Chapter 18
Air
He slid the left strap of her bra down her shoulder, exposing her breast. He took it into his mouth, sucking her creamy white flesh gently.
She whimpered in pleasure, her hands caressing his back, encouraging him to further explore her body with his lips.
His hand moved behind her to unfasten the clasp of her bra. She shrugged it off and tossed it aside. He fastened his lips on her other breast, teasing her nipple gently with his tongue as he slid his hand down her back.
“Sebastian ...” She trembled at his touch. “Take me now. I want you.”
That’s not her voice.
He paused, his mouth still on her heaving bosom. Slowly, he lifted his head to stare at her face.
It’s not her.
She leaned forward and tried to kiss him again.
“Stop,” he said. He looked at her face curiously, as though for the first time.
What was he doing here? he wondered. Why wasn’t he with the woman he wanted, instead of trying to relieve his sexual frustration on a stranger?
“What’s wrong, sugar?” She reached down the front of his pants, her eyes growing wide as she felt the size and stiffness of his erection. “Nothing wrong down there,” she said, giggling.
“Erika...”
She pulled up her legs to kneel in front of him. He held still as she pushed his shirt open and kissed his lean, muscular chest. “I’m going to be so good to you, Sebastian,” she whispered, her lips on his skin. “I’ll let you do anything you want to me.”
“I’m sorry.” He got off the chaise lounge, pushing her away gently.
She stood up and grabbed his arm as he tried to turn away. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No—”
She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her nearly naked body against his. “Fuck me, then,” she said. “I know you want to.”
He looked down at her face, her small, sensual mouth parted slightly, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire. Her large pert breasts gleamed in the moonlight streaming through the windows.
God, she was beautiful.
It would be so easy to give her what she wanted. To throw her down on the bed and take his pleasure with her — the way he had done so many times before, with so many other women. She was willing and hungry for him. The raging erection in his pants throbbed against her bare stomach, demanding release.
“I need air,” he said, pulling away from her embrace. He started buttoning up his shirt as he walked across the room to the door.
“You’ll be back, won’t you?” she asked.
He didn’t reply.
Sebastian stepped outside the room, and froze in his steps. He could hear a female voice moaning from down the hallway. He turned to see a woman with her back against the wall, and a man kissing her.
It was as though he had stumbled onto the wrong fantasy.
Victoria breathless with desire as his mouth ravished hers. His hands gripping her waist, her ass. She clinging to him desperately, begging him to make love to her.
Except someone else was kissing her, holding her. And Sebastian could only watch helplessly from a distance.
For once in his life, he had no idea what to do.
He knew he should leave. But his legs refused to move. He watched them silently, as though he could will them to stop their passionate embrace from where he stood.
Sebastian couldn’t make out Victoria’s expression when she finally noticed he was there. She just looked at him without a word.
The young man was nonplussed. “Oh, hey, “ he called out to Sebastian. “I hope we didn’t disturb you?”
There was a great deal Sebastian wanted to say to him. And even more he wanted to do with the man’s handsome face — most of them involving his fist. He clenched his jaw. “No,” he replied.
He felt a woman’s arms encircle his waist. Erika smiled up at him and asked him something. He wasn’t sure what it was. He could barely hear her over the pounding of his heart.
Erika’s robe fell open, her bare breasts exposed. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her. “Let’s go back inside,” he muttered.
Once in the room, Sebastian slammed the door shut. He was angry. He had no right to be, yet he was furious.
Victoria had a boyfriend. Of course she did. He was too wrapped up in his own infatuation he never gave a thought as to whom she might be in love with. Who was kissing her. Who was keeping her warm in bed at night.
He was a goddamn fool.
He turned around to find Erika taking off her robe, leaving her once again naked except for her small, barely existent thong.
“Now,” she said, unbuckling his belt. “Where were we?”
Sebastian grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away. “We’re done here,” he said.
“Was it something I said?”
“No,” he said, buttoning up his shirt.
“I thought you liked me.” She sounded hurt.
“I’m sorry.” He picked up his jacket. “I just ... need to be somewhere else right now.”
What exactly he was going to say to Victoria, he had no idea. He owed her no explanation, no apology. But he’d be damned if he was going to let some other man keep him from her.
When Sebastian opened the door into the hallway, Victoria and the man she was with were gone.
***
Victoria nearly stumbled as she half-ran down the stairs.
“Are you okay?” Ardan said. He grabbed her shoulders, trying to keep her from pitching forward after nearly missing a step.
“I need air,” she muttered under her breath.
“Let’s go outside.” He kept his arm on her shoulders and guided her down the rest of the stairs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Kissing you up there. I thought we were alone and —”
“It’s all right,” she said, forcing a smile.
They found a door that led out to a garden at the back. They stepped out into the crisp night air, the faint sound of the party music thumping from a distance.
Victoria felt sick. She blinked back tears, and reminded herself she had no right to this jealously that was gnawing at her insides. Of course Sebastian was seeing someone, why wouldn’t he? But having the painful truth laid out in front of her felt like a blow to the gut.
