I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I was doing. I had marched into his office totally sure of myself, knowing I needed to make money.
Sure, I’d kissed a boy before. Jeffery Middleton had practically shoved his tongue down my throat in eleventh grade; however it was nothing—nothing—like the kiss Sebastian was currently laying on me.
Once he pulled me up from the chair and devoured my mouth, I forgot all about my nerves. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he worked my hips against him in a way I’d never experienced.
And just like that, he pulled away, leaving me panting like some wild animal.
“That’s enough for today.” He grinned down at me.
His smile was heartbreaking. Smutty romance novels had nothing on those lips. I stepped back, knees jittery, and caught my breath as I pushed my hair behind my ear.
“A car is waiting for you downstairs and I’ll have a phone sent to your hotel. Always answer it when I call. I’ll see you soon, beautiful.” He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth.
“Okay,” I whispered.
Kyle was waiting downstairs with Vick when I left Sebastian’s office. I ran to him and held him so close, I was sure I was hurting him. Seeing him gave me a break from having to think about what the hell just happened upstairs.
“I’m so sorry. So, so sorry,” I said through tears.
He pulled away and smiled up at me. “It’s cool, Roz. It wasn’t bad.”
Vick cleared her throat, reminding me that my big display of emotion was seen by someone who’d probably never cried a day in her life.
“Who’s car is this?” Kyle whispered, while giving Vick shifty eyes.
“It’s my… boss’s,” I lied. “He was nice enough to let us borrow it.”
I didn’t want Kyle asking anymore questions, so I ushered him into the back of the sleek black car and avoided Vick’s knowing eyes.
As soon as I shut the door, the driver pulled away from the club. I hadn’t said a word to him, but he drove like he already knew our destination.
“Excuse me,” I said loud enough to get his attention.
Warm brown eyes and a friendly smile found me in the review mirror. Silver hair peeked under his driver hat and soft lines surrounded his eyes and lips. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Where are you taking us?”
“To the Hilton, ma’am.”
“The Hilton?”
“Yes, ma’am. Only the best for Mr. Black’s…” his eyes quickly shifted toward Kyle and then back to me. “Employees.”
I knew what he’d been about to say, but I didn’t want to correct him. It was pointless to even tell him I wasn’t Mr. Black’s anything yet. Especially in front of Kyle.
“Thank you, Mister…”
“Martin. Just call me Mr. Martin,” he smiled in the rear view mirror.
“Thank you, Mr. Martin.” I leaned into my seat.
“Wow, the Hilton? You sure do have a nice boss, Roz.”
Kyle was beyond excited about the whole experience. I wished I could match his enthusiasm, but I was less than thrilled.
When the driver pulled into the hotel, he told me to sit still. Seconds later, he was pulling our door open and holding it so we could step out. I flushed at the attention. I wasn’t used to being treated like anyone special.
Kyle followed closely behind as we followed Mr. Martin into the front lobby and to the reception desk. When it was our turn, the woman behind the desk flashed a familiar smile for the older man.
“Hello, Martin. How are you today?”
“I’m doing well, Molly, and you?”
“Happy to see you as always. How can I help you?”
“I have two guests for Mr. Black. The suite, please.”
The woman casted a knowing glance toward me. Her expression quickly changed to surprise, followed by confusion, when she spotted Kyle. I wrapped a protective arm around his shoulders and tried not to wonder what she was thinking.
“Of course,” she nodded.
She signaled for someone behind me and then there was a bellhop there at our side.
“Please take these guests to Mr. Black’s suite and don’t forget their luggage,” she ordered.
“Oh, we don’t have…“ I started to correct her.
I stopped when a cart was pulled up to the bellhop and I recognized our suitcases. What the hell?
I wondered how Sebastian had time to gather our things out of our car.
“Thank you,” I said to both the desk clerk and bellhop.
“Right this way, Miss,” the bellhop gestured.
Turning toward Mr. Martin, I smiled at him. “Thank you again.”
“You’re very welcome.” He mirrored my smile and patted my hands.
Kyle and I spent the night in one of the nicest hotels I’d ever seen. The room was equipped with everything we needed, and had four separate areas. There were two huge bedrooms, and a deluxe bathroom with a massive tub. But the best part was the spacious living room, lined with a wall of windows, showcasing a stunning view of New York City.
Once Kyle was asleep for the night, I spent some time staring at the cars and the people bustling below. The surrounding buildings and streets were so beautiful from my vantage point. It was hard to wrap my head around our quick transition from sleeping in a shitty car… to this luxurious suite. Un-frickin-believable.
