by Lulu Pratt
When her small palm is in mine, a shock ripples through me, similar to the one that jolted me when I handed over her check earlier today.
“Thank you,” Olivia says once she’s seated.
Without thinking, I reach over her and secure her seatbelt as if she’s incapable.
Admittedly, the urge to take care of her is just impossible to ignore.
A charged look passes between the two of us but neither of us dare break the silence.
As I round the front of the car to get the driver’s side, the bulge in my pants throbs, eager for release.
***
A burger. Of all the things that Olivia could try on the menu, she’d settled for a burger that was the size of her face and a heaping side of curly fries.
But I must admit, I’m enjoying watching her eat it.
“You do realize you could eat that in Tennessee, right?”
“Mmm, but it’s so delicious here!” she says, shoving more fries into her mouth.
I shake my head and laugh as I continue to watch her, my meal all but forgotten.
There’s a dab of mayo on the corner of her mouth and my mind jumps straight to the gutter.
I imagine my cum smeared across her mouth as she kneels before me, on her knees, my cock buried deep in her throat.
As if my erection couldn’t get any more painful, my dick throbs, wanting to bring my fantasy to life.
“What?” Olivia asks self-consciously, noticing my gaze is fixed on her mouth.
Snapping out of my salacious thoughts, I smirk and shake my head.
“Nothing, you just have some mayo on your lip.”
Reaching up, Olivia swipes the wrong side of her mouth.
Amused, I grab the napkin situated in my lap and reach across the table to help her.
She freezes at the contact, her green eyes darkening to a deep jade color before she mutters her thanks.
Pleased that she’s just as affected by me as I am by her, I relax a little and slouch against my chair.
We’re seated outside at a popular restaurant on the island. Live music is playing and the beach is only yards away but the atmosphere is lost on me as I focus on Olivia.
“So, tell me more about your life.”
She smiles self-deprecatingly.
“In comparison to yours, I’m sure it’s pretty boring.”
Glancing down at the table self-consciously, she avoids eye contact.
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”
“There’s not much to tell. I went to Guildford Tech after graduation and got my license as a certified nursing assistant. After that, I got a gig at the only nursing home in town and worked there for about seven years before I quit due to personal reasons. I’m currently a live-in aid for an eighty-year-old dementia patient named Arnold. I love my job and it’s very rewarding. But also pretty exhausting. That’s why I entered the contest. I can’t remember the last time I’ve taken a vacation. Of course at the time, I didn’t know you were the creator of the app. I nearly fell down the stairs when I saw you waiting for me.”
I smile easily at her admission. Intrigued, I want to know the personal reason that led her to quit her job at the nursing home, but I don’t feel like I have the right to ask.
And why the hell hadn’t she gone off to college to become a registered nurse? I was there the day she opened her acceptance letter to Tennessee State and knew she had big plans of moving to a city and working at a top hospital.
Olivia shrugs and looks at me. “And that’s it. That’s my life in a nutshell. Told you it’s pretty boring.”
But I still want more.
“What about your personal life? Are you dating anyone at the moment?”
CHAPTER FIVE
OLIVIA KING
Sebastian’s question throws me for a loop, but I recover quickly and simply shake my head in response.
I swear that his blue eyes light up at this newfound information.
“Your turn. I want to know everything. How did you become this tech genius?”
His relaxed position in the chair is disarming. He looks thoroughly relaxed and in control.
Meanwhile, I’m fidgeting under his steady gaze.
His low voice is strong and clear when he answers my question.
“Well, it certainly didn’t happen overnight, that’s for sure. I left Tennessee and moved to Silicon Valley right after graduation. I never wanted to go to college, as I’m sure you remember. “
I nod in agreement, remembering how much he loathed it. He was so incredibly smart but hated the institution of school and always vowed that high school was it for him.
“The plan was to move to California and find an internship with a startup in the Valley. It wasn’t as easy as I thought and I ended up flipping burgers and sleeping on a holey couch at my friend’s place until something came available at Google. I worked for pennies, basically, but I was so hungry for knowledge that I didn’t even care.”
I smile because that sounds just like Sebastian.
“I interned there for two years before I moved on to a junior position at Twitter. There’s where I met my business partner, Malakai. After working side by side for a few years, we developed an app together that we knew would change social media for years to come. After working sixteen-hour days, we’d meet up at my place and pore over consumer data and trends. I coded while he handled the other logistics.”
Mesmerized by his story, I push my plate aside and lean my elbows against the table giving him my undivided attention.
“Then five years ago, we launched Discover Travel. It was a rocky start, but we found our footing through the chaos. Navigating such a saturated digital market is hard as hell but I think we’ve managed pretty well.”
“I’ll say,” I say and Sebastian smiles.
He’s so fucking hot.
How come I never noticed in high school?
My head was so deep in books and my plans of the future that I failed to realize how gorgeous my classmate was.
“I’m really, really proud of you,” I share, extending my hand across the table to touch his.
