by C. D. Gorri
“It was in a museum?” she asked, wondering if how she could snag a pic of it to add to her flash drive without Sebastian noticing.
“The original is. This has to be a knock off. There’s no way Arnie could have gotten the museum to sell it to him.” Sebastian stared at the painting, his fingers rising to touch the edge of the frame. “It’s an incredible copy…”
Anxiety rising as time grew short, Paige reached her hand out to his and drew it away. “Please, Arnie would have a fit if he knew we were in here and you weren’t enjoying the guests at the dinner party. What did you want to say?”
Sebastian’s eyes turned her way and his pupils expanded as he drew in a deep breath. “What are you?”
She flushed and dropped her eyes away from him, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do.” When she didn’t respond right away, he continued, “I’m a bear, polar bear.”
Her head shot up and her eyes went wide, “Really? I didn’t know there were polar bears this far south. I’m a bear too, a sun bear.”
Sebastian’s lips parted on a gasp, “I’ve never even heard of a sun bear shifter. Where are you from?”
“Back East, West Virginia area. I came out here for college and fell in love with Colorado, so I stayed. I have only run into a handful of shifters out here and you’re the first one I’ve spoken to about it.”
“You’re my mate.” Sebastian said simply, and Paige’s heart did a leap of joy in her chest.
“I know, or my bear knows.” She agreed. “But that doesn’t change things right now. In a few months we can revisit things, but right now…”
“Right now, what? I’ve spent the last thirty-six years imagining my future mate. It’s like winning the lottery to find each other.” Hurt filled his beautiful green eyes, and she wanted to cry.
“I know, and I’m so sorry. It’s killing me to do this to you.”
“But?”
“But I’m in the middle of something that’s really complicated, and I can’t risk getting involved with someone right now.” She said firmly, trying to make him understand without truly spilling the beans.
“You can’t risk it? Are you in trouble? In danger?” Instantly, his eyes flashed, and he glanced at the closed door. “I can help you—”
Pressing her palm to his chest to slow his movement toward the door, she shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Look, after tonight things should start to settle for me. I’m just asking for a little bit of time before we get involved.”
“You want me to sit around and wait while you’re with another man until you decide it’s over and you want to be with me?” His hurt and anger bubbled out into a soft growl that did funny things to the bear inside of her.
“No, I’m not with another man. I swear it.” Frustrated she finally dropped her head and told him the truth. “I’m working for the FBI. We’re investigating Arnie for art theft.”
The light in Sebastian’s eyes grew brighter, “The paintings. I knew they looked too authentic. They’re real.”
She nodded silently.
“So, you work for the FBI?”
“Not generally. I got pulled in because I was Arnie’s personal assistant. Look, I can explain it all, but not here, and not now. Just know that my bear wants you.”
He looked pleased and frustrated all at once but before he could respond, the door flew open, and Arnie stood there glaring directly at her. “There you are. We were all wondering where you’d run off to, Sebastian.”
“I apologize, I mentioned to Paige that I was a huge fan of Ostian, and she brought me in to see your piece. It’s exquisite.”
Arnie stared at them as if trying to detect the lie for several moments before some of the tension in the room eased and he stepped deeper into the room. “Ah yes, one of my proudest moments was the deal on The Graduate.”
“Please, excuse me.” Paige said, heading for the door with the intention of putting as much space between her and Arnie as possible until the party was over, and she could contact her FBI liaison.
“Actually, Paige, I need to speak with you before you leave.” Arnie said, “Sebastian, if you’ll excuse us for a moment?”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed before he seemed to catch himself, and a smile broke his lush lips. “Sure, thank you again, Paige, for showing me the piece.”
“Certainly.” She murmured, watching him step out of the room. Arnie shut the door behind him and turned a glare her way.
“Did I give you permission to interact with my guests?” He snapped.
“No, you did not, but your guest seemed to enjoy my input.”
“If I’d wanted to show Sebastian Jameson all of the pieces in my collection, I would do so. You have no business being in here.”
“Understood. It won’t happen again.” She said firmly, thinking only about the flash drive in her bra. If Arnie figured out she was working against him, she didn’t know what he’d do. He was absolutely a loose cannon.
“Now, that phone call was concerning. It appears there’s a serious investigation into someone is stealing art from expensive collections in the area. We’ll have to be vigilant about security. I’d like you to arrange interviews for Monday for more security guards at both the townhouse and here.”
“Of course, I’ll get to work on it right away. How many are you thinking?”
He stared at the painting distractedly for a moment and then said, “Two per place should be fine. They can work rotating eight hour shifts with the others. And if anyone asks, you’re welcome to tell them how secure my collection is. In fact, I’d prefer word to get out that I’m taking the threat very seriously.”
Paige nodded, but internally her bear growled. Arnie was trying way too hard. She couldn’t wait for all of this to catch up to him. Turning away, she scurried out the door of the library and back to the kitchen. She snagged a dessert plate and opened her iPad to get started hiring new security guards.
Chapter Three
Sebastian hated leaving Paige behind with Arnie, but he didn’t want to stir the pot either. Paige made it sound like she was already in too deep for him to try and rescue her from this mess, which only left one alternative. He had to help her and the FBI. Arnie was clearly doing something illegal, and that threatened Paige. Sebastian’s bear was not okay with anything threatening his mate.
