Chapter 17
Rendezvous
“What’s a girl got to do to get a drink around here?”
Sebastian looked up. It was Erika Daniels, now dressed in a white two-piece midriff dress. The glitter and sequins of her costumes at the show was all gone, and her hair was now tamed down and it fell in soft waves on her shoulders.
He had been deep in conversation with Terrence Sykes and Kalisha Wilson. They were a power couple in the music industry, being producers behind some of the most popular rap artists today. They were sitting on a deep purple leather couch in the corner of the enormous hall of Sophia Ledeaux’s home, the afterparty in full swing around them.
“Honey, the bar’s over there, I think,” Kalisha nodded to the side. “Unless there’s something special you wanted.”
“There is,” Erika said, sliding her backside on the couch between Sebastian and Kalisha. She looked at his drink. “I’d like that one, please.”
He looked at her with amusement for a few moments, then handed her his half-empty glass of vodka tonic. Their eyes held each other’s gaze as she slowly sipped his drink.
Putting down the empty glass, Erika turned reluctantly to Kalisha. “Ms. Wilson, I believe we met at the Grammys,” she said. With her East Texas drawl, she sounded warm and friendly.
“We did.” The older woman smiled and nodded to Terrence. “Do you know my husband?”.
“We haven’t met, no.” Erika reached over to shake his hand. “Mr. Sykes, it’s a great honor. I’m a super fan of you and your wife.”
“Well, I’m a super fan of my wife, too,” Terrence said. “Aight, it’s been great catching up, my man.” He stood up, and Kalisha took his cue and stood as well. He reached down and shook Sebastian’s hand. “I’ll see you next week.”
“I’ll have my assistant make the appointment,” Sebastian said.
“Erika, you take good care of my man, Sebastian, aight?” he said, a sly grin on his face. Kalisha smiled at them indulgently.
“Do you always talk business at parties?” Erika said, after the couple left. She rested her elbow on the back of the couch, her hand on her neck as she fixed her gaze at Sebastian.
“Yes, but only with people I like,” he said.
“That’s too bad. I was hoping you’d like me, but I’d rather we talk about something fun.” She smiled uncertainly. “Did...Sophie say anything about me?”
The girl was sitting close enough that he could recognize the Chanel perfume she was wearing, but she moved even closer until her leg was pressed against his.
“She did. That was a stunning performance tonight, Ms. Daniels.”
“Thank you.” She crossed her leg, rubbing up her thigh against his in the process. The slit of her dress fell apart to reveal her bare leg. “I hope I did justice to the Cat’s Eye. It’s so pretty, I was really sad to have to give it back.”
“The emerald you wore in the finale.” He nodded. “Sophie let me have it for the night.” She caught her breath in surprise as he traced his thumb on her delicate jawline. His fingers curled around her chin, and he pulled her face close to whisper in her ear. “I had it sent up to your room.”
Erika shivered visibly when his breath caressed her ear. “Sebastian, what —”
“I’d like to see it.” His hand dropped to her chest and he grazed her exposed cleavage with the back of his fingers. “In private.”
Sebastian could almost feel the pounding of her heart as his hand brushed her chest. She was almost breathless with excitement. “Give me five minutes?” she whispered.
“Go.”
***
A mob of mainstream media and tabloid paparazzi surrounded the entrance of the Ledeaux mansion.
“Who’s your date, Julian?” a reporter asked as the actor posed for photos, his arm around Nicolette’s waist.
“Nicolette West,” Julian said. “Hollywood’s most brilliant new screenwriter.”
“Ms. West, aren’t you and Mr. Reitman in talks with Tom Cruise for a movie after Reacher 2?” another reporter asked.
“Only if he drops the Top Gun sequel,” Nicolette shot back smoothly. “We’ll have to see.” She smiled dazzlingly at the cameras.
“That girl is nuts,” Victoria murmured as she watched them walk down the rest of the red carpet.
“Completely,” Ardan said. “I mean, there’s no way he’s dropping Top Gun 2.”
“Shhh. Shut up, people will think we’re being serious.” But she couldn’t help laughing.
“Here, take my hand.”
Victoria slid her hand in his. She felt brazen, but she was so comfortable with Ardan despite knowing him for only a few hours. She let him lead her through the throng of reporters.
The flash of a thousand cameras nearly blinded her. “Why are they taking our picture?” she whispered.
“I think they just take photos of everyone passing through,” Ardan said.
“I’m pretty sure they just think you’re famous. ‘Cause you’re hot and all.” She kicked herself mentally as soon as she realized what she’d just said.
He grinned. “Why, Ms. Slade. You think I’m hot?”
“Could we just go in now?” Victoria said, trying not to blush. “I’m not really comfortable with strangers taking my picture.”
“Sorry about that. If it helps, you look beautiful.”
The inside of the mansion had been transformed into a nightclub. Lights strobed the walls and floors, and aerial silk dancers glided up and down red fabric hung from the high ceilings. The dance floor was packed with women in tight clothes and men in evening suits, their bodies swaying and bouncing against one another in hypnotic rhythm.
“There’s Nic,” Victoria said, waving back at her friend who was at a table with some people across the room. Nicolette was standing up and waving at them, trying to get their attention. “Go on ahead,” she said to Ardan. “I just need to use the ladies’ room.”
