She tiptoed over to her jumpsuit and slid into it one leg at a time, keeping an eye on the snoring Sebastian the entire time. God, the man was gorgeous, even lying on his stomach. He had massively muscular shoulders and the tightest butt she’d ever seen. Stop gawking and get moving, her inner voice told her. No time to dally. She pulled up the front of her jumpsuit and glanced around for her wristlet wallet, the one with her cabin key in it. She found it tossed on top of the coffee table near the TV. She grabbed it and made her way to the door.
She paused, hand on the handle. Should she leave Sebastian a note? She glanced backward once more at the sleeping man. No—no need to leave a note. She figured it was easier this way. One and done. Wasn’t that the easiest way? Hadn’t they talked about avoiding awkward goodbyes with their Spark hookups? Hell, he might even be pretending to be sleeping. No matter. She’d be gone before she could find out. Where was her thong? Her shoes? She searched under Sebastian’s cargo shorts lying on the chair and then beside the small desk bolted to the floor. No sign of them.
Behind her, Sebastian groaned and rolled over onto his side. She froze, glancing up at him, heart thudding. Do not wake up! she silently prayed. She stayed completely still until she heard a light snoring begin and then she let out a long, relieved breath. Forget her shoes and her thong, she thought. She didn’t need the sandals for today anyway. Her flip-flops would do and she had another set of heels for the rehearsal dinner tonight. Besides, the pool might have ruined the sandals anyhow.
Gabriela glanced through the peephole of the door and saw that the passageway was empty—at least from her limited vantage point. Thank goodness.
“Trying to sneak out on me?” Sebastian’s voice was a growl and Gabriela nearly jumped out of her skin.
“Uh, well, it’s late and...” Gabriela glanced back in time to see Sebastian, shirtless, hair a ruffled but enticing mess, sitting up on one elbow and studying her with a steady gaze.
“It’s seven-thirty in the morning,” he told her.
“Right, well...” Gabriela completely lost her train of thought as she glanced down at Sebastian’s firm chest. She remembered how those pecs felt beneath her palms.
“Why don’t we have breakfast? I’ll order something in. And I’m not pretending, either. This—” he grinned “—is a genuine offer.” The idea of crawling into bed with a half-naked Sebastian and waiting for the delivery of a plate of eggs Benedict sounded pretty tempting, if Gabriela were honest with herself. But then what? Wait to be found by the rest of the bridal party? Roll down the corridor in the world’s worst walk of shame right before the snorkeling excursion in a couple of hours? Try to explain to Felicia how she hadn’t actually planned to steal this man right from under her nose? No. Lola didn’t need this kind of drama the day before her wedding.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Gabriela kept her hand on the doorknob.
“Why not?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. Clearly the man wasn’t used to rejection. Of course, looking at his smooth bare chest, she could see why.
“Because this...” She motioned between them. “This never happened.”
Sebastian sat straighter. “You mean the hundred and one positions and...I think about eight orgasms...and counting? That didn’t happen?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy it,” she conceded, remembering how good his hands had felt on her. How very, very good. “It’s just that we can’t let anybody know about what happened here.”
“Why not?” He sat up a bit more, revealing more bare skin. It was like staring at a hot-men-on-cruise-ships calendar.
“Because...because...” She desperately searched for a reason. “Because you were supposed to be celibate. The bet, remember?”
“I don’t care about that silly bet. I’ll buy Marco a nice bottle of whiskey. It’ll be done.” Sebastian patted the bed next to him. “Now, what are you doing way over there? Why don’t you come here?”
Gabriela hesitated as she pulled her hand from the doorknob. Part of her wanted to jump right into bed with Sebastian Lott once more. But that was insanity. Pure insanity. It was like she felt mesmerized by his bare skin. What was wrong with her?
“I can’t do that.” She shook her head. “I’ve got to go. Seriously. I need to get dressed and...” She tugged at her halter top. “And change into clothes that I wasn’t wearing for twenty-four hours.”
