by Kailin Gow
“Are you afraid something else will happen?”
Averting her gaze, he swallowed. The anger left his eyes as worry and concern took its place.
“What is it?” she said as her gut tightened again.
He reached into the pocket of the jeans he wore and pulled out the front page of a newspaper. “Apparently we’re already an item.”
Serena tried to read his intended meaning as she looked at the photo. “I don’t get it. What are you saying?”
“I’m worried for your safety.”
She bolted off the bed and turned to stare down at him. “Me? Why? What did I do?”
“You were seen with me.” Reaching up to take her hand, he pulled her closer. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve never invited you to that dinner. Not only did I bore you to tears, but now…”
“Don’t be silly.” Though she wanted to reassure him, her voice was oddly dead. “I had a wonderful time.”
He laughed off her comment. “Nice try. Look, I’ve already arranged for additional security here. I just have to check with the superintendent to make sure they’ll allow it.”
His concern for her did quick work of her growing fear. Wanting to sooth the fear she now saw in his eyes, she brought her hand to his cheek. Her vision blurred as tears welled up. I appreciate your concern, but I think I’ll be okay. Security here is already pretty decent.”
He brought his hand over hers and pressed it to his cheek then turned to kiss the palm of her hand, sending shivers through her. His tender gesture was a surprise, as well as his concern for her. “Pretty decent isn’t enough.” His hands snaked around her waist and he pulled her closer, pressing his face into her chest.
The touch of his hands was electrifying and she longed to get closer still. Her hands found refuge in his thick mass of hair and Sebastian growled his pleasure as she raked her nails along his scalp, holding him to her bosom as she did so. His growls turned to sighs of contentment while his arms tightened their hold on her.
“I’d spend the day getting lost in you,” he murmured, hungrily.
So would I, Serena mused. So would I.
She looked down at him and kissed his brow.
His hands found their way under her shirt and his fingers burned her skin. She wanted him and knew she wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer. Her body was hungry for a man and he was perfect in every way.
Her lips trailed down his temple to his cheek. Anticipation of finding his lips overwhelmed her and her knees turned to mush. She leaned into him, inadvertently pushing him back onto the bed. His strong grip on her wrists brought her down over him and his kiss came swiftly and was more passionate than she had expected, devouring her with his mouth. Her head swirled in desire and for a long moment of complete abandon, she was barely aware of her surroundings. The touch of his hands on her skin, the softness of his lips over hers and the moist sweetness of his tongue were all that mattered. It was too easy to get lost in his hold and she didn’t want to have to think of when and how she’d regain control.
Their lips left each other when Sebastian pushed her off him and held her aloft with one hand while his other hand worked to free her of her t-shirt. Not wanting to be outdone, she sat back and pulled him into a seated position and quickly unbuttoned his shirt until he was bare chested in front of her, and she was running her hands over his magnificent body.
An erotic sigh escaped her as her eyes remained riveted to the perfect biceps that faced her. Smooth and soft skin pulled taunt over strong and perfectly shaped muscles was more than she could resist. Her hands fluttered up to touch his chest then tickled their way down over every ab while her mouth went straight to his chest where she stuck out her tongue to lick his nipple. He groaned before pulling her face up to kiss her deeply, while his hands reached under her bra to begin rubbing her nipples in circular motions that made her want to jump out of her skin. “That,” he growled into her ear, “is for licking me before I gave you permission. It. Was. Very. Naughty.” He pulled up her shirt and her bra at the same time before plunging down his face to grab hold of her nipple in his mouth. When his teeth lightly grazed it, she moaned in pleasure. Her back arched as she jutted her breasts out further towards his hungry mouth, while his tongue began circling each nipple, making her shudder with each lick. “That’s for being naughty, not nice, Miss Singleton.” He sucked in her breast, while his hand plunged into the front of her jeans, reaching to her sensitive clit to begin rubbing.
“Oh, Sebastian,” Serena cried.
“Do you intend on asking me for permission to touch or lick my nipples from now on?” Sebastian asked.
“If I don’t?” Serena asked, breathlessly.
“Then there’s more punishment like this to come, only I won’t let you have the satisfaction of coming.”
Serena’s eyes opened wide, and she said, “That’s torturous alright, Sebastian. I can’t imagine not being able to…”
“Hush,” Sebastian said gently, “I won’t punish you so harshly. It will be all sweetness, like this,” he plunged his fingers into her, while his thumb continued to rub at her clit, causing her to writhe against him. The pressure within her was mounting so quickly, she was going to come if he continued on with his pleasurable onslaught.
Right before she thought she wasn’t going to hold onto her control any further, he pulled his fingers out, before licking them, causing her to shudder slightly. “You taste just as sweet as I imagined you’d be, Serena.” He smiled as he leaned into her, “Deliciously feminine, yet wild, like a vintage wine.” He kissed her. “You don’t even know how exquisite you are.”
Exquisite? Sebastian Sorensen thought she was exquisite? If she was exquisite, then he must be vintage. She had to have a taste of him. Overwhelmed with the erotic images that played in her mind, she kissed him harder and plunged her tongue into the depths of his mouth. His lips tasted so good, she wondered if she’d ever get enough.
