“Please, what?” he firmly rumbled against my lips. “What do you want? Tell me.”
I moaned as he slipped a finger completely inside me. I curled my fists in to the leather of his jacket as the gusts grew stronger around us.
“This?” he asked. I couldn’t think, only feel as my hips picked up rhythm. His palm pressed against me as he added another finger inside, stretching me. It was a painful ache I welcomed. “How about this?”
“More,” I whimpered. He was driving me insane. His fingers slid as I rocked against him. He could sense I was near as my muscles tightened and my breathing accelerated. I tugged him closer with my arms and pressed my mouth into his chest as I let out a guttural moan and shattered. Waves of pleasure soared through me and the tension lessened, though the pulsing around his fingers hadn’t. He slowly removed them and I felt empty, wrong even.
“God, that was beautiful.” He exhaled and scattered small, light kisses over my face. I needed more, so much more of him. I needed him inside of me, filling me.
“More,” I pleaded again as I kissed him.
His mouth smiled against mine as we both panted. I reached for the zipper on his jeans and he helped by unsnapping the button. I pushed my hand through the fabric and wrapped my fingers around him. He was thick, long, and hard. It gave me a thrill knowing I made him react that way. I had tried this once with Dan, but it had felt wrong, and I’d never attempted it again. He hadn’t asked, either. Something about being with Sebastian worked, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Emerie, fuck, I want you so much.” He hummed into a moan as he buried his mouth behind my ear. He arched against me as I stroked. This man had wanted me, had asked about me, long before I knew about him. Lily had tried to get me to meet him, and those years of protesting were time I’d wasted. His breath picked up against my skin and goose bumps prickled over my body. Our lips, teeth, tongue, breath mingled and he was close to the edge.
A door slammed and voices vibrated in the distance and in a flash he peeled off me. “Shit,” he groaned. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he fixed himself. We both caught our breaths and my heartbeat thudded in my ears as I adjusted my shirt.
I looked at his large hands as he fixed his clothing over the big body that had been against mine. I gazed at his fingers, the ones that had been inside of me, taking me to complete erotic bliss. My hand burned with the memory of holding him and I looked at his groin, where his jeans were tented with his arousal. His pupils had taken over the blue in his eyes, making them look like black ink as they gaped wildly at me.
I’d just come on the side of a house. Was I the type to lose myself and give it up standing against a brick wall? What if someone had seen? I wondered what Sebastian thought of me. No, I couldn’t care. This was why I couldn’t sleep with him. I was already losing my mind. I dropped my face into my palm as mortification surged through me. I stormed off as quickly as I could, though the wind made it difficult to gain speed. I was breathless as I jogged toward my suite.
“Emerie, wait…” He caught up to me in no time with his long-ass legs, and I glanced at him as he turned his body toward me, walking backwards. I recoiled at the absurdity of the situation. “Look, I’m sorry. Let’s discuss this.”
I held my hand up toward him and continued to walk, trying to overlook him. “I’d rather not.”
“Em—”
“Let’s forget it happened.”
“Why do you keep saying that? Look, I’m not forgetting anything that happened.”
“It’s your damn blue eyes and your stupid, silky-soft hair, and I lost my mind for a second, but it’s back, and it won’t happen again.”
“Fuck that, Emerie.” His voice was arrogant and strong as he stopped in place and my face crashed into his chest. He barely budged. He was like a damn tree.
“Ouch.” I rubbed my nose. “Excuse me.” I swerved to the side of him and he clasped my arm in his hand, tugging me back. A bruised nose was better than a bruised heart. And I sensed getting involved with him would more than bruise it.
“Don’t do it, Tiny.” There was a loaded pause. “Don’t run from me.” He looked grim and a chill ran through me.
“There you guys are!” Lily’s voice disrupted our staring contest. “We’ve been looking for you. Dinner’s been ready for some time. You coming?”
Sebastian continued to stare at me, one eyebrow lifting like one side of his beautiful mouth. “Coming, Miss Sanders?”