It wasn’t until I yawned and fogged up the window that I realized how late it was. Padding across the mahogany wood floor on my bare feet, I entered the bathroom to get ready for bed. My stress level was nothing compared to the past few weeks, so instead of taking a shower, I filled the massive tub with hot, steaming water, and dropped in some lavender oil. I soaked my body until the water went cold.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t hide from my conversation with Sebastian in his office.
I didn’t know what I’d been thinking or doing for that matter. I had marched into his office, ready for anything. I had to make money and I was no longer going to deny what my body obviously wanted. But boy had I definitely paid a price.
When he’d so blatantly asked if I was a virgin I hadn’t expected his reaction. In fact, if he had slapped me I couldn’t have been more shocked. I felt like he had slapped me with his response. I thought he would’ve been pleased and turned on, not turned off.
I was humiliated and embarrassed, and I wanted nothing more than to never lay eyes on Sebastian Black again. But even now, as I laid in the tub, my forbidden thoughts betrayed me and the sight of him bare chested made my fingers wander over my body.
I could still wanted him, even if I pretended differently. He didn’t want me and I should have been happy about it, or in the very least relieved. But something made me want to prove that despite the fact I was a virgin, I was still every bit as capable as the next girl.
I let my legs fall open and my fingers moved over my swollen lady bits, but before I could bring myself to orgasm, I stopped and closed my legs tightly. Covering my eyes with my hand, I exhaled loudly.
Who was I kidding? I couldn’t even get myself off without worrying about embarrassing myself. How was I going to get a man like Sebastian off?
I expected a lot of things when I finally worked up the courage to take Sebastian’s offer, but what was happening to me was completely unexpected. I was a woman, but it was clear I had no clue when it came to the opposite sex.
THE NEXT DAY, MR. MARTIN was outside waiting to take Kyle across town to school. I was wondering if I would ever be surprised at the things Sebastian knew without me ever telling him.
Kyle was more than happy to take the car and be chauffeured around in front of his friends, but I had a harder time being okay with it.
After making my way back up to the hotel suite, I laid around and waited for something—anything to happen. I hated sitting around, twiddling my thumbs.
Finally, when I thought I would explode from anticipation, someone knocked at the door. I opened it to find a young guy smiling back at me. He was boyish, with a lopsided ear-to-ear grin, and had an unfortunate case of teenage acne.
“Are you Jessica?” he asked.
I opened my mouth to say no, but then remembered when Sebastian insisted on calling me Jessica, which was the weirdest thing ever.
“Yep, that’s me.”
He held out a small pink box with a ribbon on top. “This is for you.”
“Thank you.”
He turned and left without saying goodbye.
Closing the door, I sat on the bed and pulled the lid off the box to find an expensive phone sitting inside. It was sleek, with a large touch screen. I ran my finger across it and it lit up with a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge.
As soon as I sat it on the bed, it chimed. The tiny symbol on the screen said I had a text message, but it took me a few minutes to figure out how to open it.
SB: Meet me out front at 7. Wear something nice.
I should have smashed his stupid phone and walked out of the hotel room, but I couldn’t, and I kind of hated myself for it.
Like a true woman, I spent the rest of the afternoon obsessing over what I was going to do. If I’d had any flowers the hotel room would have been full of petals.
I was in the lobby twenty minutes before Kyle was even supposed to be out of school, but I couldn’t stay in that room a second longer. I’d never been in a hotel as extravagant as this before and I was extremely curious.
I passed the five-star restaurant and walked through the different ballrooms, until I saw a sign labeled Peterson Wedding. Guests moved in and out of the beautiful double doors and after a quick peek around, I made my way toward them.
Pulling on the heavy handle, I slipped in and a wistful sigh escaped my lips. The room was breathtaking. It glittered and smelled like fresh flowers. I didn’t stay long because I was obviously not dressed for the occasion, but for just a moment, I closed my eyes and I imagined having a life that included these kinds of luxuries.
An hour later, Mr. Martin dropped Kyle off, and we went back to the suite and did his homework together.
When we were done, I called for room service to bring some dinner. With our bellies stuffed, I left to get ready, and Kyle plopped down in front of the TV to watch some disgusting show about zombies.
I felt much better about leaving Kyle alone this time. There were plenty of locks on the hotel door, and I had a phone he could call if he needed something.
I dug through my suitcase for my nicest outfit, a light teal peasant top and a beige skirt that touched my ankles. I slipped on my sandals, ran a brush through my hair, and barely made it out front by seven.
A black car pulled up in front, and Sebastian climbed out of the back. His steps faltered as he looked me up and down. Then he surprised me with a grin and held his hand out to me.
Confused, I did the only thing that made sense, and placed my hand in his. Feeling a thumb close over the back of my fingers, he lifted them to his mouth.
