Relentless Pursuit

by Lulu Pratt

  “Sebastian?”

  “Olivia,” he breathes before crushing me in a hug.

  His arms engulf my small frame in a warm embrace, causing me to melt against him because I’ve been craving his touch for weeks and the moment has finally come.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, my words muffled against his solid chest.

  “I missed you,” Sebastian says into my hair.

  His familiar scent greets my nostrils and I breathe him in deeply.

  Sebastian.

  He’s really here.

  Ravenously, his mouth devours mine in the most sensual way. I’ve never been kissed quite so thoroughly. He pulls away roughly, his fingers firmly grasping my chin to hold me in place.

  “Forgive me,” he says and I know it isn’t a request. His intense eyes are trained on me.

  All I can do is nod.

  “I had no idea about your shithead ex. That explained a lot. I got why you were so disappointed in me.”

  Amazed, I stare at him wide-eyed. “How did you find out about that?”

  A secret smile touches his perfect lips.

  “Your friend Winnie has been very helpful in the last few weeks. I hacked her phone carrier and got her number,” he says nonchalantly.

  “Sebastian!” I whisper, scandalized, and look around to make sure no one heard him.

  “What? I was desperate. I had to put the resources I had to use.”

  I only narrow my eyes at him playfully, still so happy that he’s standing in front of me.

  “Shit, I missed you,” he declares before pulling me closer to him. So close that I can feel the erection straining against his fly.

  Instantly, my center starts pulsing in sync with his erection.

  “I love you,” he says, never breaking eye contact. “I think I knew it the second you got off that damn plane.”

  Stunned, my gaze is glued to him. I love him, too. So much. Warmth spreads through me knowing that the feelings I have for him are reciprocated.

  “I love you, too.”

  Sebastian drops his forehead to mine and makes a command I vow to never disobey.

  “Never leave me again.”

  EPILOGUE

  SEBASTIAN DOWNS

  Six months later…

  “Bash!” Olivia calls out as soon as she enters the door.

  The excitement in her voice will never get old. She makes me feel like the luckiest fucker alive when she greets me and I bet she doesn’t even know it.

  Abandoning my present task, I leave her bedroom and meet her in the hallway.

  “Hi,” she says, smiling brightly at me.

  “How was your day, sweetheart?”

  “Better now,” she says, further stroking my ego. “How was your flight?”

  “Uneventful. You were all I could think about.”

  I’d taken one of my now frequent flights in from California this morning to spend the weekend with her.

  Because of our hectic schedules, we’d settled on a compromise. I do most of the traveling because her school schedule isn’t very flexible. Most of the time, I work remotely from Tennessee unless it is absolutely essential that I show up in the flesh.

  When Olivia has an extended break from school, we go to California. We’re still working out the kinks but it’s served us well so far.

  I’m even in the process of buying land to open an east-coast division for the site and app. Steady growth has increased our demand for employees and office space and my home state is as good a place as any to put down some roots.

  Olivia made the decision that much easier.

  I want to be wherever she is.

  “How was the old guy today?” I ask, referring to her outing after class.

  Green eyes light up like the sun and her smile is just as bright.

  “Today was a good day for Arnold. He was sitting up in his chair when I got there. And he smiled when he saw me, even though he still thinks I’m his wife Claire.”

  This makes me chuckle. Arnold had been put in a nursing home only a month after Olivia was fired. His condition had deteriorated so quickly in those four weeks that his son had no choice but to put him in a nursing home.

  At first Gavin visited Arnold every weekend. The nurses report that on one visit, Arnold was unusually lucid and in a screaming fit, told Gavin that he never wanted to see him again after what he did Claire.

  It didn’t take much to figure out that Claire was Olivia, and that he knew Gavin wronged her.

  Gavin has never visited again. As an only child, Gavin and his father were always extremely close. Rumor has it Arnold’s outburst destroyed Gavin’s spirit.

  Olivia visits him every chance she got and I always looked forward to her amusing stories when she returned.

  “Claire must have been as beautiful as you are if he keeps getting you two confused,” I remark tweaking her nose.

  “Forever the smooth talker,” she grins, wrapping her arms loosely around my waist.

  God, I love this woman.

  My body is rock hard just from being in her presence. Hell, I’m never not horny where Olivia is concerned.

  She’s my strength and weakness packaged in human form. My constant when the rest of the world turns its back on me.

  Which is why I’m anxious to execute my plans for the evening.

  “Have a seat and I’ll get us something to drink,” I say, steering her to the sofa.

  Alone in the kitchen, I pour myself a shot of whiskey to eliminate my nerves. With my hand in my pocket, my fingers run over the velvet box housed there.

  This is it.

  I love this woman and I know without a doubt that she loves me too. But for some reason I find myself just as nervous now as I was that day in the art room before I asked her to prom.

  Just go out there and do it.

  After pouring her a glass of wine, my steps carry me back to the living room where she’s sitting Indian-style on the sofa surfing the channels.

  Her hair is piled high on top of her head, and she’s wearing a yellow sundress to combat the Tennessee summer heat.

  Her face is makeup free yet still stunning as ever.

