“So, what’s bothering you?” Oz asked, swiveling around so that he and the others could watch their latest “victim” squirm. When one of them blew a huge amount of money on a bad hand, they all knew that it was most likely a romantic problem. Business and financial issues these men could handle. It was the ladies that got under their skin and made them do stupid things. It was always the ladies, the ones that got under their defenses, which boggled the men’s normally logical minds.
“Nothing,” Sebastian snapped, taking a large sip of his scotch, studiously not looking at his friends.
“Right. So, what’s her name?” Jabril asked, turning slightly as well.
Sebastian didn’t want to talk about it. He wanted to…hell, he wanted to be with Deni. But she was still assuming that their relationship was temporary while he acted like an idiot and…!
“If you won’t tell us her name, what’s she like and how did she get to you so completely?” Jayce asked. “You’re normally the cool cucumber of our group.”
Sebastian glared at him. Sebastian might have the power to financially ruin Jayce, but the man was muscular and…well, he knew things. Dangerous things. How-to-hide-bodies types of things. If the man wasn’t his friend, and if Sebastian didn’t know what a good guy Jayce was, then Sebastian might actually…well, he’d stay far away from Jayce.
“Icy,” Tarin corrected. “A cucumber has warmth but Sebastian? Nah!”
A chuckle went around the table, the others enjoying the teasing now that it wasn’t their turn to be involved in these horribly annoying, gut-clawing emotions.
“Are you quite finished?” he drawled, looking over his shoulder at his friends and wondering why he was here when Deni waited at home. Exactly where he wanted to be. With her. But she…hell!
“What happened?”
“Meredith,” he sighed, but he wasn’t sure why his ex-wife’s name came out of his mouth.
“Damn! I thought she was gone!” Kazar snapped, then stood up and walked over to the bar to pour himself some more liquor. “What’s she done now?”
Sebastian sighed. “Might as well tell you all and just get it over with,” he muttered, looking bleakly at the ceiling.
“Exactly,” Oz commiserated. “We’re going to find out anyway. It’s just better to give us all of the information up front so we can torment you with it later.”
Jabril chuckled. “So we can get all of the facts straight, distort them, and rile you for the next several months.”
“Exactly!” Jayce agreed.
Tarin laughed, but didn’t say anything else. He simply leaned back in his chair, waiting for Sebastian to explain.
Sebastian sighed and gave in to the inevitable. “Chloe was becoming more and more withdrawn,” Sebastian finally explained. “She didn’t laugh or wiggle. She rarely even spoke when I had her over the weekends.”
“The hell you say!” Oz snapped, leaning forward in his chair, his muscles tense, ready for battle. “Chloe laughs all the time.”
Sebastian clenched his glass, remembering his silent daughter. “Not after Meredith convinced a judge to give her weekday custody. Chloe just…she pulled into herself. I found out that Meredith snapped at her whenever she wiggled. She spent most of her time at Meredith’s house in her bedroom, taken care of by irritated and bored nannies who didn’t give a damn about her.”
“So, you got Chloe back, right?”
Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck, walking over to look out the window. “Yes. I got her back, but because Meredith had slept with so many of the judges in our jurisdiction, I had to go about gaining custody of Chloe in a rather…unconventional manner.”
“What did you do?” Jabril asked, but his tone indicated that he wasn’t overly concerned about any action taken if it protected a child. “And I don’t care what you had to do, Meredith was toxic.”
“Agree!” several of the others announced.
Sebastian nodded. “Yes. She was. But…” he sighed, deciding to admit it all to his friends. “In order to convince the judge that I was the more stable parent, I found a woman in a difficult situation and convinced her to marry me.”
There was a long silence. Sebastian wasn’t proud of what he’d done, but he would have done anything to keep Chloe safe.
“Okay, so…what’s the problem? Is the woman demanding money from you?”