In the distance the doorbell rang, but she refused to acknowledge it. She didn’t want the moment to end. She didn’t want to stray from the heat of his body and she didn’t want his fingers to stop their journey over her skin. He’d unfastened the button of her jeans and was working the zipper down when he suddenly stopped.
“I think you have a visitor,” Sebastian said with annoying efficiency. With hot and gentle hands, he pried her off him.
Flustered beyond comprehension, she pushed her hair off her face and stared dumbfounded at him. How could he remain so cool and unmoved in such a heated moment?
“I’m not expecting anyone.” She heard the strange huskiness in her voice and realized just how badly she wanted to remain in the moment. Whoever was at the door would leave. It couldn’t possibly be important. It couldn’t possibly be more important than this.
“I think it might be your superintendent. I gave him a call about the security issue with the building.” Sebastian stood and pulled the black shirt back on. “He said he’d drop by if he had the chance.”
Security? Serena could almost feel the tears of frustration working their way to her eyes. Instead of allowing that emotion to take over, she pulled her t-shirt and bra down and went to open the door all the while averting Sebastian’s gaze. She didn’t want him to see just how frustrated she was by this untimely interruption.
He grabbed her wrist and stopped her progress. “Don’t look so disappointed,” he whispered, before kissing her thoroughly, making her knees crumble as she melted into him. “This isn’t over.” He took the lead and opened the door.
“You the one who called about the security?” Mr. Hough said. He was a short and stout man who had little time to lose and made sure everyone knew it.
“Yes, I am.” Sebastian opened the door wider and gestured for Mr. Hough to enter. “Come sit down.”
Serena nodded a quick greeting at the super. She’d only met once or twice before, but had never spoken to him.
“No need to sit,” Mr. Hough said. “We already have a contract with a
security guy. He takes care of the buzzers, doors, windows and all that stuff. We used to have a camera out back. We could see what went on in the parking lot, but that got busted last year and we never replaced it.”
“Is there a possibility of replacing it now?”
“The contract runs for another year,” Mr. Hough said with a shake of his head. “Not much I can do now to change that.”
“Sure, I understand.” Sebastian took a step forward, ready to close the door.
Mr. Hough turned to look at Serena. “If you're really concerned about a break in or whatever, I can add a chain to your door; maybe a deadbolt.”
“I’ve got it from here on in,” Sebastian said. “Thanks anyway.”
“No problem.”
Sebastian shut the door and leaned into it. “I guess I’ll have to take your security into my own hands.”
Serena liked the sound of that.
“Now, where were we?” Sebastian asked, moving towards her while unbuttoning his shirt.
Serena wanted so badly to continue where they left off before the superintendent arrived, but she stepped back. As much as she wanted Sebastian, she had to hold back before it went any further. She needed to make sure she got an adviser, and she needed Sebastian to take her seriously. “Not so fast, Professor,” Serena said. “We don’t have to rush into anything, and…”
“You still want me as an adviser,” Sebastian said. He ran his fingers through his hair before letting out a frustrated growl. “I guess we’ll have to settle that one way or another. Meet me at my office on campus tomorrow after I have a chance to talk to the officials, and I’ll let you know where we stand.”
Serena nodded, as Sebastian gathered his things, heading towards the door.
“If you excuse me, I’ll have to go. Staying here with you one minute longer will guarantee me ravaging you on the spot so I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember to lock your doors, and don’t let anyone you don’t know in.”
“Yes, mother,” Serena joked, but deep down inside, she wanted him to stay. And to ravage her as he promised.
Sebastian smiled and left.
Chapter 13
Serena felt a heated blush come to her cheeks the moment she approached the door to Sebastian’s office. Though she’d come to see him on official business, her body wasn’t quite in tune to what her head was planning; getting Sebastian to sign the documents that would officially declare him her adviser.
When he opened the door, she fought the incredible impulse to push him to the wall and throw herself all over him, to continue where they left off. Though the sight of him in her old sweatshirt hadn’t diminished his appeal, seeing him now in a proper suit and tie definitely had a strong effect on her.
“You managed to make it a few minutes early this time,” Sebastian teased.
“Well, I expect to officially have an advisor today, so…”
“Yeah.” He seemed distracted as he returned behind his desk, sat down and idly fiddled with a pen. “I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here.” She sat in the seat across from him and tried to ignore his odd behavior. She wanted to remain upbeat. This was the day everything would get settled, but she was struck with a sinking feeling.
“Serena.” His tone was stony, almost cold.
Her upbeat disposition took another hit and she bit her lip. What was wrong now?
“I don’t think I can be your adviser.”
“What?” She shot out of her seat and pounded her fist to his desk. “No! You can’t do this.”
Holding out a calming hand, he gestured for her to sit back down. “You don’t have to shout, Serena. Just hear me out.”
“No, I won’t hear you out.” She ignored his request to sit back down. “Have you been stringing me along? You think you can just toy with me… I went to that damn party and…”
“Serena!” He came around his desk and rushed toward her.
