Anna

 

Pulling myself out of bed this morning in order to make it over to Esme’s was quite the task. Every inch of my body felt used, in the most wonderful way possible. I had opened my eyes and instinctively reached for the other side of the bed, surprised to find it was empty. Embarrassment washed over me momentarily at the thought that maybe Sebastian had changed his mind. Until my fingers landed on a piece of paper propped up on the pillow beside me.

Didn’t want to wake you, I’m at the studio. Call me.

-S

I called Sebastian while I was still under the covers. He said he’d be working all day to meet a deadline that just got pushed up, but we made plans to meet up later tonight once he’s finished for the day. I’m on my way over to Esme’s now, navigating the Sunday morning traffic while Adele plays softly on the radio and I hum along mindlessly. I decided to drive today because Dru wants to go to yoga after brunch, which is something we used to do all the time but haven’t been able to coordinate lately.

I park my car on the quiet sidewalk around the corner from Esme’s building. I’m early as usual but I have some lesson planning I can do and I want to raid Esme’s recipe book for some new ideas. The thought of spending my evenings with Sebastian puts a silly grin on my face that I can’t seem to erase as I make my way upstairs.

I meant what I said to him, sex has never been like this for me. Not like I’m swimming in experience. I lost my virginity in college to a guy I worked at the campus bookstore with. We were friends, and he was sweet, but our relationship fizzled out pretty quickly. There just wasn’t enough chemistry between us. The second person I had sex with was a guy named Garret whom I dated for several months last year. It was better, he certainly knew what he was doing, and we got along well for the most part. But it was clear he wasn’t looking to settle down and eventually I ended it when I realized that we’d never move forward. He also had a thing about my scars, he told me they freaked him out and it always made me feel so inhibited. Like I couldn’t really let go. Aside from that, my relationship experience is basically a string of casual dates and dinners that could never seem to gain the momentum to move forward into something more.  

Sebastian though, being with him is an entirely new experience. I have never felt the way that I feel when I’m with him. He makes me feel beautiful and sexy and daring. I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be the first time he saw me naked. I’m not ashamed of my body, but I know it’s not perfect. My scars stand out and they represent something sad, and of course I’m only human so I still hear Garret’s voice in my head from time to time asking me to keep the bedsheet draped over myself. But when Sebastian pressed his lips to the most imperfect parts of my skin, I swear my heart nearly stopped beating. No one has ever made me feel so…precious.

I approach Esme’s door and knock briskly before I push it open, a gasp on my lips as my brain adjusts to the fact that Gus, a family friend and Dru’s old boss at the club, is standing beside Esme. His hand is on her shoulder and his lips are on her cheek as she continues to cut up strawberries.

“Anna, hello dear,” she says.

“Hi, umm, am I, interrupting something?” I ask as I close the door behind me and give her a questioning glance.

“Not at all, have a seat,” she says.

“Ohhkay. Hi Gus, how are you?”

“I’m wonderful sweetheart, and you?”

“I’m good. Um, did you want to go put some pants on?”

“Oh for heaven’s sake Gus, go put your damn pants on before the kids get here,” Esme scolds.

He blushes sweetly and whispers something in her ear making her giggle before he turns and heads toward the bedroom in his white and blue checkered boxer shorts. I wait until I hear the door close and set my bag down on the table. I turn to face her, waiting for an explanation.

“What?”

“So, you and Gus, you’re a thing now?” I ask with a smile.

My sisters and I have always thought there was something going on between the two of them, but Esme has always insisted that she simply looks after him because he’s helpless.

“If by thing, you mean have we decided to keep each other company from time to time, then yes, I suppose you could say that we are indeed a thing,” she replies primly.

Just then, Dru and Ethan walk in, followed by Blake and Elle. “Hey,” Dru says. “Everything okay?”

“We might as well get this out in the open now,” Esme says, setting down her knife. “Gus and I have become a thing, as your sister has put it,” she continues. “He’s in the bedroom putting on pants and he’ll be joining us today.”

“It’s about damn time,” Dru says.

“We really should have placed bets on this,” Elle adds.

The conversation changes and filters around us as Esme looks up at me and winks before she goes back to cutting up the fruit on the counter. Gus comes back into the kitchen and is greeted with a hug and kiss from both Elle and Dru as well as a series of manly back slaps and congratulations from Blake and Ethan.

“Okay boys, you can finish congratulating Gus on a job well done after we eat,” Esme says. “Blake, you grab the plates and Ethan you can fetch the silverware.”