The innuendo made me want to scream. Instead, I brushed past him and socked a fist to his stomach. He grunted, but I knew my little attempt had no effect on his rock-hard abs. Jerk. He trailed behind me, his words only audible to me. “To be continued,” he whispered seductively.
“Not interested.”
He chuckled under his breath. “Keep lying to yourself, Tiny.”
Heat scorched my skin and my body pulsed where I desired him to fill it. I sighed as he continued to walk behind me. Who was I kidding? I did want it, and I wanted it with him. Which was exactly why I needed to avoid him at all costs.
Chapter 2
Him
Lily’s ideas for team building had been stellar. When she’d told me her friend in HR had lost her job and had brainstormed it all for her, it seemed natural that I’d invite this friend to participate in our retreat. Maybe I’d even gain a new hire. I’d never dreamed it would be the woman who’d plagued me so long ago—the one with the sunshine smile and ruby-red lips, the one who had no idea how much sex appeal and beauty she possessed.
Emerie was nothing like my ex-girlfriend, and perhaps that’s what I found appealing about her. Both women were stunning, but their dispositions were polar opposites. Where goddess towering Tessa conveyed dominance that led to manipulation, pixie-sized Emerie held warmth and a playful spirit. She was her own type of beautiful—a unique blend of charisma and tenacity with the perfect amount of femininity.
I thought about Emerie throughout dinner, and when it had been cleared away, I worried about why she hadn’t come back. Lily topped off my wineglass, as she had everyone else’s, despite their meager attempts at protest as they all chatted away with one another. Before she walked away, I pulled her back.
“Listen, Lil, can I get Em’s number?” She hesitated. “Please. I could go to her room, but…”
She sighed and pulled her phone from her pocket, sending me Emerie’s contact information. “You both are unreasonable. I was hoping you’d be the one to…well, you know. Last night.”
My God, Lily knew about me being mistaken for Emerie’s escort. I rubbed a hand over my stubble and groaned. “It’s not like I don’t want to be,” I grumbled under my breath. Might as well be honest about it.
She perked up. “Why don’t you go to her room? He’s on his way.”
“What?”
“She didn’t want me to cancel the escort. You can try to stop him.”
Ice chilled my veins at the thought of some strange douchebag’s hands on the body I had touched, held, pressed against only a few hours earlier. Then a fiery rage burst in my chest and I was storming toward the opposite building like a horse racing to the finish line.
Before I could reach Emerie’s door, I spotted him. The weasel of a man had too much shit in his hair and a gold chain around his neck. I tamped down the consuming need to punch the asshole in the jaw.
“Hey,” I called out before he could knock. He turned toward me, dismissed me, and huffed, about to knock on my woman’s door. “Hey, wait. What’s she paying you?”
“Get the fuck outta here, loser,” he grumbled.
I grabbed his shoulder and tugged him back. “I’ll pay you double to be a no-show.”
We made the arrangement, and the asshole took the money and ran. I knocked on the door and waited. I could hear her approaching, but nothing prepared me for when she opened the door and stood in front of me in a sheer black robe and flimsy chemise.
“Shit,” I slurred weakly. My eyes f
ollowed every curve of her, from her pretty head to her cute toes.
Her cheeks flushed and she hid behind the door, closing it slightly. “I’m busy.”
I pushed through and walked in. “Oh, yeah? Hot date tonight?” My eye instantly caught on the bottle of Jameson and I looked back at her. “Nervous, Miss Sanders?”
“Is this Groundhog Day? Am I stuck in some kind of nightmarish loop?” She put one hand on her hip and clasped the robe in her other, trying to hide what I desired to see, touch, taste.
“I don’t know, depends on how drunk you are this time.”
“I’m not drunk. Why are you here? I’m expecting someone.”
I approached her instantly and lifted her to sit on the counter of the bar. The small yelp out of her pink lips had me aching.
