“Eden, wait, where are you going? Who’s this guy? Stop!”
Sebastian swung around, and for a moment Eden thought he was going to take a swing at Enzo.
“Who the hell are you?” Sebastian stepped in between Eden and Enzo, still keeping his grip on her arm.
“Seb, stop! This is Enzo, Mara’s fiancé. He asked Michael to look after me tonight since I didn’t really know anyone.” Catching Enzo’s eye, she continued. “This is Sebastian Stone, Enzo. And I’m fine.”
Recognizing the name, having clearly been told about him by Mara, Enzo’s face relaxed. “Oh right, just checking. Michael wasn’t sure if he should have left you. I just wanted to check if you were alright.”
“She’s fine, I’m taking her home.” Sebastian turned to Eden, clearly waiting for her to agree with him.
“Yes, I’m fine, Enzo. Sebastian will see me home. Thanks for a lovely evening. Tell Mara I’ll call her tomorrow.”
Enzo nodded. “Nice to meet you, Sebastian.”
Sebastian ignored him. Instead, he simply turned and pulled Eden with him out the door. The cool evening air hit Eden in the face and the effect of the few glasses of champagne she’d drunk disappeared. She wrenched her wrist away from Sebastian’s vise-like grip.
“I can’t believe you! I can’t believe you just did that to me!” She glared at him as he pulled out his phone to call his driver to come around and pick them up. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Sebastian. I’ll catch a cab home.”
Sebastian stormed toward her now, grabbing her wrist again. “You’ll do no such thing, Eden. You’ll get in the damn car. You’ve been drinking and there is no way that I’m letting you traipse around New York in the middle of the night dressed like that. Goddamn it, Eden, you promised you’d be careful!”
Eden tried to step back, shocked at his words. “Promised? What are you talking about? I was being careful!”
Sebastian’s town car pulled up in front of them and he yanked the door open, pulling her toward it. “Get in the car.”
“No.” Eden glared at him, determined to stand her ground. Sebastian was being ridiculous. She wasn’t going to let him manhandle her like this.
“Eden, you seem to be under the impression that I won’t pick you up and put you in the car myself. So you can either get in willingly or I can put you in. Either way, you’re going to end up in the car.”
“Get away from me, Sebastian. You’re acting completely crazy.” She tried once more to tear her wrist away.
“That’s it, I warned you.” Sebastian bent down and swung her over his shoulder as she shrieked at him. Being careful to make sure he didn’t knock her head on the door, he lifted her into the car, dumping her ungracefully onto the seat before pulling the door shut behind her.
“Sebastian, what the he—” Eden screamed at him, but before she could stop, he was on top of her, pressing his lips against hers, running his hands up and down her waist, wrapping his fingers around the nape of her neck.
Eden pushed against his chest, trying to resist, but as soon as she felt his tongue snake into her mouth, she knew he’d won. She grabbed at his shirt, using it to pull him closer to her, pushing against his kiss, wanting him to touch her more. He pulled away suddenly and she gasped for air.
“You can’t do that to me, Eden.”
“Seb, I was being careful. I didn’t break my promise.”
“Careful? You call that careful? That guy had his hands all over you, grabbing your ass, trying to kiss your neck. He’s lucky I didn’t break his jaw.” Their kiss had dissipated any anger Eden had and she gently ran her fingers into Sebastian’s hair as he caressed her neck and back, his hands moving continually over her.
“What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t make it back.”
“I wanted to surprise you. But then I walked in and saw him dancing with you. You were trying to pull away from him and he was just touching you…I can’t have other men touching you, Eden.”
“We were just dancing, Seb, nothing else.” She grazed his cheek with her fingertips, amazed at his jealousy. If she was honest, she was more than amazed. She was turned on.
“It wasn’t just dancing for him, trust me. He wanted you. That was fucking foreplay for him.”
