by Kailin Gow
“Perfectly.”
She handed him the address and he hurried out. He’d already lost far too much time and didn’t want to waste another minute.
Mindful of the traffic that surrounded him, he drove as quickly as he could to the building that was familiar to him. He knew many of the people who lived in the prestigious building and had a gnawing suspicion who occupied the penthouse. As he rode the elevator to the top floor, he prayed he was wrong.
Chapter 19
The door opened before he had the chance to knock and he faced the suspicions that’d grown on the way up.
“Price,” Sebastian said with a cool nod. It was in sharp contrast to the blood that boiled so feverishly under his skin.
Wearing only black silk pants, the handsome blond stood in the doorway, confident in all that he was.
Sebastian’s jaw tightened as he accepted the fact that this man, this master of Serena, was a very good looking man. He obviously worked hard at staying in shape and for a flashing moment, Sebastian imagined this man over Serena’s body.
He wanted to vomit.
“Mr. Sorensen,” Price said. “What brings you here?”
Sebastian’s fingers twitched as he fought the urge to reach out and grab the young tycoon by the throat.
“I thought I’d settled everything with your father.” Price leaned his toned torso into the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest, emphasizing the strength of his muscles.
Yes, Sebastian thought. And his father wouldn’t be too thrilled when he learned of this latest revelation.
Cocking a brow, Price grinned. “You seem kind of lost. Are you sure you're at the right place?”
Sebastian could have sworn the arrogant bastard flexed his biceps.
“I got this address for Serena Singleton.” Holding his breath, he hoped and prayed he had the wrong address. Perhaps Laura had given him the wrong address. It could have even been an intentional mistake… anything to get rid of him, to throw him off Serena’s track.
“Yeah, what do you want with her?”
His heart ceased beating for an aching moment. Serena was here… with this man… with this damned arrogant man who clearly didn’t deserve her.
“Who is that?” An authoritative female voice called out.
Sebastian’s heart resumed beating, but at a frantic pace. It was Serena’s voice, but with a tone he’d never heard before. Gone was the innocent student voice that was so soft, feminine, and pleasing.
Dressed in a skimpy white silk teddy, her hair tousled and wild, Serena came to stand beside Price. She casually leaned into him, as though they’d been lovers for ages. Sebastian could only stare, taking in her scent, her smooth skin, the hair he had wrapped around his fingers many times before. God, she was sexy, and every part of him wanted to go over, grab her, and make love to her right now.
Lazily, almost indifferently, she looked to Sebastian. After a shocked moment of gaping, she smiled at him, a smile that betrayed nothing of the relationship they’d had, nothing of the passionate nights they’d shared; nothing of nothing. Judging by her polite but detached smile, they were mere acquaintances; or worse still, they’d never met.
The moment Laura had given him the address, he’d had every intention of tearing Serena out of the grips of this master, of freeing her, but now… he felt an immense loss. The animal instinct that had driven him to this man’s penthouse now faded to nothing. Though he ached, he had no idea how to deal with the woman that now faced him; this woman he’d come to care so much for. Her indifference to him, floored him.
She seemed so content and at ease with this pompous blond man. She seemed completely at home in the luxury penthouse. Laura had spoken of this master as though he were Serena’s captor, her slave driver, but Serena seemed far from being imprisoned or enslaved. When she looked up at her master, her eyes warm with admiration and affection, a part of Sebastian crumbled inside.
“It looks like we have a visitor, Serena,” Price said. He seemed unperturbed by Serena’s lack of adequate clothing, just as Serena seemed perfectly at home parading around in a teddy that left nothing to the imagination. Despite himself, Sebastian grew hard just looking at her, remembering what it felt like to touch her and taste her every night and morning.
She nodded and took Sebastian’s hand, not as a lover or friend, but as a hostess intent on welcoming a guest. Leading him into the living room, she said, “Could I bring you a glass of wine? Or perhaps you’d prefer coffee?”
“I’m good, thanks.” Sebastian sat on the black leather sofa and watched Serena as she stood at Price’s side as he took a seat.
“This young man is here to see you, Serena. Do you wonder why?”
“I do.”
Sebastian gazed at Serena then at Price. Was he expected to state his reason for coming to see Serena right there in front of this arrogant bastard? He would have preferred to talk to her alone, to have the chance to reach out to her, to hold her hand, to… He took a deep breath and accepted the situation as it presented itself. Price’s possessive glare clearly told him that a private reunion with Serena would not happen.
“First off,” Sebastian finally said. He held Serena’s gaze, hoping to convey the emotion that accompanied his words. “I wanted to clear up all this Willow marriage business. The society pages picked up on that picture of me with Willow and they ran with it, no doubt encouraged by Willow herself and her mother. I have no intention whatsoever of marrying that woman. She knows it, her mother knows it and my mother knows it. That article was all wishful thinking on their part.” For a moment he forgot about Price’s presence as he looked into Serena’s eyes. “You know me better than that, Serena. For crying out loud, if I’d wanted to marry her, I’d be with her now, not here trying to get you back.”
“Get her back?” Price said with a menacing tone.