“Well, they spent at least seven hours on my floor, so that’s technically not true.” A sly smile crossed his face. “Come on. Why are you way over there? It’s like you’re trying to gnaw your arm off to escape. Come on. This isn’t a Spark hookup.”
“But it kind of is.” She tucked her wristlet under her arm. “I’m going.”
He kicked the covers off and revealed his full naked body as he slid out of bed and stood. His impressive abs rippled and that wasn’t the only thing she noticed. The man was impressive even when in the off position, she thought. Endowed as a word didn’t even seem to cover it. Focus, Gabbie, focus. Got to go.
“You can’t just leave.”
“I can’t?” She thrust one hand on her hip. Now he was back to his cocky, egotistic self. This Sebastian she could resist just fine.
“No.” He shook his head slowly as he moved ever closer to her. “Not without a goodbye kiss.” The wall of man muscle kept moving toward her and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. When he got to her, she craned her neck to look up at him as he reached out and gently grazed her chin with his finger.
“You’re really bolting out of here, aren’t you?” he asked, eyes steady on hers.
Her throat went dry. She’d forgotten how mesmerizing the man’s eyes were, how strong his hands.
“I can’t cause drama for Lola. Not now.”
“So you’re running out of here because you’re worried about Lola?” Sebastian sounded skeptical. “It’s not because you had the best sex of your life and it’s freaking you out?”
Gabriela stood stock-still for a second. “Nope,” she said, though even she thought her denial sounded weak.
He glanced at her, assessing. “Well, then, I’ve got work to do.”
A nervous giggle escaped her mouth. “Oh, you think you get a do-over?”
“Oh, I know I do.” He pulled her into his arms then and kissed her, and she felt herself melt into him, even as his desire stirred against her belly. God, the man was such a good kisser. All worries fled her mind as his tongue met hers and she felt her own want grow inside her. He pulled away first. “How about we get that redo right now?”
Gabriela felt her heart thump in her chest. “C-can’t right now,” she managed to say, even though every fiber of her being cried out for another go.
Sebastian smiled, confident, cocky, not the least bit deterred. He was a man determined to get what he wanted. “Later then,” he said, and it felt like a promise.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SHE FLIPPED DOWN the handle of Sebastian’s door and fled, speeding down the passageway, panting. Later then? No, there could be no later. This was it, she thought. If Felicia ever found out... But no. She wouldn’t think about that now. She had to get back to her room before anyone noticed she was creeping down the corridor in last night’s outfit, much the worse for wear. Still, she had to admit, the night had been worth it. God, the man was pure goodness in bed. She bit her lip thinking about all the various positions, all the many ways she’d come. Hell, she didn’t even know she could come the way she came last night. He was a man on a mission, a man built to please. She tried not to think of all the other women he’d pleased before her and how he’d come to know all those little tricks. Midway down the hallway she realized the numbers were headed in the wrong direction.
Ugh! Wrong way! Seriously? She stopped and turned around, only to see Sebastian standing in his doorway, arms crossed. He’d managed to pull on a pair of shorts, but otherwise he was all impre
ssive skin.
“Lost?” he asked, smirk on his face.
“Maybe,” she muttered as she quickly hurried by his door.
“You could come in,” he offered.
“No,” she snapped and padded down the passageway in her bare feet, even as she felt her face turn beet red. She heard his laugh follow her and she knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
She finally got to her room and tapped her key against the lock, watching in growing annoyance as the red light came on each time.
“Come on, work,” she muttered, flipping the card over and trying once more. Finally, the green light blinked on. She put her shoulder into the door. It swung open and she was glad to be safely in her room.
Liv was asleep—alone—in her bed. Felicia was nowhere to be found—thank goodness. She shut the door a bit too hard behind her and Liv sat up, groaning.
“Who’s that?” she growled, rubbing her eyes.
“It’s Gabriela. Sorry, Liv.” Gabriela cringed as she plugged in her phone at the cord near her bed. Her phone booted up and she saw that it was almost eight already. The snorkeling excursion on shore happened at nine, which only left an hour to get ready and grab breakfast.
