Locked

by Maya Cross

  He shrugged like it was par for the course. "I prefer to be up front in my relationships. That way there's no mixed messages. No one gets hurt."

  "Well, that's very noble of you, but I get the impression we don't want the same things."

  "And what is it you want, Sophia?"

  "Well, call me old fashioned, but something more than, 'hey, want to fuck?' would be a good start."

  "I didn't pick you for a flowers and chocolates kind of girl."

  "I'm not. I'm too busy for that crap. Casual suits me just fine. But there's a difference between casual and meaningless."

  "Good, then we're on the same page. Look, you're right, I'm not the sort of guy that dates. I don't have the time or the inclination to be tied down, and I make no apologies for that. But that doesn't automatically make me some asshole who just uses women and then throws them away. If there's no spark, I'm not interested. And this right here, this has got me very interested."

  I laughed. "Ah, the playa with a heart of gold. How touching. But unfortunately, I'm not good at sharing. I have this weird thing about wanting the men I sleep with to only be sleeping with me."

  He let out a long breath. "Well, I don't usually do exclusivity."

  I recoiled in mock surprise. "I'm shocked!"

  He studied me for a few seconds, his expression hovering somewhere between frustration and amusement. "This doesn't have to be complicated, Sophia. There are so many things I want to do to that body of yours, and I promise that you'll enjoy every exquisite minute of it. Why do you need anything more than that?"

  Something in my lower belly clenched. Despite how crude his approach was, I believed him. And a rather loud voice in the back of my head was begging me to let him have his wish.

  But somehow, I rallied one more time. "It's not complicated for me. It's incredibly simple. I'm. Not. Interested! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to my friends. I'll extend you the same courtesy you extended me and let you walk yourself out, but if I see you here again, I'm calling security. I don't care who your friends are, if you're harassing an employee, you'll be out of here before you can blink. Goodbye, Sebastian. It's been... interesting." And with much more confidence than I felt inside, I spun and marched away.

  I could hardly blame him for the way my body reacted to his, but it was still immensely satisfying to storm off like that. That'll teach him to get into my head. Bastard.

  I expected maybe a parting shot, but no words followed me. I resisted the urge to turn and look back. I was proud of myself for not caving to him, although there were very specific parts of me that were emphatically venting their disappointment. I suspected I'd be delving into my underwear drawer later for a little relief.

  "Jesus Christ," Elle said, as I returned. Miles was nowhere to be seen, but she was peering over my shoulder with an awestruck gaze, her lips hanging slightly open. At least it's not just me.

  "Who the hell was that?" she asked.

  I shrugged. "I'm not sure actually. Just some guy."

  "Seriously? That's like calling Ryan Gosling 'just some guy'!"

  I shrugged again, trying to feign disinterest. The sooner we stopped talking about him, the better.

  "Well, whoever he was, he looked hella into you," she continued.

  "You think?" I asked.

  She stared at me like I'd gone mad. "He was practically eye fucking you from the moment you guys started talking. How could you not notice that? I even bet Miles ten bucks he'd get your number."

  I winced. "Sorry, no dice."

  She shook her head slowly. "Fuck. Well, I guess that means he's still fair game, then."

  I laughed. "If we see him again, he's all yours."

  Our conversation turned to other things. Despite my best efforts, I found myself glancing around every so often, checking that Sebastian wasn't still lurking nearby. It seemed like he'd taken my warning seriously, but I got the sense such threats may not really mean much to him. After all, he'd tracked me down and infiltrated my office as easily as walking through his own front door.

  The effortlessness with which he'd done that frightened me a little. When he'd shown up, my mind had been reeling too much to really think it through; but now the reality of the situation was becoming apparent. In a way, it was vaguely flattering that he'd gone to such efforts, but it also made me suspicious. Between that and the bizarre events of the previous night, I got the sense that there was more to Sebastian Lock than he was telling me.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  I spent the next two days on autopilot. Soon, we'd be starting work on the Wrights case, but at that point, it was just business as usual. It felt a little like the calm before the storm. There was already a noticeable buzz around the office, like that frenetic pre-Christmas energy that fills the air as December rolls around. I was excited, but also a little intimidated. We had those people's futures in our hands. Winning wouldn't magically fix the damage, but it would mean hospital bills paid, carers hired, and a huge quality of life improvement for all those affected.

  Even without Wrights, we were busy. I usually did my best to at least get out of the office for lunch — there was only so much monochrome decor and recycled air I could take in one day — but my workload meant I just didn't have the time.

  So on Saturday, when my boss called asking me to go and meet a new prospective client, I jumped at the chance. I normally hated those schmoozing business lunches, but anything that dragged me away from my screen was a win at that moment.

  The meet was at an upmarket steak restaurant in Martin Place named Cuts. It was one of those places that looked like it'd been pulled straight out of the fifties. Dimly lit and dominated by leather and sandstone, it gave off the impression of being expressly made to host boozy lunchtime business rendezvous. I half expected to find the cast of Mad Men hunched in one corner, smoothly wooing prospective clients and chortling over their scotch. I'd been told that the sophisticated aesthetic wasn't just a bluff. The steaks were apparently some of the best in town, although in all honesty, one cut of meat was much the same as any other to me.