  When she sees me nearing the couch, she instinctively reaches out for the glass and starts talking away.

  “What do you want to watch? There’s a marathon of that game show you like on. But there’s also a marathon of that renovation show that I really love—”

  I could listen to her chat all day but I need to say this before I lose my nerve.

  “Olivia, I need to ask you something,” my voice is smooth, not betraying the angst I feel.

  Noting the seriousness in my voice, she looks at me expectantly and takes a sip of her wine.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’ve had something on my mind for a while and I wanted to know how you felt about it,” I say stalling.

  Shit, this is harder than I thought.

  “I’m listening,” Olivia says smiling at me encouragingly.

  Without preamble, I take the wine glass from her hand and drop down to one knee in front of her. Once it’s situated on the coffee table, I grasp her hand in mine and watch her eyes fill with tears before I even say a word.

  “Olivia, I love you so much. I suspect I did in high school too, but I just didn’t know the words for it at the time. We never got our chance back then, but then you showed up unexpectedly and turned my world upside down.”

  “Oh, God,” she whimpers faintly.

  “I have never been happier than when I’m with you. You complete me like no one else can and I want to spend the rest of my life learning how to be a man worthy of your unconditional love. I loved you then and I always will, Olivia.”

  Reaching into my pocket, I retrieve the ring box and snap it open.

  Tears slide down her cheeks at the sight before her then she flings her arms around my neck and cries, “Yes! The answer is yes!”

  Chuckling, I pull back slightly and tease her. “But I haven’t even
asked you anything yet.”

  She shakes her head as if it’s of no consequence. “You don’t have to because the answer is yes. Yes, I’ll spend the rest of my life with you and only you.”

  OLIVIA DOWNS

  Ten Years Later

  Small hands are splayed across my face when I wake up.

  Peeking one eye open, I notice my oldest child staring at me anxiously from the side of the bed.

  How she got in here is anybody’s guess. That is until I notice that Sebastian’s side of the bed is empty and cool.

  Unbelievably exhausted from last night’s extracurricular activities with Sebastian, I grab my daughter and pull her onto the bed with me. Squealing from the unexpected action, she rewards me with one of my favorite sounds in the world: her laughter.

  “What are you doing awake at this hour, Ava?”

  Her blue eyes are the perfect replica of her father’s when she looks at me with a jovial smile.

  “I couldn’t wait to surprise you, Mommy!”

  “Oh yeah?”

  My five-year-old daughter nods furiously, sending her strawberry blonde locks all over the place.

  “What’s the surprise?” I play along, reaching up to restore some normalcy to her headful of hair.

  “I can’t tell you! Daddy says it’s a secret!” she says, squirming from the contained excitement and I can’t help but laugh.

  She reminds me so much of myself in that regard.

  “And where’s Daddy?” I ask with wide eyes, feeding her excitement.

  “Downstairs,” she whispers conspiratorially.

  “What’s he doing downstairs?”

  Ava looks at me, contemplating whether I’m worth spoiling the secret.

  I can tell the exact moment she decides that I’m not.

  She’s such a daddy’s girl.

  Her loyalty will probably never waver. Not that I blame the poor girl. Sebastian can be pretty convincing.

  “He’s busy,” she says evasively, making me laugh.

  “And your brother? Where’s he?”

  “Downstairs with Daddy. We’re waiting on you!” she exclaims.

  Feigning surprise, I cover my chest with one hand. “Me?”

  “Yes, Mommy!”

  “Why didn’t you say so earlier?” I ask teasingly before tickling her.

  Her squirming only intensifies and I’m rewarded with the joyful ripples of her laughter.

  “I love you, baby girl,” I tell her as I cradle her in my arms.

  She may not be an infant anymore but she’ll always be my baby.

  “Love you too, Mommy,” comes her distracted but automatic response. “Can we go downstairs now?”

  Snickering, I release her and let her down from the bed. “Tell them I’m coming, I just need to use the little girls’ room first.”

  “‘Kay!” she shouts before dashing out of the door like a bolt of lightning.

  What I wouldn’t give just to have an ounce of her boundless energy right now. Tired doesn’t begin to cover it, but thankfully I have the next three days off to recover from the brutal hours I’d been putting in at the nursing home.

  As the director of nursing, there is never a dull day that passes. Add that to the fact that my house is practically a circus with two kids and my husband roaming around. Needless to say, I stay pretty busy.

  Getting out of bed, I walk to the bathroom slowly, amazed that my body still gets sore from the various positions my husband twists and turns me in during our lovemaking.

  Every time I think I’ve discovered every possible muscle, I wake up the next morning sore in places that I didn’t know existed.

  A good problem to have if you ask me.

  After nearly a decade of marriage, Sebastian and I still can’t get enough of one another. Through the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, one thing remains the same — we are crazy for each other and nothing will ever change it.

  Not long hours at work or screaming kids at home. Nothing can get in the way of our passion for one another.

  As I wash my face, I reminisce over the circumstances leading up to this very moment.

  We had a short engagement before getting married on Christmas Eve only five months after Sebastian popped the question.