Sebastian shook his head, still looking outside, but his mind was focused on Deni’s features. “She’s lovely, actually. Truly a good person. Inside and out, she’s beautiful.”
More silence as the men absorbed what he’d said. And what he hadn’t said.
Oz was the first to voice their thoughts. “And you fell in love with her.”
Sebastian heard the words that he’d avoided saying, even to himself. But they were right. He was in love with Deni. She was smart and funny, a bit goofy, which was exactly what he needed in his life. His world was too serious and Deni brought a bit of whimsy to his world, to his days. She was light and happiness and…he loved her.
“Damn it!” he snapped. “After Meredith, I’d vowed never to put Chloe in danger!”
“Do you really think that this woman would hurt Chloe?” Jayce asked.
Sebastian thought about Deni. “No. She wouldn’t. That’s maybe part of the problem. This woman…I married her just as a show for the judge. But…”
“She’s more than just a prop now, isn’t she?” Tarin filled in the silence.
“Yes,” Sebastian answered after a long moment. “She’s…much more than just a prop. She’s lovely and amazing. But she keeps reminding me that our marriage is only temporary.”
“Perhaps you should take her to bed and make her…” Kazar stopped at the look in Sebastian’s eyes. “Right. You’ve already gone there.”
The men chuckled, they had each taken that same route to convince their lady loves of their sincerity. It had never worked though.
“So now I have an ex-wife who is definitely maneuvering to get Chloe back so that she’ll get my child support payments again and the house that I provided for her. And a current wife who can’t wait to get away from me and go back to her hovel of an apartment.”
“Are you sure that your current wife feels that way?” Tarin commented.
Sebastian’s eyes sharpened on the man. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Well, sometimes, Zuri tells me stuff just to see my reaction. But she doesn’t actually believe what she’s saying. She’s simply testing the waters, so to speak.”
Sebastian considered that. He thought about Deni’s eyes when she’d commented on their one year contractual term. Yes, now that Tarin had said it, Deni’s eyes sometimes looked…questioning. But at night, when he pulled her into his arms, Deni gave herself to him completely. There was no hesitation in her touch or the passion inside of her. She gave of herself and her body generously.
He thought about the first time he laid eyes on her, when she’d danced in the rain. Even then, he’d thought her a carefree spirit, but also one that was innocent of guile and manipulations. At that moment, he’d thought her just a woman in love with being alive.
There was no evilness in Deni. She was bright and unsullied, she was freshness and happiness. She gave herself to Chloe, giving the small girl attention and laughter. And Deni gave herself to him. Not just in the bedroom, but she listened to him. Truly listened. She didn’t try to solve his concerns. In fact, most of the time, she simply snuggled up closer to him when she told him about his day.
“So, you’re saying that she might not…?”
Tarin stood up and came over to clap Sebastian on the shoulder. “We’re saying sometimes women, and men, actually, test the waters and wait for a reaction instead of actually coming out and saying what they want. And if she’s looking up at you with hope in her eyes when she says something stupid, such as not wanting to truly be married to a guy like you, then she’s testing you.”
Jabril wasn’t as kind, “And it sounds like you’re f
ailing!” The other men laughed, indicating that they all agreed.
Sebastian looked around at his friends, chuckling at their wisdom. “After my experience with Meredith, I never thought that I’d ever want to tie myself to another woman.”
“But this one has changed your mind?” Jayce asked, his voice a bit more contemplative now.
Sebastian hesitated, but then an image of Deni came into his mind and he sighed. “Yeah. She’s different.”
There was silence as they each thought about the beautiful women they knew who also were “different”.
“It’s nice when you find the kind of woman who changes your life,” Jabril commented.
“For the better,” Tarin added.
Oz nodded, picking up the cards. “What the hell are we doing here instead of with our ladies?”
Jayce slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Hey, Sebastian has solved so many of our problems over the years. Now, it’s our turn to help him solve his.”
Oz brightened up. “You’re right. So what are you going to do?” he asked, turning to look at his friend.
