by Susanna Carr
“Look at me,” he said roughly.
Ashley shook her head. She couldn’t look in his eyes and show him how she felt. How he made her feel. From his expert touch, it was obvious that he already knew. The humiliation burned and yet she bucked against his hand.
She wouldn’t look at him. And yet she couldn’t tell him to stop. She didn’t want to push him away. She felt the white heat whipping through her, catching fire. Her fear was that he would stop unless she followed his command.
Sebastian growled. “Look at me,” he repeated.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head again. A guttural moan escaped from deep in her chest as Sebastian dipped his finger into her clenching core. Ashley felt his hot gaze. She knew he saw everything. He knew what she wanted. What if he held back? Oh, God...what if he didn’t stop until she revealed her deepest need and darkest fantasy?
“Ashley.” His voice was raw and urgent.
She was compelled to open her eyes. Ashley met his intense gaze just as the climax rippled through her. Her mouth sagged open and her muscles locked as she chased the pleasure. Sebastian saw everything and she couldn’t hide. How was he going to use this to his advantage?
He slowly, almost reluctantly, withdrew from her. Ashley ached from the loss and she sagged against the wall. Her body trembled. She wanted to hold on to him, but she wouldn’t dare.
“Total obedience,” he reminded her quietly.
His words were like a slap. Was this a display of his dominance? Did he want to prove that he could make her do whatever he wished?
Ashley pushed away from him and smoothed her dress with clumsy hands. She would not submit to his will. “No, Cruz,” she said as she fought to stand straight on wobbly legs. “That will never happen.”
“Haven’t you learned by now, Ashley?” he asked as the challenge glinted in his eyes. “I always get what I want.”
CHAPTER FOUR
AS ASHLEY STOOD in the VIP section of Sebastian’s dance club, she couldn’t help but feel as if she had fallen into the looking glass. The flashing lights were hypnotic and the dancers moved to the music as if they were in a trance. She had never seen a place like this before. It was fantastical. Otherworldly and a little frightening.
And this was just part of Sebastian’s kingdom. The moment they entered, she had felt the ripple of interest and awe. At first she had been uncomfortable being in the spotlight, but as Sebastian spoke to members of the Miami elite, she realized she was invisible to the guests. They lobbied for Sebastian’s attention and saw no need to speak to her. She was arm candy. An expensive accessory.
She should feel grateful that no one noticed or cared about her. She recognized a few of her parents’ friends, but they didn’t seem to remember her. She felt small and powerless in the cavernous club. More than once, Ashley wondered how much of the club reflected Sebastian’s personality. It was darkly sensual and seductive. The music pulsated from the floor and she tried to ignore the carnal rhythm, but her heartbeat matched the tempo.
The wild laughter punctuating the air made her flinch. She didn’t want to be here, around these people who had enjoyed her parents’ downfall. Ashley wished she was back on Inez Key. It was quiet and relaxing. Calm and predictable. That was where she belonged. It had been her kingdom.
But there had been a time when she’d needed to get away from her island. Sebastian must have known that. She remembered the unexpected fun she’d had with Sebastian on that weekend when he let her take his boat out for a spin.
The offer had been too tantalizing to resist. She loved being out on the water and had wanted to try his speedboat. At the time, she had thought her acceptance had nothing to do with the promise of having Sebastian’s undivided attention.
Ashley had known the boat would slice through the choppy waves and reach incredible speed. She had wanted to go on a fast-and-hard ride, determined to forget Inez Key and her financial problems for a few hours.
She remembered Sebastian’s warm smile as he had teased her, suggesting she was trying to tip him out of the boat. Perhaps she had been trying to test his courage. She had to find out if his restraint had just been a guise. Ashley had wanted to know how long it would take before he grabbed the wheel.
He never did. Sebastian had been lazily sprawled on the chair next to her, arms outstretched, his dark glasses perched on his bold nose. Sexual heat had bubbled underneath their banter, but she had enjoyed his companionship.
Sebastian had been relaxed and unconcerned while she made hairpin turns and the boat flew over the waves, but he had been alert. He had noticed every move she made, offering the occasional direction only when she hesitated.
Ashley had to wonder if any of that rapport had been real or part of the seduction. Had he done that to lower her guard or had he enjoyed those moments, too? Looking around this nightclub, she sensed the simple joy of a sunny afternoon would have been lost on him.
She glanced up, her heart lurching to a stop as she watched gorgeous couples dance with unbridled enthusiasm on the mezzanine. Their movements were bold and suggestive. Her skin flushed and she shifted uncomfortably. She was already painfully aware of Sebastian and primed for his touch. She didn’t need anything else to encourage her imagination.
Her grip tightened on her small clutch purse and she fought the urge to retreat. The club was mysterious and spellbinding. Dangerous. Much like it’s owner. If she lowered her guard, the music would pull her in. The atmosphere would seduce her into releasing her inhibitions. That could ruin her. Take her to a point of no return.
Ashley studied the DJ booth and the small VIP areas that circled the dance floor. She recognized a few movie stars and professional athletes lounging on the big white couches with other celebrities and models. All of the party girls were glamorous creatures with wild hair and generous curves.
