by Melissa Blue
The way her eyes shadowed as she spoke told him it was so much more. He shrugged out of the shirt. “How?”
Her laugh was bitter, but she looked him right in the eye. “He thought he had made it clear he wasn’t the marrying type. Of course, within six months of breaking up, I heard he’d gotten engaged.” She pulled off his undershirt too. “He’s still married. Two kids, too. You know, the ones he didn’t want, ever.”
She sighed, ran her hands over his chest. “It sounds like I’m not over it, but I am.”
He dug his fingers into the back of the couch as her hands explored lower. She did away with his belt, then pants.
“Things like that leave a mark,” he said.
“They do. Now you know, and now I’m not holding anything back from you.” She caressed his cock with her knuckles through the material of his underwear.
“Not everything. You still haven’t told me the truth.”
With a sly smile she stilled. “You want me to stop?”
“I didn’t say no damn thing like that.”
“Good. Now get naked but stand right there, arms down at your side. I like you all submissive.”
“Bet you do.”
Sebastian took a great deal of satisfaction when she bit her bottom lip as he leaned against the couch, hands at his side and naked. “You look a little flushed, Nikki. You all right?”
She slowly drank in the sight of him. He didn’t think it was possible, but he hardened more. Her eyes widened, filled with desire. “Since I haven’t thought about our last time together, I forgot some choice things about you.”
Nicole placed a kiss on his cheek, his stomach, his hip. She knelt down, let her lips fluttered over the thatch of hair.
“Like?” His voice grew husky.
“The way you smell.” She scraped her nails down his thighs, back up, and then stroked him. “Your taste.” She flicked her tongue over the crown of his penis. “Better than I remembered.”
Closing a fist over the head, she sucked and licked at the underside of his cock. Up and down. Stroking him with her mouth but never taking all of his length inside. He grunted and dug his fingers into the couch. She glanced up and laughed.
“Message received.” His head reeled from the sensation of her mouth and fingers. “I shouldn’t tease you.”
“I don’t mind the teasing.” She wet her thumb, lubricated the tip in slow circles. Pre-cum rose to the slit and helped her torture him. “I do mind that all the teasing is one-sided.”
She dipped her head and continued to stroke him with her mouth and tongue.
An intense pressure began to build at the base of his spine, spread down with heat to his balls as she massaged them in one hand. One hard, long suck would undo him. She tightened her fist and with each down stroke, she swirled her thumb over the tip. A low gasp spilled out.
“Yes,” Nicole moaned. “Let me taste it.”
She closed her mouth over the head, sucked him long and hard, just the way he needed her to. Once, twice and the third time his hips jerked forward, burying himself deeper into her mouth. He started to come and she sucked him deeper, longer, harder. It took a while for the haze to clear and for his breath to even out, but when he did, she was already licking her way back up.
“You know,” he cleared the hoarseness out of his throat, “if that was payback, I’m only going to tease you more.”
She hummed assent, nipped at his neck. “I guess this means war then.”
He fucking loved it. “I guess it does.” She pressed against him, along the sensitive length of him. He groaned. “You know the first one is easy to come by.”
“Oh, puns.” She fluttered her lashes and laughed. “Your publicist is showing.”
“Sorry, my Darling Nikki, you can’t joke your way out of this.” He didn’t take his time unbuttoning her shirt or pulling down her skirt. He yanked them off. She started to climb out of her heels and he stopped her.
“I’m starting to get worried,” she said.
“You should be. Be glad I’m not bending you over the couch first.”
She glanced at it and her brows rose with interest. He chuckled. “Later. Don’t worry. We’ve got the next two days off.”
Her hands dropped from the clasp on her bra. “Excuse me?”
Sebastian placed a hand on her stomach, pushed her backward. She followed for a few feet without thought, and then stopped. “I didn’t tell you?”
“You know damn well you didn’t. I can take today but not tomorrow.”
