Chapter Twenty-Two
Ava
After Pippa leaves, I take a picture of myself then text it to Nadine. Instead of replying, she calls me.
“Yum, you look fabulous. Taking out the big guns tonight?”
“Yep. I figured go big or go home.” I laugh into the phone as I slip my lipstick into my tiny purse.
“He’s sold on you already.”
“I don’t know about that, but I can barely think straight around him.”
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
Straightening up, I stammer, “I—it’s too early.”
“Too early to fall or too early to admit it?”
“Both?”
“I’ve always loved your honesty.”
That’s when I hear a knock at the door.
“Listen, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“You better. I want every dirty detail.”
I snicker. “Like I ever give you those.” Shaking my head, I end the call. Nadine always tries to fish every detail out of me. She was half-cheerful, half-jealous as I told her about everything that’s happened over the past weeks.
The second I open the door, the air between us sizzles. Sebastian says nothing, his eyes raking over me. This man can make me shiver with his gaze alone.
His fingers tug at mine and he pushes me inside, hoisting me up against the wall as the door bangs closed. His hands are tight on my waist, his forehead pressed against mine. “You look fucking gorgeous.”
With one strong hand, he pushes my tight dress up around my waist, reducing me to a puddle of need when his fingers graze my thigh. “Your skin is so smooth,” he growls. I grin with satisfaction. Point for the skin-removal kit.
“And these lips. You know where I want them?”
“Yeah,” I tease. “I want you to think about it all night while we’re at the restaurant.”
“Going to the restaurant seems like a very bad idea right now.” His voice is low and throaty, arousing me further.
“Pippa predicted this.”
“What?”
“She was here, helping me prepare, and said we might not make it to the restaurant.”
“So that’s how little Pippa thinks of me.”
“Oh, there’s nothing little about you.” My voice is low and shaky. Sebastian’s eyes widen at the sound of it. He presses himself against me, and I can feel how hard he is already.
“I told you I never back off from a challenge. Let’s go to the restaurant. I won’t touch you again until we leave.”
“We’ll see about that.”
***
The restaurant isn’t just fancy. It’s Hollywood stars kind of fancy. I swear to God I notice one of my favorite movie directors at a table in a far corner talking to a very well-known star.
“What is this? The weekend getaway from LA?” I whisper as we advance inside the restaurant.
“You could say that.”
“Are there paparazzi around here?” Granted, with stars parading around they’d take less interest in Sebastian, but still.
“No, the restaurant has a strict policy, even outside the perimeter. No cameras allowed. Don’t worry, the world won’t know I’m your dirty little secret.” Though his tone is playful, there is an edge to it I don’t like.
“I want to keep Dirk in the dark. I don’t care if the world knows.”
That puts a genuine smile on his face. Despite promising he won’t touch me, Sebastian has kept his hand at the small of my back from the moment we stepped out of the car. I settle into his touch, wishing we could stay like this until the night is over, and even longer. We’re seated at the edge of the terrace, where the breeze is strongest. I inhale deeply, letting the air fill me.
“I love the breeze.”
“I know, that’s why I requested a table here,” Sebastian says. I lock my gaze on him. At once, my stomach does a somersault. We’ve done this before, yet it feels so different. I have to wrap my head around the fact that we’re on a date.
After the waiter brings us the menu, I ask, “Are you going to play caveman again and order for me?”
His expression is best summed up by the word well.
“Don’t bother,” I say, peeking at the table next to me. I lower my voice. “I want what they’re having. Steak with that brownish sauce. My mouth is already watering.”
“You’re adorable.”
I pout, tugging with my teeth at my lower lip in an attempt to turn that adorable into irresistible. I want to be a sexy vixen tonight. Remembering I’m wearing bright red lipstick, I almost face palm myself. Instead, I lift my hand in front of my mouth, pretending to inspect that tall candle in front of us while I run my tongue over my teeth vigorously to make sure I don’t have lipstick on them. Sebastian looks on the verge of laughter. Okay, sexy vixen was a bad idea. I’ll try to be myself. When the waiter asks what I’d like to drink, I order a Sex on the Beach. At Sebastian’s inquisitive look, I explain, “It’s only appropriate. We’re in a coast town, and later on, we’ll have sex. And I’m rambling. Jeez, you make me nervous.”
