Page 3 of How to Break My Heart

“No, you’re not my sister.” His smirk is annoyingly sexy. “Are you hurt?”

“A little.”

Aston extends his arm as I reach out for support. At a slow and agonizing pace, I manage to stand. Not only does my knee sting, but the fall also tore my jeans, so now there’s a big rip exposinga lotof skin.

“Sit down here.” He motions to a large log near the edge of the water. “Let me take a look.”

I take a seat while Aston kneels in front of me. My pulse quickens at the smell of his cologne, making the simple act of breathing impossible. His deep green eyes trace my body, causing me to shiver. Then, his eyes gaze upon mine while a smile graces his lips. He has one of those smiles that lights up his entire face. Not that I’ve seen it often. Around me, he’s usually annoyed.

“I think you’ll survive. A little broken, but still pretty perfect.”

“I never was perfect,” I inform him as he takes a seat beside me. “Far from it.”

“We all see things differently,” he murmurs, then tilts his head slightly as if to better observe me.“Everleigh.”

I’m not fond of people calling me by my full name, but the way he slowly drags it out leaves me speechless. As we stare out over the lake, I fidget nervously with my hands. Maddy told me her father insisted Aston spend the summer in London to work with a business associate before starting college in the fall. I decide to bring it up since London sounds pretty cool, and sitting here in silence is awkward as fuck.

“So, tomorrow is the big day, huh?”

His shoulders slump as he leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, the big day.”

“You don’t seem too excited. I’ve only read about London, but it looks like a beautiful city.”

“Well, when you’re following your father’s directions, it’s hard to get…excited,” he answers.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry about? The fact that I’m his firstbornson and heir to our family’s fortune? Or how he controls every aspect of my life forhisbenefit?”

I turn to face him, filled with this sudden urge to pull him out of whatever negative space he’s in. London is amazing, but no one should be allowed to dictate your life. At least my parents always taught me to follow my own dreams.

“So… say no?” I blurt out. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Aston sighs dejectedly. “You underestimate my father’s control over our family.”

“That’s because you let him.” I raise my voice. “Come on, you have everything going for you. You’re smart, a straight-A student without even trying. Coach loves you. Your athletic ability is the best the school has seen. I mean, I’m not one to watch lacrosse, but so I’ve heard. Not to mention, you’re pretty. So tell me, why on earth do you think your father should dictate your life?”

“You think I’m pretty?” Aston cocks his head with a playful smile on his lips. “Unusual choice of words, Miss Woods.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t think I do.”

“Handsome, hot, sexy. But that’s beside the point. What I’m really trying to say is—”

Warm lips smash against mine, and I gasp. It takes me a second to realize Aston Beaumont’s kissing me.

Oh. My. God!

Aston Beaumont is kissingme.

His tongue gently pushes through my lips, and my heart beats like a drum inside my chest. A million thoughts are running rampant through my head, but the only thing I can focus on is how he tastes like perfection.

We find ourselves in perfect harmony, slow, sensual kisses igniting my entire body. Then, he explores every inch of my mouth with desperation. Desire travels right between my thighs as his hand slides beneath my sweater and against my stomach.The tips of his fingers rub against my belly, causing me to gasp as he inches closer to the button of my jeans.

Am I about to lose my virginity?

I have only just lectured Maddy on being responsible, yet here I am, about to have sex with her brother. With a desperate need to ignore any rational thoughts, I reach out to caress his face. My bold move causes him to moan inside my mouth as the pop of my jeans button sounds between us. Savoring the touch of his skin, I try to bring him closer to me, but then he pulls away, out of breath.