One Night in London (6 page)

“Shit. Shit. Shit,” my mouth spewed out.

“Excuse me?” His brow arched.

Shaking my head, I broke from the trance he had me in.

“What happened between us back in London stays in London. We were never supposed to see each other again. This is very awkward, Sebastian.” I began hurrying down the street to escape him and this embarrassing moment.

“Chloe, wait.” He chased after me. “Why is this awkward? I don’t think it’s awkward at all. And for God sakes, will you slow down?”

“Of course you don’t think it’s awkward. You’re a guy and you’re used to doing that sort of thing, but I’m not. I don’t sleep with strange men. I never had until you,” I nervously spoke as I hurried along and around the corner. He kept up with me and I wished he wouldn’t have.

“I know you never had. I could tell. But don’t think that I think any less of you. Damn it, Chloe! Stop!”

I stopped and looked at him. “What do you want, Sebastian?”

“I want to take you home.”

I looked over at the brownstone. “I am home.” I pointed.

“Oh. Are you lying?”

“Lying about what?”

“Living here? Are you just saying that so I’ll leave?”

“No. I live here. In apartment 8B.”

Shit.
Why did I just tell him that? Not that he couldn’t find out anyway. All he had to do was look at the names on the doorbell.

He brought his hand up to my cheek. “You’re so beautiful, Chloe Kane, and I would like a repeat of what happened in London. You’re trembling and I know you want it too.”

I tried to find the words, but I couldn’t speak. His touch paralyzed me.

“I—I—I don’t think that will be possible.”

“Why?” He smiled.

“Because you’re seeing someone. The woman you were with at the gallery wouldn’t appreciate you talking to me this way.”

“I see a lot of women. She isn’t anyone I see on a regular basis. I like to keep my options open for instances like this one.”

I swallowed hard. “Well, I’m seeing someone.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t care if you believe me. I am.”

He glared at me for a moment, almost as if he knew I was lying.

“Well then, he’s a very lucky man. Have a good night, Miss Kane.”

“You too, Sebastian.” I nodded and walked to the door, inserted my key, and headed up the stairs.

As soon as I entered my apartment, I ran to the window and looked out as he walked down the street.

Sebastian

A
s I climbed into the limo, Eli glanced at me.

“She’s the one who’s had you in such a bad state since you returned from London?”

I sighed. “Yes, she’s the one. She claims she’s seeing someone, but I don’t believe her. I’m not worried. I’ll have her in my bed again. It may take some time, but she will give herself to me. Just like she did in London.”

“I have no doubt you’re right.” He smiled.

After arriving home, I poured some bourbon in a glass and pulled out my phone, pulling up the picture I took of her. I sat down in the wing-backed chair and stared at her. Her smile captivated me just like it did back in London. It was a smile that drew me to her. I couldn’t believe that after all these months, I saw her again. Since that night, she had occupied my mind. It didn’t matter who I was with, I always saw her. I dreamt about her and every time the scent of roses crossed my path, I was instantly reminded of her. This one woman, who was a stranger that I’d fucked on my last night in London, affected me in ways that no woman ever had before, and that posed a problem for me.

I sighed as I finished off my bourbon and headed to bed. Chloe Kane was a beautiful woman with a beautiful name. Now she was complete and I was going to stop at nothing to get her back into my bed. But I needed to be careful. I didn’t want her to see me for who I really was. A monster with no emotion and no feeling. A man who couldn’t cry and a man who thrived on control.

****

Chloe

“W
hat do you mean, you turned him down?” Sienna yelled at me over facetime.

“I can’t and I won’t. Do you know who he is?” I continued walking down the street to Whole Foods.

“What do you mean? I know he’s an extremely sexy man who wants you.”

“He’s a millionaire. No, make that a billionaire. Self-made when he was just twenty-one years old.”

“And that’s a problem how?” She twisted her face. “And most importantly, why?”

“Because we come from two different worlds. You know how those millionaires are.”

“No. Actually, I don’t. I’ve never known one.”

Walking into Whole Foods, I grabbed a basket and propped my phone against my purse.

“Why would someone like him be interested in someone like me?”

