Hell, he didn’t really understand any of it. But he knew that he wanted to hold her, to feel her naked body pressed against his.
Walking out of the bathroom, he grunted slightly when he noticed that she’d pulled the covers up over her nakedness. Oh, no, my beauty! Not tonight!
Sliding into the bed, he pulled her against him, trying to tamp down the surge of lust he felt as she curled against him.
“I should…”
“Stay,” he commanded, and reached out to turn off the light.
Chapter 18
Deni woke up with a start and looked around, trying to figure out why she felt so…different. Then the arm around her waist brought her fully back to the present and she sighed as her head dropped back onto the pillow. Uhhh…Sebastian’s shoulder. She’d slept in his arms last night, had made love to him so many times, she couldn’t even count them. And she was sore! But sore in a good, amazing way.
Unfortunately, morning was creeping up on them and she needed to get back to her bedroom. She probably shouldn’t have slept here last night.
With a sigh, she carefully slipped out of the bed, moving slowly so as not to wake him, grabbing her clothes and slipping into his shirt. Deni hurried out of the room, padding barefoot down the long hallway to her own bedroom. She felt her muscles in ways she’d never thought possible before last night. It felt good but strange.
Once she was safely back in her own room, she sighed and leaned against the closed door with a smile. “Goodness, who would have thought a man like Sebastian knew those moves!” she whispered to the empty room.
Pushing away from the door, she shook her head as she walked into the bathroom. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a lot of time to savor last night. Monday morning meant meetings, work, and stuff that she wanted to just ignore.
Stepping into the shower, she smiled dreamily, thinking that she’d love to do some of those things again. Right now, actually. Even as she soaped up her body, she could still feel Sebastian’s hands on her.
Pushing her fantasies aside, she finished her shower and quickly got ready for work. She had a big meeting today and she was excited to present her findings to her boss. The tips Sebastian had given her yesterday evening were swimming through her thoughts and she wanted to put them to work, needing to wow her boss after last week’s difficult meeting.
Two hours later, she was hard at work, trying to find more ways to present the data. When she stepped into the meeting, copies of the report in her hands, she was excited. Never had she been this excited for a Monday morning briefing.
Sebastian walked into the office late, furious with Deni. She hadn’t been in his bed when he’d woken this morning. Hell, she hadn’t even been in the house! He was so furious, he could barely speak, so he simply walked into his office.
Unfortunately, Margaret followed him in with his messages, none of which he retained as he sifted through his schedule for today.
“Get me the time and conference room where the mortgage update meeting is happening,” he snapped, cutting off his assistant in mid-sentence. But Margaret was always professional and turned around, prepared to immediately obtain that information.
Five minutes later, the message popped up on his computer screen, a strong indication that Margaret was irritated with him. Normally, she would hand him a slip of paper with the information on it. Knowing that he owed her an apology, he thanked her via reply text for the information.
The meeting was in two hours and he was ready to tear off heads by the time he walked into the conference room. Perhaps he should have called Deni up to his office and yelled at her, gotten all of his frustrations out on the correct person. But he wasn’t in the mood to be fair. He was irritated and furious and just…irritated!
“Go!” he snapped when everyone came into the meeting and settled down. His presence was making everyone nervous, but not Deni. She gave him several curious glances, but otherwise, she kept her attention on the speaker until it was her turn to present her data.
When she started speaking, he spoke up to ask something, but she’d already answered it in the text of her reports. He skimmed through the papers, trying to find fault. Unfortunately, he’d taught her too well yesterday afternoon. And she’d even gone beyond what he’d explained to her yesterday. Any other day, he’d be impressed. But today he was too furious.
When she finished speaking, he stood up and walked out, not offering any explanation.
Yes, he knew that he was being an ass. But he couldn’t help it. He felt off kilter and ready to roar. But without a target, he couldn’t release his pent up anger. Sebastian thought about calling Ryker Thune, his friend who lived in LowPoint, about thirty minutes away. After work, they could run through Ryker’s obstacle course and maybe expend some of this frustrated energy, get rid of his anger. But in the end, he went home instead, wanting to confront the object of his frustration instead.
Until he walked into the house that night and found her in the kitchen with Chloe and Martha. They were snacking on vegetables and hummus, laughing about something but Sebastian was so angry, he couldn’t think rationally.
Throughout dinner with Chloe, he bided his time, glancing at his watch to see how long it was until Chloe was tucked into bed. And even that infuriated him further! This whole marriage issue was so that he could be with Chloe! Now his fury at Deni was causing him to want to be alone with her? This was infuriating! And as soon as he got her alone, Sebastian vowed to demand that Deni stop doing this to him! He didn’t want to be distracted! He was normally cool, calm, and controlled!
Right after he’d kissed Chloe goodnight, tucking her into bed, he turned and walked out of her bedroom, determined to find the woman who had infuriated him all day.
He wrapped his fingers around Deni’s upper arm and pulled her into his office.
Once they were alone, she spun around on him, obviously furious. “What is wrong with you?!” she snapped, pulling her arm out of his grip and backing up. “You were rude in my meeting today and you’re being rude now.”
