Chapter 24
Study Habits
“Nice move!” Victoria said, nodding at the huge TV screen. “Keep him busy while I go get Nic off that wall.”
“You can try, babe,” Nicolette’s voice taunted her over her earphones.
Benson chewed his lower lip in concentration, his thumbs rapidly pressing on his controller. “Hurry, Victoria! I don’t know how long I can hold him off.”
“Kid, you don’t stand a chance,” Julian said, his voice also coming through their headsets. He’d barely spoken during the half hour they’d been playing Kusunoki Blade VI on the PS4, except to grunt and offer a few choice Spanish curse words.
Victoria leaned toward Benson beside her. “Try the Dai-Nankō maneuver,” she whispered.
“I’ll try,” the boy replied, nodding, his eyes transfixed on the screen.
***
“That smell heavenly,” Liskta said. “I cannot wait to put in my mouth.” She had her hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, leaning over him as she watched the stew cook.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Sebastian said. He dropped a few bay leaves in the pot and stirred. “You’re getting authentic Texan-Mexican menudo.”
“Mmmm. I always hungry for you baby.” She nipped his earlobe.
“Liskta, if you don’t stop that, I won’t be able to finish this.”
“I’m sorry.” She pouted. “You know I cannot resist man who cook.” She snaked her arms around his waist. “You know, I move to California soon.”
“Really?”
“I get accepted in Stanford.” She smiled proudly. “I become neurosurgeon. Make Mama proud.”
“That’s so great, Liskta. You’re giving up modeling then?”
She shrugged. “I guess. I want to be racecar driver, but Mama and Papa freak out.”
“I’m not surprised. That’s pretty dangerous.”
“What to say? I love the cars. But being doctor, next best thing.” She glanced to the side. “Oh hello!”
Sebastian turned to see Victoria standing by the door. She was carrying a big empty bowl and gaping at them. It took her a moment to speak. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know—”
“What are you doing here, Ms. Slade?” he said.
“I was going to refill the popcorn.” Victoria swallowed. “Benson and I were —”
“There’s a kitchen in the South wing. I would appreciate it if you would use that for the rest of the evening.”
Liskta rubbed his lower back, her arms still around his waist. “Now Sebastian, you being rude. She is your staff?”
“Victoria is Benson’s tutor,” he said.
“Oh, you are tutor to dear Benson!” Liskta said. “So nice to meet you. I am Liskta. Please to join us for dinner. Sebastian cook for me.” She leaned on his chest. “He is very good cook.”
“Victoria will be having dinner with Benson tonight,” Sebastian said, looking pointedly at Victoria.
“Y-y-yes,” Victoria said. “Thank you. Again, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean ...” She looked up at Sebastian. “I should go.”
“Nice to meet you,” Liskta said.
“Likewise,” said Victoria. She smiled hesitantly, and left.
“If you take me to bedroom, darling,” Liskta said, “will pretty tutor disturb us while we ... having fun?” She ran her tongue over his lower lip.
“I don’t think so.”
***
“Victoria, you missed the gate again!” Benson said. “We’re gonna get destroyed!”
“Sorry,” Victoria said, blinking. For the past hour, it had been difficult for her to concentrate on the game: her mind was on Sebastian downstairs in the kitchen with the blonde supermodel. Well, she didn’t really know she was a supermodel, but the woman had an almost unearthly beauty and ridiculously long legs that Victoria was almost sure she was.
Get back in the game, Slade, she ordered herself. “Watch this,” she said, gripping her controller.
“Chingg—” Julian started to say, as his character lost both his swords from Victoria’s attack.
“Language!” Nicolette and Victoria both yelled at him in unison.
“It’s in Spanish,” he protested. “Benson—”
“I’m from Texas, Julian,” Benson said, grinning.
“Oh cr— I mean, darn it. Perdón, hijo.”
“No es nada.” He looked toward his left. ”Oh hey, Uncle Sebastian!”
“What’s this?” Sebastian said, his eyebrows raised.
Victoria swallowed. She hadn’t noticed him coming in. “Playstation?” she said meekly. “I thought Benson and I could play a little after we studied. His homework is all done.”
“Watch your back, Victoria,” Benson said, his eyes back on the screen. “Sorry, there’s no pause on this game, Uncle Sebastian. Did you have dinner? Mrs. Sellers made us hotdogs and finikia.”
“I see,” Sebastian said, eyeing the trays of food on the coffee table. “Yes, I had dinner. I just wanted to say goodnight.”
“Good night.” Benson looked up at him and smiled.
Sebastian ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead. “I’ll be taking you to school tomorrow. Good night, see you at breakfast.” He nodded at Victoria. “Good night, Ms. Slade. I’ll be working in my study if you need anything.”
“All right,” she said, her game controller forgotten on her lap. “Good night.”
His study? What happened to his date? It had only been about an hour since she saw him cooking.
“Victoria, the gate!” Benson said.
“Oh, right, sorry.” She picked up her controller, her heart pounding in her chest.
***
Victoria stood outside the doors of Sebastian’s study. Ten minutes ago, it had seemed like a good idea to come here. Now she wasn’t sure. It was nine o’clock. Surely Sebastian was still up, right? What if he was busy?
She wanted to ask him about his text the previous night, the one asking if she was home. After her last reply, he never texted back. It had been bothering her all day. Now she wondered if she should just let that go.