“Hey, mister. You can’t just manhandle me, boss me around, and think it’s okay.” Her fists were pressed to each side of her waist, but her legs dangled down like a child’s. I drew closer so we were face to face, our eyes connecting, me getting lost in pools of decadent dark chocolate. “My date should be here by now.” Her voice trembled, defiant chin tipped up.
“That asshole’s gone.”
“What did you do?”
“I offered him double the money if he left, and he took it. Goes to show how much he cares for you.”
Her brow furrowed, irritation surging through her demeanor. “Damn it, Sebastian. What the hell? You’re ruining everything.”
“Ruining? Are you insane?” I was furious, and it was primitive, defensive. “You’ll regret sleeping with that fuck-nugget. Don’t do it. Please,” I tacked on, my face too close to hers. What the hell was I doing getting involved in this woman’s life? I couldn’t help it, though. I wouldn’t let her live with the regret I knew she’d harbor.
Her alarmed face turned slowly to a smile, then she burst out laughing. I was pretty sure my heart stopped at the sound. Damn it. “What’s so funny?”
“Fuck-nugget?” She laughed louder, grabbing her stomach. She paused, stared at me, then laughed again. I shook my head and broke my frown to smile along with her.
“I have a way with words.” I shrugged and rested my hands on each of her knees. Her laughter died down and my thumb automatically moved to her cheek to catch a shimmering tear. Her breathing accelerated and her eyes were cast down. From one second to the next, she went from joyous to fearful.
“Hey, look at me.” My voice was rough, and once her eyes locked on mine, I was a goner. I knew with absolute certainty she was what I needed, and dependent on her reaction, it could be great or it would be a disaster. “You don’t have to give yourself up that way.” My fingers massaged her skin softly.
She shivered in my arms and her eyes glistened. “Fine.” She steeled herself, the vulnerability within her shoved aside. “You take it then.”
Her lips landed on mine harshly. Small hands tangled in my hair and swooped down to my jeans to unbuckle them. The quickness of her movements had me off-balance. “Ouch. Hey,” I mumbled, “stop, baby. Stop.”
I pulled away, and it was fucking torture. Her crestfallen face was an even worse blow to my heart. “I know I don’t kiss well.” She sighed. “Dan always said I needed practice. I’m sorry.”
“What?”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “He said my kisses were sloppy and—”
I cupped her cheeks in my hands and put my mouth on hers. I nibbled her bottom lip softly, tasting hints of whiskey. “Slow down. That’s all,” I whispered. She moaned and I pressed against her. No use hiding my erection at this point. Her hands fisted in my shirt and traveled to my hair. She liked tugging on it and I groaned in response, yet there was fragility in her movements. Small hesitations. As soon as her shy tongue slid against mine, I pulled back. That insecurity hit her again.
“You’re a great kisser. You’ve just dated some morons.” I ran my hand through her hair and held her in my arms as my forehead rested against hers.
She shrugged. “So, you’ll sleep with me, right?”
I’d be a damn liar if I said I didn’t want her small body on me, me filling her. I wanted to see every way she’d fit with me, and I’d played them out in my head so many times, to live them out would be a dream turned to life.
“Look, I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to take her v-card.”
I sighed and gave a tired chuckle. “Why are you in such a hurry? Now? You’ve waited this long already, Emerie.”
Tears prickled in her eyes but she cleared her throat, trying to pull herself together. “The women at work. They told me I couldn’t get a man to stick around if I made him wait. Obviously, they were right. I just want to get it over with so I know what I’m doing next time. The next guy I’m with, this won’t be a problem. He won’t go looking somewhere else for what I can’t give him.”
“What the hell is wrong with these people?” My heart ached for her. Not only had she been betrayed by her boyfriend, but her colleagues had humiliated her. “You know not all men are like that, right?”
She exhaled and squeezed her eyes shut. “Look, nobody has a great first time anyway. Can you please just do this so I can be…normal?” She looked defeated.
I wanted to tell her she wasn’t normal, she’d never be, and that’s what drew me to her. She wasn’t like other women; however, she was determined, set on her decision to be like everyone else. “Normal is overrated,” I whispered.
“I’m gonna call the escort back.”