Sebastian took the cards that Oz dealt, shifting them in his hand as he worked up a plan in his mind. “I’m not sure.”
“Not sure?” Tarin laughed. “You’re not going to fly back to your lady love and prostate yourself on the floor, begging her to stay married and give you lots of babies?”
Sebastian’s dry look caused the rest of the men around the table to laugh. “Laying myself out on the floor isn’t really my style.”
Sebastian was planning. As he won the next several hands of poker, he put the pieces together to form a plan that might…just might get him Deni permanently!
Chapter 23
Deni was in hell.
Yep, a personal hell of her own making. She was madly in love with Sebastian and yet, she knew that her love was not returned. Even worse, she knew the exact date at which her one-sided love affair with Sebastian would end.
Was it better to know the ending? Or would she be happier if she were blindsided when Sebastian told her their relationship was over?
Maybe it was better to know. If she didn’t know, then she couldn’t try to make the most of every moment with Sebastian and Chloe. Deni had come to look forward to their family dinners together, laughing at Chloe’s active imagination as she described the events of her day as well as hearing about Sebastian’s meetings. At first, he’d simply say that he’d been in a series of meetings, then change the subject or ask her about her own day. But as the three of them eased into a routine, with Chloe and Deni sharing the funny or irritating parts of their days, Sebastian slowly started sharing more of his workday.
And Deni was fascinated! She told him that hearing what he did during the day helped her to understand the bigger picture of her job. And in return, Sebastian explained more of the financial and management aspects of running an international financial organization. In response to his generous guidance, Deni worked even harder at her job, finally understanding how all of the smaller pieces worked together to help the customers. Sometimes, international clients simply came to Sebastian for his expertise, and even that amazed her! She couldn’t imagine knowing so much about issues that people came to her for advice.
With each passing day, Deni fell more deeply in love with the enigmatic man. And every night, they tucked Chloe into bed before moving to either his room or her own, making love in a way that wrenched her heart at the tender passion that he brought out in her.
Right now, waiting for him to come to her, Deni surveyed the silk negligee she’d purchased today. She’d been walking down the street to meet Carly and Charlotte for lunch. Jessa usually joined their group lunches, but as a writer, she sometimes lost herself in the plots of her stories. So, she she’d been at home describing a nefarious character’s evil intentions.
Deni had been in a hurry, running late to their lunch when she passed by a shop that she’d seen before, but had never entered. Looking in the window, she’d spotted the sexiest piece of silk draped over the mannequin. But since she’d been late, she’d pulled her eyes away from the negligee and hurried on to meet her friends.
But on the walk back to her office, she couldn’t resist going back to the store. Sliding her fingers over the amazing champagne silk, she nodded her head. Without even looking at the price, she’d picked it up and carried it to the cashier. There was a small cringe when Deni handed over her credit card, but she smiled in anticipation as she walked out of the store.
Now, standing in her room, she surveyed her appearance in the long mirror and wondered what Sebastian would say when he saw her in the silk. It was a simple, smooth cascade of silk over her body, the only embellishments were the stiff points of her nipples.
Sebastian burst into the room after a cursory knock. His jaw dropped as he took in her appearance.
Deni smiled, her body tingling with desire as she watched his reaction. In that moment, she forgot about the price of the silk negligee, thinking that it was worth every penny!
“Deni!” he groaned, frozen in the doorway, drinking in the sight of her. “Where the hell did you get that?” he demanded, moving closer. He reached out, running gentle fingers over the silk.
“At a store by the office,” she replied, lifting her hands to his chest, sliding over the tailored fabric of his dress shirt. He hadn’t bothered to change after he came back from the office and, for some reason, she really enjoyed seeing him like this. He looked so stiff and formal in his business clothes, but as soon as she touched him, he lost the stiffness and became ravenous. For her! It was a wonderful transition, and one that she looked forward to every night.