Making his way back to the party, Sebastian forced himself to smile and make small talk. It was important to keep up appearances, and he was glad he did when Arnie rejoined the group with an irritating smirk on his face. Alarm bells went off in his head, but he had to trust Paige to know what she was doing.
“Were you able to spend a little time with that pretty assistant?” A voice asked from behind him.
Turning, he found Diana Chesapeake grinning at him. He smiled back and inclined his head in answer.
“Well, good. I’m glad you’re back though, this party is dreadfully dull, and it appears the weather has taken a turn for the worse. I think we’re all stuck here for the night.” She gestured toward the front foyer, and Sebastian frowned.
“I didn’t realize it was even snowing yet. Surely, it can’t be that bad.”
“About a foot of snow in the last two hours.” She told him, “If you have something with four-wheel drive you might make it down that drive, but then again…”
Sebastian did have four-wheel drive, and as a polar bear he could always go on foot, but that didn’t matter. There was no way in hell he was leaving Paige behind to deal with Arnie alone. “Ah, I see, well then I suppose we’ll have to enjoy Arnie’s accommodations for the night. Hopefully, breakfast will be better than dinner was.”
Diana laughed, “I wouldn’t count on it. Arnie is too proud to serve something like bacon and eggs.”
“I was thinking Captain Crunch.” Sebastian joked.
The two stuck together throughout the rest of the evening, and Sebastian was surprised to admit he’d had fun. Diana had a quick wit, and she clearly did not
like their host much.
“I think we can finally slip away.” She said, gesturing to the massive clock on one wall of the parlor. “We’ve done our duty for tonight.”
“Yes, but I do think I’m going to try and catch Paige one more time before I find my room. Thank you, Ms. Chesapeake for the lovely evening. If you weren’t here, I’d have tried to escape and likely would have wrapped my truck around a tree.”
“Ah, no, you’re much too pretty and talented Mr. Jameson, to be wasted on a tree.” She laughed and then laughed harder at the pun. “I just realized what I said. Here you are sculpting trees and I—oh god, that was so bad.”
“Diana and Sebastian, you two look like you’re having fun together.” Arnie said, sidling up to them as they giggled together.
“It was a pleasant evening, Arnie, thank you.” Diana told him, forcing back her snickers.
“Yes, I believe we’re both ready to retire for the night.” Sebastian added.
“Of course, I’ll have Kenneth show you to your rooms, or will be one room?”
Shock hit Sebastian square in the chest. Arnie was assuming that he and Diana would sleep together just because they’d hit it off at the dinner. He couldn’t believe the audacity of the man.
“It will be two rooms, Arnie.” Diana said, a hard look in her eyes. “Don’t ever assume a lady is easy because she laughs with someone.”
“My apologies, dear Diana, I just want to make my guests as comfortable as possible.” Arnie said, spinning away to call for his butler.
Sebastian apologized to Diana the minute he walked away. “I never intended to make it look like we were becoming a pair.”
“Don’t fret, there are worse things than being linked to a handsome man.” She told him with a cheeky grin. “Besides, I know your heart is wrapped up in our pretty Miss Harth.”
After pleasant goodnights to the rest of the party, Sebastian excused himself to use the rest room before searching out Paige one more time.
Once again, he found her in the kitchen, but this time she was staring hard at her iPad while making notes on a calendar.
“Paige?” He said softly, trying not to make a scene in front of the kitchen staff.
“Sebastian. You’re supposed to be in the party.”
“I know I know. We’ve already had this conversation, but we were interrupted before, and I wanted to say something else.” He told her, moving closer so that he could whisper his next words. “Whatever you need, however you need it, that’s okay with me. As long as I know that you’re my mate and eventually we will be together, I’m happy. Don’t confuse that with patience, because that is not one of my virtues. I just want you to know I’ve got your back with the Arnie situation, and I’ll give you time to finish things before I push you.”
Her gorgeous blue eyes softened, and she smiled at him, making his bear roll over in his chest happily. “Thank you. I’m sorry it has to be this way, but what I’m doing is important. I have to see it through.”
He nodded his understanding. “Just don’t make me wait forever, please?”
When she giggled, he wanted desperately to steal a kiss from her. He had no idea how long it would be before they could be together, but in his heart, he knew he’d wait for her. He’d always wait for her.
*.*.*.*
Paige checked the guest room hallway one more time for any sign that someone needed something and then made her way to the small room on the servant’s side of the house where she would be sleeping. Unlike the guest suites, her room held only a full-size bed and nightstand. Arnie wasn’t the type of guy to invest in his help’s comfort, so the mattress was likely hard and the sheets scratchy.
Reaching her room, she pulled out her cell phone and sent a message to her liason’s contact number.
Coffee tomorrow afternoon would be great. Allendale at four.
After hitting send, she waited rather impatiently for the acceptance. When a half hour had passed without a response, she began to pace the room. By the one hour mark she was biting her nails, and when it reached two hours with no response she freaked out. Something had to be wrong. Her contact had never left her hanging before.