Eden remembered the way Michael had looked at her, like she was prey. Sebastian stopped his roaming hands and looked down at her. “You have no idea how beautiful you are, Eden. No idea of what you do to men.”
She didn’t answer. She nuzzled into his neck, breathing in his scent. “You think I’m beautiful, Sebastian?” Eden knew he did, but every time he said it, it still felt like the first time.
“Beautiful doesn’t even begin to explain it. You’re like a drug. And I want more and more and more. I can’t get enough.” He continued to speak as he kissed along her jawline. “Promise me you won’t do that again. You can’t go out dancing without me. I can’t have other men looking at you like that, touching you. Promise me, Eden.”
Eden closed her eyes, feeling his lips move down her neck, licking her collarbone gently. She didn’t even understand what he wanted her to promise, but in that moment, all she could do was agree. She would say anything to keep him touching her.
“I promise, Sebastian, anything you want. Just take me home.”
Eden knew she should be mad, knew she should be appalled by Sebastian’s behavior, knew she should tell him to jump off a cliff and not contact her again. She knew that she should tell him that no one was going to tell her where she could go and who she could dance with, but she didn’t. She simply kept agreeing with everything that came out of his mouth as he moved across her body.
Chapter Eighteen
The following week followed in a similar fashion to their first weekend together. Sebastian consumed her life, slowly but surely. He would pick her from her apartment or office after he finished work and they would barely make it back to his place before he ripped her clothes off and ravaged her. Because she only worked three days a week, on her days off she would flit around her apartment, trying to fill the hours before saw him again. She forced herself to finally go furniture shopping. Eden had been so determined to enjoy the process of decorating her living space, but now she simply saw it as a way to kill time while waiting for him. Eden and Mara texted daily, but Mara was busy playing the society wife, or at least future wife, to Enzo’s social circle.
Eden started packing an overnight bag so she could at least have a fresh change of clothes, never really knowing how long he wanted her to stay. They never spoke about what they were. Sebastian told her endlessly that she was his, but he never clarified what that meant. Considering Sebastian’s early concerns about birth control and being tested, Eden assumed they were exclusive. Part of her knew that it was a dangerous and stupid assumption to make, but there was a part of her that couldn’t even begin to imagine that Sebastian wasn’t being exclusive.
One evening, after searching for her panties, she finally found them behind an armchair in the corner of his bedroom with no recollection of how they got there. She dangled them from her finger, clearing her throat to get Sebastian’s attention.
“I’ll have you know, Sebastian Stone, that you literally have ripped all of my underwear to pieces. This was my last intact pair. I’ll have to go commando tomorrow!”
Sebastian rolled over from where he had been snoozing in bed, still completely naked. She loved his confidence with his body. “I don’t know why you insist on wearing any.” He grinned at her.
“You’re very uncivilized, Sebastian, you know that.”
“Of course. I’m terrible. But you love it, darling.”
Eden blushed not only at his insinuation, thinking back to the cry she had released with the last orgasm Sebastian have given her, but because she felt there was a hint of truth in what he said. Despite all his English mannerism and controlled demeanor, there was something deeply animalistic about him, something unpredictable. It went deeper than the way he literally ripped h
er clothes off her when he wanted her.
She knew she should be nervous by his need to possess her. She knew that she should be offended by his Neanderthal behavior when it came to her safety and the way he referred to her as his. After so many years of doing the right thing, she had a hard time ignoring the fact that Boston Eden wouldn’t have given Sebastian a second chance after the way he behaved at Granada. Civilized, well-bred gentlemen did not manhandle their dates into limousines, did not tell them who they could and could not see, did not go down on them in the bathroom of the Museum of Modern Art like he had during their lunch date on Friday. No, they did not do that.
No, Boston Eden would have deleted his number and then called someone suitable like Joachim who would have taken her out on a boring, safe date and then escorted her to her front door, perhaps hoping for a fumble that barely surpassed a PG-13 rating. And Boston Eden would have settled for mediocre because it was the right thing to do.