His lips weren’t soft or rough, there wasn’t a word that described the way they felt or what they did to my insides.
“You look… sweet,” he said with a dimpled grin.
It wasn’t quite the compliment I was hoping for, but he was probably used to sexy vixens, with their short skirts and ample cleavage. Then again, maybe it wasn’t a compliment at all. Maybe he was being an asshole.
“Well this was fun,” I snapped and turned around.
His hand was firm as it circled my elbow and he pulled me around and toward the car.
“Untwist your virginal panties and let’s go.” He stopped in front of the car and opened the door, waiting for me to get in.
My gaze shifted between him and the open door and then I crossed my arms. “You act like you’re doing me a favor.”
“I am. Now get in the car. We have reservations.”
“And if I refuse?”
“If you were going to refuse you would have done it already. You’re curious, and you’re going to get into the car.”
As much as I wanted to prove him wrong, he was completely right. I was every one of those things, but I was starting to realize I wasn’t the only one. Without a word, I got into the car and slid all the way over.
He followed me in, shutting the door. We were incased in darkness.
I didn’t ask where we were going. Neither of us spoke, but as the city lights flowed across his face, I couldn’t help but notice how nice he looked in his dark suit and tie. His hand rested on the door and my eyes went straight to his slender fingers. He really was magnificent.
“Like what you see?” he asked in a hushed whispered.
A heated blush rushed up my neck. I hadn’t realized he was watching me, too. My God. He was so cocky, and while it should have been a turn off, it was the total opposite.
“Actually, I do. I’ve always thought New York was beautiful at night.” I turned my head to look out my window and enjoyed his smirk.
“Don’t let the pretty lights fool you. The most dangerous things in the world are beautiful.”
When I looked back at him, he was staring out the window and looking completely lost in his own little world. I wanted to reach out to him, but he didn’t seem like the type who’d want to be comforted.
The car slowed as we reached our destination and I was anxiously looking through the dark windows in anticipation. Seconds later, the door opened and Sebastian was getting out. He held his hand out for me and I took it upon my exit.
“Get ready,” he said, before two older men opened the doors for us to the restaurant.
“Ready for what?”
He didn’t answer as he ushered me through the set of double doors, keeping one hand on the small of my back.
“Right this way, Mr. Black,” the host said. He grabbed two menus and started toward the back of the room.
I’d never been inside such a place. Crystal chandeliers hung above my head and mirrors were strategically placed around the room to reflect the candlelight, making the room look even larger than it already was.
Sebastian walked smoothly through the dining room, captivating his audience and demanding their attention. I watched in bewilderment as everyone stopped to gawk at him. He pulled my arm through his and that’s when I realized they were also watching me, the girl on his arm.
“I hope you’re hungry.” He pulled me closer. “Because I’m starving.”
His words brushed across the side of my neck and sent a wave of chills down my arms.
Everyone was staring at me. I self-consciously looked down at my outfit and knew right away I hadn’t dressed nice enough. I looked like an uptight school teacher going on a field trip, while ladies around me were dressed in satin, lace, and diamonds.
My hand on his arm began to sweat and I closed my eyes and tried to breathe.
“Don’t be nervous. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”
“Everyone’s looking at me,” I whispered.
“No. Everyone’s looking at me. I always come here alone. These people have never seen me with a woman before.”
“Then why did you bring me?” I asked as he helped me into my chair.
Leaning over me he whispered. “Because deal or no deal, you’re my Jessica.”
I had no idea what his obsession with calling me Jessica was, and again, I began to think that maybe Sebastian Black was certifiable.
When he sat down across from me, I worked up the nerve to finally ask something that had been bugging me since the first time we’d talked.
“Why do you refuse to know my name and why do you call me Jessica? Is that what you call all your girls?”
I tried not to fidget, or make uncomfortable eye contact, as I waited for him to answer my question.
When he finally did, I was thankful for the break of silence. “I most definitely do not call anyone else Jessica. Only you, and for a very special reason.”
He didn’t elaborate and I was left to question what exactly that meant.
“Would you care to explain why that is?”
“Actually, I don’t. Not right now anyway.”
He definitely made it clear I wasn’t going to get anything else out of him. I guess I should’ve known. For the short time I knew him, it was obvious Sebastian Black could be very stubborn and determined.
Once the waiter came and filled our glasses with wine, we were left alone. He sipped his wine and stared at me, making me even more nervous than before.
“So you come here a lot?” I asked, trying to break the ice.
“Yes,” he said simply. He wasn’t going to make this dinner easy at all.
“You don’t talk much.”