  I arrived a little early. The restaurant was quiet. There were just a handful of groups dining inside and a lone guy sitting at the bar. I made a beeline for the main room, longing to get a glass of red into me before my client arrived. We hadn't met before — all I had was a name; Mr Keys — but it seemed like a good idea to loosen up a little first.

  But as I approached, the man at the bar spun to face me. I froze.

  "Are you fucking serious?" I said.

  "Not much for traditional greetings are you?" Sebastian asked, clearly enjoying having shocked me for a second time.

  As usual, a pang of desire rushed through me at the sight of him. I had no idea how I hadn't noticed him immediately. Even in the simple act of sitting still, that masculine poise was unmistakable.

  "Not when I'm talking to men who appear to be stalking me," I replied sharply.

  He gave a little laugh. "You arrive after me, but I'm the one stalking you?"

  He had a point. I shifted uncomfortably. "Well, whatever. I don't have time for your games today, Sebastian. I'm here for a meeting."

  His smile grew. "Me too."

  It took me a second. "Oh, you didn't?" I said. But the smugness in his expression confirmed it. "You bastard."

  I thought back over the phone call with my boss. It hadn't occurred to me to ask why I was being sent over anyone else. I just assumed it was a random decision. "You asked for me especially?"

  "I did."

  Mr Keys. Mr Lock. Fuck. I should have seen it coming. "You can't just waste my time like this, Sebastian. I have a job to do."

  "And I respect that. I've already paid for an hour of your time, so we're not wasting anything."

  My eyes widened. "You paid that ridiculous fee just to get me down here?"

  He nodded.

  "Well... fuck." I wish I could say I was surprised, but despite the way we'd left things the other night, I'd had a hunch he wasn't
done. He struck me as the sort of man who wasn't used to losing. I guess now I had some idea just how far he was willing to go.

  I didn't know what to do. Being near him was dangerous. Even my frustration at his tenacity couldn't blunt the attraction I felt for him. My chest tightened as my eyes roamed involuntarily over the hardness of his body. One elegant hand was resting on the bar, tapping out a slow rhythm against the wood, as if serenading me with a piano ballad. Even his fucking fingers were gorgeous. All I could think about was having them playing across my skin instead.

  "Give me ten minutes, Sophia," he said. "After that, I promise I'll leave you alone, if you want."

  It seemed like I didn't have much choice. He clearly wasn't giving up without a fight. If I didn't hear him out, he'd be back. Perhaps it was better to end things properly, once and for all.

  "Fine. Ten minutes."

  He nodded in thanks and led me inside.

  "Drink?" he asked, as we slid into our booth.

  I shook my head. "I think I'd rather keep my wits about me for now."

  I was rewarded with a grin. "Fair enough." He gestured to the waiter to stay put for now.

  "I don't really know what else there is to say," I said. "I've told you, we don't want the same things. If you think you can change my mind with tricks and perseverance you've got another thing coming."

  "Ah, but what if I have a new proposal?"

  I couldn't help but laugh. Everything was like a business deal to him. Approach from different angles until you find one that works.

  "Go on then," I said, rolling my eyes. "Make your pitch. But remember, the clock is ticking."

  "Dinner."

  "Dinner? As in, the two of us?"

  He nodded.

  "That sounds dangerously close to a date," I replied. "Wouldn't that be breaking the rules?"

  He smiled ruefully. "Maybe, but I don't believe you've given me much choice."

  "Of course I have. You could just leave me alone instead."

  "I don't consider that an option at all."

  There was an intensity to those words that was almost frightening. I had no idea how to deal with that. "Well, a meal together is all well and good," I said slowly, "but it doesn't change the fact that I'm not interested in joining your little harem."

  As usual, the more caustic my tongue grew, the more it seemed to entertain him. "I get the impression you think I'm more debauched than I really am, Sophia. Just because I like to keep my options open doesn't mean I automatically hit on anything in a skirt."

  "Just the skirts you work with then?" I asked.

  "Actually, that's the other thing I was going to mention. Hannah is no longer in the picture."

  I rocked back in my seat. "What happened?"

  "I ended it. To be honest that relationship was a mistake to begin with. I've always made an effort never to mix business and pleasure, but Hannah was rather... eager. In any case, shortly after you left on Tuesday, she blew up at me. It was the last straw. It had gotten too messy."

  He made it sound like it had been coming for a while, but the fact that I'd been the catalyst made me feel a little guilty.

  I licked my lips. "And there are no other girls?"

  "Nope. If you agree, it will be just you and me."

  Those words had a lovely ring to them.

  "So why not just tell me that the other night at my office?" I asked.

  His expression slipped a little. "I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary. Like I said, I'm not entirely comfortable with exclusivity. I find it often leads to people getting too attached too quickly. But I'm willing to make an exception in this case, as long as we understand each other."

  I really wanted to believe him. A light, casual, but monogamous relationship was exactly the sort of thing I needed, and he'd gone to such great lengths that it seemed unlikely he was looking to screw me over. But I was still wary. I'd been fooled before by men like him. For some of them, the challenge was even more fun than the victory itself. This could all just be part of the game.