“Is it time for the boat ride yet?” Liv asked, yawning loudly as she stretched her arms to the ceiling.
“Not yet,” Gabriela said as she quickly unzipped her suitcase, looking for a change of clothes.
“Wait a minute.” Liv blinked at Gabriela, her eyes ringed with streaks of mascara. “Is that the jumpsuit you wore last night?”
Oh, no. She’s putting two and two together. Inwardly, Gabriela groaned.
“Where did you sleep last night?” Liv excitedly bunched the covers up beneath her arms as she sat straighter in bed. “Gabriela Cruz. You stayed in a boy’s room. Didn’t you? Didn’t you!”
Gabriela laughed, shifting uncomfortably. “You know I wouldn’t do that.”
“But you did.” Liv clapped her hands together. “Who was he? Tell me!”
“Where’s Felicia?” Gabriela asked, trying desperately to change the subject.
“Felicia? I think she’s at the gym.” Liv crawled to the end of her bed. “Who did you—?”
“This early?”
Liv shrugged. “I’m not her keeper.” Liv ran a hand through her messy blue hair. “Who did you ride last night is what I want to know.”
“Uh, no. Really. I just slept on a chair by the pool, I guess.” That might’ve been the lamest lie she’d ever uttered.
Liv’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not buying it. Your hair? That just-got-fucked look? You didn’t pass out on any chair.” She shook her head as she studied Gabriela further. “Because look at that hickey the size of Wisconsin on your neck.”
Gabriela’s hand flew to her neck. Sebastian had given her a hickey? Then again, he’d devoured her from head to toe all night long, so she wasn’t surprised he’d left a mark.
“You did fuck somebody last night! I knew it!”
Gabriela refused to answer. “I’ve got to shower. Mind if I...?” She ducked into the bathroom before Liv could answer and started running hot water. The last thing on earth she wanted to do was to talk more about where she’d been last night. Of course, pretty soon, the rest of the wedding party would know. Gabriela had no doubt Liv was on her phone right at this minute texting everyone the shocking news that uptight Gabriela maybe wasn’t so uptight anymore.
Not that it came as any surprise to Gabriela. She stepped into the hot shower and let the water run over her. With any luck, by breakfast, the whole thing would die down and Liv would find something else bright and shiny to distract her. There’d be no more talk about what Gabriela had done last night. She would already be teased for not returning to her room for the night and didn’t want to imagine what would happen if Liv and Felicia found out who she’d been with. She’d been warning them away from Sebastian only to fall prey to his charms herself?
Then, as the water streamed down her bare breasts, she remembered Sebastian’s hands on them...and his mouth. She felt a surge of heat through her that had nothing to do with the shower and everything to do with his expert hands.
It was just a single night, she promised herself. Nothing more. She would be willing to bet anything that Sebastian would pretend nothing had happened between them and that suited Gabriela just fine.
* * *
Sebastian was in love. There was literally no other way he could explain how he was feeling. He hummed—actually hummed—while he brushed his teeth, feeling lighter than air. He’d had the best sex of this year...scratch that, of his life, last night, and it was all because he’d gotten naked with a woman who actually, finally, had some substance. Gabriela Cruz was smart, sophisticated and, boy, did she know her way around the bedroom. Sebastian had been limiting himself, dating in the shallow end of the pool, but he’d never imagined it’d be so fun taking a dive in the deep end. It’s not that he avoided smart women with opinions of their own...it was just that, he had to be honest, he hadn’t been so discerning when it came to who landed in his Spark feed. Was she pretty and willing? Then so was he.
But last night...he’d felt a kind of magnetic chemistry he’d never felt before, and it had everything to do with Gabriela’s brain. She could challenge him in a way that few women could, and he knew, just knew, that if she allowed herself to think about it for a little bit, she’d see that the two were meant to be together. He’d gone to Harvard Law. She’d graduated Princeton undergrad. The only two members of their high school circle who’d made it to the Ivy League? They should be destined to be together.