He pushed her against the wall, pressed his lips against hers in a kiss. When her breath rasped out, he said, “Tell me why not.”
“Because I have to work.”
“You want to. There’s a difference. You should know I told Anna we’re close to obliterating the Chelsea thing and needed to gear up for Jeremiah. Complete radio silence was required to get this done. If you call her now, what would she think?”
“That you lied.”
He made an eh sound. “And about our sudden absence. Together?”
Her mouth fell open, and he leaned down, nipped at her bottom lip. She moaned but placed a hand on his chest to ward him off. “Was that additional lie a lover or a bastard move?”
“Both. You needed some time off. I was selfish enough to want to spend those days with you.”
“Oh.” The sharp tone softened.
While she considered how to react next, he helped her with the bra, and then pushed her again. She opened her mouth to argue and he kissed her. Distracted her with that until they made it to his room. Another type of haven, but of another sort. There was a simple dresser, closet for his clothes, nightstand and lamp but a big-ass bed. He had the kind of headboard a woman could lose consciousness with if her head happened to ram into it.
Nicole saw it and her gaze darkened. “I see your point. We can argue later.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Because what kind of Nikki would I be if I bickered with a naked man?”
They tumbled on the bed together, him on top and already snug between her legs. “A poor one.”
She curled her fingers in his hair, brought his mouth down to hers. He nestled closer to her sex. She sighed and then said, “My reputation means everything to me.”
Sebastian slid one hand between them, used her own arousal to do some stroking of his own. He deepened the kiss and swallowed her moans. He did that until they were even and she’d gone pliant beneath him.
He said, “I know, and that’s why I respect the hell out of you.”
He caught her vulnerable expression and went hard again. Sebastian was so up shit creek when it came to Nicole, and he didn’t care. “Let’s see what these heels look like on you.”
He leaned back, grasped her ankles and spread her legs wider for him. The swollen hood of her clit glistened and puckered out from the position. He made an appreciative noise. “I think pink looks good on you.”
She trembled but let out a chuckle. “Sebastian, my heels are black.”
“That’s what I meant to say.” He straightened and then knelt down, resting on his haunches. “Do me a favor and grab that pillow above your head.”
“Why?”
“In order for me to give you exactly what you want, I’ll need it.”
“What is it I want?”
He rubbed the head of his penis over the swollen nub in answer. She gave him the pillow. He gave her three more instructions, each time reminding her exactly what was at stake if she listened. Nicole did all three. By the end of it, he had on a condom, his pillow rested under her butt and she’d taken off the heels for safety reasons.
Her hair spread across his comforter and she watched him, flushed from the roots. Sebastian kept his gaze on her face. He wanted to watch when her world broke apart. He wanted to see for himself how he made her feel when they were like this. He needed it for the past three weeks more than he should. The only thing that kept him from having her naked and his for the taking was stubbornness. Maybe self-pr
eservation too.
There was no getting her out of his system. He was going to take her now and every moment until she finally realized he was the same ruthless man that had ruined someone’s career for revenge. Until then…
He entered her slowly, inch by inch, and tensed when he hit her G-spot. Not because he couldn’t go farther, but because she’d tightened immediately. The sensation made his damn scalp tingle. Her hands balled into the comforter and her breath caught.
“This is payback,” he said with a grin.
He thrust into her over and over again, hitting that sweet spot each time. If Sebastian hadn’t already come, he would have within the first few strokes. She was so goddamn tight. Wet and then wetter. Fisting around him with every thrust.
But then she looked at him. Low lids, gaze hazy and filled with intense pleasure. The longing he had buried, rose and spread like a heat in his gut, his heart. She bit her lip and let out a long moan. The sound strummed some chord within him. His thrusts lengthened, going deeper, past the spot that had been driving her wild. Tight and wet and all around him. Squeezing and stroking him at the same time. He gasped.
“Yes.” She let out a short laugh, naughty to its core. “Come in Nikki.”