They had never really spoken again about what had happened at Granada and Eden didn’t want to break the bubble that Sebastian seemed to create around her. She was in bliss and she also secretly knew that she loved his jealousy. She had been stunned by his temper at the club, but she knew nothing about him made her scared of him. Just in awe. Just like the tattoo that was kept hidden under his clothes, on the exterior Sebastian was controlled, sophisticated, the picture of a successful business man, but underneath there was something else that Eden felt only she could see—his rough, angry side that came with wild sex and furious emotions. He was uncontrollable.
Two weeks later was the first time when Sebastian finally told her he would be busy all day Saturday. It had been two weeks of impromptu dates, the most mind-blowing sex she had ever dreamed of, and even when she had, if she was honest with herself, Sebastian had surpassed any fantasy. He was fun and attentive and Eden knew she was completely besotted with him.
Sebastian seemed pained to tell her that his Saturday was to be taken up with several pending issues he had been neglecting. She felt guilty that she’d taken him away from his work. After growing up seeing her father dedicate himself to his company, Eden knew how for some men, it was more than just making money, but more like raising a child. Sebastian had started from scratch and had built his empire without a helping hand from anyone. She knew what it meant for him and reassured him that she would be able to find something to do with her time.
“No, I don’t want you to do anything. I want you naked in bed from Friday night to Sunday morning, thinking about me and waiting for me.” Sebastian frowned at her, clearly struggling to let go.
She pushed him through her door. “What about food? Am I allowed to get up and eat?”
“Maybe, but nothing too delicious. I want you hungry when I come back to you—hungry for me.” Sebastian winked at her before leaning in for one last kiss. “God, Eden, you’ll be the ruin of me. For all I care, Stone Securities can go bust because at this very moment, all I want to do is sink my cock into your silk pussy.”
“Sebastian!” Eden pushed him away, blushing. His words drove her crazy and he knew it.
“Okay, I’m going, I’m going, but I’m not going to get anything done.” He adjusted himself with exaggerated movements, waiting for the elevator. Eden leaned against her doorframe, smiling at him. Only someone as gorgeous as Sebastian could be goofy and sexy all at the same time. “Text me, darling.” He winked and stepped into the elevator.
Saturday morning arrived and Eden lounged around in her pajamas, antsy and not sure what she wanted to do. She’d already texted Mara, but she was busy with a brunch with Enzo. They were going to try and meet for coffee in the afternoon, but that gave Eden several hours to kill. She was done decorating the apartment and decided to go for a run. It was something she’d been meaning to take up doing again.
She dug out her running gear, thinking to herself how proud Dr. Shepherd would be that she was getting back into running. And he had been right to suggest she pick it back up. As soon as her headphones were in and her feet started hitting the pavement, she remembered how much she loved it. She kept her pace slow, not wanting to push her body too fast too quickly. She realized that running would be a great way to get to know the city better, and before she knew it, she found herself a few blocks from Sebastian’s office building.
She looked at her watch—12:30. Eden walked into the nearest coffee chain, intending to get a smoothie to keep her going for a bit longer and decided she’d surprise Sebastian. She ordered a weak black tea to go. Whenever they went out, Sebastian complained about how appalling American tea was. She also remembered how he had commented how he’d love to see her in her tight running gear when he had noticed it in her closet one evening.
Eden checked her reflection, pleased that she hadn’t pushed herself too hard on the run. She had a subtle sheen of sweat, but nothing too dramatic. Holding his tea, she approached the main reception in the lobby. The woman who had initially told her she couldn’t see Sebastian two weeks ago was there again.
“Oh, Miss Maxwell! Hello!”
Eden looked surprised. She couldn’t believe this woman remembered her.
“Please go right up. I guarantee I learned my lesson about not letting you through after last time.”