“Maybe because you’re beautiful and an incredibly sweet person and he sees that.”

“How could he see that? We didn’t talk. We just had sex,” I spoke a little too loudly as the woman looking over the apples glanced up at me and shot me a look.

“Listen, Chloe, you’re reading way too much into this guy. You don’t even really know him.”

“Just by him saying he wanted a repeat of London told me enough. All he’s after is sex and from what I saw on the internet, he’s a manwhore. Not to mention the fact that he basically admitted it to me. I’ve been through the ringer with guys in the past and there’s no way in hell I’m getting involved with someone like that.”

She sighed as she rolled her eyes. “No one said you have to get involved with him. Just have some fun and see what happens. If he’s a total douchebag, don’t see him anymore.”

“I told him I was seeing someone, so he probably won’t try to contact me.”

“Of course you did, you silly girl.”

“Okay. I’m hanging up now. I need to finish shopping because my parents are coming over.”

“Have fun. I’ll talk to you later.”

As I opened the security door to my building, Mrs. Cooper came out of her apartment.

“Chloe, you had a delivery. Hold on.” She went back inside.

A moment later, she walked out with a tall glass vase filled with yellow roses wrapped in clear plastic covering.

“Is it your birthday?” she asked.

“No. It isn’t.”

“Well, someone thinks you’re pretty special. Here, let me take these up for you since your hands are full.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.”

Walking into my apartment, I set the bags on the kitchen counter while Mrs. Cooper set the flowers down on the table.

“Thanks again for your help.”

“You’re welcome, dear. Enjoy the flowers.” She gave a friendly smile.

“I will.” I walked her to the door.

After removing the wrapping, I pulled the small white envelope from the flowers and drew out the card.

Congratulations on a successful opening night.

You should be very proud.

I think a celebratory dinner is in order.

Sebastian

A small smile crossed my lips as I read the card, but a flutter in my belly also emerged. I expected this from Connor and Ellery, not Sebastian. He obviously didn’t care that I said I was seeing someone unless he knew I was lying.
Ugh
. I set down the card and took the flowers over to the coffee table.

As I was preparing dinner, the doorbell rang. Looking at the time, I saw that my parents were early. Walking over to the door, I pushed the buzzer and let them in.

“You’re ear—” I stopped mid-word as I opened the door and saw Sebastian standing there with a smile on his face.

“I’m early?” He grinned.

“Sebastian. What are you doing here?”

“Did you get the flowers I sent you?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Well, I thought we could do dinner tonight. But from the sounds of it, it seems you’re expecting someone.”

Suddenly, my parents came up the stairs and my mom flashed a smile when she saw Sebastian.

“Oh. Hello.” She looked him up and down before extending her hand. “I’m Ophelia and this is my husband, Larry. We’re Chloe’s parents.”

Shit. Shit. Shit
.

“Hello. Sebastian Bennett. It’s nice to meet both of you.” He lightly shook their hands.

“Are you joining us for dinner?” my mom asked as she made her way into my apartment.

“Uh, no. Actually, I just dropped by to say hi to Chloe and congratulate her on the success of last night’s gallery opening.”

“Oh. I knew you looked familiar. Please, join us.”

“Yeah. Come on in.” My dad smiled.

Could this be any more awkward?

“I’m sure Sebastian has plans tonight.” I looked at him and narrowed my eye.

“Actually, I did have plans, but they recently got cancelled.” He smiled.

“Then you must join us.” My mom hooked her arm around his and led him into my apartment. “My, you’re very muscular, Mr. Bennett.”

“Please, just call me Sebastian.”

Jesus, my parents and he do not mix. What the fuck was I going to do now?

“It smells delicious in here, Chloe. I’ll set the table for you,” my mom spoke.

“And I’ll kick back on the couch with a beer. You have beer, right?” my dad asked.

“In the refrigerator, Dad.” I sighed.

As my mom set the table, Sebastian came up from behind and placed his hands on my hips as I was standing in front of the stove. I froze.

“It does smell delicious.” His hot breath swept over my skin. “What are you cooking?”

“Rigatoni with sautéed eggplant and tomatoes. My parents are vegetarians.”

