“All I need to do is show my face, let them both see it doesn’t bother me and then I’m off.”
“Aren’t you going to talk to him? Get his side to the story?” Abby sips her drink but nods her approval of the question. “I really think you should.”
“Why? I’m not sure what he could say that would make this any better Abs – I was just in a different place to him about monogamy whilst we dallied – obviously!”
My tone is entirely sarcastic and I’m aware that I’m being a little too harsh on her and shrug apologetically and smile lightly at Nathan, who appears to have lost his tongue.
“Sorry Na. Ignore me.”
“Not sure I can in that dress Lu - you look hot. Oh we are in for one interesting night - wait till my bro sees you. I almost feel sorry for him.”
“Na’s right Babe - you look fabby - lurve that dress.” I grin at Abby over the rim of my glass, raising my brows at her.
“Likewise Abs - we owe Dolly’s boutique big time!”
She preens under Nathan’s and my obvious approval, smoothing her hands over her scarlet gown and I wink and add.
“Very Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.”
“So long as it’s the Opera dress you’re referring to, and not the pick Richard Gere up on Rodeo drive dress.”
My deep laugh is instinctive and much-needed and I squeeze her arm in silent thanks before chuckling again, as we clink glasses and Nathan toasts us with,” I’m happy with either Abs - I’m all for a working girl - thigh boots and peaked cap - bring it on.”
She wrinkles her nose at him feigning displeasure, which earns her a seductive whisper in her ear, causing her to beam instantly. At her sympathetic wince at their playfulness, I assure her it’s fine, with a wave of my hand and excuse myself from Suzie, Gino, Abby and Nathan, feeling rather the gooseberry and make my way towards the lounge. My heart is beating so fast, I’m certain that its going to combust, as I manoeuvre my way through the guests, stopping and chatting amiably with them, here and there. I recognise a couple of them as family, and a few work colleagues. It’s as I enter the high ceilinged lounge that I hear the shrill-pitch of my nemesis.
Don’t worry girl you look hot! Nathan’s recent words ring clearly in my head.
“Sebastian Darling there you are! We must go and mingle with our guests!”
Toni hasn’t seen me yet, so I am allowed the opportunity to weigh up the competition. Her spectacular body is poured into an electric blue strapless dress, so short I fear for her modesty, if she curved her body anymore there’d be a flash of the hairless bits. Then again who am I to talk, the breeze is most definitely liberating!
She towers in silver Gina Sandals and plays subconsciously with a diamond tennis bracelet on her wrist. Toni instinctively sends a glance in my direction and her eyes automatically narrow at the sight of me. Openly appraising me from head to foot, she continues to rest her arm on Sebastian’s forearm and leans in deliberately showing me the slight crease of her arse! Bitch!
“Get your bloody arm off him!” I want to scream.
She’s obviously decided to play hostess-with-the-mostess, at the party and she and Sebastian definitely appear to be together. I ignore her and head towards a waiter to take a second Kir Royale, the sweet liquid was hitting the right spot and going down way too easily. I was going to have to be careful to keep a clear head.
I sense him before he speaks - the air fizzles around me, lifting all the hairs on my arms and sending shivers down my spine. How did he have this effect on me after only a few nights of passion? The man was irritating beyond words!
I watch the hunger reflected and burning hotly within his eyes and I revel in it. The dress had been worth every penny. Wait until he sees the rest of it. I’m glad that I still have the ability to stir his interest - who didn’t want to be wanted.
“Lu I didn’t know you were here?”
His voice loosens every part of my conflicted body in longing, and I feel my disloyal nipples tighten in response. My body is frighteningly in tune with him. Turning to face him I put on my heavily practiced fake smile and soak him up.
Oh crap!
He looks devastating wearing a sharp Navy Suit and expensive black shirt and tie - his two-day stubble, giving his polished look, a lethal edge. I could seriously jump him right this second and subconsciously rub my legs together to ease the throbbing between my legs. Annoyed with my desperate wantonness, by my body’s disloyalty, I revert to safe and frosty Lu.