 

*

 

I roll out my pink yoga mat in the corner of the studio and take a seat, digging my phone out of my bag so I can turn it off. A message from Sebastian lights up the screen.

Sebastian: I think I miss you.

Me: You think?

Sebastian: I know that I miss you. I just didn’t want to sound needy.

Me: I miss you too. I don’t care if that sounds needy.

Sebastian: What are you doing?

Me: At yoga with Dru and Elle, waiting for class to start.

Sebastian: Are you wearing spandex?

Me: Yes.

Sebastian: Dammit freckles.

I turn my phone off and toss it in my bag, looking over at Dru and Elle beside me to see them both staring.

“What?”

“Something you’d like to share? Or do you always wear a dopey I’ve been having sex grin whenever you text someone?” Dru asks.

“Shhhh, do you mind?”

“Nope,” she says with a cocky grin.

“Fine. I was going to tell you after, but I’ll just tell you now,” I smile. “Sebastian and I ha-.”

“I knew it!” Elle exclaims.

“Shhhh!”

“I knew there was something between you two, the way he was looking at you when he brought you to the hospital,” she says quietly. “Awww, this is so romantic.”

“It didn’t start until recently,” I explain. “It just kind of…happened. But it feels right,” I add. “I had that date with Steven, great guy by the way, and I was really excited about it. But then Sebastian came over and we had kind of a weird moment.”

I give them the quick version of my date with Steven and everything that happened later that night and how I went to Sebastian’s the next day with the intention of clearing the air.

“So, are you in a relationship?” Dru asks.

“I told him I couldn’t do casual and he agreed, so, yes I’d say we are,” I reply.

“And you believe him?” she asks.

“Oh stop being a party pooper,” Elle says to Dru.

“Look, I know this is kind of out of nowhere, but, yes I do believe him,” I reply. “And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll handle it.”

I reach for Dru’s hand and give it a squeeze. I know she’s just worried about me. “Please, just be happy for me okay?”

“Okay,” she sighs. “I am happy for you Anna, but if he hurts you I’ll end his life. Violently.”

The gentle sound of a chime interrupts us as the instructor walks in and class begins. We warm up slowly but by the time the hour is up, my legs feel wobbly and a thin sheen of sweat coats my skin. We roll up our mats and walk to the lobby, making plans to have another girls’ night the weekend after next. It’s getting close to supper time, so I decide to head down to Allessia’s and grab some takeout for Sebastian and I. I swing by the park to see Jack, giving him the Tupperware container with some leftovers from Esme’s on my way to the bistro.

I walk through the front door and it looks like I came at just the right time as only a few tables are occupied. I place my order with Ashley out front before I spot Stephanie in the kitchen and she waves me back.

“You look different,” she observes, when I walk through the swinging door. “Like you’re glowing.”

“I just came from yoga with Dru and Elle,” I explain.

“No…that’s not it,” she says, eyeing me up. “Okay. Who is he?”

“How do you do that?”

“It’s a gift,” she shrugs with a smile. “Now spill, who’s the lucky guy?”

I tell her about Sebastian while she prepares our dinner. She peppers me with a thousand questions before she’s satisfied and I’m able distract her by asking how everything’s been going.

“I took your advice and posted an ad on campus,” she says. “I now have a part-time manager who helps me deal with all that paperwork nonsense.”

“That’s good!”

“Yeah, now if only George Clooney would come and sweep me off my damn feet, I’d be set,” she says.

“Never say never,” I smile.

We continue to chat about work and I give her a few more small details regarding Sebastian before she packs my order up and I’m out the door.

I pull up to the old warehouse where Sebastian rents his studio and swing open the heavy door. He’s standing at the large wooden table off to the side, carefully wrapping an assortment of coloured mugs before placing them in a padded box.

“Sebastian!” I shout above the blaring sound of Tom Petty.

He looks up and smiles, grabbing the remote and turning the music down. He walks toward me and leans down, pressing his lips to mine in a firm and very welcomed kiss.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

“I’m sorry, I should have called first,” I say. “I thought you could take a break and we could eat?”

“Don’t be sorry, you never have to call,” he assures me. “And yes, I’m starving.”

I set us up a little picnic at the small coffee table in the makeshift living room area near the corner of the room while he tapes up the last box and washes up.

When we finish eating, Sebastian takes our garbage and I wander around his studio, admiring the various stages of each of his projects. The lovely, natural scent of mossy earth invades my senses as I walk around the large wheel and over to the work bench where several completed items are waiting to get boxed up. I carefully pick up a delicate tea cup and trace my fingertips along the smooth surface. It’s bright yellow with a glossy finish and sits on top of a matching saucer. I feel a blush rise up my neck as I marvel at how hands as large and rough as Sebastian’s can also be capable of making something so dainty, and with such precision.