Again, the need to howl and roar hit him. He was feeling primal and he didn’t know how to handle it. So he went right to the heart of his fury. “You left my bed this morning!” he snapped, leaning in, his hands pressing against the wall behind her, trapping her right where he wanted her.
Her eyes widened, as if she had no idea why he would find that upsetting.
Some of the anger left her shoulders. In fact, her whole body softened, even her eyes as she looked up at him and that softening, that look of understanding melted some of his anger away. He tried to hold onto it, but she laid her hand on his arm. “Of course I left your bed this morning. Is that why you’ve been such a grouch today?’
No! He was furious about…he wanted…! What the hell?! “Yes! Why did you leave? Why didn’t you wake me up before you left?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He pulled her into his arms and gave her the kiss he’d been needing all day long.
Afterwards, when she was soft and melting in his arms, only then did he lift his head, looking down at her with almost savage satisfaction roaring through his body. He realized that he’d spun her around so that she was sitting on his desk and he was now between her legs. Exactly where he’d wanted to be earlier today.
“I left your bed this morning in an effort to be discreet, Sebastian. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” She kissed him again and he noticed that her lips were swollen and soft from his kisses. “I was worried that Chloe might burst into your room. You said that you didn’t want her to know about our relationship.”
He sighed because she was right. He had stipulated that condition when he’d presented his terms to her. “Well don’t.”
She blinked, but he barely noticed because her hands slid up, caressing his neck and he loved it! Love it too much, but he wouldn’t ask her to stop. No way!
“Don’t what?” she asked, her head tilted slightly to the side.
“Don�
��t leave my bed again. Chloe saw us sleeping together this weekend. She wasn’t traumatized by it then, so she can handle seeing us together in the future.”
His stomach loosened when she smiled up at him. “Okay. I won’t leave your bed.”
He pulled her closer. “I mean it Deni. Tomorrow morning, I want to wake up with you in my arms. It didn’t feel right waking up alone this morning. Not after last night.”
She kissed his throat, the only place she could reach. “I promise to wake you up before I leave, if you’re not already awake.”
“Good,” he said, then tilted her head back so that he could kiss her properly.
With that, he carried her up the stairs. He kicked the door shut and placed her in the middle of his bed, then pulled back and stripped off his clothes.
Deni pushed up onto her elbows, watching him, fascinated by every inch of skin revealed to her. Licking her lips, she sat up. “Would you do me a favor?” she asked, still staring at his chest, then lower as he pushed his slacks and boxers off.
“Yes.”
He came closer, his hand reaching up to curl softly around her neck.
She leaned into his hand, a sexy smile hovering over her lips. “Just yes? Aren’t you going to put some restrictions on that promise?”
He lowered his head and kissed her neck. “Anything, Deni,” he vowed reverently as he teased that sensitive spot he’d discovered the night before. “Just ask.”
She shuddered, moving closer to him, needing skin to skin contact. “I want to make love to you this time,” she whispered.
Sebastian stilled, his lips hovering a breath away from the skin of her neck. A moment later, he lifted his head and looked down at her as she smiled tremulously up at him. “Please?” she whispered. “Last night, you were in control, which was beyond amazing. But, tonight…” she licked her lips as her fingers slid down his hair-roughened chest.
The hiss that followed told her that he liked the way she was touching him. But would he let her do more?
“I don’t think…”
Her fingers slid lower, wrapping around him as she watched as his eyes closed tightly. “I’ll be gentle,” she teased, her fingers caressing him in the most intimate way.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he groaned. But he didn’t pull her hands away. Deni took that as permission to venture forth and she lifted her hands to his shoulders, turning him so that he was on his back on the massive bed.
A moment later, she stood up beside the bed and pulled off her own clothes, smiling shyly when he lifted up to watch, his erection telling her that he liked the view. So she slowed down, giving him glimpses as she did a strip tease.
“Deni, you’re going to lose the upper hand if you keep that up,” he growled, and the taut muscles in his abdomen tightened further as he sat up.
Deni laughed, shaking her head. “Fine, I’ll hurry,” she promised, pulling off the rest of her clothes and tossing them to the side. When she joined him on the bed, her eyes took in the man in all his glory, amazed that he was allowing her to take control like this. But she knew from the look in his eyes that her control wasn’t going to last very long. Besides, Sebastian wasn’t really the kind of man who relinquished control easily, so this was a special treat.
Unaware of her tongue sliding out to moisten her lips, she slid her body next to his, but that wasn’t good enough and she moved higher, straddling his stomach as she stared down at him. She felt his hands on her thighs, shivering when they moved up her waist. Taking his hands, she pressed them to the thick, luxurious comforter spread out over his bed. “No touching, Sebastian.’
“Why not?”
Her eyes moved over his chest, enjoying this moment. “Because you’ll distract me and I want to explore you,” she told him moments before she bent and pressed a kiss to the side of his neck, exactly as he’d done to her only moments before. Last night, he had been so powerful, so demanding, that she hadn’t had a chance to taste him. He’d overwhelmed her with desire and need. But now, she could take her time and enjoy this man, explore him at her leisure.