Treat him as a friend. Its what works for you both. It’s what you know. This is Sebastian the playmate, not the soul mate.
God I wish I could look at him as a friend still. It’s as though the minute we slept together, the seal was broken and we can’t go back; the sexual tension between us has been released and needed attention. Now all I could think about was his handsome face when he was positioned between my legs, his dark liquorice eyes assessing my reaction as his tongue dips in and out and flicks my swollen, needy clit. His manly hands gripping my thighs keeping me wide open to his mouth and seductive gaze. I can feel the heated flush begin across my skin.
For goodness sake woman, get a grip - he’s probably done the exact same thing to his bloody brazen PA- it’s what he was doing to her the other night!
“Sebastian.” I raise my glass to him, snapping out of it. “The house looks super.”
I can tell that he is weighing me up, assessing my mood and haughty manner. He looks a little surprised.
How is that possible? Arrogant bastard!
“You look beautiful, Lu.” He licks his lips in an obvious response to me and I jump deeper into my confusion. Inside I’m doing a victory dance; look what you could have won Mr. Silver.
“Did you not get my calls?”
“Yeah I did.” I reply bluntly, making him work for it.
“Texts?”
“Yep. Got those too.”
His brow furrows in anger and through gritted teeth he lower his voice. “Why didn’t you answer then?”
“It may surprise you Sebastian but you are not my be all and end all. I’ve been busy!”
I think I see a sweep of hurt cross his features but I may be wrong. However, I dial it down a notch. I’m hurt but not a total bitch - it’s not in my nature to be unkind.
“I’d hoped to see you last night. I went to the Elysium office but you’d left for the night.”
“Oh.” I am aware I couldn’t be less involved but I’m having a tough time not launching myself at him and taking my anger out on his sexy mouth and that fact pisses me off even more. He didn’t deserve to look so hot.
He’d come to the office looking for me? Why to put his side of the story across?
He leans in towards me; one hand casually in his pocket the other lightly resting on my arm. I focus on his Omega watch and try not to stare at his hands - such sexy, manly hands. What he could do with those hands.
“You could have left a message about The Ashton with Jackie Seb. I’d have got right on it first thing Monday - no need to deliver it in person. In fact I’d rather you didn’t.”
“It wasn’t about the fucking Ashton - what’s got into you Lu?”
“Nice party.” I change the subject and raise my glass to clink. “Anyway you need to go and mingle with Toni. It’s your party. I’ll do my thing and you go do yours.”
The harsh line of his jaw shows me he’s struggling to maintain his anger. His dark brown eyes have a turbulent storm brewing within them and his frown is quickly replaced with that lethal Sebastian smile.
I turn my back on him, with one graceful movement, every intention of heading back to my friends, when I hear his breath hitch and then complete silence behind me. My cocky smirk cannot be seen by him, but it warms me, as I realise he’s been hit with the full effect of my daring pearl gown - it had been worth every penny!
Forcing myself to take another step and continue on my path away from his divine body, I str
aighten my back and wiggle my arse, especially for him. The pearls rub silkily against my skin, their weight causing the ropes to swing. I’m nearly in the hallway before I feel his hand at my back, steadfast and determined to still me.
Through his teeth he spits. “There is no way you are being left alone in that bloody dress.”
My belly flip flops and I repeat the victory dance in my head and make a mental note to buy Suzie some flowers for her fab advice.
“I need to fuck you so hard.”
I turn to face him, wide-eyed and innocent, I hope.
His face appears almost pained and so outside of his comfort zone, that like Nathan has mentioned earlier, I almost feel sorry for him.
Almost.
In reality I need to focus on myself, and my own weaknesses here. His words are reducing me to that puddle of weakness again. Hot and sexy and dirty and willing to do anything for a quick tumble with Mr. Silver - but no longer. I want more and he couldn’t give me that - had already proven it.