“Oh.”

“You could have said no and walked away,” I spoke through gritted teeth.

“I didn’t want to.”

He let go of my hips and made his way to the couch.

“So how do you know Chloe? Do you work together?” my mom asked.

A nervousness settled inside me.
Please don’t say London. Please don’t say London.

“No. We don’t work together. Actually, we met in London. It was pure coincidence that we ran into each other here in New York.”

The spoon I was using hit the floor and my mom came into the kitchen, lightly grabbing my arm.

“Chloe, is he...?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Oh my God. Talk about the universe working in mysterious ways.” She smiled.

“You must be ‘Mr. Sexy,’” my dad spoke.

I literally just died at that very moment.

“Excuse me?” Sebastian said.

“Dinner’s ready.” I interrupted them and set the pasta on the table.

As I walked back into the kitchen, Sebastian followed behind.

“You told them we had sex?” he whispered.

“I tell them everything and how the hell did I know that you’d be having dinner with us?”

“Now this is awkward. How can I face them during dinner?”

“They’re very sexual and open people. Believe me when I tell you that they aren’t giving it a second thought.”

“Is everything okay in there?” my mom asked.

“Yep. I’m just giving Sebastian some glasses.” I handed him four glasses.

Sebastian

I
took the glasses from her and set them on the table. Taking a seat across from her parents, I gave them a small, embarrassed smile.

“So, what kind of work do you do?” her dad asked.

“I run my own company called Bennett Industries. I buy and sell real estate and failing businesses, turn them around, and sell them.”

“Interesting. Chloe didn’t tell us you were a corporate man,” my dad spoke.

“That’s because she didn’t know. We just ran into each other last night for the first time since London and haven’t really had a chance to talk.”

“Ah, that’s right. The two of you only had sex.” Her dad nodded his head.

“Larry, you’ve embarrassed the poor man. Let’s not bring that up again,” my mom spoke.

I looked over at Chloe as she sat there with a smile on her face.

“There’s no need for him to be embarrassed. Sex is a very open topic in our family.” Her dad grinned at me.

“Can we eat now and stop talking about sex?” Chloe asked. “Sorry.” She looked over at me.

“It’s fine.” I sighed.

“You look awful young to own a corporation. How old are you?” her mother asked.

It was a fair enough question. I wanted to put their minds at ease that I wasn’t a pervy old man who sought out young women.

“I’m thirty. I started my company when I was twenty-one years old with the help of a friend of mine.”

After we finished eating, Chloe’s mother decided it was time for them to go, which pleased me. I couldn’t escape their company fast enough. They were different, but nice. Still, knowing that they knew we had sex in London without even knowing each other bothered me.

“Your father and I have to get going.”

“Mom, you don’t have to leave already,” Chloe spoke.

“We do. Thank you for dinner, sweetheart. We’ll talk soon.” She kissed her goodbye. “It was nice meeting you, Sebastian.”

“Likewise.” I smiled.

“Behave yourself.” Her father winked at me. “Or don’t.” He held up his fist for a fist bump.

Shaking her head, Chloe closed the door and looked at me.

“And that was Ophelia and Larry. The people I call my parents.” She lowered her head.

The only thing I wanted to do at that moment was take her to the bedroom, rip off all her clothes, and bury my cock deep inside her. The ache to feel her again was unbearable.

“They’re a little odd, but nice.” I smiled as I grabbed hold of her hand.

She lifted her head and her green eyes stared into mine. She pulled her hand away.

“I’m sure you’re busy tonight, so you don’t have to stay.” She walked into the kitchen.

“You’re right. I should get going. Can I use your bathroom before I leave?”

“Of course. It’s the first door on the left.”

Once I finished using the bathroom, I walked to the kitchen where she was standing over the sink, washing a pan. Placing my hands on hers in the soapy water, I whispered in her ear, “Thank you for dinner. I enjoyed it.”

I felt her tremble and my cock immediately started to get hard.

“You’re welcome,” she spoke as her hands stilled in the water.

“Are you sure you want me to leave?” My lips kissed her ear.

“Yes,” she spoke in a mere whisper.