Currents of electricity surge through me at the contact and I try not to yank my hand back in shock.
Never have I ever felt such a palpable connection with someone.
“Thanks,” he intones seriously. “That means a lot coming from you, Olivia.”
The timbre of his voice when he says my name makes me giddy, but I mask the reaction with a small smile of my own.
“I don’t know why, I’m sure you hear it every day!”
The ways he’s focusing on me is unnerving and I want to shift the attention back to him.
He doesn’t let me off the hook so easily.
“It means more coming from you.”
The gravity of his words settle on me and my chest constricts at the serious expression on his devastatingly handsome face.
“You know, it nearly crushed me when you turned down my offer to prom,” he says out of the blue.
Confused, I stare at him as my eyes widen. “What?”
“Senior prom. I wanted to go with you but you turned me down.”
A frown is on my face as he shares this tidbit.
“I did?”
I’m honestly having trouble recalling this. I’d never gone to prom. Though I’d had every intention to before my father crushed me with his stinging betrayal.
I specifically remember learning that I wouldn’t be going to college in the middle of prom season.
“Yep,” he says easily. “I finally got up the courage to ask you one Friday during art class and you said no. Something about it not being a good time for you. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that you couldn’t just tell me to my face that you didn’t want to go with me.”
Memories come flooding back and I remember that day in the art room as if it was yesterday.
“Oh, my God.” I clasp a hand over my mouth.
“Coming back to you
now?” he asks with a teasing smile.
“You have to believe me, Sebastian. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go. I just couldn’t. I’d just found out that I wasn’t going to college because my dad had lost my entire college fund due to his gambling habit.”
This makes him sit up straighter.
I shake my head and continue. “I would have gone with you in a heartbeat, but the timing was shitty. I was even on the prom committee, but quit once I found out about my dad. I just didn’t want to do anything anymore. I was crushed.”
“Olivia, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
It’s his turn to reach out and place a comforting hand over mine.
I relish in the warmth of his touch.
“You have no reason to apologize. How could you know that my father was a selfish bastard?”
He looks contrite before shaking his head. “Still…”
I shrug, wanting to lighten the mood. “It’s in the past. Let’s leave it there.”
This has been my motto for a while. It got me through community college, the breakup with Jordan and I have no doubt that it will continue to serve its purpose.
Sebastian lets out a loud breath, before leaning in to me.
“Okay. Enough of the serious shit, what are you planning to do with the money?”
The somber mood is lifted and I smile, grateful for the reprieve.
“Well,” I start, taking a sip of my Diet Coke. “I’m finally going to nursing school. I started my application as soon as I got the phone call telling me that I won the competition.”
Sebastian is smiling at me. Butterflies dance in my stomach at the beautiful sight.
“That’s great, Olivia!” his voice is booming and full of pride.
I can’t explain just how that makes me feel but warm fuzzies blanket me, relieving the weariness I’ve become accustomed to feeling.
“I’m going to buy a house and settle all my debt. Invest a portion of it, then the rest is going in the bank so I can travel.”
It had been fairly easy to determine what I was going to do with the million dollar prize: invest in myself and make up for all the years I’d lost.
“That sounds like a great plan, Liv.”
Hearing my old nickname fall from his lips is downright dizzying. I’m not even going to examine why his approval means so much to me.
“Thanks to you,” I murmur lowly.
Out of nowhere, a pessimistic thought enters my mind.
“Did you pick my submission when you recognized my name?” I ask, suspiciously.
His face is impassive but he shakes his head emphatically.
“No, I had no idea it was you. My team narrowed it down the top ten submissions before they left them on my desk. The names weren’t on the stories I read. They were just numbered one through ten. I picked yours because it moved me.”
His words seem sincere so I don’t push the issue any further. Grabbing a luke-warm fry, I push it into my mouth for lack of anything else to do.
“Are you tired, Olivia?”
Yes, exhausted.
But there’s no way I’m going to admit it. I don’t want our night to end. It’s the first time I’ve seen him in ten years and he’s leaving soon.
“No,” I lie.
Sebastian’s tone is confident and clear when he decides, “We’re going dancing.”
CHAPTER SIX
SEBASTIAN DOWNS
So, this isn’t my best idea.
Not only is Olivia an incredible dancer, she draws a lot of attention despite her diminutive stature.
Every fucker in the building is practically drooling as they leer at her from different corners of the club.
Lucky for me, Olivia seems unfazed as she throws her hands in the air and winds her hips against me to the beat of the music.
I have a raging hard-on and I know she can feel it through the thin material of her dress. But she doesn’t let on. She just keeps working her ass against me until I’m sure I’m going to lose my mind.
Who knew little miss goody two shoes was such a sensual dancer?
We’ve both imbibed a couple drinks already, but I need another if I’m going to make it through this sweet torture.
Bending down to whisper in her ear, I catch a whiff of her perfume which is now mixed with the scent of berry sangria — her drink of choice.