He shrugged. “I’m not good with idle conversation.”
“I thought you didn’t… date?”
“I don’t.”
“Then what is this?”
“I told you what this is. You’re proving you’re worth the risk.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
He stared at me for the longest time, then raised his eyebrows.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
It was then the waiter came back to our table to take our order. When the waiter left, I continued with my questions. With every answer, I became even more curious about Sebastian Black.
“The others… they don’t have any problems with your rules?”
“If they did, they wouldn’t be one of my girls.” He was so matter of fact. “You were ready to accept my offer, did you have a problem with my rules?”
My head snapped up. I didn’t like having the situation thrown in my face. “I needed it.”
“So you’re saying you’re different?”
“Yes.”
“Because you need the money?”
“Yes,” I insisted.
“And what makes you think any of the others didn’t also need the money?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The truth was I didn’t know, but I wanted badly to believe I was different, that under different circumstances, I wouldn’t have sold myself to Sebastian Black for everything he could offer.
“The truth is, the money comes and goes, but they don’t. They just keep coming, over and over again.” He shrugged. “So maybe you are different.”
I dropped my head to the side. “Has anyone left you before you could leave them?”
Jumping at the sound of his laughter, I looked around and saw that everyone was watching at us.
“What’s so funny?” I demanded. “You’re telling me no one has ever gotten tired of you before you could get tired of them?”
“Nobody.” He was dead serious now.
“How do you know?”
“Because I have a cock that won’t stop and enough money to buy all the company in the world.”
“Don’t you think someday you’ll want more than an easy lay and women who only want your money?”
“Isn’t that what a relationship is based around anyway? Sex and money. In my case, I get to have sex with a different girl every night and not have to worry about a jealous wife.”
Suddenly I felt very sad for Sebastian. “Don’t you want love?”
“Love doesn’t exist, sweetheart. It’s a pretty lie. Something women invented to tie a man down and destroy his manhood.”
“You’re wrong.”
“You’re wasting your breath, Jessica. Save your delusions about love and happily ever after for a sucker because I am far from fooled.”
I wanted to argue that he was wrong. I had seen love—real love—between a man and a woman. My parents had loved each other completely and without reservation. I knew it existed and I fully planned on finding the same kind of love one day.
“I’m very different, Sebastian.” I whispered, looking up to meet his frown. “I need the money right now, but I refuse to live a life without love and happiness. I won’t come back when it’s all said and done.”
I didn’t know if I had stunned him or angered him, maybe a bit of both, but he didn’t respond right away. When he did, it was a complete change of topic.
“I certainly don’t know a lot of virgins. How old are you?”
“Twenty-two,” I said proudly, daring him to make fun of me.
“How is it that a twenty-two-year-old, with your looks, managed to stay a virgin?”
“If I have to explain the logistics to you, you’re obviously not the sex god you claim to be.”
I thought I’d gotten him with my witty remark, but he sat forward in his chair and showed me exactly what it felt like to have the breath knocked from you.
“I could fuck you senseless right here, right now, and give the women watching orgasms. That, sweetheart, is how good I am.”
Thankfully, the waiter made a sudden appearance with our food. I looked at my plate and kept my head down for the remainder of the meal. I could feel Sebastian’s hard gaze and it made me squirm.
I didn’t know what to say and I was already worried I had said too much as it was. I couldn’t afford for him to take back everything he had already offered… again. I was doing an awful job proving myself after my declaration.
After dinner, the car was out front, waiting for us. I climbed in and we rode in silence back to my hotel. He got out and held the door open for me. When I turned around to thank him for dinner, I found him standing there, with the car gone. He was coming to my room.
“Are you going to stand there all night, or are we going to go up?”
I twisted my fingers together. “Kyle…”
“Doesn’t Kyle have his own room?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“But what? Have you given up? Are you no longer willing to prove yourself to me?”
“I think by now you’ve already made up your decision about me.”
“Are you sure?”
I was until he said that. Why was I being such a prude? I could seduce Sebastian Black. I could.
My nerves went crazy and my legs started to shake as I turned and made my way to the elevator. I pressed the button for my floor and waited. My knees felt like Jell-O, and I silently hoped I didn’t fall and face plant on the expensive tile floor.
He stood still beside me. He was too quiet, making my anxiety even worse. My hands shook when I pulled out my door key and tried to stick the card in the slot. Covering my hand with his, he took the card from my fingers.
“Allow me,” he said as he opened the door.
And then, there I was, standing in a hotel room with a stranger who may or may not purchase me. Thankfully, Kyle was fast asleep in his room, I didn’t want him asking questions I didn’t know how to answer.