“You’re a tease Lady.”
My nipples are alert and I feel them pushing through the soft fabric of my dress, Seb’s eyes are immediately drawn to them and his own breathing quickens. My skin is on fire and every fibre of my being is itching to reach out and touch him, hold him and kiss him for the last time. For a few seconds we ravish each other with our eyes alone; deep emerald zest, meeting dark chocolate pools; watching, caressing, approving.
Even though I hate this man for his disloyalty, my God damned best friend - I am not blind. He oozes sex appeal and I haven’t seen him in three days. My body has gone into starvation overdrive, desperate to feast on such delicious meat.
I can see Toni over Seb’s shoulder watching us; her shrewd eyes gauging the situation and I see her begin to make her way towards him, snake like in her path.
“Sebastian Darling I need you?”
I hear her snooty voice and the anger returns low in the pit of my stomach. Sebastian ignores her whiney demands and instead roughly grabs my hand and drags me in the direction of the stairs, ignoring the stares from guests happily chattering and alerted to the minor commotion. He halts as we reach the top of them, rapidly decision making as to where we go from here and I look down from the mezzanine landing, to the crowd below and catch Abby mouthing,
“WTF?”
I meet the narrowed eyes of Toni, at the bottom of the steps where we left her, hands claw like in annoyance and a face likened to a person spitting glass. Her silver sandal smashes into the floor in annoyance and a petulant huff reverberates up the hall stairs. It had been worth it just for that although now I’m here, alone with the devil, I am not sure if she got off lightly. He is sorely pissed!
I’m pulled through a nearby door and slamming it behind us, we are surrounded by inky darkness – the only light that filters in, is from the huge arched window in the centre of what now appears to be the master-suite.
His room. His domain. His terms.
I immediately feel on the back foot and freeze - all the facade of my confidence is stripped away here.
Placing both palms on the door, behind me, they rest on either side of my head and with his foot wedged between my legs; I am trapped there for his perusal. He looks deep into my eyes and his own glint in their challenge for me to look away and without another word he angrily takes my mouth, and I am a goner. I don’t for one second think about pulling away. I should but I can’t. There would be no point.
Our tongues instinctively wrestle and we pant heavily as we devour one another, not able to get enough from mere kissing. The term eating each other would be underplaying our assault on our lips. He sucks and licks, imprinting his scent and taste inside me until I’m quivering, stroke after stroke, melting my icy veneer. Stony faced he moves towards my corset, tugging until my nipple pops free and I hear his guttural groan as he takes it firmly in his fingers, tweaking and rolling, happy in the knowledge that I’m unrestricted and available to him. I sigh in sheer bliss at the sensation of our skin on skin.
“God I’ve missed these.”
His erection is hard and pressing against my stomach; my aching breasts straining against the beautiful dress. It was becoming too tight. I needed to be naked, to feel him against me.
Just one more time and then I’d end this.
“You choose this dress for me after our night at Scarlet House Baby?”
His eyes search mine, as he fondles my left breast and suckles the free nipple, watching me for my answer. I lock eyes with him and nod.
“Every time I see a rope of pearls now I’ll think of you; them rubbing between your pussy, tied around your wrists - makes my cock twitch at the thought and when you turned your back on me, little minx - that indecent glimpse of your crack, I could have fucked you then and there!”
His breath is ragged, as he works his way back to my mouth, my loins on fire at his words. I can see the desire in his eyes, and kiss him back with every ounce of my being. My hands on his hips, encouraging him to bury himself into me.
I feel his hand lift my gown, and a finger tracing a path up the split of the dress, sensually but firmly grasping my stocking-clad hold ups, and massaging my thigh. Quivering I lift my leg around his body, encouraging him to explore further and stroke a hand down my calf. I wrap it fully around him, opening me up to him, and shiver with pleasure as his hand travels down to clasp my shoe.