  And even if he was being honest, how long would his promises last? How long would a man with his pick of the litter be content to stay in one place?

  "Why are you going to all this effort, Sebastian?" I asked, no longer able to disguise the conflict in my voice. "Surely you can get what you need elsewhere."

  He smiled a secretive little smile and shook his head slowly. "You don't give yourself enough credit, Sophia. You were the most beautiful girl in the room that first night we met. I bet there are a lot of men out there who would go to great lengths for an evening with you, if only you'd give them the chance."

  I blushed and looked away. I didn't think of myself as someone who was easily swayed by flattery, but I had to admit, I loved hearing the desire in Sebastian's voice when he spoke like that. It made me feel sexier than I had in a long time.

  "Come on, one meal," he continued. "No strings attached. If you have fun, we'll take it from there, if not, no problem. I'll drop you home and wish you good night and never bother you again."

  I could feel my resolve weakening. He was just so gorgeous, and he didn't seem to want to take no for an answer. What was the worst that could happen? It wasn't like I was committing to anything beyond a meal and a chat. I could bail at any time if I felt uneasy.

  I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath. "Okay fine. One meal. But I'm not promising anything else."

  "I'll be a perfect gentleman, I promise," he said, with a laugh. "How's tomorrow night?"

  "Fine."

  "Okay, I'll pick you up at seven thirty."

  "Alright."

  He took my hand and kissed it. It was the sort of gesture that's hard to take seriously, but he somehow managed to pull it off. The brush of his lips sent a pulse of warmth shooting between my legs. "Until then, Sophia."

  And then he left.

  It was only a few minutes later, after I demolished a glass of Shiraz, that I realised I hadn't told him where I lived. But then again, he'd managed to find my office; why would my home address be a problem?

  I had no idea how he did the things he did. I'd sat down one hundred percent certain that nothing was going to happen, and yet in just a few short minutes he'd changed my mind. It was like he'd cast a spell on me.

  Agreeing to go out with him was probably a mistake. I'd been down that road before with heart breakers like him, and it always ended in tears. I tried to tell myself that nothing was set in stone. Things would only progress as far as I wanted them to. But part of me wasn't sure that was really true. His persistence seemed endless, his magnetism almost irresistible. If he made a move, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stop myself, no matter how much I wanted to.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The next morning I decided to walk to work. One of the reasons I moved to Newtown is that it's so much fun to stroll through. The people can be a little intense at times, but there's always something interesting going on. Markets, protests, impromptu street performances; it's an eclectic mix of colour and culture. I often go wandering when I need to unwind. There's just something about the vibe that I find relaxing.

  After arming myself with caffeine, I slipped onto auto pilot and let my feet guide me the rest of the way. It was mid-October, and the air was just beginning to carry a little of that summer bite. The walk was going to make me late, but at that moment I didn't care. I was just relishing the sunshine.

  I'd been trying my best not to think about my impending date, but truth be told, I was nervous. There was something so enigmatic about Sebastian. For the first time in a long time, I had no idea what to expect from a man.

  It must have been weighing on me more than I realised, because at some point I veered off my normal route. I didn't even notice, until my eyes fell upon a familiar red shop front, and then it suddenly clicked into place.

  Really, Sophia?

  My legs had carried me all the way back to the bar from that first night. In the light of day, it was an even sorrier sight than I remembered
. Paint peeled in great ribbons from the walls, and the sign was missing enough letters that I wasn't even sure what it was called. Nobody would ever have guessed the sort of events that were hosted behind that crumbling facade.

  The smart thing to do was probably to turn around and keep moving. I'd caused enough trouble there for one week, and I doubted Sebastian would appreciate me prying any more than I already had. But seeing the place again piqued my curiosity. Perhaps it was my chance to learn a little more about the man I'd be spending the evening with.

  I wasn't even sure that the bar would be open, but the door fell inward with a creak at my touch. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness. The room was largely deserted. The only customers were two men, sitting alone in opposite corners, staring glumly into their glasses. They couldn't even muster the energy to look up as I entered.

  There was a girl behind the bar who hadn't been there the other night. She blinked in surprise when she saw me. "Can I help you?"

  My gaze flicked to the back wall. The door was there, just like I remembered. I let out a long breath. I'm not sure why, but even after seeing Sebastian again, part of me had still been convinced I'd made the whole thing up.

  As expected, the door was closed, which suited me just fine. Charging back in for a second time was a sure fire way to get myself caught. What I needed now was a more subtle approach.

  "Maybe," I said, approaching the bar. "I was here on Tuesday night for a function with my friend, and I think I left something behind."

  The girl looked confused. "Function?"

  "Yea, back there," I said, nodding to the back wall.

  Her expression grew wary. "Ah." Apparently whatever went on back there was a sore spot for her. "Sorry, I can't help you."

  "Please," I said, trying my best to look desperate, "it was a brooch, a gift from my grandmother before she died. It's really important to me. Do you have a lost and found or something?"

  Her expression softened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude, but I really can't help. Anything back there stays back there."