Stupid. You just want to see him.
She had just turned to walk away and go back to her room when his voice made her nearly jump out of her skin.
“Ms. Slade, are you planning to stand outside the door all night? Come inside.”
Victoria squinted and looked closer at the spot where the voice seemed to be coming from. It was a small speaker in burnished chrome next to the door. She hadn’t noticed it before.
Wait, how did he know she was there?
She looked around her, and spotted a CCTV camera just below the ceiling.
Oh crap.
That meant he knew she had been standing outside his study for ten minutes, agonizing over whether to knock or run back upstairs. There was simply no dignified way out of this. After mentally kicking herself, she opened the door.
Sebastian was at his desk, pen in hand, writing. His laptop was open in front of him. “What can I do for you, Ms. Slade?” he said, not looking up.
The distance between the door and his desk seemed like a mile. She approached him hesitantly, furiously thinking of what to say. “I, uh,” she stammered.
He looked up, his piercing blue eyes unreadable. “Yes?”
“Well...”
Why did you text me yesterday?
That just sounded demanding.
I was home. Did you want to see me?
Wow, desperate much?
Victoria swallowed hard. She should have just gone to bed. Instead, she was standing nervously in front of her boss like a silly schoolgirl about to be scolded by the principal.
A really sexy, hot principal.
He was wearing the grey cotton tee and jeans from earlier when he was cooking. It showed off his toned arms, and she could barely keep her eyes off his biceps. Or the outline of his chest.
“You know ... It’s nothing, really. I can see you’re busy, so I’ll just go —”
His chair slid back silently as Sebastian stood up. He walked around his desk, to stand in front of her. “I’m not that busy,” he said. “There’s no need to be nervous, Ms. Slade. Just give it to me.”
“What?” she said, staring at his hand. He had his palm up like he was expecting her to hand him something.
“It’s twenty dollars, I believe?”
“Oh, no,” she said, horrified. Good grief, he thought she had come here to ... She shook her head. “That’s —”
“Did you want to negotiate the price?”
“I didn’t mean that. It’s just that ... I, uh...” Dear lord, did his mouth always look that amazingly kissable?
“What is it then?” He moved closer.
Oh God, he smelled so good.
“I, uhm... left my wallet in my room.”
Sebastian took another step closer. “I’ll send you the bill.” He slid his hand over the back of her neck.
“Okay... “ she murmured, before his mouth found hers.
He ran his tongue all around her parted lips, and her knees buckled. She felt his arm pull her firmly against him, keeping her from falling. She moaned when she felt the entire length of his tongue plow into her mouth.
His hand slid down her back to grasp her bottom, squeezing it, pressing her body against him. She felt something hard prod her stomach.
That’s not his belt buckle.
Victoria clung to him, her hands on his back, as he kissed her deeply, ravenously. She rubbed her fingers on the fabric of his shirt, aching to feel his hard muscles. It wasn’t enough. She fisted the fabric and pulled until the hem was free. She slid her hand under his shirt and explored the taut skin of his back.
She felt the skirt of her dress hike up. His hand was now under it, rubbing her ass. That’s what a thong is for, she thought dreamily. She surrendered herself to his hands, his fervent exploration of her skin.
She nearly groaned in dismay when he broke of his kiss. “Victoria,” he whispered, his mouth against her cheek.
“Don’t stop.” She moved her head to cover his lips in another kiss. She wanted the taste of him on her tongue again. They could talk later. Tomorrow.
Sebastian moaned against her mouth. He released his hold on her neck. With both hands, he grasped her waist to lift her up and put her down to sit on the edge of his desk. He wedged himself between her parted legs, running his hands up her thighs to push up her skirt.
She leaned back as he kissed her neck. “Ow,” she said, feeling something hard on her back.
He lifted his head and bent forward to push something off the table. Something fell on the carpeted floor with a loud thud and a crack.
“What was that?” Victoria said, alarmed.
“Doesn’t matter,” he murmured, kissing her neck again.
She rolled her head back, letting him take her with his mouth as he wished. She dropped her hands behind her, palms against the top of the desk for support. His tongue darted over her skin as he kissed her. His hands were still on her parted thighs stroking them roughly.
With eyes shut, Victoria bit her lip to hold back her moans. The pleasure of his mouth and hands on her body was more than she could bear.
“What took you so long?” he growled. He nipped her earlobe lightly before licking the spot below her ear.
Her eyes flew open and her back arched involuntarily at the surge of electricity that shot up her spine. Christ, this man was going to kill her with that tongue. “I w-w-wasn’t sure you were free,” she said, gasping.
The truth was, Victoria didn’t know if she would once again find herself in his arms after the other night. Know the taste of his lips, feel his hands on her again.
“Were you maybe expecting a bat signal?” His mouth was on her throat now, and he slipped his fingers inside her thong.
“That would have been really h-h-helpful— Jesus Christ!” she cried out when his fingers found her mound.
Sebastian pressed firmly on her sensitive spot, rubbing it in slow circles. “You’re so wet, my darling,” he murmured against her throat. “So goddamn wet ... for me ...”
She closed her eyes again, and forced herself to breathe. Her arms were buckling under her, every muscle in her body turning to jelly. “Sebastian!” she gasped. “I can’t ... oh fuck...”
“Come for me, my darling.”