The Man Without Rules

by Tyffani Clark Kemp

  "None of them have you, and you need the funding."

  "And you need the charity. Is that it?" Her icy tone sent chills over his skin.

  Sebastian nodded and pursed his lips. "Oh yes, Mrs. Red. I'm trying to make myself look good." He sneered. "If that was the case I'd back some podunk charity from Arkansas claiming 'save the chipmunks'."

  She looked at him amused, and slightly aroused. The way her lips parted and her cheeks flushed was fetching and he felt himself begin to get excited below the edge of the table.

  "Then why?" she asked, though her eyes sparked with understanding.

  "I'm looking to branch out," He mirrored her words.

  She nodded slowly. "I see."

  "I'm against it." Brit finally spoke up.

  "Why?" Janette asked. "The exposure, the face, the name. It could be what we need to make the next big leap. Not to mention the funding."

  "We need the funding," Stacia nodded. "I don't think it's a bad idea."

  Sebastian ran his finger over the rim of his glass, watching her. She stared right back, her eyes following his finger as he languidly stroked. Her gaze came up to his and she shivered gently. Involuntarily, the corner of his mouth went up and his eyes turned down.

  "What we're wondering," said one of the men to his right - Wilbur was his name - "is why you've decided to make this dramatic leap."

  "How is it so dramatic?" Sebastian blinked. He set his hand on the table, forgetting the chilled water for the moment.

  "You're a world renowned supermodel and entrepreneur, Mr. Boa."

  "As I am well aware."

  "Why would you align yourself with a bunch of women trying to change the world through literature and do-it-yourself talk?"

  "Excuse me?"

  Mariss' irate tone hit something deep within Sebastian and the chivalrous side of him, the one that didn't get out much, flared. He felt the heat from the death glares on the other side of the table, but he didn't bother to look.

  "Mrs. Red and her people have made great strides in changing the publishing industry," Sebastian began, "just as I have in changing the modeling industry. They took an impossible task and made it a success through many trials along the way. The Red Wife Media Group is as powerful and established as I am. It only makes sense to align myself with such extraordinary women to take myself, and them, to the next level of this."

  Sebastian pulled his hand back, cutting his finger on a piece of paper. He sucked in a sharp breath and bit his lip.

  "Oh."

  The soft exclamation made him look up as he stuck his stinging fingertip in his mouth. Mariss wide eyes looked at him from across the table. Her face flushed and her lips parted. She pulled her own lip between her teeth for just a moment and let it go. Sebastian flashed her a smile that was more smarmy than sexy, but he couldn't help it.

  "Thank you, Mr. Boa, for that well said…oration."

  She was so flustered she couldn't think straight. He loved that so much. The gentlemen to his right squirmed in their seats.

  "Well, how are you supposed to say no after that?" Brit chimed in.

  Sebastian glanced to the women's side of the table. They all looked like their ovaries had just exploded. He blinked. There had to be so much estrogen running through this office.

  "I guess that's settled." Wilbur didn't sound too pleased.

  "I guess it is. Twenty- five percent is all I'll give you." Mariss rested her arm on the table and leaned forward a little. The top of her blouse opened and Sebastian got a view of the swell of one round breast. The corner of her mouth twitched. "Mr. Boa, did you have a specific project in mind to collaborate on?"

  "Well, for starters, I'd like to reschedule the 'Reading is Sexy' shoot." She blinked, her lashes falling slowly over her beautiful eyes then rising again. So seductive. He lifted an eyebrow, teasing.

  She nodded. "Shall we schedule a meeting to begin discussions?"

  "Yes, please."

  "We have next weekend free," Brit said, reading from a calendar, "unless you'd like something sooner than that."

  "That would be just fine," Sebastian agreed.

  "Are you buying us out, Mr. Boa?"

  He stared at Mariss. "Is that what you want?"

  "No."

  "Then, no. I have no intention of buying you out."

  "But you would if I wanted?"

  "We would certainly discuss it."