He offers me a smile, asking casually, “How was your day?”
“Much better after a certain someone left my office.”
“Someone. . . hm. . . Do I know him?”
Joining his game, I say, “Oh, he’s my current client.”
“Do you like him?” Sebastian teases.
“He’s smart and hot. That combo should be illegal.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it’s irresistible.”
We pause as the waiter comes with our drinks. Sebastian orders the food. Steak for both of us and an appetizer. I slurp from my cocktail, and the alcohol immediately calms some of my nerves.
“What else do you like about him?”
“His family.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself.
Sebastian’s eyes widen, an unreadable expression taking hold of his features. “That’s lovely to hear.”
Feeling this deserves more of an explanation, I add quickly, “I’ve always hungered for a family, and yours is so. . .”
“Big? Loud? Noisy?”
“Perfect. And they’re very warm. Don’t worry, I won’t intrude or anything. Pippa was the one who offered to—”
He holds up a hand to stop me. “My family already loves you. If you like their company, you can do whatever you like. You wouldn’t intrude. In fact, I’d like nothing better than for you to get closer to them.”
“Okay.” I slurp from my cocktail, wondering—again—how different Sebastian is from the men I’ve dated. They postponed until the last possible moment introducing me to their family, as if they thought I’d be expecting a ring the next second. I rarely imagined that, but as I sip from my drink again, a crazy thought rumbles in my head. Ava Bennett would sound so elegant. Even my initials would look beautiful in my signature. A.B. Oh crap, I’m only on my first Sex on the Beach. I’ll be picking names for our imaginary kids by the time I drink the second one. You’re in this deep, Ava.
“What are you thinking about? You have a beautiful smile.”
“A and B—” I stop midsentence, horrified.
“Are the start of the alphabet?” Sebastian raises his eyebrows.
“Never mind.” The waiter saves me, putting a large plate with three different kinds of spreads—orange, white, and blue—in front of us. “This looks delicious.” Immediately, I smear some of the blue stuff on the bread and take a bite.
“I love your appetite for food,” Sebastian comments.
“Why, thank you.”
“Actually, I love your appetite for everything.”
“What do you mean?” I ask through mouthfuls.
“You put passion in all things. Your work, your food. Me.”
I giggle. “Especially you.”
Midway through dinner—and my second cocktail—I lose my pseudo-first-date jitters. At some point, Sebastian leaned over the table, laying his fingers over mine in a gentle touch. He’s kept them there the whole time.
We’ve been eating and laughing loudly for what feels like hours, when someone stops at our table: a woman in her thirties with beautiful red hair and legs up to her armpits. I bet she can play vixen, no problem. Remarkably, I don’t feel threatened. I’m sure the fact that Sebastian interlaces his fingers with mine while looking at her with disdain contributes to that.
“Sebastian, long time, no see.” She gives me a curt nod.
“I didn’t have the impression you wanted to see me at all the last time we talked. Ava, this is Lisa.”
Lisa narrows her eyes. Clearly, she was expecting a different welcome. “I see you found another trophy.” She points at me, scanning me up and down.
“I see you found another sponsor.” Both Sebastian and Lisa turn to look at her date. He looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t place him. “He doesn’t have quite the caliber of the last one. Or do you have multiples now?” Lisa purses her lips as her companion joins us. He’s a plump man in his late fifties.
“My, my, Sebastian Bennett.” He holds his hand out, and Sebastian shakes it politely but coldly. He and I exchange pleasantries, and when he tells me his name, I realize why he looks familiar. He’s a local media mogul.
“Lisa’s told me a lot about you,” he tells Sebastian. “Maybe we could get together, discuss some business opportunities.”
“Maybe.” It’s clear from Sebastian’s voice he has no intention of doing that.
“Did you tell him the good news?” the man asks Lisa. “We’re getting married.”