Did she have feelings for him? How stupid was she to think that the kindness and attention he’d shown her meant anything more than what it was. She let him dress her up in fine clothes, and let herself believe she was special. Even beautiful.
Christ, she was an idiot.
“This may be a stupid question,” Ardan said, “but do you know them?”
No, Victoria wanted to say. But she hated lying. “Yes.”
“Oh.” He looked puzzled. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was...embarrassed.” She smiled, hoping to mask the hurt in her eyes. “He’s my boss.”
“Oh, God, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Can we get back to the party?”
“Just promise me Nicolette won’t make us dance.”
She laughed, feeling a little better. “I promise.”
When they got back to the party, Nicolette and Julian were sitting with several people Victoria didn’t know. “Hey, look who decided to join us,” Nicolette said, grinning slyly.
“Sorry, I got lost,” Victoria said, sitting down beside her. “You got any champagne left?”
Julian handed her a glass of the bubbly drink. She gulped it down in seconds, then held out her glass for a refill.
“Hey, Vic, am I going to have to carry you home tonight?” Nicolette asked ten minutes later as she watched Victoria throw back her third glass of champagne.
“Whaddya mean?” Victoria said, then realized she was slurring her words. “I mean, no, I’m fine,” she added, enunciating each syllable carefully.
“Liar,” Nicolette whispered. “Don’t worry, I think we can get Ardan to carry you in case you get too sloshed.” She looked over at Ardan, who was sitting on Victoria’s other side. “Hey buddy, you okay to drive?”
“At your service ma’am,” Ardan said. “Are we leaving?”
“Oh no,” Victoria said. She smiled dreamily. The alcohol was making her oddly cheerful. “I’m having fun.” Maybe if she drank enough champagne, she’d erase the memory of seeing Sebastian with that half-dressed woman.
“We’ll stay as long as you want,” he said.
“Your eyes are pretty,” she said, then blinked. “I’m sorry, did I say that out loud?”
“Yes.” His eyes searched her face. “And don’t be.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t be sorry.”
“Okay.” She lifted her face up to his and kissed him.
***
She was doing this on purpose, Sebastian thought, watching Victoria and her boyfriend lock lips across the room. It was almost like she knew he was there to see them.
“Mr. Chase?”
He turned. The young man looked familiar.
“Yes,” he said, trying not to show his irritation.
“Sophie was wondering if you’d join her if you were no longer...busy.”
“Phillip, is it?” Sebastian said, recognizing Sophie’s current boyfriend. “Please tell Sophie I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving now.”
“Certainly, Mr. Chase. I’ll tell her,” Phillip said.
After he left, Sebastian took out his phone and called his chauffeur. “Connor, get the car ready.”
“Yes, Mr. Chase. Leaving early, sir?” Connor said.
“Yes,” Sebastian said, looking over at Victoria. She was laughing at something her date was whispering into her ear. “It’s time to call it a night.”
***
Victoria felt giddy. All the alcohol she drank tonight had definitely gotten to her head. In fact it was sloshing around in her brain, making her lose her balance.
She giggled as Ardan caught her waist, keeping her from toppling over on the sidewalk of her apartment building.
“Easy now,” he said. “I’ll help you up to your apartment, all right?”
“I’ll be fine.” She put her arms around his neck and leaned into him. “But you’re welcome to come upstairs with me.”
“Victoria...” He bent his head down until his forehead brushed hers.
“Yes?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
Her smile faded as her mind flashed back to earlier in the evening. Sebastian coming out of the bedroom, his unbuttoned shirt practically falling off him; the way he dismissed her with his eyes before dragging his lover back with him into the bedroom.
She had tried so hard not to think about it. God knows how much champagne and highballs she’d drunk trying to drown out the thoughts of Sebastian and his girlfriend making love in that room. Even now, through a haze of alcohol, her heart caught in her throat when she remembered the way his arms tightened around the woman’s delicate shoulders.
“No,” she said. “Does it matter?”
“I’m going to ask you out,” he said. “It matters to me.”
His arms felt strong and comforting around her waist, and Victoria was not in a hurry to go anywhere. “Well, in case you’re curious to know,” she said, “I’m going to say yes.”
The elevators of her building had been out of service for a year now, so they had to take the stairs. While she managed to walk up the steps without incident, she was grateful she had someone whose arm she could hold on to. When they dropped Julian off where he’d parked his car outside Key Six, Nicolette had gone with him after discretely reminding her roommate where they kept the condoms.
When they got to Victoria’s front door, Ardan took her hand.”I’ll call you, all right?” he said.
“Don’t you want to come in?”
“There’s nothing I’d like more.” He cupped her face gently, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “But you’ve had a little bit to drink tonight, Vic. I don’t want to be something you’ll regret in the morning.”
Victoria closed her eyes for a moment, and rested her cheek his hand. “Haven’t you ever done something you know you’ll regret?” she whispered.
“A few times. But I don’t want that with you.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”