With each touch of her lips or tongue against his skin, she felt his muscles tighten. As she moved lower on his body, her mouth exploring his chest, the flat male nipples that were so different from hers, but at her first touch, she felt his hands dive into her hair, his fingers tangling and holding her in place. She smiled, hoping he was feeling what she experienced last night when he’d done that to her.
But her goal was lower still, although she didn’t want to miss any interesting spots along the way. Inch by inch, she let her fingers slide over his skin, slowly followed by her lips, her tongue darting out to taste occasionally. When she moved even lower, kissing his abdomen, his fingers tightened in her hair, starting to pull her back up.
“Please?” she whispered. “Let me. I allowed you last night.”
He chuckled. “If I remember correctly, I had to pin you down,” he replied.
“Well, maybe I wasn’t ready.”
“You were ready by the time I finished.”
She laughed, nodding her head. “Yeah, I liked it by that point,” she replied and heard his laugh when her cheeks turned pink. At that same moment, her fingers curled around him, tightening as she moved her hand up and down, her thumb exploring even as her eyes watched his face. “Will you like it as much as I did?”
He let out the breath he’d been holding, dropping his head back against the mattress. “I don’t think I’ll live through it!”
“I think you can take it,” she didn’t give him any additional warning. Her mouth closed over him, exploring and tasting, enjoying the hiss as she teased him. But she was only able to explore him for a few moments before he pulled her higher onto his body.
“I think that’s enough,” he warned, pulling her legs into place. “Take the condom!” he ordered, his hands moving up her waist, cupping her breasts as his thumbs teased her nipples into tight buds. “Now, Deni!” he snapped.
A few weeks ago, that tone would have terrified her. And possibly angered her into saying something just as snappish back. But her lips curled into a seductive smile, knowing that she’d taken him beyond the limits of his control.
“Deni! Damn it!” He grabbed the condom he’d tossed onto the bed earlier, ripping the package and shifting her again. But this time, he was in control and he rolled the protection down over his shaft, then pulled her hips back into place. With one finger, he soothed the passage, finding her wet and ready for him. “Damn, Deni!” he groaned, pulling her forward, bracing her hips over him. Slowly, with excruciating slowness, he lowered her down onto him until she’d taken him fully into her body. Then he held her hips still, not letting her move. “Hold still,” he ordered roughly.
By this point, Deni wasn’t able to obey him. Nor did she even try. Shifting her hips, she gasped, trying to relax her inner muscles to accommodate his size. “I need to move, Sebastian,” she moaned, her hands braced on his chest, eyes closed.
“Fine. Move,” but he lifted her hips up, maintaining control. She might be on top, in the position of power, but Sebastian was completely in control. Deni wasn’t exactly sure what to do in this position, so she didn’t fight his grip, especially when he guided her up and down his shaft, showing her how to move, how to give herself maximum pleasure.
Deni loved every moment of it! She couldn’t believe that anything could feel better than last night. When his hands released her hips, she understood and continued the rhythm. As she felt that spiraling need, her eyes snapped open and she looked down at him, not sure what to do now.
“Just go with it, love,” he urged, his voice strangled and she understood that he was trying to hold back so that she could find her own release first. With that reassurance, she shifted again and again, trying to find her rhythm again, but she was too close and it wasn’t working. His hand moved lower, giving her some help and that was all it took! Her back arched, her mouth fell open and she was unaware of the sounds she made as
the pleasure hit her in intense waves. She’d thought it was all over, but that’s when Sebastian flipped their positions, holding her in his embrace as he pulsed into her until he too groaned out his climax moments before collapsing down against her.
When she could breathe again, Deni opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling, smiling as she felt his warm breath against her neck.
“I want to do that again,” she announced.
Sebastian stopped breathing, then lifted his head and, gently, tenderly, kissed her. “Not going to happen, honey.”
She laughed, feeling giddy and happy and amazing! Her arms and legs curled around him as she hugged him, her happiness overflowing at this moment. She knew that it wouldn’t last, but for this moment, she was in lo…happy. So very happy.
Chapter 19
“Can I help Gramps again this weekend?” Chloe asked as she climbed into her chair for dinner the following night.
Sebastian was unfolding his napkin, but froze at his daughter’s question. “Excuse me?”
Chloe was unaware of her father’s sudden anger, but Deni understood and cringed. “She’s talking about my dad, Sebastian. Remember when Jenny was sick a few weeks ago, I took Chloe over to help me fix dinners with my father? We made cookies and Chloe was a huge help.”
Chloe was concentrating on spreading her napkin out perfectly over her lap, unaware of the increasing tension between the adults.
Sebastian frowned at Deni and she wasn’t sure what to say. Deni hadn’t given Chloe permission to call her father “Gramps”. She’d come up with that all on her own. Turning away from Sebastian’s glare, she smiled across the table at Chloe. “Why don’t we find out if he needs our help this weekend before making any plans?” Deni offered, hoping that Sebastian wasn’t too angry with her.
“But Gramps said that he always wants us to come over. He said that he likes for us to help him make dinners.”
Wanted: Wife for Hire (The Diamond Club Book 8) Page 15