***
It was all too familiar to him. The unlocked room. The beautiful woman waiting behind the door in whatever state of dress - or undress - he chose. They would sate each other’s hunger, and he would not linger more than necessary. If, after a night, he found himself still aching for the taste of her, he might request another rendezvous.
But that did not happen often.
The knob of the ornate oak door turned easily in his grip, and he stepped into a dimly-lit room.
She sat on a gold and white chaise lounge, her bare legs stretched out, her arms draped over the arm rests. Her short purple silk robe was unfastened and fell open in front to reveal the jeweled lingerie he had seen her in earlier that evening, as did everyone in her rapt, adoring audience.
His eyes raked over her as he closed the distance between them in unhurried strides.
“Well?” she asked breathlessly. “It looks much better up-close, doesn’t it?”
He stared down at her silently as he took off his jacket and tossed it on the bed nearby. He rested one knee on the chaise lounge between her thighs. Leaning over, he put a hand on the back of the chair behind her, and his other hand moved down her neck to gently slide her robe off one shoulder.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, before he bent down to kiss her neck.
She moaned as his lips touched her skin. “Sebastian ...” she gasped, her fingers tugging on the buttons of his shirt. He pushed her hand aside and unbuttoned his shirt himself. He did not take it off. Instead, he took off her robe, pulling it up over her head. It dropped silently on the carpeted floor behind her.
Giggling, she put her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to hers. He put a finger on her lips before she could kiss him. “I’m here for something else, Erika,” he said. He slid his fingers around the back of her neck and, with his thumb, pushed her chin upward until her head was thrown back.
“Anything you want,” she moaned as he kissed her throat. “I’m yours, baby.”
Her back arched in pleasure as he moved his mouth down her breasts.
***
Victoria couldn’t find the bathroom. She’d tried a few rooms on the first floor, all of which were locked, and she realized she was now in a different wing of the enormous house. “Excuse me, miss,” Victoria said to one housemaid who passed by. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”
“There’s a couple right by the entrance to the ballroom where the party is,” the maid said. “You didn’t see it?”
Victoria shook her head. “I really need to go soon. Is there one in this wing of the house?”
“Second floor.” The maid pointed down the hallway. “Go up those stairs, turn left. It’s the door at the end of the hall.”
“Thank you,” she said, but she’d only gone a few steps towards the stairs when she felt someone come up behind her.
“You’re not, by any chance ditching me to meet with some guy upstairs, are you?”
Ardan spoke close to her ear, and his nearness sent a delicious tingle up her spine. “I was,” Victoria said. “I didn’t know it would be this hard to get rid of you.”
“I’m not sure why I can’t seem to stay away from you,” he said. “I mean, you’re a terrible dancer—”
“So are you.”
“I was pretending, so you wouldn’t look bad.”
“Well, you fooled me.” She laughed.
“C’mon,” he said, taking her hand. “The maid said the ladies’ room was in the second floor, right?”
They found the bathroom easily.
When she was done, she found Ardan outside where he said he’d wait for her.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
He was staring at her with an odd look in his face.
“Nothing.”
It happened slowly. Ardan moving toward her. Victoria walking backward until she felt the cool, hard wall on her back. His hands cupping her face, his mouth taking hers gently in a kiss.
For a few moments, she forgot to breathe. She closed her eyes as his lips played on hers, nibbling and licking in the most deliberately slow strokes. “Victoria ...” he whispered between kisses. “You’re so beautiful.”
He nibbled her lower lip, and a moan escaped her throat. Ardan lowered his arms to encircle her waist, pressing her harder against him and the wall. When he finally slipped his tongue between her lips, her grip on his shoulders tightened involuntarily.
While his mouth pressed hard on her, his tongue stroked hers languidly, teasing her senses until she felt dizzy with need. More, Victoria begged silently, wrapping her arms around his neck.
She gave a low whimper in protest when Ardan pulled away slowly. His forehead brushed hers, and he kept looking into her eyes. “Would you like to get out of here?” he asked, his breathing uneven.
“Ardan ...”
“No pressure, Vic. We can just talk if you like.” He kissed her forehead. “I just don’t want to be around anyone else but you tonight.”
Before Victoria could answer, she saw him turn to his right, as though he’d seen something in the corner of his eye.
She turned to look. The door to one of the rooms a few feet down the hall was open, and to her horror, in front of it stood Sebastian.
His shirt was open, his belt unbuckled. But despite his state of undress, he had his unflinching gaze fixed on Victoria.
She wanted to run away, but Ardan’s arms were still around her.
Calm down, Victoria commanded herself desperately. You didn’t do anything wrong.
She couldn’t explain the guilt she felt, standing there with Ardan’s arms around her.
Did Sebastian see them kissing? How long had he been watching them?
“Oh, hey, “ Ardan said amicably. “I hope we didn’t disturb you?”
It seemed almost like an eternity before Sebastian finally spoke. “No,” he said.
A red-haired young woman in a very short robe emerged from the room, and, unaware of Victoria and Ardan down the hall, slid her arms around Sebastian’s waist. “Come back inside, baby,” she purred in a Southern accent. “I’m not nearly done with you yet.”