  Mariss frowned at him from across the table. He ached to rub the lines from between her brows once again. Would that he was just a bit closer.

  The meeting ended a few minutes later. The six men left like they couldn't get away fast enough. Once they were gone, the other women rushed in to find out what was going on.

  "Mr. Boa will be buying a quarter of Red Wife," Mariss explained.

  The women were quiet for a moment.

  "Oh, my god!" Eloisa finally exclaimed. "We might actually get to do the movie!"

  "What movie?" Sebastian wondered out loud.

  "We optioned a movie, but didn't have funding or backing. Remember what I said about being independent?"

  Sebastian nodded and smiled at Eloisa. She was a very likable person. She turned to him and put her arms around his waist.

  "Thank you, Mr. Boa. My new hero."

  He chuckled and hugged her back. She held on longer than was necessary.

  "That's enough," Mariss said, pulling Eloisa back.

  "He smells so good."

  Mariss rolled her eyes.

  "Eloisa, stop it. You're embarrassing me," Bennett complained.

  The Latina twin laughed. "I'm sorry. I'll behave."

  "When are we going for that tour of the office?" Sebastian asked. Mariss turned her brown eyes up to him.

  "Yes. We'll do that. Ladies, back to work. We'll probably be a few minutes. Then we can start working on this new project. In addition to all of our other projects. Mr. Boa."

  He motioned her ahead of him and she led the way, her hips switching from side to side.

  "I like the way your hips move."

  "These are the restrooms." Mariss showed him two doors on the opposite side of the hall from the board room.

  Sebastian smiled at her evasion. "You have a men's restroom, but only women work in your office."

  "Men work here too."

  She led him to the end of the hall and to the right. A door opened into a room with a sound board and four other rooms. Through the glass window he saw a microphone hanging from the ceiling of a recording studio.

  "These are the edit bays," Mariss pointed to the other three doors. "Where the magic happens, I guess you could say. Not much magic happening right now, but we do put the book trailers, podcasts, and web shows together here."

  "Which show was optioned?"

  "The first one," she said, a bit snidely.

  "You don't need to be so formal, Red." Sebastian tried to give her a reassuring smile.

  "This way." Mariss ignored him once again and led him down the opposite hall. "You know what this is."

  There was a white screen in the background and several cameras and lights set up.

  "Ah, yes." They stared over the empty room for a moment before Mariss turned to leave.

  Sebastian cut her off, pressing his back to the door. With his arms folded over his chest and his weight balanced on one foot, he smiled softly.

  "Why are you acting this way?"

  "What way?" She gave him innocent doe eyes.

  "You watch my every move so intently," he said. "You nearly faint every time I bite my lip or do anything with my mouth, really. Yet you run from me like you're going to catch hellfire just for looking at me." He made an attempt to reign in his sex appeal, but by the way she was looking at him, he thought she really might burst into flames. He longed to quench her.

  "I don't understand why you're pushing this, Mr. Boa. I am a happily married woman and I'm not interested in ruining that because you have some sick infatuation with whatever it is you think you want from me."
>
  "Oh, I want a great deal from you, Mariss Red, but I'm not going to take anything you don't give me. I have a reputation, but never have I been accused of anything so scandalous. If you're so happily married, why were you at my club? You came specifically for a threesome, did you not?"

  "My husband doesn't have two dicks," she snapped. Ashamed, she closed her eyes and covered her mouth. "Sorry."

  "No need."

  "We went to the club because I was curious about having sex with two men at once."

  "And how was your experience?"

  She frowned. "I enjoyed it," she said matter-of-factly. "I would have thought that obvious. Haven't I told you that already? But I didn't go to the club because it was yours and I certainly didn't go with the expectation of meeting and fucking you."

  Sebastian chuckled, though he really wanted to shake her. "What have I done to make you so angry with me? In London, all I wanted was to make sure you had a proper meal. When you passed out, I wanted to make sure you were alright. I went to your hotel room to make sure you were well, but you'd already gone."