He cupped her breasts and rubbed his thumbs against her nipples. Deni gasped as the passion flared inside of her like an inferno! It was always fast, but with his hands on her like this, or maybe it was the silk, she didn’t know nor did she care. She loved it!
But her eyes flew open when she heard something tear and, looking down, she barely had time to gasp in horror before his mouth covered one taut nipple. After that, she had no concerns for the silk that she’d paid so much for because Sebastian was almost out of control! Deni loved it!
The bed was only a few feet away, but they couldn’t make it that far. Nope! Sebastian’s mouth was hot and heavy on her nipple and, perhaps it was the tearing of the material, or perhaps it was something else in the air that night, but Deni couldn’t get enough of him either! With his mouth covering one tip, his thumb and forefinger teased and tortured the other and Deni’s knees could no longer hold her upright. Sebastian followed her down to the carpet and he tore the rest of the silk away as his mouth found her core. Always, she was ready for him but when his mouth covered her there tonight, she couldn’t hold back. In almost no time at all, she was screaming her release, the silk sliding against her skin, making her even hotter. She wasn’t sure if it was the silk or the heat of his tongue against her like that, but her climax came hard and fast.
Before she had time to even come down from that wave of intensity, Sebastian was inside of her, thrusting with a furious passion that ramped her body into an inferno of heat so intense, she could barely breath! When her body burst into another climax, all she could do was hold on, and scream her pleasure.
Sebastian barely held himself back. He hadn’t even taken the time to undress tonight. There hadn’t been time. He thrust into her, feeling the sensuous silk of both her skin and the material brushing against him. Looking down at her, he could see the flush of intense pleasure, and that only heightened his own. In no time at all, he felt her inner muscles clench around him and he released his control, thrusting into her again and again. Too fast, his own pleasure hit him and all he could do was hold on.
When it was all over, he rolled to his side and collapsed against her, holding her close so that he didn’t crush her. For a long moment, neither of them could speak, their breathing labored. He felt Deni’s hand on his chest, her breasts brushing against his chest as she breathe
d, but other than that, he couldn’t think. Only feel as his body came down from the most intense orgasm he’d ever experienced.
A long time later, he felt her shoulders shake and lifted his head. “Are you laughing?” he demanded sternly.
Deni lifted her head as well, looking at him from on top of his chest where she was still intimately connected to him. “Yes,” she admitted, but there was a look in her eyes that made his body tighten with renewed desire.
“I don’t think that you are in a good position to be laughing, Deni,” he groaned, but he couldn’t stop his body from hardening again. Then she wiggled, her eyes widening as she realized what was happening to him. His hands slid down her bottom, the silk still covering that part of her anatomy even though the rest of that negligee lay in tatters. The sight of those torn pieces, the realization of what he’d done, stunned him. And turned him on all over again.
Deni gasped as his body responded.
“Hell!” he groaned, but he couldn’t stop. “I’m sorry, Deni!”
“Don’t stop,” she whispered, shifting her hips ever so slightly. He watched her eyes widen, then she shifted again, rocking back and forth with her hands braced against his chest. When her eyes closed, his body almost exploded at the image of pure, wanton bliss on her face.
But because he was so turned on, again, he couldn’t wait for her to take her time. He tweaked her nipples, causing Deni to gasp. But when he started to pull his hands away, she grabbed his wrists, holding them to her breasts as the rocking of her hips intensified. So he continued to tweak her nipples, watching her face. Deni simply closed her eyes and…rocked his world!
Sebastian had always disdained the term, but as Deni ground her hips back and forth against his erection, he finally understood it. With increasing enjoyment, Deni found her release, those soft sounds of exultation spurring on his own pleasure. When she was almost finished, he lifted her hips and thrust into her, harder and faster, taking her higher. Deni threw her head back, rocking with him and finished just as his own climax started.
Wanted: Wife for Hire (The Diamond Club Book 8) Page 18