Ignoring him, Sebastian kept his eyes on Serena. “I want to go back to the way we were before…”
Price whipped his head back to look at Serena. “Is that what you’d want? To go back to the way you were? The way you were with him?”
Sebastian held her gaze. Her eyes had softened at his question, but had become defensive when Price had questioned her. If they could have a moment alone, Sebastian felt certain she’d come to him; that she’d give him a second chance.
“Serena,” Sebastian murmured. “Please give us another chance.”
“I think I would like that.”
“Like what?” Price shot out.
“I would like to start again. I would like to go back to the way it was.” Though there was affection and warmth in her eyes, something was missing.
Sebastian felt a ball of pain and regret take hold in his gut. Something was holding her back and he didn’t know if he’d be able to get her past it.
“But…” Price interjected.
Serena cast her gaze to Price’s shoulder.
“There are a few things Sebastian needs to know about you. I wouldn’t want him to have the false impression that he has the capacity to make you happy; to keep you happy, right Serena?”
She nodded but kept her gaze fixed to Price’s shoulder.
“Serena?” Sebastian said, hoping to snap her out of the hold this man had on her.
Chapter 20
From below her lashes, Serena looked at Sebastian. From the very first time she’d met him, she’d been aware of the difference between him and Price. She’d even wondered if that had been part of the appeal. Visually, he was dark and brooding where Price was fair and outgoing. Internally, however, the two men seemed to switch extremities, leaving Price with the dark and sometimes foreboding demeanor, while Sebastian proved how sweet and kind he could be.
Now, as she gazed at him, she felt the strong stirrings she’d felt for him right from the start. Though she wanted to cling to the hurt and anger that had accosted her when she’d found out about his wedding to Willow, deep inside, she believed him. She believed he truly wanted to be with her�
� to win her back.
His strength and determination faltered as he waited for her to respond to him. He suddenly seemed so beaten down; so defeated, and she knew she was responsible for that pained look in his eyes. As much as she would have liked to change that, there was little she could do about it now. Their paths had crossed. Their paths had mingled. And now their paths must diverge.
And so life went on.
“Serena?” Sebastian said again, the pleading tone of his voice enough to make her weep. “Do you believe I don’t have what you need to make you happy? Do you not believe that I would do everything and anything to make you happy?”
Flashes of her nights with Price came to her; nights that were torrid, heated and satisfying. Sometimes their play turned rough. While she never would admit it to anyone, she enjoyed those nights. The pain Price inflicted on her brought out something animal and instinctual in her, something she never failed to respond to. She couldn’t deny Price had the magic touch, and while Sebastian had proven to have the potential to please her just as much, she didn’t know yet how far he’d go. Now, she wished she’d tested him more when she’d had the chance. She wished she’d pressed him to go outside his comfort zone.
But more than anything, she simply wished she’d had the chance to tell him what Price now wanted to expose of her. She knew how he played. He wanted to strip away the image of the innocent girl she played. He wanted to show Sebastian what he was truly up against. He wanted Sebastian to see the dark and wild animal that resided in her.
No doubt he felt Sebastian wouldn’t be up to the task of pleasing her. She could already hear the victorious tone in his voice.
He slapped her bottom and looked up at her. “I think Sebastian Sorensen, the noted professor and prized composer, would like to know more about you Serena Singleton. I highly doubt he’ll be pleased with what you have to show him of yourself, but I think watching him squirm as he discovers you, could be amusing. There’s something fascinating in watching a pious, highly noted and accomplished professional crumble in the face of black leather, strap-ons and sex swings. It’s always a pleasure to watch a man’s eyes darken with confusion, then widen with arousal as he learns that the innocent woman he’d come to care so much for is not so innocent at all.”
Sebastian’s eyes darkened and hardened. He’d not seen anything yet, and clearly he wasn’t pleased. When Price slipped his fingers under the frail fabric of her panties and grabbed her bottom, Sebastian gripped the armrests and Serena was certain he’d lunge at him, but he remained immobile.
“I’m anxious to see if you’ll be aroused, Professor Sorensen.”
Sebastian grimaced and chewed on his inner cheek.
“Nice ass, wouldn’t you say?” Price taunted as he kneaded Serena’s firm but round butt cheek.
Sebastian’s gaze jumped from the workings of Price’s hand to Serena’s eyes. How could she let this arrogant ass, show her off like this? The Serena he knew, who stood up to his parents at the fundraiser, wouldn’t allow her bottom to be handled like that in front of people. His eyes pleaded, begged and sought to understand. Was Laura right? Did Serena’s return to her Master squelched her spirit as a person, too? Where was the Serena he knew?
Chapter 21
Having spent a good portion of the night weeping after seeing how hurt Sebastian looked when Serena acted like she never knew him, never cared for him, Serena got out of bed the moment she heard Price leave the penthouse. The night with him had been heated and they’d had little chance to sleep. If their little spectacle last night didn’t arouse Sebastian, it had certainly turned Price on. He’d been insatiable, coming back again and again, and wanting more and more. His requests had gone beyond anything he’d ever asked of her before, leaving her sore and sensitive all over.