I inhale a lungful of the seductive fragrance before speaking.
“I’m going to get us some more drinks,” I tell her, my lips brushing her earlobe.
In spite of the warm temperature in the club, I swear I feel her shiver before she looks up at me.
“I’ll come with you,” she shouts over the music. “I could use a break.”
Thrilled that I won’t be leaving her alone on the dance floor, I grab her tiny hand and secure it against my chest as I lead us through the throng of people on the small dance floor.
At the bar, I place our orders quickly then pull Olivia against me protectively.
The tourists and locals occupying the club are rude as fuck and have nearly knocked her off balance several times.
Still, a smile sits on her face as she sways to the music.
I decide she’s way too nice for her own good and that I will handle the next motherfucker who bumps into her.
My sexual frustration and slight buzz are to blame for my dark mood.
Just as the bartender hands over our drinks, my phone buzzes for the third time in half an hour and I know I have to take it.
Malakai is freaking out about something and I need to run interference before he flies to the island.
“Olivia, give me two minutes. I have to take this,” I rush to say before I head for the door with my beer in hand.
Lord knows I’m going to need it.
Malakai answers on the first ring and tears into a full-fledged diatribe about an error with a recent app update. Customers are complaining and he’s nervous that our stock will suffer if the programmers don’t fix it immediately.
It takes longer than I expect to calm him down and assure him that everything will be fine. With promises to video conference the development and logistics team when I return to my hotel room, I disconnect the call.
Pissed that I have to end my night with Olivia earlier than planned, I take my final swig of beer and reenter the club.
The sight before me tinges my vision a dangerous red color.
Olivia is in the center of the dance floor with another man, dancing her heart out.
With jealousy pumping through my veins, I march over to the two of them and pull Olivia’s arm harder than I intend to.
Alarmed, she yelps before realizing it’s me. Then her eyes widen as she takes in the angry expression on my face.
“Is everything okay?” she mouths, her voice no match for the deafening music.
“Let’s. Go. Now.” I mouth back and turn to walk away before she can protest.
In the Jeep, I pull out of the parking lot so fast that my tires screech.
Gripping the dashboard with white knuckles, Olivia looks at me wide eyed.
“Talk to me, Sebastian.” Her voice is soft but urgent.
Going with a half-truth, I share that something came up at the office.
“Oh.” She turns to me as I zoom through the streets back to the house. “Why didn’t you say so? I could have taken a cab,” she says, settling back into her seat.
“I wasn’t leaving you there alone,” I remark moodily, sliding her a sidelong glance.
“I see,” Olivia comments quietly, turning her head to stare out the window.
The remainder of the ride passes in tense silence. When I pull up to the house, Olivia wastes no time unfastening her seatbelt and hopping down from the Jeep without my help.
Shit, she’s upset.
“Olivia, wait. Damn it!” I call to her as she practically sprints to the front door.
Catching up to her, I seize her wrist before she can insert the key in the lock.
“Your
jealousy is misplaced and totally inappropriate, Sebastian.”
Her words slice through me like a knife.
“Not to mention confusing,” she goes on, planting her hand on her hip.
Her fiery attitude is turning me on more than I’d like to admit. The air between us is charged with electricity as we stare at each other stubbornly.
Closing the space between us, my lips crash against hers hungrily before I can second guess myself.
Olivia sighs into my mouth as if the kiss is a relief and my senses come alive. Her scent fills my greedy lungs while my hands cup her face, the soft skin silky against my palms.
The sound of her labored breathing is music to my ears as my tongue tastes the remnants of her last drink.
She’s divine.
Olivia’s arms encircle my waist, bringing her closer to my erection. Breaking the kiss, I drop my forehead to hers and try to catch my breath.
“I’ve wanted to do that since you stepped off the plane,” I admit with a ragged breath.
“Do it again,” Olivia demands, running the tip of her tongue across my lips.
I lose it.
Backing her up against the double doors, I reclaim her mouth and this time instead of holding her face, I grip her waist. Then my hands continue the downward journey, enjoying the curve of her hips before landing on her thigh.
With little effort, I lift her left leg and rest it around my waist as my fingers continue their exploration of her exquisite body.
Deepening the kiss, I groan into her mouth as her tongue worships mine. Moving the material of her dress out of the way, my hands seek out the juncture between her legs.
“Shit,” I growl hoarsely when I realize her skimpy thong is drenched with her desire. “You’re wet for me, baby.”
The realization is more intoxicating than the drinks I had earlier.
Olivia only moans into my mouth, unwilling to break the kiss. She does, however, push her hips forward so that my fingers are in direct contact with her slippery center.
Taking the hint, I shove the crotch of her panties aside, eager for her wetness to coat my fingers.
Initially, I palm her pussy and I swear to God, I feel a throbbing pulse beating in time with my aching cock.
“Yes,” she whispers against my lips even though I haven’t done anything yet.