  Mariss nodded. "I left early. I wanted to be with my husband. I told you it's been rough."

  "Yes. I understand. It was hard for my mother when she miscarried, so I do understand." He watched sympathy creep into her eyes. "Today, when you saw me, you looked at me like you were irritated with me. What did I do?"

  She shook her head. "You didn't do anything."

  "I'm not trying to take your company from you, Red."

  "Why do you keep calling me that?"

  "That's your name isn't it?" She was a fireball ready to explode. Sebastian only hoped he'd be the one consumed in her passion when she did.

  "Why are you really here, Mr. Boa? What is it that you truly wish to gain from this?"

  "I want to be close to you."

  "Oh, god." Mariss rolled her eyes and threw her arms down at her sides. "What is it going to take for you to understand that I am married? I don't want you. What happened was…a fluke. A freak accident. Whatever you think it was, you're wrong."

  "I don't believe you."

  "What?" She was incredulous. It made him smile.

  "You react to me too easily. You're attracted to me so strongly that you can't stand still. Not even now. What are you thinking about? Are you trying to figure out how to get away from me or if you can find a way to be with me? Can you still feel me pressed against you? Inside you? My voice in your ear? My hands on your body?"

  She panted through parted lips and refused to look at him. "Yes," Mariss whispered. Her eyes snapped up, flaming. "But do you know what puts me in a different category than all the others?" she spat.

  "What's that?"

  "I will resist you. I will stay faithful to my husband and my morals. Now, please step out of my way. I need to get back to work."

  Sebastian peeled himself away from the door, and she watched. Though he was slightly irritated, he found himself to be very turned on. Stepping out of the way, he let Mariss get halfway down the hall before he called, "Your resistance will be your downfall."

  Mariss miss-stepped. Her ankle rolled awkwardly and she caught herself on the wall.

  "Are you alright?"

  She didn't answer, but continued back into the office. Sebastian didn't miss the slight limp in her step.

  "Mr. Boa." Juliet came toward him, but stopped. "Are you ready to go?"

  Sebastian joined her, staring into the office for a moment. Mariss refused to look up, though he could see the tension in her back and shoulders.

  "Yes. I need to go to the gym."

  "Yes, sir."

  Mariss Red didn't know how much trouble she was in.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Dinner Proposal

  Sebastian spent the rest of the morning in the gym on the treadmill, running off the strange aggression Mariss had left him with. It was more than just lust, it was an irrational anger, however minimal. It made him want to shout at her to stop being so bloody stubborn and throw her against the wall and have his way with her. At the moment, he wasn't sure either would work.

  By six, Sebastian was dressed and ready for dinner. He checked his tie in the mirror and ran his fingers through his hair once. His mobile chirped and he answered, "Sebastian."

  "Mr. Boa, your car is waiting for you," Juliet said sweetly.

  "Thank you, Jules. I'll be down in a moment."

  Sebastian clasped his watch and put his mobile on silent before he walked out the door. He rode the elevator to the ground floor where his car waited for him outside the front door. It was a quick drive to the restaurant.

  The husband sipped wine alone at a table.

  "Mr. Red." Sebastian offered his hand as he unbuttoned his suit jacket with the other. The husband stood and shook it.

  "Good evening, Mr. Boa."

  "You can call me Sebastian." He took the offered seat.

  "Is this normal?" the husband asked. "For someone from the club to make contact like this?"

  Sebastian shrugged. "It can be, yes. If a person, or persons, feel they've made a connection, or feel comfortable or safe with the other, they may make contact."

  "I understand you own the club," the husband said.

  "I do."

  "So any information is accessible to you."

  "I don't go through the security tapes, if that's what you're asking. I only wanted to meet because I enjoyed you and your wife. I felt it would be nice to meet outside the club as people."

  The husband nodded and sipped his wine. "I don't share my wife, Sebastian. That was a fantasy she's had for a long time. Obviously, I don't have the right kind of equipment to fulfill it for her."

  "She enjoyed it," Sebastian said, sensing where this conversation was going.