“And how is your mother doing?”
Ashley turned sharply as she caught the question. A trio of beautiful women were standing in front of Sebastian. She didn’t know which one asked the question. They all looked similar with their smooth hair, flawless makeup and colorful dresses that wrapped around them like skimpy bath towels.
“She’s recuperating well,” Sebastian replied before he smoothly changed the subject. Within moments he had the group of women giggling and fawning all over him.
Ashley wondered if she was the only one who noticed the way his features softened at the mention of his mother. Or the flash of worry in his eyes before he banked it. She wished she hadn’t seen it. She didn’t want to know anything about him. The less she knew about his private life, the better.
What they shared was a business agreement and she needed to keep an emotional distance. She was having a short-term sexual relationship with Sebastian and she wasn’t required to love, respect or even like the man.
So what if he had been the most fascinating and exciting man when they first met? Sebastian had been playing a role. Or had he? She thought she had seen glimpses of the real Sebastian during the quieter moments on Inez Key. It was as if the island life had pulled away the harsh mask and revealed his romantic nature.
That was not his true character, she reminded herself fiercely as disappointment rested heavily in her chest. She wasn’t going to be like her mother, who clung to her benefactor’s rare thoughtful gestures and created a fairy-tale love story out of it. There was nothing Sebastian could do to make her think he was anything other than a cold-hearted and ruthless womanizer.
“Sebastian!”
Ashley lifted her head when she heard a booming male voice over the music. She saw a large, muscular man approach Sebastian with his arms outstretched. The stranger was about the same age as Sebastian but was built like a giant. The curvy blonde woman at his side looked tiny in comparison.
“Omar,” Sebastian greeted. Ashley was startled by Sebastian�
��s wide smile and the way his face lit up before he embraced his friend.
She was more surprised that Sebastian had friends. Sebastian could be charming and a scintillating conversationalist, but for some reason, she assumed he was a loner. An outsider.
“And who is this?” Omar asked, gesturing at Ashley while Sebastian gave the other woman a kiss on the cheek.
Ashley felt a twinge of fear. Omar was obviously a good friend. Would Sebastian lie to spare her embarrassment? Why would he do that? Yes, he’d made her a promise, but his friend was going to be more important than a temporary mistress.
She didn’t trust Sebastian. She had to get in front of this before he showed just how little power she had in this arrangement. Ashley thrust out her hand to Omar. “I’m Ashley.”
Sebastian wrapped a proprietary arm around her waist as his friend shook her hand. “Omar and I grew up in the same neighborhood before he became a football star.”
Ashley nodded as she tried to fit this new information in with what she knew about Sebastian. She didn’t expect him to value friendships from his old world. She had seen a few self-made men who had discarded old friends while in pursuit of making strategic alliances. Sebastian wasn’t as ruthless or driven as she thought.
“And this is my wife, Crystal,” Omar introduced the blonde.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Ashley said as she greeted Omar’s wife. The woman was beautiful, but Ashley recognized the subtle signs of multiple cosmetic surgeries. Most of the women she knew while growing up had the same unlined forehead, puffy lips and enhanced breasts.
“I like your dress,” Crystal said as the two men started speaking to each other in Spanish.
“Thank you,” Ashley said as she pulled at the short hem. She was still uncomfortable in it, but it wasn’t as revealing as Crystal’s. Most of the women in the club wore dresses that were staying on their bodies with little more than double-sided tape and a prayer.
Crystal gave a cursory glance over her outfit as if she was adding up the price. “Who are you wearing?”
Who? Oh, right. She remembered this part of the social world that she used to belong to. It was all about getting the designer bag or dress that no one else had. She had once been like that until her world came crashing down. “I forgot to ask about the designer.”
Crystal shook her head as if she couldn’t believe Ashley would forget such an important detail. “So how did you two meet?”
Ashley glanced at Sebastian, but he was involved in an animated conversation with his friend. She hadn’t come up with a cover story but she knew she had to be very careful. It was best to keep it as close to the truth as possible. “I met him a month ago. We immediately hit it off.”
“I’m surprised,” Crystal said as she studied Ashley, as if she was cataloging all of her flaws and shortcomings. “You’re not really his type.”
“What is his type?” Ashley asked reluctantly, not entirely sure if she wanted the answer.
Crystal gave a laugh of disbelief. “You don’t know?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t know who Sebastian truly was until it was too late.”
“How is that possible? He’s in the news all the time. From the financial page to the gossip column. Have you been living under a rock?”
“More like a deserted island.”
Crystal frowned as if she wasn’t sure Ashley’s comments was a joke or the truth. “Well, I would say Sebastian’s women are more...”
“Blonde?” Ashley supplied wearily. “Curvaceous? Vacuous?”
“Accomplished,” Crystal corrected her.
Ashley’s muscles stiffened. That hurt. She wasn’t proud of where she was in her life. She had fallen in status and wealth. Her world had become smaller and she was no match for Sebastian. But she had achieved more than she thought was possible. She had taken care of the families on Inez Key. She maintained her island home with nothing more than ingenuity and hard work. Her most important accomplishment had been becoming a woman who was nothing like her mother.
