by JM Stewart
“What happened?”
He shook his head, bile rising with the anger in his stomach. “Gwen, his twenty-five-year-old wife, gets everything. She gets his entire estate, though the money gets divided between us. The hotels and resorts are mine on one condition. I have three months to find a wife, and I have to stay married for a year. If I don’t comply, the company reverts to her, the surviving spouse. I’m allowed to keep my job as CEO, but the company will be hers, to do with as she sees fit.”
“Meaning, she quite literally gets everything. Baz, I’m sorry.” She stared for a moment, eyes searching, conflicted, then slid an arm around him, gathering him closer, and he went, leaning into her in turn. He ought to put a stop to this, get up, go back to bed, but right then, she was everything he needed: kind and compassionate and soothing.
She leaned back on the sofa, pulling him with her, and he lay down beside her, resting his head in her lap. Long moments passed in comfortable silence. Her slender fingers, with her perfectly manicured nails, slid across his scalp over and over, a comforting rhythm as she stroked through his hair. She petted him like a child, or perhaps someone she cared about. Nobody had touched him like this in a long time. Christina’s touched soothed the ache inside, and the last of his resistance melted.
“Will you stay?” The words slid off his tongue on a hoarse whisper, and as he waited for her reply, vulnerability rose over him. She had pieces of him he’d never shared with anyone else, and he wasn’t certain she knew it. Wasn’t certain he could ever tell her or allow the feelings to develop. For today, though, she was here, and he couldn’t resist her anymore.
She smoothed his hair back off his forehead. “I’ll stay.”
* * *
Christina came awake with a start. Forgetting where she was for a moment, she blinked up at the cathedral ceiling. The room around her was quiet, save the soft breathing in her ear. The warm breaths against her neck and the heat of a body against her side had the day rushing back at her. She was still at Sebastian’s.
She turned her head, peering at his face. Eyes closed, features slack, he looked like he hadn’t a care in the world. He held her tightly to him, and Christina smiled, wistfulness rising over her. After he’d laid his head in her lap, they’d sat in silence for quite a while. He hadn’t gotten up, and she hadn’t pushed him to. She didn’t have anywhere to be today, and when he’d fallen asleep, she’d shifted to lie beside him. He’d gathered her to him, wrapping his arms so tightly around her she could feel his every heartbeat.
Her chest ached for him. Sebastian wasn’t a talker. He was a physical person. His diversions appeared to be physical as well. Running. Women. His father’s death had obviously left him a place he didn’t know how to handle.
As narrow as the sofa was, they’d become entangled in each other as they slept. He’d flung his left arm over her stomach and one heavy leg lay between both of hers, pinning her. Spike had curled up at their feet, in a corner of the sofa, warming her ankles.
Sebastian had buried his face in her neck, and his warm breaths teased her skin. Every puff sent shivers down her spine. If she was honest with herself, she reveled in the strength of his embrace, in the solid warmth of him. Even the way their bodies fit together. She’d long wondered what this would feel like, to lie within the shelter of his arms. Like a lover. It surprised her now natural it felt, like taking a breath, as if they’d done this for years. Nobody had held her like this in a while, either, and she needed him the way he appeared to need her.
He shifted in his sleep, burrowing his face deeper into her throat. When he began to nuzzle her skin, his soft lips skimming her neck, her heartbeat ratcheted up a notch. No doubt he was dreaming, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop him. The more logical side of her brain warned that she was heading into dangerous territory, but his soft lips on her skin were irresistible. How many times had she imagined exactly this? Him holding her, kissing her, telling her he wanted her. How many times had she fantasized about being with him?
He moaned in his sleep, a quiet little hmm against her throat, and pulled her impossibly tighter against him. His hips rocked forward, his solid erection sliding against her thigh.
Desire curled through her, and she rolled toward him, gathered him closer and let him do what he wanted. To allow herself the luxury of reveling in his touch was taking advantage for sure. He was asleep, no doubt dreaming about some other woman, but far too many months had passed since a man’s hands had touched her so intimately. That the touch was Sebastian’s provided a lure she couldn’t resist.
