Page 62 of Barron's Second Chance
"O...kay."
"Eden has the house to herself." He gave his son another squeeze on the shoulder. "Usually, I wouldn't encourage this kind of behavior, but I watched the two of you just now. She's not as unaffected as you might think. I've never seen two people more destined to be together." He smirked at Barron. "Except for your Mom and I."
Barron smiled at his dad's attempt at humor. "So you think I should go over there tonight? Even though she hasn't been receptive to my attempts for contact lately?"
"What's that saying? 'You only miss the shots you don't make?'"
He gave a huff of laughter. "Something like that. But I don't think that quote quite applies here."
"Maybe not, but the sentiment still does."
He ground his teeth as he thought over his father's advice.
He didn't want to crowd Eden, force his hand again when she wasn't receptive to his attention at the moment. But the end of summer break was staring down the barrel at him, coming full force, and there was nothing he could do to halt its progress.
Sure, she would return to New Haven, most likely for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but then what? Would he have to start his progress again from scratch? What if she reignited her relationship with Joshua? Or had a fling with some suave Italian in Milan?
His resolve hardened. No. He needed to keep trying. If she told him to fuck off and never speak to her again, then he would reluctantly respect her wishes. He would have no choice. But at least he tried and would be no better than he was right now.
Realizing that his son had come to the same conclusion, he smacked him on the shoulder again.
"Good luck, Son. And for the love of God, rein in on the jealousy. It only works in romance books."
15
Is There a Chance?
Edengroanedassheslammed the book she had been attempting to read shut. She’d been reading the same sentence over and over, the words not processing despite trying her hardest to concentrate.
She had been restless since she left the Carter's residence, her mind refusing to stay silent.
When she came home, she decided to have a long soak in the bath, even breaking her alcohol ban and taking a small glass of red wine to sip with her.
She could usually count on a nice jasmine-scented bubble bath to help soothe her subconscious. But much to Eden’s frustration, all it did was remind her how it felt to be in Barron's arms - his warm, hard body and addictive scent curling around her, mouth at her temple, and the low timbre of his voice vibrating through her.
Without realizing it, her hand had started to stroke low on her belly, her naked legs shifting against each other, chasing that friction. Her nipples pebbled as they played peek-a-boo amongst the bubbles.
She moved her other hand against her chest, her fingers dancing against the stiff peaks.
She was wet. And not just from the water.
Eden had been sorely tempted to reach her hand beneath the bubbles to ease the ache humming low in her belly, causing her sex to throb.
She could no longer deny that what she felt for Barron was a leftover attraction from their days together.
Young and in love.
He still affected her. If she hadn't felt so deeply for him, she would never have reacted so passionately with each interaction they had.
She wouldn't be sitting here, fingers skimming over her sex and contemplating whether it was worth having more talks with him.
Giving up on her bath, Eden changed into a short silk robe, too lazy to change into actual clothing, considering that she was planning on having an early night.
Her mom was staying the night at Mike's again. She confessed to Eden that she finally asked him to move in with her. However, they would wait until Eden returned to New York before Mike officially moved in.
As happy as she was that her Mom had finally taken the next step in her relationship with Mike, Eden was grateful that he hadn't moved in while she was still here. The last thing she needed to see was the two of them going at it again on the couch.
Her body still restless but not tired, Eden attempted to watch the first season ofBridgerton,a show she had been meaning to try due to her love of the book series, but until now, she had yet to have the time to indulge.
