ap.r.o.ns on.
Ashton was the main chef, and Sabrina was helping. She washed and cut the vegetables and when he said that her part is done, Sabrina sat at the kitchen island and propped her chin on her palm while looking at Ashton with hearts in her eyes.
He was mixing and tasting and occasionally glancing at Sabrina with a small smile at the corners of his lips and she was sure that she never saw a better looking man in her life. Ashton is perfect.
The food was ready in time for an early dinner.
Sabrina praised his cooking. Everything was delicious.
"If I knew that you are such a good cook, I would demand as your rent more than just one meal a week."
Ashton laughed. "I will cook for you anytime."
Over the meal, Sabrina told Ashton about Jackson, how they met and ended up in a relationship, how they agreed to be together for family functions, and how in the last week or so he is calling, texting, and visiting much more than usually; probably because he started suspecting that she is going to leave him.
Sabrina knows that Ashton does not want to hear about Jackson, but she needed to get it out of her system. No more secrets and no more lies.
Ashton didn"t have any questions. He didn"t want to appear too nosy, and he is aware that some things are better left unsaid.
After food, they tidied up together.
Ashton opened a bottle of wine and poured a gla.s.s for Sabrina and for himself.
Ashton was not a wine drinker, but since he is with Sabrina, he has a gla.s.s after dinner. And she started drinking orange juice during the day (the strong one, with pulp).
They moved on the sofa in the living room.
Sabrina was grateful that Ashton listened. "I"m sorry, I know that you don"t want to hear about other men in my life, but I want you to understand my relationship with Jackson because I believe that this is not over. He will not give up easily, and I hope that you are confident enough not to fall for any tricks that he comes up with. He is sneaky and the only way we can stay strong is if we don"t keep secrets from each other."
Ashton felt guilty. He knows that on the previous day he allowed Jackson to shake him up and because of that he went to his apartment for the night and they were apart which gave Jackson an opportunity to get close to Sabrina.
Ashton"s trust in the strength of her commitment was weak and due to that Sabrina"s morning was horrible, and the afternoon with Jackson"s parents was uncomfortable as well.
"You know… yesterday when I left your studio… I met Jackson on the street.", Ashton said after some time.
Sabrina frowned. "I a.s.sume that he was not pleasant."
"Jackson was not a polished gentleman which I was used to seeing so far. He told me that you are out of my league."
Sabrina shook her head in disapproval. "I hope you don"t think that."
Ashton inched closer and cupped Sabrina"s cheek in his palm. He caressed her cheek gently with his thumb. "I will believe what you tell me. Am I good enough for you?"
Sabrina tilted her head, to rest her cheek in his palm and smiled. "Truthfully, I wonder if I am good enough for you. You are smart, and honest, and you work hard. And let"s not forget that you are an amazing cook and smoking hot. I wish that I have your confidence."
Ashton chuckled awkwardly. He didn"t expect such a flood of compliments.
He licked his lips nervously. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"When I got here this morning… I heard Jackson say how he made mistake by not touching you so far. Did the two of you…?" He didn"t finish his question. He is not sure why he even asked this, but he had to. Sabrina and Jackson were in a relationship (or pretending to be in one) for eight years. Is it possible that nothing ever happened between them?
Sabrina tried to hide her discomfort behind an awkward smile. She told herself that she needs to answer. After all, this is the first question Ashton asked (related to Jackson).
"If your question is if I ever slept with him, the answer is "no". Overnight family vacations meant that he sleeps on the sofa. You are the only man I ever shared a bed with."
Ashton widened his eyes in disbelief. She is thirty-three years old, gorgeous woman. Is it possible that she didn"t sleep with a man? "Ever?"
Sabrina nodded. "I had a few boyfriends before Jackson, but it didn"t last enough for us to go all the way. And Jackson and I kissed two or maybe three times eight years ago before we established the agreement about pretending to be in a relationship. When he brought up his epilepsy and that I owe him… that kind of killed the last traces of romance and since then the only place he kissed was...", Sabrina pointed at her cheek. "And that was only when someone was watching."
Ashton remembered that Sabrina said how cheek-kisses are fake. Now he understands that she was referring to Jackson. But there is a more important thing. She was never with a man?
"Rina… If you never slept with a man before… does that mean that you are… uhm…" He nervously glanced at her crotch area.
Sabrina"s eyebrows shoot up when she understood that he is asking if she is a virgin. She dissolved into a puddle of giggles.
"Come with me…" She stood up and held his hand in hers.
Ashton followed Sabrina into her bedroom, and he sat on the edge of her bed, where she pointed at.
"Let me introduce you to someone…", she said before going into her closet.
A minute later, Sabrina returned with a rectangle-shaped box in her hands.
"You see, Ashton… as a modern, independent woman, I don"t need a man for anything." Sabrina made a dramatic pause and sat next to him on the bed. "You want to know about my s.e.x life, and I said that there will be no more secrets, so I will introduce you to Simon. He was my first."
Ashton swiftly scooted away from Sabrina. Did she say that in that box is Simon? Her first? Did she cremate her first lover? Or did she make one of those shrunken voodoo dolls? No, that does not sound right, Sabrina said that she never went all the way with a guy. Just what is…?
His mind exploded when Sabrina opened the box and he saw a purple d.i.l.d.o.
Sabrina stifled a laugh. "Ashton, meet Simon."
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "You named your s.e.x toy?"
Sabrina wiggled her eyebrows in response while struggling to control laughter which bubbled inside her belly at the sight of Ashton"s comical expression.
Ashton was visibly uncomfortable. "I know I will regret this question, but… you said that he was your first?"
"Mhm…", Sabrina hummed in response. "Do you want to meet the others?" She glanced toward her bedside table.
Ashton closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously. "Others? How many does she have?" He does not want to know.
He could not prevent his eyes from darting toward "Simon". "You know, I am jealous of a piece of silicone."
Sabrina laughed and closed the box. "Any more questions?"
"None that I dare to ask."
Sabrina was giggling while returning Simon to his place in the closet. Ah, she is in a good mood.
"How about we shower?" Sabrina asked when she returned from the closet. "Last night I missed holding onto you and we should go to bed early so that I can make up for it."
Ashton smiled. "OK."
He stood up and started walking out.
Sabrina grabbed his hand. "Where are you going?"
"To shower. In my room."
"I was hoping that you will shower with me." Sabrina said playfully and bit her lower lip.
Ashton inhaled a choppy breath. "The thing about taking it slow is still valid."
Sabrina pouted. "I thought that this dress will make you forget about that." She stuck her chest out and glanced at her cleavage. "You said that it"s seducing."
"Rina, you could be wearing a fluffy winter coat, and I would still find you extremely seductive. Don"t you know that you are the most beautiful woman in the world?" Ashton kissed her on the lips once, twice… and then he inched away. "I will be back after a shower and we can sleep in your bed. How is that for progress?"
Sabrina smiled while watching him walk out of her bedroom.
"Sure, you sleeping here is progress. But if you think that I will give up easily, you are mistaken…", Sabrina mumbled and walked into the bathroom.
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