Oh, she’d had her fair share of one-night stands. They came with her name and her title. Her software development company had done well. She was a computer geek, a programmer at heart, but her success meant she’d met a few gold diggers in her life. Men appeared to see her as a means to line their pockets or their beds or even as a way into her father’s good graces. She’d met more than a few who were intimidated by her high IQ.
She’d given up ever finding Mr. Right and had settled for Mr. Right Now. Until Craig. She’d met him three years ago. He’d made her fall in love with him, asked her to marry him and flew her out to Vegas to elope. Turned out, Craig was a playboy, and he’d mixed up his dates, because another woman had shown up that day. She and the woman had sat and talked and laughed, both waiting for their lovers to arrive. Until Craig showed up and they’d both gone to greet him. She’d never forget the look on his face. He’d been caught and he knew it. She’d fled and hadn’t seen him again since.
From that day forward, she’d gone into relationships with her eyes wide open, determined never to play the fool again. Sebastian, however, was the one man who held her heart in his hands. He reminded her how much she craved something real. Never mind that he slept, unaware of himself or his actions. To touch him, to encourage his stroking, was invasive at best.
She couldn’t deny she wanted him, though. How often over the years had he starred in her erotic fantasies? How many orgasms had she had while imagining his hands and his mouth on her body? And here he was, doing exactly that, after all those scorching kisses in the kitchen earlier. She could only be so strong. God help her, her hips arched against his, her clit throbbing to the pulse of her hammering heartbeat.
Sebastian’s eyes fluttered open, sleepy and heavy-lidded. For a moment, he blinked, staring at her, as if trying to remember where he was. Nose to nose now, taking every breath with him, all she could do was wait. She couldn’t move for fear she’d beg him to continue. Or worse, that he’d deny her. If he denied her, pushed her away like he had earlier, dismissed her the way he usually did, it would tear her up inside. She needed this tiny connection to him, however wrong it was to want it.
Finally, recognition dawned in his eyes and the arm holding her pinned against his body relaxed. He scooted away from her as much as the space would allow, setting inches between them that felt like miles. “I’m sorry. I was dreaming.”
Christina watched him for a moment, heart hammering her breastbone. She’d always promised herself if the moment ever presented itself, she’d never give in to him, but his kisses and erotic touches earlier had worn down her defenses. The voice of reason screamed in her head to stop. Remember Craig?
The question rose on her tongue all the same. Putting it out there was a flat-out risk, but she had to know the answer. It had burned a hole in her brain for hours. “Why’d you kiss me earlier?”
His eyes searched her face, a war waging in the depths. Confusion. Indecision. “I shouldn’t have.”
Christina held her breath. “But why did you?”
He was silent a moment before releasing a heavy sigh. His touch slow and tentative, he stroked a finger along her cheekbone and across her jaw. “Because you caught me in a weak moment. I’m sorry. I was craving a distraction, and you were in the line of fire.”
His words lodged themselves inside of her and stuck there, taunting her with what she wanted so badly she ached with it. Because along with his ea
rlier kisses, his quiet admission hinted that maybe, just maybe, he really did see her as more than Caden’s sister. It didn’t help that he stroked a thumb across her bottom lip with all the familiarity of a tender lover, and her mind took the moment and ran with it. If all she got was one night, wouldn’t it be worth it? A chance to fulfill the fantasy? She could handle one night…couldn’t she?
Not giving herself time to overthink her impulsive decision, Christina pressed along his length. Their clothing did little to separate them, and his thick erection throbbed against her stomach, a luscious lure. Despite the uncertainty and vulnerability rising in his eyes, one hand slid over the curve of her hip and smoothed down over her ass. His palm warmed her backside through the thin fabric of her skirt.