“Good for you.” Sebastian smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Let’s go, Lisa. We’re interrupting their date.”
Sebastian shakes his head as he watches them leave. We return to our course, and after about ten minutes of silence, I ask tentatively, “Sebastian?”
“Hmm.” He’s lost in thought, watching his plate. A frown is on his face that wasn’t there before the interruption.
“What was that?”
He takes a sip of wine, leaning back in his chair. “Lisa and I dated a few years back.”
“I kind of gathered that. What happened?”
He watches me for a few seconds, as if considering his words. “There’s no point skirting around this, so I’ll be straightforward. I thought she loved me. She loved my money. After two years of dating, I found her fucking someone at the golf club. She told me to my face she was after my bank account.”
“That’s horrible. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well.” He makes a dismissive gesture with his hand, but I can tell this is still bothering him. “It was my own fault. I should’ve looked at the signs earlier. They were there to see.”
“Like what?”
Sebastian shakes his head, giving me a smile laced with bitterness. “She barely made time for me, and when she did, it was only so we could attend whatever social event was most popular. If I brought the issue up, she tossed in my face that I didn’t make time for her either, that I gave priority to my family over her. She never wanted to attend any family gatherings, said they were boring.”
“It sounds like you dodged a bullet.”
“Bullets are all I had for years.”
“Surely not all women were after your money.”
“Some weren’t, directly. But they were more interested in what they could get from me, like a leg up in society or in their careers. I was naive about this at first. Growing up in my family, I thought my parents were the norm. Finding someone, falling in love, staying in love and having a family. It seemed simple enough. The reality turned out different. I was trying to wrap my mind around the idea that I’ll end up like that schmuck Lisa’s marrying. Knowing she wants to tie the knot with my bank account, but preferring that to being alone.”
“Sebastian,” I admonish. “I told you before money isn’t all that people see in you.”
“Money complicates everything. It changes what people see in you.”
“Not all people.”
“What do you see in me?” He wiggles his eyebrows. Flirty Sebastian’s back. Good.
“Look who’s fishing for compliments now.”
“Humor me. Hot and smart don’t count. You already said that.” His eyes glint with mischief, but I detect a hinge of insecurity in his playful tone. The thought that even a man like him—especially him—has doubts, breaks my heart.
“You are funny, caring, and loyal to your family.” Before I can stop myself, I add, “You are the only man I’ve felt safe with.” I suck in my breath. “Emotionally, I mean.”
“I know what you meant,” he says softly. Taking my hand in his, he plants a small kiss right in the center of my palm, sending electrifying sparks dancing across my skin.
Why am I so open with him? With other men, I guarded my feelings because I was scared that saying them out loud would send them running for the hills. With Sebastian, I have no such fears. Maybe because I know I’ll lose him anyway.
“For what it’s worth, you’re unlike any other woman I’ve met. You make me feel. . . everything.”
The waiter interrupts us. “Can I get you another round of drinks?”
“We’re good.” Sebastian doesn’t take his eyes off me, and the waiter gets the drift, leaving at once.
“I wanted another cocktail.”
“Bad idea. You’re tipsy already; you’d get drunk. I’d rather you be sober to feel all the delicious things I’ll do to you.”
“So much talking,” I complain, brushing my ankle across his. “Show me.”
“Patience.”
“Then tell me.” I smile wickedly, seeing Sebastian lick his lips as I drop my shoe and lift my leg higher up on his thigh, under the table.
“I’ll take each nipple in my mouth and suck until you writhe beneath me.” At once, heat pools between my legs. Sebastian drops his voice to a whisper. “I’ll do the same to your clit, until. . .”
“Yes?”
“You want to know more?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I will make love to you hard and wild, Ava. And you’ll be begging for more.”
“More.” My voice is breathy, but I’m not ashamed at all. Sebastian opens me up in every way. Emotionally, sexually. I have no restraints with him, and it feels damn good. I push my leg even higher up his inner thigh. “Tell me more.”
“No. Now it’s time to show you.”