I don’t need to turn around to know that he’s walked back into the room, I can feel his eyes on my back. My heart skips a beat and the tea cup resting in my hand begins to shake ever so slightly. I place the cup back on the bench when I feel the heat of his body behind me.

“These are beautiful,” I tell him.

“You’re beautiful,” he says, placing my loose braid over my shoulder.

His mouth pressing firmly onto the back of my neck sends a blanket of goosebumps over my skin. Desire pools between my legs as I spin around slowly to face him. I take one large hand in mine and bring it up to my mouth, pressing my lips to his knuckles.

“I love your hands,” I say, my mouth hovering above his rough skin. “I love what they do to me, and how they make me feel. And I love that they are responsible for creating such lovely things.”

I gently nip the pad of his thumb and watch with satisfaction as his eyelids fall heavy and he looks down at me with desire.

“Goddamn, freckles,” he grumbles as he places his hands on my shoulders and guides me back against the brick wall. “You’re killing me,” he groans, tangling his fingers in my hair as he guides my lips up to meet his.

His mouth on mine is firm and commanding, coaxing my lips to part as his tongue slides against mine and a moan lingers in the back of my throat. The minute Sebastian touches me, he incinerates me. His palm massages my breast and gently pinches the hardened tip through my tank top. He pulls his mouth from mine and grazes his teeth down the column of my throat, groaning as he licks and nips a path down to my chest.

“Too many clothes, Anna,” he scolds, reaching for the hem of my top and peeling it up and over my head. “Fuck, every part of your body tastes good.”

I reach for his shirt and mimic his desperation; he then adds my black sports bra to the pile. When he presses me back against the rough wall and my heavy breasts press against his chest, I wrap one leg around his and shamelessly grind myself against his hardening erection.

“I need you,” I say. “Sebastian.”

“Fuck, I love it when you say my name,” he groans.

He reaches for the button on his jeans and frees himself, kicking off his pants and shoes before his hands are back on me and he’s guiding me to the plush armchair in the corner of the room. He sits down and scoots to the edge, holding me by the hips in front of him. His molten stare meets mine as my heart thrums in my chest and he rolls my yoga pants down my legs, followed by my black thong. He dips his head forward and presses his mouth to my stomach before tugging me onto his lap. His erection is nestled between my thighs as he trails his fingertips along the sides of my ribcage.

“Christ, you’re already wet,” he says, once again guiding my mouth down to his.

I slide myself along his length as he takes my lips in a bruising kiss. His hands are everywhere. Caressing, gripping, making me feel more wanted than I ever have and giving me the confidence to be as bold as I want to be. I lean into him, brushing my lips against his jaw and up to his ear.

“Sebastian,” I breathe. “I want to feel you.”

I lift my hips up and wrap my hand around him, guiding his velvet tip to my aching centre. I slide down, relishing in the fullness and the way the grip of his hands tighten on my hips. I pause after the last inch of him is buried inside of me and place my palms on either side of his face, capturing his eyes with mine. I slowly begin to rock my hips back and forth. No longer able to hold his stare, my head tilts back and I give myself over to the feeling of him inside me. I move slowly but with certainty, there’s no rush in the rhythm of my hips. Every deliciously sinful inch of him hits every part that I need him to and when a deep groan grumbles in his chest, the vibration echoes around me.

“Fuck Anna, don’t stop, keep riding my cock,” he mumbles, bringing one hand around to my backside and giving me one swift smack.

Pleasure courses through my veins, and when he roughly massages the plump flesh that he just struck, I lean forward and press my body closer to his. I try with everything I have to mold myself closer to him, desperate to prolong the countless sensations running wild inside of me.

“Do it again,” I whisper on a moan, surprising myself. “Please.”

He pauses for less than a second before his palm connects with my still stinging flesh for the second time, and every nerve ending within me short circuits. My hips buck forward, my pace quickening. Every thrust brushes my swollen clit, his rough hands continue to grip me tight, helping me to drag myself back and forth until my body tenses and a rush of relief overpowers me. I slump forward, my body melting into him as he thrusts up in harsh, quick strokes until his face is buried in my neck and he’s groaning a curse against my sweat covered skin.

“Fuck,” he sighs. “You fucking undo me, Anna.”

I manage to push myself off him. Considering his eyes and seeing the honesty of his words makes my belly flutter.