She lifted trembling fingers and sifted them through his hair. Never in all the time she’d known him had she ever been so bold before. She couldn’t stop shaking. “And if I offered to be that distraction?”
She hoped he’d gather her closer and kiss her back. Kiss her the way he had earlier in the kitchen, though if he accepted, anything more would have to wait. Caden was due soon. But the need to know his response beat behind her breastbone like the hammering of her pulse.
Instead, regret rose in his eyes. He shook his head and sat up, effectively shutting her out as he moved to take a seat on the edge of the sofa.
He set his feet on the floor, his body stiff beside her. “I appreciate the sentiment, Tina, I really do, but I can’t.”
For a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, as she processed his words. As his rejection finally sank in, hurt and disappointment reverberated through her chest. Heat flooded her face. How utterly embarrassing. Of course he wouldn’t see her as anything other than Caden’s sister. And here she was, throwing herself at him.
“Oh gosh. I’m so sorry.” Numb from head to toe, she nodded and sat upright. As she straightened her skirt, she forced a laugh, hoping somehow to save face. She’d never done that before. She’d always been the geek, the smart girl, and she’d never gone for unobtainable men. Like him. “Clearly I read you wrong. Forgive me. I assumed you needed me when you kissed me, but you didn’t. I was just a warm body, a momentary distraction, and one you clearly regret. I’ll be out of your hair. I’ve imposed enough. Caden will be over soon.”
She returned her laptop into the bag leaning against the end table leg, where she’d left it while Sebastian went for a run, then stood and looped the bag over her right shoulder. Behind her, Sebastian went silent, but his gaze burned into her as she made her way into the kitchen. She stuffed her cell phone into her purse and pivoted, heading for her shoes at the end of the hallway.
Sebastian let out a quiet laugh behind her that was half miserable groan. “God, I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out yet.”
She stopped at the end of the hallway, torn by indecision. She needed to leave, before her heart cracked in two pieces. The desire to know, however, won out.
“Figured out what?” She folded her arms over her stomach, clutching her purse to her and using it as a lifeline.
“How I feel about you.”
Christina froze, her heart pounding. He spoke softly, with reluctance, but once again he skirted around the issue, answering her question without really answering. So far this morning, he’d kissed her, attempted to seduce her, then when she’d offered herself to him, he’d turned her down. Suddenly she was supposed to understand what the hell he was talking about?
His subtle comment also hinted once again that he cared for her, and the tease was one too many. Her last nerve snapped, and she pivoted to face him. Frustrated tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back and swallowed past the knot in her throat. “How am I supposed to know how you feel about me when you treat me like Caden’s annoying little sister? Like you can barely stand the sight of me? I don’t know whether I’m coming or going this morning.”
She threw her hands in the air and met his bewildered stare with a glare. Once out, the words erupted from her lips, unstoppable.
“I’m in love with you. Did you know that? I’ve been in love with you for so long I can’t remember when I fell. I think it was somewhere in high school, when you decked Bobby Stalwart. Do you remember that? I do. I’ll never forget. He’d cornered me against a locker, put his hands all over me, taunted me. He asked me if my intelligence meant I was good in bed, too, and you marched over and broke his nose.”
Sebastian had gotten in the football star’s face and told Bobby if he so much as looked at her the wrong way again, he’d break his throwing arm next time. It was the first time she’d realized Sebastian even gave a damn about her.
Chest heaving and her heart pounding against her rib cage, Christina turned back around, shoved her feet in her heels, and marched toward the front door. For a moment, only the sound of her heels click-clacking across the hardwood floor filled the space. Even Spike, who usually walked with her to say goodbye, was nowhere to be found.
Halfway down the hallway, the emotions eating her up refused to be held back, and she turned and marched back into the kitchen. Sebastian, halfway around the couch now, halted as she faced him, eyes wide and stunned.