Eden thanked her and walked down to the elevator bank, biting her lip in anticipation about surprising Sebastian. Elevator 12 was waiting for her and she realized that the receptionists must be able to call the elevator from their desks to have it waiting only when they knew someone was going up to his office. She shifted nervously as the elevator rose. Maybe this was a bad idea. What if he was in a meeting and she just barged in? He had said that he would be swamped all day.
When the doors opened, she was surprised to see that he wasn’t at his desk. Eden stepped into the office and turned to see Sebastian sitting on one of the large couches at the far end of his office. His back was to her and he hadn’t heard her come in. She wasn’t very surprised by that, mainly because she couldn’t believe what she was looking at. Sebastian’s arm was draped along the back of the couch and a young woman was sitting close to him, uncomfortably close for Eden’s liking. She felt her throat tighten as the woman teased her fingers up Sebastian’s arm before reaching into his hair at the back of his neck. Eden gasped and stepped back. They turned to look at her, a smirk riding across the woman’s face, and Eden realized it was the same woman that Mara had pointed out on her phone at their lunch two weeks ago.
“Oh dear, Sebby, it looks like we’ve got company.”
Sebastian shot off the couch, staring blankly at Eden as if he couldn’t really believe who he was looking at.
“Eden, I…”
The woman rose and stood next to him. She was decked out in an elegant black pencil dress with a sweetheart neck. She oozed glamour and Eden shifted slightly, suddenly acutely aware how frumpy she looked in her running gear. The woman stood close to Sebastian, close enough to indicate a familiarity that made Eden bite her lip again, this time from anger and pure jealousy.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, love?” The woman looked up at Sebastian and Eden realized she was British. And using the same term of endearment that Sebastian so frequently used on her. The woman’s accent was stronger than Sebastian’s.
Sebastian finally seemed to snap to attention. “Yes, of course. Eden, this is…”
Before he had a chance to finish, the woman leaned into him, putting a carefully manicured hand on his chest, demonstrating an impressive diamond ring on her finger. “Simona Stone. Pleasure to meet you—Ada, right?”
Eden couldn’t take her eyes off the ring on Simona’s finger.
“Can we help you, dear?”
Eden realized she still hadn’t spoken. She needed to pull herself together. “I just brought this by for Sebastian. I’m sorry to interrupt,” she managed to stammer out. She quickly placed the tea on his desk before rushing back to press the elevator button. She had to get out of there. Thankfully, the doors opened
immediately and Eden rushed in.
“Eden, wait!” she heard Sebastian shout, and caught a glimpse of his panicked face as the doors closed.
Eden leaned against the elevator walls, praying that there was no way Sebastian could recall the elevator until it had reached the ground floor. She closed her eyes. She was not going to cry here. Not yet.
Finally, the elevator doors opened and she walked swiftly past reception, ignoring the woman who was now coming out from behind the large desk.
“Miss Maxwell, please stop. Mr. Stone has asked you to wait here until he comes down. He’s on his way. Please, he was very insistent that I don’t let you leave.”
Eden walked past her, ignoring her. How dare Sebastian insist she not leave? Who the hell did he think he was?
Eden knew he would be close behind her, and as soon as she got out of the revolving doors, she started running. She didn’t give her body time to get into a rhythm. She wanted to feel the pain in her lungs and the burn in her calves as she pushed herself far beyond her regular pace. She wove in and out of the sidewalk traffic, no idea where she was heading. She could feel her phone vibrating in the strap on her arm and she ignored it, knowing who it would be. Finally, she had to stop, slumping against a building, dropping her head between her knees, trying to catch her breath, gulping in the city air that had felt fresh when she left her apartment but was now heavy with the humid summer heat.
Her phone was vibrating incessantly and she grabbed it to turn it off but saw it was Mara calling her. She picked up, still heaving. Mara launched into conversation straight away, telling her some random story about brunch. After a few moments, she finally stopped.
“Eden, what the hell are you doing? You sound really strange? Why are you breathing like that?”
Trusting Stone Page 13