“Ditto,” I say, pressing my lips to his.

I don’t know how long we sit in that old chair before Sebastian turns me and places his arm beneath my knees. He carries me to the small bathroom and stands me in front of the mirror. Carefully, he takes a warm washcloth and swipes it intimately between my legs. He cleans me, coddles me and makes me feel like I’m the most important thing in the entire world.

 

*

 

I hang up the phone on my desk and breathe a sigh of frustration. This is the third time I’ve tried calling Jay Kent to schedule a meeting so that we can talk about Darius, and the third time that I haven’t made it past his secretary. Apparently, he’s in a meeting that cannot be interrupted. Again.

“Any luck?” Melinda asks, emptying the dust pan into the trash.

“No,” I say. “I really wanted to get this over with before the end of recess. His secretary won’t pull him from his meeting. I hate ambushing parents but I’m going to just have to do it today when he picks Darius up.”

“Personally, I enjoy a good ambush,” she grins. “Besides, he’s one of the nicer parents and I’m sure he’ll just be grateful that you’re taking the time to talk. But I’d give him shit about his strict ass secretary if I were you.”

“Yeah, I’ll mention it,” I sigh. “Ugh, I hate this part of my job,” I whine.

“I know honey, but it’ll be fine,” she says.

For the last several days, Darius, who has been one of the nicest boys in class, has been steadily picking on several other kids. It’s very out of character for him and I’m almost positive it has to do with something at home. I told Jay I’d keep an eye on him and I’d like to help get this behaviour sorted out before it becomes worse.

The recess bell rings and the kids come filing back into the classroom, red faced and breathless. Melinda and I fill the last two hours of the day with crafts and a story and soon the end of the day bell rings. I keep Darius behind and tell him to work on his printing while we wait for his dad. Twenty minutes later, Jay knocks on the door, looking rumpled and slightly embarrassed.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he says. “I was in meetings all day and the last one ran late. Are you ready to head home bud?”

“There was something I wanted to talk to you about,” I say. “Darius, why don’t you keep working on your booklet and your dad and I are just going to chat over here for a minute, okay?”

He nods and continues on with his work as I guide Jay to the corner of the classroom. I explain Darius’s recent behaviour and my attempt at reaching him today.

“Christ,” he says. “I’m sorry Anna, I’ll talk to Tracy about making sure your calls come through. And I’m sorry about Darius, I promise I’ll talk to him.”

“Is it totally unrealistic to maybe have both you and your ex-wife come in for a meeting? I only ask because I think if maybe we can all get on the same page, it will be more beneficial for Darius. And effective.”

“His mother doesn’t have time for anything that doesn’t revolve around her,” he says bitterly. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be putting that on you, but I know this has something to do with her. She’s still going on about boarding school and according to Darius she’s got a new boyfriend already.”

“I’m sorry,” I offer. “I can’t imagine how hard it must be to share a child after a divorce. I really just want Darius to succeed,” I say.

“I appreciate that, truly I do,” he says. “I’ll speak to him and see if I can get anywhere.”

“He really is a great kid,” I tell him. “Do you have any family in the city? Anyone that can help out?”

“My father isn’t exactly the most doting grandfather,” he says. “I have a brother, but we aren’t close, it’s…complicated.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“You didn’t,” he assures me. “I really appreciate you taking the time to speak to me.”

“Of course, I don’t mind at all,” I say with a smile. “We’ve only got about a month left before summer holidays and I was thinking if you’re interested I’d gather some info from the community centre downtown for summer day camps and programs. I bet Darius would have a great time, and I don’t know what your childcare situation is when there’s no school…Anyways, I thought it might be helpful,” I say, cringing slightly that I might be overstepping my boundaries.

“That would be great, thanks,” he says. “Well, I guess we should get home and let you get out of here.”

He gathers Darius and once they’ve left I spend a few minutes puttering around the classroom, straightening the bookshelf and the craft bins. My phone buzzes on my desk and when I pick it up I see a picture of Sebastian holding a package of spaghetti and a jar of marinara sauce.

Sebastian: I might burn the whole building down trying to impress you.

Me: I’m already impressed by you, no need for casualties.

Sebastian: Nonsense. I’m going to cook you supper and then I’m going to lick every inch of your sweet tasting pussy.

I type my response as a furious blush covers me from the neck up.

Me: Hmmm…I’m going to have to think about that. Maybe I want to lick you instead ;)

I gather my things and step outside when he finally responds and that silly grin is back on my face.

Sebastian: Dammit freckles.