by Lulu Pratt
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 lukewarm 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.
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.
I slip my middle finger between her folds and nudge her needy clit.
Olivia whimpers, breaking the kiss as her head lolls back against the door.
Loving her body’s reaction to me, I graze her swollen nub again before plunging my index and middle fingers inside of her tight opening.
The way she clamps down around my two fingers drives me wild, and I drop my head to plant kisses against her neck.
“I need you,” she whines, hips undulating to speed up her release.
Right there in front of my house, I finger fuck her fast and hard, loving the way she shudders and drenches my fingers as she comes.
Her face is a sight for sore eyes as she rides out the waves of pleasure assailing her.
Anyone reviewing the security cameras tomorrow is in for a treat.
“Oh, my God,” Olivia pants, eyes still closed as she regains her senses.
I want nothing more than to go inside and finish the job but duty calls and a part of me knows I could never fuck her on the first night.
Kissing her forehead, I fix her dress and open the door for her before turning back to my car.
“Good night,” I call over my shoulder, not trusting myself to linger any longer.
It’s going to be a long night.
CHAPTER SEVEN
OLIVIA KING
Spill!
Eyeing the text from Winnie, my mouth drops open when I see the pics she’s attached to the message.
The first is a candid of Sebastian and me at dinner last night, with me blushing and smiling like a schoolgirl while he explained something.
The next is a photo of us leaving the club in a hurry last night. I wasn’t aware of any cameras flashing but mix together the strobe light from the club and my tipsiness and there’s no telling what I missed.
Crossing my legs in front of me, I set down my mug of tea
and give the phone my full attention.
I had no idea people were taking photos.
Her response time is legendary. My phone buzzes in an instant.
Forget the damn pics, tell me you slept with him! He’s HOT HOT HOT
To drive her point home, she includes a series of fire emojis which makes me laugh out loud.
“You seem rejuvenated and happy this morning,” a low voice states behind me.
Turning to the voice, I glimpse Sebastian standing near the patio door that I left open before coming to watch the early morning waves ebb and flow against the shoreline.
He’s leaning against the door lazily, his hands tucked in the pockets of his shorts and sunglasses covering his eyes.
He’s the one who looks rejuvenated.
I’d waken up with a slight headache and memories from last night’s encounter that made me blush a deep scarlet in the bathroom mirror.
I was certainly in rare form last night.
“Good morning,” I offer with a shy smile before turning back to the view in front of me.
A low chuckle gets louder as he approaches my spot on the lounge chair.
Sitting at my feet, Sebastian removes his glasses and blesses me with a sinful view of those eyes in the morning sunlight.
“Tell me you’re not getting shy on me, Liv.”
As if it’s second nature, he pulls my bare feet into his lap and absentmindedly begins rubbing the soles as he peers at me, awaiting my response.
“How are you? Is everything okay at work?” I ask, proving his point completely.
My feet tingle under his skillful touch and the feeling radiates up my legs until I feel like I’m floating.
His eyebrows meet in the center of his forehead as he thinks about my question.
“The situation has been resolved, thankfully.”
“That’s good,” comes my weak response.
“I didn’t get much sleep but it’s handled,” he shares, watching the waves.
He looks great for a man who barely slept. But then I figure his body must be used to the long hours.
Then my mind ventures to what else his body must be used to.
“What are you up to today, Olivia?” Sebastian’s voice breaks through my naughty thoughts and makes me blush.