Feeling rattled, she patted her bra for the millionth time verifying the flash drive was still nestled in the padding pocket. With a sigh of relief, she turned her phone on vibrate and slid it into the back pocket of her jeans, and quietly slipped out of her room. She made it as far as the library before she heard voices. The door was almost shut but she clung to the shadows on the other side of the hallway anyway.
“It’s a damn miracle you saw him.” Arnie’s voice drifted on the air. “What did you do with the…” She wasn’t sure she heard him correctly because he whispered the last word, but it sure as hell sounded like body to her.
Another voice rumbled but she couldn’t make out what the other man said, and then Arnie responded.
“Good, so long as nothing links anything back to this property. There had to be a leak. Someone is spilling information. If the wrong person sees the wrong thing this whole situation will explode. I want to round up the obvious suspects and grill them. Maybe we can ferret out the mole and put an end to all of this. There’s only one person new to my operation, and she’s down the hallway.”
A terrible feeling settled in Paige’s gut. She knew this had to be connected to her missing FBI liaison. Hopefully, Sal was okay, and she was just assuming the worst, but if not, she had to find a way to get out of this house as quickly as possible.
A quick walk through the house again assured her that everyone else was tucked in for the night, and she took a chance. Knocking softly on Sebastian’s door, she held her breath while she waited. Perhaps he was a deep sleeper and wouldn’t hear her knock?
The sound of something rustling assured her he’d heard her, and when the door opened, she was greeted with the glory that was a shirtless, sleep rumpled, Sebastian. Her mouth dried up and her brain spazzed out for a moment as they stared at each other. Finally, he seemed to gather his thoughts enough to reach out and tug her through the open doorway and into his darkened room. The door shut behind her with a quiet click and the only sound for another moment was their breathing.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. His honey sweet smell filled her nose and she struggled to put two words together.
“I…um…I…”
Sebastian ran his hand through his sunkissed locks and all the muscles in his abs flexed. She’d heard of six-pack abs, but his were more like a dozen perfectly formed ridges. She wasn’t even sure she was breathing anymore.
His eyes flashed in the dark and he inhaled deeply. “You want me.”
To her shock, she found herself nodding. Never in her life had she felt so wanton as she did when he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. His mouth was soft but firm against hers and she relaxed into him as if she’d been made to be in his arms.
The long length of his body was a perfect match to her softer curves, and she hummed her approval when his tongue slid across the seam of her lips. That slight prod was all she needed to open herself up to him and his tongue was inside her, invading her space, stealing her logic and her heart. She’d never been kissed like her kisses with Sebastian. If she’d doubted their mating before, she certainly couldn’t doubt it any longer.
Moisture pooled between her thighs and she gripped his shoulders, holding him as close as possible while he led their kiss. She could feel him hardening against her belly and she clenched down on nothing as she imagined him filling her completely. The heavenly thought was also like an ice bath as she remembered where they were and why.
Jerking backwards she smacked into the closed door and gasped with shock and pain.
“Shit, are you okay?” he asked, reaching out to rub at her bruised scalp where she’d hit it.
“I’m fine, I just, I didn’t come here for that.” She gestured to him and then realized he was standing in front of her rocking o
ne hell of a hard on, and she shoved her hands in her pockets.
Sebastian smirked and then cocked his head, “Oh yeah? What did you come here for then, sweetheart?”
“I need your help.”
His eyes flashed again, and he grew serious. “What’s happened?”
“I can’t get ahold of…my guy at the FBI.” She whispered the last part of the sentence as if they were in a library. “I was supposed to contact him tonight with a meeting time tomorrow, but I’m getting no response from him.”
“Maybe he just forgot to respond to your message?” Sebastian offered hopefully, “Or he’s busy on an assignment and will respond later?”
“He’s never not responded. I’ve been working with him for months, Sebastian.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t panic yet. I’m sure there’s a—”
“That’s not all, I overheard Arnie in the library with someone. I think they might have killed somebody and I’m just praying it’s not my contact.”
Sebastian gave her a wry grin, “That sounds dramatic, surely Arnie isn’t the type to…”
His words drifted off as she stared at him, and he gave a sharp nod. “Okay, yes, you’re right. This is trouble.”
“I heard them saying they were going to start questioning staff, and I can not be here when they do. I have the evidence of his dirty dealings on me, and if he finds it.” She shivered in response, her stomach twisting into knots.
“Then we’ll leave. There’s nothing stopping us from walking out the front door.” Sebastian said confidently. “I’m a guest here, not a hostage.”
“There’s more than a foot of snow outside. My car isn’t big, and I don’t know how I’ll get out of here without making any noise and waking everyone up. Plus, the driveway is scary steep—”
Her words stopped when she heard footsteps in the hallway outside. Panic filled her chest and her eyes darted all over the room looking for a place to hide. A soft knock sounded on the door behind her.
“Closet.” Sebastian hissed.
She darted into the walk-in closet and crouched down in the far corner. The space was nearly empty because it was a guest room, which left her little cover if someone came looking, but it was the best option she had. Bending her head, she began to pray silently that Sebastian could redirect anyone who came looking for her.