  "Yes, she did. That's the only reason I've agreed to this. She didn't say it, but I know she wants to try it again."

  "I'm glad I could make a good impression."

  "Hello, Mr. Boa," a young waitress greeted him. "May I get you some wine?"

  "Yes, please," he smiled at her. "You can bring the bottle, as a matter of fact."

  "Yes, sir. Can I get you anything else, Mr. Red? Are we waiting for one more?"

  "Yes, my wife. She won't be long."

  "I'll be right back with that bottle."

  Sebastian knew that he and the husband would never get along. They were very similar in their personality and attitude.

  "Whatever happens tonight is completely up to Mariss," the husband continued once the waitress was gone. "Nothing will be forced on her."

  Sebastian held the husband's gaze for a long moment. A lesser man would have backed down, but he never looked away, didn't even blink. After what felt like an eternity, Sebastian finally nodded, his respect for the man doubled, even if he didn't care for him.

  "Of course." They shook hands. The two of them had a mutual understanding and it made Sebastian respect Mariss all the more. Unfortunately for her, it also made his craving for her double.

  He looked up as Mariss walked into the restaurant. She was dressed in a black sheath dress, perfectly formed to her curvaceous body, and her hair was up in a simple French twist. He looked to her feet, but the red heels from earlier were gone, replaced with silver ones. The only red he could see on her was her full, brilliantly red lips, coated with a gloss that shown in the dim lighting.

  There was a happy smile on her face when she saw her husband, but when her eyes caught his, she faltered. Sebastian let his gaze smolder.

  Mariss made her way to them slowly, her eyes never leaving his. When she reached them, the husband stood and embraced his wife. He pressed a soft kiss just below her ear and Sebastian watched her eyes flutter for a moment, before they flew open and went straight to him. He smirked to let her know that he'd seen and he'd take full advantage of his new knowledge.

  "Mrs. Red." Sebastian stood slowly, pulling himself up straight and tall. He leaned to kiss her cheek and she offered it politely.

  "Mr. Boa."
r />   "Sebastian," he admonished softly.

  Mariss looked up at him, her eyes guarded and cautious. She nodded and took her seat across from the husband.

  "Sebastian and I are going to be working together," she said.

  Sebastian watched the husband's face.

  "Oh, really? How so?"

  "He's buying into the company. You get plenty out of it yourself, though, don't you?"

  "Well, of course." He watched her over his wine glass. She stared back intently. "I wanted to extend my condolences to you as well, Mr. Red. I am sorry to hear about the loss of your child."

  The husband nodded. "Thank you. We appreciate that. Tell me more about this project."

  "We met today," Mariss told him, "to discuss a merger and I gave Sebastian a tour of the offices."

  The husband smiled. "I bet that was entertaining."

  "Quite feminine," Sebastian agreed.

  The husband chuckled. Sebastian shook his head. He might have to start calling the man by his name.

  Mariss looked from one to the other, rolled her eyes and slouched into her seat. She looked so defeated and tired.

  "Are you alright?" The husband asked.

  Mariss nodded.

  Sebastian watched her fidget with her hands in her lap. She looked lovely. Small diamonds twinkled in her ears and at her throat. With her eyes downcast, she looked so small and vulnerable. Not at all the powerful woman who'd created her own empire.

  "I'll go," Sebastian said. Mariss' eyes snapped up to his. "I can take a hint. Thank you for the drink," he said to the husband and dropped some bills on the table. "I'll pay for the bottle. Please, enjoy it." He stood and held his hand out to Mariss. "No need to stand, Mrs. Red. I look forward to meeting with you next weekend."

  She stared at him, slack-jawed. In truth, he wanted her more than ever before. Sebastian made it out the door and sent a text for his car to be brought around.

  "Sebastian."

  He turned at her voice. "I'm going, Red. You don't need to see me off."

  "I was going to tell you to come back inside."

  "You don't want me here."

  "No, that's not true. I don't want to want you here." She chuckled. "I don't want you to be friends with my husband."