  Upon graduating nursing school, Sebastian gifted me a trip to France and I can almost guarantee that Ava was conceived in the air on our way there. We’d been all over each other in the private jet and thankfully the flight attendant had stayed put near the front of the plane.

  As soon as we found out I was pregnant, Sebastian bought a house that could easily double as a museum. It’s huge and over the top but our family is fitting in well.

  Ava’s birth was the highlight of my life. I’d always secretly feared motherhood but she made it feel like the most natural thing on earth. A year and a half later, our small family grew when we welcomed baby Lucas to the fold.

  I’d never felt more content in my life. I had the man of my dreams, the job of my dreams and now the family I never knew I craved so deeply.

  Sebastian and I figured out the whole parenting thing one day at a time. And I swear to God, there was nothing sexier than watching that man transform into the best father he could be for our children.

  He gave our kids everything they needed and more.

  I fell in love with him more every chance I got to witness his love for our babies.

  Once I brush my teeth, I run my hands through my sleep-matted hair and head downstairs.

  The downstairs area is eerily quiet as I approach the kitchen and then I hear Ava whispering.

  “She’s coming. She’s coming!”

  “On the count of three,” Sebastian coaches them, his patient tone warming my heart.

  “Surprise!” they erupt as soon as I enter the state-of-the-art kitchen.

  There, right before my eyes, sits my whole world.

  Ava is clinging to her daddy’s leg, while Lucas stands on the countertop with Sebastian’s firm hand in place to ensure he doesn’t fall.

  My husband is smiling at me with that gaze that always makes my panties evaporate but I have to remind myself that now isn’t the time.

  Especially since there are presents scattered along the countertop as well as breakfast.

  Happy Mother’s Day! is printed in bold letters across some of the balloons while others read, Happy Birthday!

  This year my birthday happened to fall on Mother’s Day and leave it to these three not to exclude anything.

  “Happy Mother’s Day, baby,” Sebastian’s deep voice reaches me and I want to purr.

  God, this man is so sexy. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the fact that he’s my husband and I get to have him for the rest of our lives.

  “Happy birthday, Mommy!” Ava is beaming while Lucas’ sole focus is trying to unwrap one of the gifts.

  I scoop him up in my arms and blow a raspberry against his chubby cheek.

  “Hi, handsome boy,” I say walking around the center island with him on my hip.

  Lucas’ eyes light up and I smile because he inherited my green orbs.

  Finally, I reach my husband and grin from ear to ear. “You’re incredible. Thank you, honey,” I whisper earnestly.

  Not only am I thanking him for today’s sweet surprise, but also for the happiness that is never too far out of reach when he’s near. I wouldn’t have any of this without him and sometimes it overwhelms me when I consider just how lucky I am.

  “You haven’t even opened your gifts yet,” he smiles at me.

  “Open mine first, Mommy! It’s a necklace,” Ava reveals, not caring that she ruined her own surprise.

  Laughing, I tear into the gifts while my little team anxiously awaits my reaction.

  SEBASTIAN DOWNS

  “Can I get you two anything?” the flight attendant asks hovering over us.

  “No, we’re good for the remainder of the trip. Why don’t you have a seat and enjoy the flight?” I ask, dismissing her as smoothly
as I know how.

  There are other things I have in mind for this trip and no one should witness them.

  The woman smiles politely before making her way to the front of the private jet.

  “Nice job buying us some time,” my wife speaks up beside me.

  When I turn my eyes on her, a radiant smile greets me along with desire burning in her jade eyes.

  For her birthday, I’d surprised her with a trip back to the island where it all started. The kids are staying with their Aunt Winnie for a week, allowing us some much-needed grownup time.

  “I’m still amazed that you pulled this off. Everything from requesting extra days off for me at the nursing home to locking in Winnie for the babysitting. You never cease to amaze me with your thoughtfulness.”

  Olivia brushes her fingers over the stubble present at my jaw and smiles at me fondly. “I love you.”

  There isn’t a second of hesitation with my response. “I love you, too.”

  With everything I have.

  More than ten years together and my love for her only grows with each passing day. So does my desire.

  My erection is tightening the crotch of my pants, eager for release.

  Which reminds me…

  “I want you,” I tell her bluntly.

  Cute pretenses have no place in our marriage. We always say what’s on our mind. And right now, I have a one-track mind because all I can think about it is pulling her down on my cock as she rides me forty-thousand feet in the air.

  Smirking, Olivia meets my gaze and raises the armrest between our seats. “Looks like we’re on the same wavelength because I want you too.”

  “Take off your panties,” I make my first command.

  A daring gleam enters her eyes before she reveals, “I’m not wearing any.”

  “Fuck,” I say raggedly.

  Olivia’s face reflects satisfaction for rattling me.

  “Come here,” I demand pulling her onto my lap in one swift motion.

  “What are you doing, Mr. Downs?” she asks feigning surprise.

  “I’m going to fuck you now, Mrs. Downs.”

  No matter how many times I say it, I’m still in awe that this incredible woman is my wife. She’s perfect in every way and for some reason she loves me.

  I move her short skirt up and out of the way, baring her to the cool air on the plane. Her slit is already glistening and ready for me but I want to test her first anyway.