Sebastian slathered on some shaving cream, ready to shave off his morning shadow. He glanced at his phone, ready at any second for a message to pop up from her. But none ever did. Sure, she’d left in a hurry that morning, but he’d told himself that was no red flag. No woman left his bed unsatisfied. He’d made sure she’d had the time of her life. Gabriela’s cries of pleasure still rang in his ears and he could still see her face, flushed with pure bliss. No, she’d been more than satisfied. He’d seen to it. So why had she hurried out? Maybe it was just habit. But he wasn’t worried. He wasn’t going to let himself worry. No woman could walk away from that kind of amazing sex. Hell, he couldn’t walk away from it and he’d spent his entire adult life doing just that. He had no problem saying goodbye.
He shaved across his left cheek, assessing himself in the mirror. You’ve finally done it, he silently told himself, finally fallen for a woman.
He had to admit, Gabriela was perfect for him. They’d have adorable and intelligent kids. She was sharper than his razor, which he now tapped on the edge of the sink, a bit of foam flying into the pool of water there.
He grinned thinking about Gabriela fiercely holding on to her clipboard at the party the night before, how she desperately tried to keep everything—and everyone—in order. She’d make an amazing mom.
The thought struck him hard. Was he ready for all that? Wife...and kids? He glanced at himself in the mirror, his hazel eyes steady. He was ready. He’d been ready for a long time. He’d just been waiting for the right woman. He knew this.
He was in love. Sure, he knew it was crazy. He’d only had one night with Gabriela, but then when he thought about it, technically, he’d known her for fifteen years. That wasn’t rash. And hell, didn’t people fall in love at first sight all the time? Hadn’t Lola and Marco famously talked about that very first blind date he set them up on and how all the cards seemed to fall into place the second their eyes met across that restaurant table? So, falling in love with Gabriela after a night of mind-blowing sex didn’t feel all that outlandish then.
It felt like destiny, he decided. They were meant to be together, and it was fate that had brought them back together on this boat. He’d make sure that she knew it, too.
Sebastian threw on his clothes, checking his phone once m
ore, noticing there was still no text from Gabriela. Maybe she was...shy? He thought about texting, but as he debated he walked to ship’s main restaurant. At the main doors, he saw most of the bridal party standing in line at the buffet, against the window backdrop of the dazzling blue-green sea.
Gabriela was there, looking radiant in a halter top, a pair of cut-off shorts and plastic flip-flops, her hair thrown up casually in a messy ponytail, aviator sunglasses perched on her head. She glanced up and, for a split second, their eyes met. He felt a smile pull at the corner of his mouth, but then she quickly glanced away, focusing her attention once more on Lola in front of her and Felicia, who stood behind her. Marco and Theo stood ahead of them, oblivious.
Sebastian didn’t understand. He’d spent the night exploring every single beautiful crevice of her amazing body and she wasn’t making eye contact with him? That had to be a mistake. He walked up just in time to hear Lola giggle and ask, “Seriously, Gabbie. Who was it?”
“Who was who?” Sebastian asked, sliding into line behind the trio. Felicia frowned at him, but Sebastian ignored her, keeping his attention on Gabriela.
“Gabriela got her rocks off last night,” Felicia grumbled, rolling her eyes. “I mean, stop the presses, right? The ice queen gets some! She won’t tell us who, so maybe she didn’t actually get laid.” Felicia shrugged one shoulder to cast her own doubt on the whole story.
Sebastian focused on Gabriela, but she still refused to look at him. Did he have something on his face? Had he missed some shaving cream?
“It’s nobody,” Gabriela said. “Nobody you know.”
“Nobody?” Sebastian asked, feeling his blood rise. He wasn’t nobody.
“Nobody,” she reiterated a little forcefully as she finally, and at last, looked him in the eye. It was there, in that stark stare, that he realized a hard truth: she wanted him to keep quiet. She had no intention of ever sharing with Lola, Felicia or anyone else that they’d spent the night having rock star sex in every position imaginable. He couldn’t believe it.
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