Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“I could have told you that,” he snickered, seeming to relax again now that the topic of Blair had been avoided. “But just out of curiosity, what were they asking you?”
A wry smile found its way to Taliana’s lips. “They wanted to know what you were up to this weekend since they hardly saw you. Your devout followers missed you.”
Sebastian tilted his head back as he laughed. “They really hate you for being my girlfriend, don’t they?”
“God, yes,” Taliana groaned. “I never noticed it much before, but it was obvious today. No wonder my day sucked. Everyone wants me dead for dating you.”
“You’ll have to forgive them. Their love for me is just so strong, they can’t help themselves.”
She shot him a dry look. “Reel in the ego, you pompous ass. You’re not that great of a catch, believe me.”
“I’m offended, baby,” he said with an easy smile. “How could you say such a thing? You’re going to have to make it up to me now.”
“Oh, please.” Taliana rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back a grin. “You’re the one who should be making it up to me.”
He pretended to consider it for a moment before nodding. “All right, I think I can do that. I was planning on taking you somewhere special anyway.”
Taliana’s gaze immediately swung to the window, and she suddenly realized they weren’t heading in the direction of either of their houses, but across Key Bridge and onto the George Washington Parkway. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I’m not sure I like surprises.”
“Too bad.”
Figuring she wasn’t going to get a proper answer out of him, Taliana turned her attention back to the scenery outside. The one thing she loved about the Parkway was the feeling you had completely left the city. True, they were practically still in it, but the two lane, tree-lined highway made it seem they were far away. At various points, the forest thinned to reveal the Potomac River, which glittered under the afternoon sun.
They’d been driving for a good ten minutes when the DC skyline finally came into view as they rounded a curve. Sebastian slowed a moment later and turned off onto a service road which eventually led into a parking lot. In the distance lay an expanse of lush green grass and a perfect view of the river, only interrupted every so often by the designated markers for the nearby airport. And by nearby, she meant they were literally a couple hundred feet away.
She’d been there numerous times as a child, and had spent most of her visits screaming at her parents that they were going to be crushed by the landing aircraft. Needless to say, that had never happened, but being that close to see the planes come in and take off was an exhilarating experience. She’d almost forgotten about Gravelly Point, but she could clearly remember why it had once been her favorite spot.
“I used to come here all the time as a kid,” Sebastian said, echoing Taliana’s thoughts as he turned off the car. “Let’s go stake out a spot. I’ve got a blanket, some cheese and crackers, and a box of chocolates.”
Taliana was taken aback. “You brought a picnic?”
He shrugged and slipped out of the car, waiting until she’d joined him to speak again. “Kind of, yeah. I thought you’d like it. I know you love your snacks.”
For a long moment, Taliana simply stared at him, trying to figure out if he was joking or not. In the end, the look in his eyes told her he was definitely serious. “Jeez,” she laughed breathily, unable to believe it. “Who knew you were such a sap.”
Sebastian tried to look angry but was unable to hide a grin. “I spent an hour in Dean & DeLuca to get this stuff. Be glad I’m willing to spend money and my invaluable time on you. I don’t do that for just any girl.”
“Believe me, I’m flattered.” With an answering grin, Taliana leaned in and brushed her lips against his. “Come on, Cry Baby, let’s break into those chocolates.”
* * *
It was five o’clock when they finally made it back to Taliana’s house. The sun had practically set by then, splashing various shades of orange and pink across the horizon. Her face was still warm from the sunshine, and her lips tasted vaguely of the dark Belgian chocolate Sebastian had bought.
“That was fun,” she told him. “If you ever feel like being sappy again, I’d be up for going back there.”
She’d barely taken a step toward the front door when his arms wrapped around her waist, tugging her against him. She could feel his smile when his lips brushed the shell of her ear.
“We’ll see about that, but for now, I think we should go inside,” he murmured, his breath stirring the hairs that had fallen free of her ponytail. “You know, maybe pick up where we left off the other day?”
She pulled back slightly in order to see his face and raised an eyebrow questioningly, though she knew what he was hinting at. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. Care to enlighten me?”
His wolfish grin made Taliana’s already liquified insides melt even more. “Baby, I think you know. But if you’d like, I can remind you.”
She tilted her head back far enough so her lips were only centimeters from his. “Oh yeah? Well then, feel free.”
The second Taliana began to lean into his touch, he pulled away, choosing instead to grab her hand and tug her toward the house. Obviously whatever he was planning on showing her wasn’t suitable for the entire neighborhood to see.
In seconds, he’d stolen her house key and had the door open, wasting no time stepping over the threshold and dragging her after him. She’d barely gotten her back foot in the house when he slammed the door and pinned her against it. She gasped when her back hit the wood, but it was soon swallowed when his lips captured hers. She was lucky her dad and Katherine were still out, and the twins wouldn’t be back for another hour. They had the place to themselves.
One of his hands pinned her wrists above her head, while the other found its way to her thigh, fingers slowly creeping underneath her skirt. Before she could even make any sound of protest about being practically ravished in the foyer, a moan escaped her lips that only goaded him on, and she practically forgot what she was supposed to be objecting to.
Luckily, there was someone there to remind her.
“Well, isn’t this the sight,” a familiar voice mused from the doorway of the living room. “I hate to interrupt your lovefest, Taliana, but I’m not sure this is something you want your mother to see.”
It only took half a second for Taliana to push Sebastian away, cheeks flaming as she focused on the figure over his shoulder. “Mom!” Her hands fluttered around her clothes, smoothing down the wrinkles Sebastian’s hands had put in them. “Why are you-what are you doing here?”
Andrea adjusted the gray shawl that was draped across her shoulders as she smirked. “I know your father told you I was coming to town for a little while.”
Taliana vaguely noticed Sebastian had shifted next to her and was now standing a respectable distance to her left. “I guess I forgot. Sorry.”
“Why am I not surprised?” With a shake of her head, she turned her amused gaze to the boy beside Taliana. “Hello, Sebastian. How lovely to see you.”
“Likewise, Ms. Colton.” He didn’t seem embarrassed in the slightest by the fact that her mother had just caught him and Taliana in quite the compromising position. If only Taliana could’ve felt the same way. After flashing Andrea a smile, Sebastian’s attention turned back to Taliana. “I should probably go. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded, and he dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek before waving to her mother and exiting the house as quickly as they’d swept inside.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing you two getting along,” her mother admitted after the door had closed. “To be honest, it’s a little creepy.”
Taliana couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Tell me about it.”
Her grin mirrored Taliana’s as she spread her arms, beckoning her closer. “Come here, kid. Give your mommy a hug.”