My back was to Sebastian, but I could see our reflection in the expansive glass view. I watched as he approached with the stride of a hungry tiger. A strut that relayed his confidence and security. Meanwhile, tension built inside me and threatened to break.
He ran warm fingers across the back of my neck as he moved my hair to the side. I jerked when he pressed his soft lips to the back of my neck.
“Exactly how far have you gone with a man, Jessica?”
I swallowed hard making my throat hurt. “Far enough.”
My voice didn’t sound like my own. It was deeper, darker... seductive. The girl who answered him wasn’t me. Whatever he was doing, was affecting me.
I could feel his breath in my hair. “Has a man ever touched you? Have you touched a man before?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Christ,” he cursed. His hands moved from my shoulders and worked down my back, until his hands circled around my waist. He was hard and pressing into my back, which did nothing to help with my insecurities.
“You smell delicious,” he said as he nibbled on my earlobe. “I shouldn’t want you this much, but I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you.”
I leaned my head to the side, giving him more room to kiss. I wasn’t a total idiot. I knew what men and women did together. I knew what foreplay was, and I definitely knew that Mr. Black was all about foreplay, as my nipples were pressing against my bra and the spot between my thighs was throbbing.
His hands moved up my waist and rested just beneath my bra. I was embarrassed by my erratic breathing because I was sure he could not only hear it, but feel it as well.
I looked down at this dark fingers and watched as they moved in and out with my breaths. Knotting his fingers in the front of my shirt, cool air kissed my belly button when he began to lift the fabric from my body.
“The skin on your neck is so soft. I can’t help but wonder if you’re this soft everywhere,” he said, continuing to caress my skin with his warm lips.
And then he was sliding his fingers against my stomach, skin to skin. For a man with so much money, his fingertips were rough. I liked it. God forgive me, but I liked it so much.
He lifted my shirt further.
“Raise your arms, beautiful. I want to see your skin.”
I did as he asked and he pulled my shirt over my head and up my arms. My skin pebbled when the air hit my naked flesh. I stood there with my back to him, in just a skirt and unattractive bra.
Working his fingers down my body, he turned me into putty on the spot.
“So perfect,” he whispered in my hair.
I closed my eyes and let him have his way with me. I sucked in a breath when his fingers worked low and started to unzip my skirt. I wasn’t ready, but there was no going back. I’d made a deal with the devil himself, and for my brother and for myself, I’d honor that deal.
My skirt fell to my ankles and I opened my eyes to look at myself in the glass. I was pale, which made his hands look even darker as they worked down my hips.
I watched his reflection as he moved to unbutton his jacket, pull it off his shoulders, and toss it to the side. He loosened his tie and slid it around his neck.
And then he was on his knees behind me, hands working up from the back of my calves to my thighs. I was shaking again, but I wasn’t sure if it was my nerves or the sensations flying through my body at light speed. I was losing myself in him and it had only been a matter of minutes since we’d stepped into the room together.
He was good. Entirely too good.
He ran his nose along the inside of my leg and I closed my eyes and let my mouth open on a sigh.
“What are you doing to me?” I asked breathlessly.
Pressing his warm lips to the inside of my thigh he groaned his appreciation. “I want you desperate for me.”
My head fell back when he continued the hot kisses on the insides of my legs. He was getting what he wanted. I could feel my heartbeat between my legs like it was begging and taunting already.
Reaching back, I dug my fingers into his hair and held him to me. And then he was turning me. I looked down into his eyes as he kneeled in front of me. It was awkward and amazing all at the same time to have such a demanding man on his knees in front of me.
A moan slipped from my lips when he began kissing my stomach, right above my panty line. I was so into it, I couldn’t even think to be embarrassed by my plain-Jane cotton panties.
Oxygen no longer seemed important. All that mattered was the throb inside my panties and his mouth, which was now pressed against my inner thigh. He kissed everywhere, but the place I wanted it most. I was desperate.
I pulled the back of his head to me and tried to move him where I wanted him to be.
“Sebastian,” I gasped.
Pulling away, he lowered his head and exhaled harshly before he stood and put his arms on my shoulders.
“Times up, sweetheart.”
His words were a splash of cold water. “What?” I said frazzled.
“You did well—a very un-virgin like performance.”
“But I didn’t… that wasn’t…”
He held a finger against my lips. “Be at the club tomorrow at noon. Don’t be late.” He placed a soft kiss on my cheek, his breath rustling the soft hair around my ear. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
I wanted to stop him. I should have stopped him and made him listen to me, but it was too late and I’m not sure he would have listened to me anyway.
I turned around as he adjusted his tie and put his jacket back on. The door opened and shut a few seconds later, and the tension in the room lifted.