By the time he awoke late that morning and left to go to the office, she’d been awake for hours. Her mind had played and replayed the events of the night before, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. She’d wept in silence as Price had slept soundly. She’d been desperate to keep him from knowing just how heartbroken she was about Sebastian. He’d only ridicule and torment her about her failure to keep her emotions in check.
Her bare feet were soothed by the warm thick carpeting of his bedroom as she stepped to the window and pulled back the heavy drapes. For a brief moment she was blinded by the brilliant sun. It was a shame. Her mood would have preferred a gray and rainy day.
As far as the eye could see, sunlight glistened on every tiny wavelet of the peaceful ocean. Occasionally the sun hit on the sail of an elegant sailboat. Far below, people strolled or jogged on the beach sand while others milled around the dock as they prepared for a leisurely boat ride, or an afternoon of fishing.
From the outside, it promised to be a beautiful day; the type of day Serena usually hoped for; the type of day that left a spring in her step; the type of day that made her smile for no other reason than the sun on her face and the breeze in her hair. Yet today, the day seemed doomed to be dark and painful. No amount of sunshine or laughter would alleviate that.
Still strapped into the leather corset she’d put on the night before, she headed to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. As she passed the hall mirror she caught a glimpse of herself and immediately thought of Sebastian.
In her mind’s eye, she saw his eyes as Price had exposed her true nature. Shock had mingled with arousal. He’d been intrigued, but had held back. His gaze had held restrained interest. His eyes had widened one moment and he’d even protested a time or two, but the slow lick of his lips and the subtle narrowing of his eyes had betrayed him.
“Go get dressed,” Price had ordered. “Sebastian and I are going to enjoy a moment of male bonding.”
She’d not heard their exchange as she’d left the room to dun the clothing Price requested, but she’d noticed the red splotches on Sebastian’s face when she’d returned. What exploits had Price regaled him with? During her brief absence, she’d heard Price’s throaty laugh, the type of laugh he usually reserved for the people he didn’t particularly like; for the people he was happy to hurt. She knew Price can be cruel like that when he was set on winning. Being one of the youngest self-made billionaires, he knew how to be ruthless.
As she’d exited the room she shared with her master, her steps had been tentative at first. Destroying the image she’d created for Sebastian was at once painful and thrilling. How would he react? What would he say? Aroused by the very notion, she walked out and hoped he’d be ready to get in the game. She longed for nothing more than to show him her true colors and to have him appreciate all those colors.
When she turned the corner and entered the living room, Sebastian’s jaw dropped and he instantly stopped talking. His disbelieving gaze took in the tight red corset that left her breasts almost completely exposed. Her nipples were erect and her breasts hard with want of a strong hand. His gaze dipped to the thigh high, four inch heeled boots, and the riding crop.
“You sure you want her?” Price had taunted.
Sebastian didn’t say anything, but from the heated look in his burning blue eyes, it was clear he wanted her.
Serena shook the images from her head and tried to shake off the intense arousal her reverie had brought. She’d wanted so badly to play with Sebastian; to show him what she could do to him; what she could make him do to her. In the end, she had to assume the shock of it all had been too much. Without saying a word, and without taking another look at her, he had gotten out of his seat so fast, Serena had frozen in place, speechless.
He’d left without saying a word and now she had no idea what he thought of what he’d seen. What, if anything, did he want of her.
With her cup of coffee in hand, she returned to the bedroom to find more suitable clothing for the day. After a night in the tight corset, she wanted to spend the rest of the morning in something loose and comfortable. Price would be gone for a good portion of the day and she wanted to go back to the innocent college girl fo
r a little while. In a way, she was very much this girl who had wide-eyed innocence and dreams of a future in music. She sighed as a single teardrop fell on her cheek. It was worse, knowing how Sebastian had encouraged her all the way as a true professor and mentor. He truly thought she was talented, and understood how notes can meld together to form melodies that moved people. She was going to miss Sebastian…
She reached for the second drawer of Price’s dresser hoping to find a soft and comfy t-shirt. No such luck. All he had was an assortment of boxers, boxer briefs and special mini briefs for those special nights, she knew too well.
She opened the bottom drawer and rummaged beneath the many polo shirts all nicely folded and sorted by color. Instead of finding soft t-shirts, however, her hand came over a thick envelope. Never one to pry, she now felt an irresistible urge to find out more about Price. For all their time together, he’d always been so private, so secretive. He’d given her tidbits of information about himself, but he’d always doled out that information with great care.
What could be the harm in knowing a little bit more about him? she thought. The envelope was heavy and clamped closed with a thick paper clip.
Sitting on the bed, she pried the paper clip off and pulled the flap up. Her heart beat at a quickened pace and she suddenly had the foreboding sense she was about to learn something she might not be happy to learn. Her fingers reached inside and prepared to pull the thick stack of paper out, but she needed a moment to catch her breath first.
Ignorance is bliss, she thought. Yeah, she silently countered, and curiosity killed the cat.
“Okay,” she scolded herself. “Get it over with.”
She pulled out the stack of paper and was confronted by a picture of herself and Sebastian; the same photo that had been taken on the yacht the night of the party.