“Ah Lu you’re killing me here. Worth every penny.” I smile to myself - my sentiments exactly.
I’m enfolded into his warmth, desperate to feel him inside me, whilst he licks back and forth over my erect nipple, when all of a sudden I freeze.
“You’re bare here for me Baby! Are you bare here?”
His other hand drops to the high split, inching inwards, and in that second I’m brought back to reality with a huge bang. I push at his hard chest in panic, desperate to get away from him and retain composure. I cannot bear to be near him, I feel dizzy, sick and am close to the embarrassment of tears. Clasping at his vice like grip, in a last ditch attempt to free myself from his close vicinity, the pent up anger and desolation threaten to explode from within me.
Are you bare here? What was I thinking? What am I doing?
He likes me stripped bare! Toni’s words play over and over in my head.
“You fucking bastard - you have balls I’ll give you that – balls of stainless silver.”
I spit the words out, fighting again against his strong grip to remove myself. His look of total shock and confusion is disconcerting. I can tell from his eyes that he fears I’ve completely lost it but his firm hold on my arm doesn’t waver.
I hate this nasty version of myself, it isn’t me and I’m pissed that he has turned me into this weak willed bitch. I maliciously clamp my teeth around his arm and bite down, hard. His yelp of pain stills me but it slackens his reign and he releases me.
“What the fuck Lu? What’s got into you?” He instinctively rubs his arm with the discomfort.
I give him a filthy look. It serves him right. As if he didn’t know.
“I came to see you on Thursday night, so we could have that talk that you so desperately wanted?” I prod him harshly in the chest.
He rubs his head in the way he always does when he is stressed about something and shouts an angry groan of frustration into the room. I can tell he still doesn’t get it!
Taking a deep breath I exhale slowly and smooth down my dress. Every particle of me wants to grab his face in my hands and kiss him again until we pass out from our obsession, but sensible Suzie’s voice echoes in my head.
Tell him Lu. There are two sides to every story!
“Toni told me you weren’t available Sebastian – that you were otherwise engaged.”
The adrenalin is flowing and encouraging me along my path- sexy sultry Lulu has been replaced with stony-faced prudish Lucia. He looks completely perplexed and somehow this only endears him to me more. How does that work?
“Toni? – What the bloody hell’s she got to do with anything?” he demands flippantly.
Rage embodies every part of my anatomy.
“Toni with an ‘i’ – you know your PA? She answered your door in a towel - all wet from your soapy sexual escapades.”
Hopefully that would trigger something in his ridiculous loss of short-term memory – were there that many women that he couldn’t remember this one occasion? I can imagine my eyes are glowing green with jealousy and passion. I can feel my body come alive with the emotions and don’t remember ever feeling so angry. I’m on fire and his words cut into my reverie with a cold heartless rush.
“It wasn’t me Lucia,” his voice is firm and crystal clear.
“But…”
He places a hand up to silence me and shakes his head and I close my mouth instantly, ticked off like a naughty child. “No. No more! You will listen to me now!” His voice is threatening and I know I’ve tipped him over the edge. “Is this why you haven’t been answering my calls?”
I nod mutely.
“Jesus Lu. I don’t know why Toni was here Thursday night, or why she said she was with me but I’m telling you, she wasn’t.” I study his face, his blackened pools for any glitch of distrust, there is none. His eyes burrow into my own with a force so great I find it hard to blink and impossible to look away.
“I didn’t get back until Friday night - last night. I came back from London on Wednesday - as you well know.”
I blush under his reprimanding glare. “Then spent Thursday until Friday night, back in Manchester. It wasn’t fucking me - nor would I do that to you. I told Chris to tell you where I was - didn’t he?” He moves and raises a hand to his brow, strutting in small steps to control his increasing fury.
“No.”
“Well I did. Do you really think after what we shared in Room 22 I’d just come home and tumble the company PA?”
The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy Page 36