“No, you’re not, Emerie. That shit’s shut down.”
“Then make up for it, Stephens.” She crossed her arms over her chest. I could see her nipples pebbling under that sheer material and I wouldn’t let anyone else touch her. It had to be me. “You’re the one who said things were to be continued and that you wanted to explore whatever this is. Let’s get it done.”
God, when was the last time a woman had been so candid with me? It was as if we’d already become intimate though my body had never entered hers. Moments in her presence and I already craved more. I needed more, but I wanted it to mean something to her. I wanted to mean something to her, but that took time, and we didn’t have that. “I’ll take your virginity. But you have to agree to play by my rules.”
“I don’t play well with rules,” she bit back.
“I have a feeling you’ll follow mine.” I leaned toward her and kissed the space between her shoulder and neck. Her breath trembled. “I’ll make it better than you imagined. Trust me.”
Her body tensed and she pulled back to look at me. “Fine, but if I follow your rules, you have to follow one of mine.”
“Which is?”
The line between her eyebrows deepened as she studied my jacket and played with the lapel. “One time having sex, then we’re done. Nothing more after this.”
I pressed my lips in a hard line, accepting her offer with a slight nod, though I knew it would never be enough. For now, I’d take what I could. “Then I’d better draw it out.” Her confused expression met my set one. I clasped her hips, pulled her off of the bar, and whispered in her ear, “You know, I’ve had this recurring dream about you.”
“You have?” she asked bashfully. Her breath caught in her throat as my hands wandered down her spine to the small of her back and pressed her against me. She was trembling like an autumn leaf clinging on a tree. “What kind of dream?”
“It involved phone sex.” Large doe eyes filled with emotion. Her lips parted but she said nothing. “Not ready for that yet, are you, Tiny?” I chuckled and kissed her temple. She was winded as my fingertips kneaded her hips.
“I’m ready for anything,” she said with feigned confidence.
I clasped her hand in mine and led her to the bedroom. I positioned her in front of the bed and backed away, my eyes never leaving hers. My commanding voice turned on, as did my intimidating gaze. “Take off your panties slowly. Lie down, then spread your legs for me.”
She stood in paralyzed bewilderment. �
�Wha…”
“You said you’d play by my rules, Emerie. Do as I say.”
I waited tolerantly as she apprehensively positioned herself on the bed. She’d done nothing in the order I’d told her. Instead she squirmed to find a comfortable position. “I told you to take off your panties first.”
“Hold your horses. Geez. You’re bossy.” She arranged herself on her elbows and attempted to awkwardly remove her undergarments. Her fingers latched on to the edge of the lace and she plopped her head back on her pillow as she lifted her hips, tugging the scrap of material down her thighs.
My patience waned as she struggled. Her eyes caught mine as she tugged on the material, at the same time trying to pull her chemise down. “It’s stuck.”
I leaned over and ripped the delicate lace, tossing it aside. Her small gasp had me straining against my pants. My body was on fire. I was hard as steel, and I was ready, but slow movements were necessary, especially for her.
My hands grasped the hem of her chemise and I locked eyes with her, awaiting compliance. She gave a slight nod and I removed the fabric, gazing at what would be mine. She was glorious, those lips puffy, anticipating taking me inside of them, those nipples hardened, waiting for me to touch them.
“Are you wet?” I asked eagerly. She didn’t answer. “Spread. Touch yourself.”
Her cheeks flamed crimson. “I…” She hesitated. “Why are you making me do this? Can’t you just stick it in and get your thing done?”
My anger flared. She knew nothing of seduction, of pleasure, and had no idea about anticipation or delayed gratification. “What the hell kind of sex education did you get?”
“Tumblr?” she joked, then rolled her eyes at me when I didn’t laugh. “My mom was a bitter divorced woman. She remarried, but husband number two didn’t know how to please her, either. All I heard was that sex isn’t that great and doesn’t live up to the hype apparently.”
“Did it feel good when I fingered you this afternoon?”
Alphas of Seduction Page 17