He couldn’t laugh even though he fucking loved it. Sebastian slanted his lips over his dirty little minx’s mouth. She moaned and came again, dragging him with her.
Chapter Seven
“For a man who doesn’t like suits, you look damn good in one,” Nicole said.
She caught Jeremiah’s blush but didn’t point out that he was pleased with her observation. It was clear he had a crush on her. Noting the reaction would be inappropriate and unprofessional.
On the other side of her, Sebastian shook his head. Ok. Correction. Inappropriate and unprofessional was having bi-hourly sex with her co-publicity manager.
Sebastian stuffed his hands in pockets and straightened to his full height. “When was the last time you went out on a real date? Not a woman that realizes who you are and throws herself at you, but a drinks, dinner and maybe sex-sooner-or-later kind of date,” Sebastian said.
Jeremiah’s gaze flicked to Nicole and she pretended to check out material samples. “A while,” the man answered in a whisper.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. You don’t date often. Is this the reason why we’re only now doing a fitting? A day before the event?”
Out the corner of her eye she saw Jeremiah tilt his head down and then up. Sebastian winked. “Nicole, I’ve got this covered.”
Her heart twisted, which was stupid. What mattered was a client needed to show up to an event and a publicity manager got the job done, by soothing feathers and easing nerves. Who got the client to show up was of no consequence. Yes, her competitive streak had made her throw out the challenge.
What did it matter if Sebastian made co-managing director? That was two years from now. This was her last event before getting that brass ring. And Jeremiah hadn’t backed out and he wouldn’t. Working so long in PR, she’d know the signs if the thought had crossed the man’s mind. She also knew, and so did Sebastian, what had changed Jeremiah’s tune and convinced him the bachelor auction was the best thing for his career. Even now, Jeremiah ate up everything Sebastian said and was following it to the letter.
She felt sick. Just sick. “I need to make some calls. Would you two excuse me?”
Nicole didn’t need to make some calls. She needed a swift kick in the ass. Here she was doing it again. Falling—ok. She’d fallen for a man who hadn’t spoken of long-term anything. A man who was more than likely after her job, the reason he left a cushy one. A few sweaty nights and here she was losing herself with every pitter-patter her heart made when he looked at her. Simply forgetting she was Nicole Harrison. Part human, part shark when it came to her clients.
Oh, she should have been livid over the wink. She should have punched him right in his patronizing eyeball for it. Like she’d never talked to a man about how to act on a date before. She created images in actions to be caught on camera or written up in magazine pieces. No. What she should be doing was securing her place here at the firm instead of mooning over Sebastian Clark.
She changed direction and headed for Anna’s office. She blew past the receptionist and marched through the double doors.
Her boss flipped through a magazine. “Good. Have a seat; we need to talk. I thought I should update you. Sebastian and I have been negotiating his stay here. After the John Paul interview, we both felt he didn’t need time to prove he should be managing director. He’s also investing a good share of his money.”
Nicole plopped into the chair, let herself flounder for only a moment and then acted like the publicity manager she should have been. “Congratulations. I know you were looking for more investors.”
“With that said, I no longer feel I can cut even more of the pie and make you director too.”
Of course she didn’t. Anna had never seen her as an equal but a work horse to bring in the big bucks. Threatening to leave wouldn’t mean anything. Not with Sebastian at Anna’s side. He probably did have a contact for the Pope in his back pocket. He’d have it because that was the type of man he was.
“I do want to reward you for your loyalty.” Anna threw out an extravagant raise. Told her to take a vacation, not too long, after the bachelor auction. Anna went on, not too long, about how much she appreciated all the work and hours. There were some nitpicks at how Nicole did her job, but those things could be overlooked. Soon after, Nicole was dismissed.
For a split second, as she made her way back to her office, she considered walking and not stopping until she stood outside the building. That wasn’t professional and she hadn’t lived up to her own standards of work long enough. If Nicole had been professional, and lived up to her reputation, she’d have known Sebastian wouldn’t work for two years to reach managing director. He’d leverage all that he had to get what he wanted as soon as he could get it. He’d put his money where his mouth was.