Ashley was proud that she hadn’t broken under the heavy burden placed on her five years ago, but she wasn’t going to share that. Not with Crystal or anyone at the nightclub. They would belittle it. Dismiss it. Sneer at her. She remembered this world. All the guests cared about was being noticed. They would never understand that her greatest achievement was creating a peaceful life hidden from the spotlight.
“Accomplished? You mean famous,” Ashley corrected.
Crystal shrugged. “They are the best in their fields or famous for their philanthropy and humanitarian efforts. He’s dated CEOs and pro athletes. Politicians and princesses.”
“I guess he doesn’t feel threatened by a woman’s achievements,” she said with a fixed smile. If this was true, what was he doing with her? She had struggled in school and dropped out of college in her first semester. She had no skills or special talents. No ambitions other than to build the strong and happy family life she’d never had.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Crystal continued, as if her words hadn’t pierced Ashley’s thin guard, “he’s had his share of supermodels and movie stars. He’s just not interested in a woman whose goal is to be a wife or a girlfriend.”
What about a mistress? Not that she strived for that job. She had been blackmailed into bed because she had no power or influential friends. Ashley bit the tip of her tongue in case she blurted out her thoughts.
Crystal tilted her head. “I feel like I’ve seen you before.”
Ashley stiffened. She remembered comments like that. It only took a few moments before they connected her with one of her father’s scandals. “I haven’t been in Miami for years.”
“Have you been in the news lately? I have to admit, I’m a bit of a news junkie,” Crystal said as she pressed her bejeweled hand over her impressive cleavage. “TV, newspapers, blogs, tabloids. I get my news anywhere and everywhere.”
“No, I haven’t done anything newsworthy.”
“Crystal, they are playing our song,” Omar said as he wrapped his large hand over his wife’s wrist. “It’s time to hit the dance floor.”
* * *
Sebastian watched Ashley as her frown deepened. She hadn’t spoken much. She had stood at his side, but he knew she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings.
Was she was thinking about tonight? How she would lose control in his arms? She had no idea that he also couldn’t stop thinking about the magical night that lay ahead. Or that he would make sure she lost control before he did.
He didn’t know how much longer his restraint would last. Having her close to him, touching him, was a test. He was careful not to stroke her skin or allow his hand to linger on the curve of her hip. Once he started, he wouldn’t stop.
He tightened his hold on her waist. “Smile, Ashley.”
Ashley gave a start and then glared at him. “I am smiling.”
“No, you’re not.” He dipped his head and pressed his mouth against her ear. She shivered with awareness and his body clenched in response. “But I know one way I can put a smile on your face.”
She yanked her head back and bared her teeth. “I’m smiling, I’m smiling. See?”
“Can you look less bloodthirsty and more adoring?”
“Why? The only people who looked at me were Omar and Crystal.” She tugged at her short hem again. “Don’t get me wrong, Cruz. I’m grateful that I’m unrecognizable. I can only assume I look like all your other mistresses.”
He’d never had a mistress, but she didn’t need to know that. He didn’t want her to get any ideas that she was different or special. He’d had many lovers, but he’d never had to pay for the exclusive rights of a woman.
“And how much longer do we have to stay here?” she asked.
“Eager for bed, mi vida?” He certainly
was. He hadn’t felt this desperate since he was a teenager. It was difficult to circulate among the crowd when he wanted to drag Ashley to his bedroom.
She clenched her jaw. “No, I’m tired of acting like I know what’s going on. Your guests talk about people I don’t know and places I haven’t been. I wasn’t aware that you were raising money for a charity until you talked that socialite into giving double. Where is the money going?”
“To my old neighborhood,” he said tersely. He briefly closed his eyes as he tried to banish the memory of graffiti-stained walls and the stench of rotted garbage.
She sighed. “Can you be a little more specific?”
“You wouldn’t recognize the address. It’s the ghetto,” he said with a hint of defiance and anger. He should have had the idyllic childhood that Ashley had enjoyed. While her life had been luxurious and carefree, his days had been difficult and unsafe. He’d had to fend for himself and his family and there were many early days when he had failed.
He’d left the ghetto years ago, but he had honed his survival instincts in his old neighborhood. Stay alert, know how to fight and shut down any potential threat before it gained power. Those rules helped him in the streets and in building his empire.
Her eyelashes flickered. “You’re right. I don’t know where that is, but only because I don’t get out much. And the money is for...?”
“The medical clinic,” he said slowly as he watched her expression. She showed no pity or fear. No disdain about his background. Just polite interest. Considering her sheltered and privileged life, Sebastian wondered if she understood living in the ghetto was like a prison term.
He grabbed her hand, ignoring how it fit perfectly in his, and led her out of the VIP section. “Let’s dance.” He couldn’t wait anymore. He needed to feel her curves flush against his body.
Ashley froze and dug her heels in. “I don’t dance.”
Sebastian stopped and turned around. “You don’t dance. You don’t drink. You don’t party.” He didn’t believe any of it. He knew many heiresses and socialites. They lived to be seen at the right places with the right people. “What do you do?”