For a moment she thought he was going to physically throw her out of his office, but he grabbed her by the arms and roughly pulled her to him. Taken aback she resisted a second, but he persisted and held her close. In an instant his lips were over hers and while she melted into him, her head spun with confusion. What was he doing to her?
“This is what I want,” Sebastian muttered through his kisses. “I want to hold you, to touch you, to kiss you. I want your body against mine. I want to plunge myself deep into you so badly and give you multiple orgasms, while making the most exquisite love you’ll ever experience.”
“So do I,” she whispered. “But…”
He pulled away and looked at her. “While I’d be honored to be your adviser, Serena, I’d much prefer to be your lover.”
She gasped and her eyes widened with shock.
“I can’t be both,” Sebastian went on. “Serena, we’ve only seen each other a few times and each time has been torture. I have to control myself from grabbing you, ripping off your clothes, and throwing you up against the wall or on my desk and fuck the hell out of you. I know I’m not the only one to feel the chemistry between us, right?”
“Okay, you're right, but, as much as…” She hesitated. She didn’t want to come straight out and admit just how much she’d enjoy having him as her lover. “My music is very important to me, Sebastian. Yes, I’m drawn to you. You're a very charismatic man, and…” Damn how she would enjoy having him as her lover. She can feel his fingers inside of her while his teeth lightly graze her nipples still from yesterday’s encounter when he came over to see her about security. Darn, was he an amazing lover. Just his kiss was enough to make her wet with want. And he was a generous doting lover. He took great care to make sure she was enjoying herself more than he did. She took a deep breath. “But I need an adviser.”
“And you really think we could just work together, side by side, spending so much time together without ever…?” He eyed her with lusty intent, and pulled her against him, brushing her crotch against his hardness. She sucked in some air at the touch. “Dammit, Serena. I can’t even be in the same room with you without getting a massive hard-on. How can I work with you side by side without wanting to spend all my time bending you over, lifting your skirt, and taking you from behind? How can I resist tearing off your clothes and going down on you, so I can taste you. My hunger for you is insatiable, Serena. You’ve unleashed a side of me that I can barely control. I can’t get enough of you.” He plunged his tongue inside her mouth, tangling it with hers to emphasize how thoroughly he wanted her.
Lost in their heated kiss, she moaned, melting into his broad chest, wanting his strong arms around her, protecting her, wanting her. She knew he was right, but she refused to admit it. Dammit, she needed an adviser. It was her dream to become a composer, in a field where there were hardly any women. “Look,” she pulled away a little shakily. “A little abstinence never killed anyone.” With every word that slipped off her tongue, she knew how ridiculous it sounded.
Sebastian pulled her closer and pressed his pelvis to hers. “Really?”
“Um.” The temperature in the room was suddenly suffocating. “Sebastian, I just think…”
He kissed her, deep and long, and any notion of music, composition or advisers flew out the window.
“I have a colleague,” Sebastian said when he pulled back. “He would be the perfect adviser for you. He’s in his sixties, a grandfather, and much more experienced than I am in churning out the next generation of music composition talent. If need be, I could be second in line, but, to tell you the truth, I don’t think I’d get much advising done where you're concerned.”
An excited thrill shot through her. “I guess I could live with that arrangement, but…” Her mind left the heated bed she’d share with him and returned to the career she had in mind… the future she had in store. “Who’s your colleague? Is he as renowned as you?”
“Not quite.” Sebastian smiled and seemed flustered for the first time. “I appreciate your confidence in me. I gues
s amidst all this I could still help you with your studies, just not officially.”
“But you just said you couldn’t…”
Chuckling, he snuggled his nose into the crook of her neck. “I think I’ll be able to get control of myself enough to write beautiful music with you…naked or in the bathtub or both.”
“So, you’d still advise me.”
“Informally, I can still teach you, and you can be my secret protégé. It’d be the best of both worlds. I could teach you in all kinds of composition while also giving you an education in receiving and giving intense pleasure. It would also solve the whole issue with the security at your building.”
“How’s that?”
“Oh, didn’t I mention… I’d like to have you stay at my place. That way I could keep an eye on you… in every way.”
“Your place?”
“Yes.”
“Us together?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know…”
“I do.”
“I want to say yes…” This wasn’t what she’d planned and she couldn’t help but wonder how her relationship with him would pan out. What if it became disastrous? What if after a few weeks he tired of her, got bored with her and wanted to move on? What would happen to her music then? What would happen to everything? “As tempted as I am, Sebastian…”
“Okay, think about it.”
“Sebastian.”
“Go home, take a good long bath with a nice glass of wine and think it all over. Think about me, about us, about your music and about the best choice you can make at this point in time. If you choose to have me strictly as your adviser, stay home tonight and come back to my office tomorrow morning, wearing something godawfully prim and proper, maybe even a knight’s armor or a chastity belt. If you choose to become my protégé and have me as your lover, your protector, your mentor and your adviser, come to me tonight… at my place.”
***