“By the way, you don’t want to participate in the bachelor auction this year? Fan-fucking-tastic. It’ll save me from having to watch all your groupies throw themselves at you. Having to sell you like a goddamn pimp, all the while knowing the woman you go home with no doubt gets the privilege of sharing your bed, flat-out sucks.”
She didn’t bother to wait for his reply but spun and left his condo, slamming the door behind her. What a complete and utter disaster. Well, now she knew the answer to that question, didn’t she?
Chapter Three
Sebastian dragged his hands through his hair. Heart in his throat, his gut tied in sickening knots, he could only stare at the door. Christina had slammed it so hard the walls rattled. The panic seated in his chest told him to go after her. Even Spike looked ticked at him. His cat—his, damn it!—came wandering out from God knew where and took a seat at the end of the hallway. Ears back, tail twitching in irritation, Spike seemed to glare at him. Even Spike’s hate-filled look seemed to say, Go get her, stupid!
His brain and his common sense, however, said to let her go. He’d wanted to put distance between them, to save her from him, and he’d accomplished the task. In freakin’ spades. God, he’d almost caved. Her offer was selfless, but her heart had been in her eyes. She’d have given herself to him because he needed her, but the knowledge filled his mind with impossible questions. Namely, how the hell could he not have noticed that she loved him? He’d never dared allowed himself to dream of the possibility. Her touch had been soft, and the tenderness in her eyes was a lure he’d nearly given in to.
But he refused to use her. Christina would never be a meaningless fling to fill a need, and he wouldn’t treat her like one. Her words kept repeating in his mind, though, tormenting him.
“I’m in love with you. Did you know that?”
The look on her face. The pain and shock in her eyes. Christina put out an air of confidence. She was comfortable with who she was, but obviously still had old hurts buried in there somewhere. She was smart. She was right. Men like him usually liked the party girls. He dated girls like that on purpose. They wanted exactly what he did: a good time with no strings attached.
A relationship with Christina meant all kinds of strings. Her brother had been his best friend since first grade, for crying out loud. He’d known her before puberty, before breasts, when she’d been that annoying know-it-all on the playground. She and Cade had been there when his mother left and his parents divorced, and they’d been there during his teenage rebellion. Out of all the people in his life, Cade and Christina were the most important. He’d just gotten his relationship with Cade back on track. Three years ago, he’d gotten himself tangled with a woman who’d used them both, pitting them against each other for financial gain. Amelia’s game had nearly cost him his best f
riend. He wouldn’t screw up a good friendship for what amounted to great sex.
Still, the hurt on Christina’s face haunted him. He’d put that pain there, and he hated himself for it.
He looked to Spike and shook his head. “How the hell did I manage to screw that up so spectacularly?”
Spike flicked his tail in irritation and turned, sauntering across the floor in the direction of the living room. Once there, he hopped onto his favorite spot on the windowsill and sat looking out over the city. Sebastian’s mind churned, going in a million different directions. How did he fix this when he needed Christina so damn much? How did he separate himself from that phenomenal kiss? How the hell did he forget that?
The doorbell sounded, interrupting his musings, and he jerked his gaze to the door. It wouldn’t be her. On a logical level, he understood that. Why the hell would she come back? Yet his heart skipped a hopeful beat anyway.
“Cross your toes, Spike.” He jogged down the hallway and yanked open the door.
Only to have his heart sink into his toes a moment later. The person on the other side wasn’t Christina but Cade. He stood in the vestibule, wearing a full suit, hands tucked in the pockets of his navy slacks.
Sebastian blew out a breath in disappointment. “Oh, it’s you.”
Cade let out a quiet laugh. “Hi to you, too. What the hell did you do to Chris?” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I met her on the street outside the building. She was hell-bent about something. Told me I should let you rot in hell.”
Sebastian closed his eyes, suddenly exhausted. His shoulders slumped with the weight pressing down on him. “I couldn’t have screwed that up more if I tried.”
“What the hell did you do to make her so mad?”
Sebastian opened one eye, peering at Cade with caution. “I kissed her.”