He’d wink at Jeremiah, and have her convinced the best thing to do was step out. Would he have sex with her to get what he wanted? He ruined the career of a football player because the man had slept with his long-time-ago girlfriend.
The office door stood open. Nicole placed a hand on the door jamb to give herself another moment to steady her breath.
“What is it?”
Her gaze whipped up. He was already striding forward to her. She straightened. “Took the stairs for coffee. Forgot my purse. Winded.” She took in her office. “Where’s Jeremiah?”
“I gave him an assignment. He has to flirt with five women.” Sebastian tapped his ear where an earbud was settled inside. “I’ve got it on mute. When he comes back, I’ll let you finish up the rest. I have a meeting with Anna.”
“No problem. I’m sure it’s something I can handle.”
He frowned at her, but she kept talking. “Keep me updated. I need to make some calls. If you could excuse me.” She gestured to the door and marched past him to her desk.
“Not until you tell me what’s really the problem. I thought we didn’t lie to each other.”
She sat down, folded her hands on top of her desk. It was that or risk him seeing them shake. “Really? What’s the meeting about?”
Wariness filled his gaze when he took in her demeanor. “No point in asking if you already know. And I didn’t say anything because the details aren’t ironed out yet.”
“Oh. Ok. Congratulations, either way. I really need to make these calls. So…”
“Nicole,” he said softly with a hint of anger. “I’m not into playing games. If you’re mad at me about something, say so.”
“Who pitched the idea for you to be my co-publicity manager? And was it before or after you found out it was me?”
“After and mine. You’re the top publicist at Limelight.” He didn’t even blink.
Anger curled around her aching heart. “Now all I want to know is was it your idea or hers to fuck m
e into submission? Just in case I decided to point out what was promised to me and make a fuss, ruining the deal?”
His chin slanted to the side as if she slapped him. Doubt niggled its way in, but then Sebastian’s gaze went arctic. He stalked to the desk and bent down, so they were eye to eye. “You have me dead to rights, huh? Tell me, why didn’t you see it coming? You should know.”
She flinched. “I do know, because I was paying attention during your boogey-man tale. It still pisses me off.”
*****
Nicole didn’t know the meaning of the phrase, Sebastian decided. Pissed off? He wanted to hit back with something scathing, a single sentence that would scorch the earth between them. Yet, he knew some things you could never take back. No matter how much you tried to rectify them. They’d stay there, sour in your mouth and heavy in your heart.
Her words kept digging deeper in his gut and tightened his chest. The reaction would have ended there if Sebastian couldn’t see behind the anger to the hurt. He shouldn’t have cared, because that was the man he needed her to see: the ruthless, get what you want at any price man. He made sure of it. His heart and libido had co-conspired against his better judgment. It didn’t want to let that weekend stand as something perfect two people had shared. All the while, his head had told him to let it go. No. He hadn’t listened.
He brushed aside the ache in his heart. This was for the best. Might as well end it now before he was really up shit’s creek. Before he began to consider slowing down, changing the way he lived. He should be grateful. And he would be. As soon as the taste of her faded from his memory. Since he knew two months wouldn’t do it, he had to look forward to a very hard next six months, at least.
He fucking hated it.
Her face had smoothed into a mask of professionalism and nothing penetrated the facade. The simple truth—she didn’t want him to have any part of the business. The ache dug deeper. Sebastian didn’t want all of Limelight, although he could have asked for it. He didn’t want to cut her out, because she loved this crazy job, this crazy business and specifically Limelight. He kept that in mind throughout the negotiations. A weakness. He had asked for a split that would leave equal shares between himself, Nicole and Anna, knowing the owner would do the right thing. And, Nicole knew—she had to know he’d want a piece of the business. Still, a piece was too much for her.
