Rose of Thorne (5 page)

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
he asks in a soft whisper.

I look down at the table
, and he lifts my chin to meet his eyes. Tenderly, he cups my cheeks in his hand and runs his thumb across my lower lip.

“So unbelievably gorgeous,” he whispers.

His eyes zone in on my mouth, and without thinking, I lick my bottom lip. Gently, he brushes his lips to mine and sweeps my curls away from my face before crashing his lips to mine. I feel him cup my face hander as he pulls me in to deepen the kiss. Our tongues gradually move against one another, and I allow my desires to course through me.

He taste
s scrumptious as the lingering cinnamon swirls in our exchange. Sebastian lets out an appreciative groan, and I reach out to feel his handsome face. His perfect earthy spice scent is the perfect aphrodisiac. I don’t want to end this kiss; I just want it to go on forever. Every single inch of my body is on fire, and I feel as though I am about to explode. We break breathlessly and stare at one another. My heart is now pounding so hard now that I’m convinced that he can hear it. He brushes the loose strand of wavy hair away from my face and smiles. Right now, I want nothing more than to throw myself at this man, but he is a stranger.

What am I doing? I don’t even know this guy
. I’ve got to get out of here now.

“I’m sorry
… I… I’ve got to go… I’m late,” I stutter as I reach for my worn coat. Sebastian reaches to stop me, and accidentally knocks his coffee over onto my coat.

“Oh Shit
, Skylar, I am so sorry!” he exclaims as he begins trying to gather napkins to clean up the spill. He attempts to lay the napkins on my coat, but I turn to grab for it and watch it slip from my fingers. I stand there horrified as it falls to the floor and exposes the ragged satin lining and safety pins. Sebastian reaches down to pick it up, and I am so humiliated that I grab my keys off the table and run. Marie calls out my name, but I bolt out of the side exit. I don’t look back even as I hear him continue calling my name into the street. My exposed arms do not even notice the chilly night air. I just keep running all the way to my car and hurriedly open the door with my keys that are now shaking in my hand. I pray when I look up that he hasn’t followed me and breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t see him. Thankfully, my car starts without much effort, and I head to my regular Thursday night destination… the dance studio.

Sebastian

Money will buy you most anything… cars, large companies, sex… the key to the back door of a dance studio. As of yesterday I now own the old building where this dance studio is located. She never knew that I had followed her here that night after she ran out, but I had been so desperate to make sure that she was alright. At first I didn’t realize why she ran, but as I stood there gripping her coffee soaked coat I felt the safety pins and realized why.
She had left because she had been embarrassed and I had felt like a wretched fool.

Sharing that pie with her had without a doubt been
the most erotic damn experience of my life. And believe me when I say that I’ve had more than my share of erotic experiences. The memory of her hand in mine is now cemented into my brain. It is as if I can still feel the silkiness of her soft skin entwined with mine. How is it possible to crave someone so much? This is so much more than something physical. I want to engulf her soul into mine. Although I assured Marie that I would return Skylar’s coat to her, I have thought of a better solution. I hold the worn coat up to my nose and inhale the candy flavor scent once more.

Yes, I know I am
in way above my head.
Why do I need her so much?

I hear
the old front door of the studio rattle, and I know it’s her. According to Harrison’s investigation, she comes here every Thursday night when she gets off work.

Why does
she come here so late alone? Hell, why am I even here?

I watch her from the long dark hallway as she pulls her bag over her shoulder and heads to a room off to the side. Yes, I know my actions seem creepy and even stalker worthy, but I have no choice. I can’t seem to stay away from her. She is simply the drug I crave with the sweetest possible addiction. And right now I need more and will do anything to get it.

She reappears in her
dance attire, and I drink in every luscious curve of her body as she stretches gracefully across the ballet bar. Her long, dark wavy hair is neatly pulled up on top of her head and now exposes the elegant lines of her neck. The pink top falls off her beautifully toned stomach and exposes a glittering belly ring.

Oh Dear
Sweet God… I want to lick that ring and taste her skin.

Her short black spandex shorts hug her body tightly as she leans more
onto the bar. Those beautiful legs seem to go on for miles, and I scan them slowly down to her ankles that are covered with some type of wraps. Every single inch of her is such pure perfection. I don’t think I have ever seen anything more fucking perfect in all of my life.

She finishes her stretches and
walks over to change the music on her iPod. Suddenly music blares through the sound system, and I immediately recognize The Weeknd’s
Wicked Games
as it begins to play. The bass pounds and I hear the singer’s painful lyrics as they echo throughout the studio. She rolls her hips torturously slow and seductively in front of the large mirrored wall. Pivoting the room with spin after spin, she leaves me mesmerized and anticipating her next move. I watch as she pours out her heart and soul into that dance. Leaning back, she slowly slides to the floor and continues shimmying her hips from side to side. When she arches her back and closes her eyes, I have to lean into the wall and grip it for dear life.

HOLY FUCK! I WANT HER SO BAD!

Sweet sweat now glistens off her body and ever so slowly trickles down her neck. I am fantasizing… wanting to lick every drop of sweat slowly with my tongue as her body is pressed up against mine. She leans forward and places her hands against the mirrored wall. It’s as if she is dancing with herself. Her eyes are closed, and her face is so full of raw emotion. She has me panting and captivated. My body is in utter agony for her. No woman has ever had this effect on me. EVER!

I don’t know long I have
been standing here watching her. It is as if time has stopped in this dark corridor of the old studio. I remain hypnotized by her every movement. The way she flips and stretches is phenomenal. I observe her as she gives every last ounce of herself over to the dance before concluding her performance on the floor. Just as the song ends, she reaches for a towel and folds her body into her legs. Through her violent trembles, I realize that she is crying. It is as if this is some sort of release of everything that she holds inside of herself. It is so fucking torturous to watch that I find myself taking a step forward. Realizing what I am doing I quickly pull myself back into the shadows.

No, you idiot! She can’t know you are here! Damn it!!
This is not like me. So why am I still here?
You can’t have her, remember? She is off limits. I don’t deserve her.

All of this is
beneath the Sebastian Thorne that I allow the world to know and see. Who would ever believe that I was standing here helplessly watching a girl dancing in a studio? The same girl whose mere presence has the ability to leave me paralyzed and helpless. I send fear across boardrooms and across the world for fuck sake. Sebastian Thorne is a force to be reckoned with. Yet as I stand here looking at her, I realize I have found my weakness, my kryptonite. Skylar Rose.

Skylar

“Oh. My. God, Skylar! You have like a HUGE box with a red bow on the back office. I have been about to die while waiting for you to get here!” Kylie pulls me to the back of the café.  My heart leaps out of my chest when I see the white box sitting on the desk.

“Well?
Open the damn thing before I rip into it myself!” Kylie shouts.

I
blink myself out of my daze and place my hand on the box. Gently I pull on the large red silk bow and lift off the top of the white box. I fold the layers of white tissue back and find the most beautiful red wool coat underneath with a note.

Forgive me for ruining your
coat. I somehow believe red to be more your color.

Sebastian

It’s from him
.

Sebastian with the glowing amber eyes that I cannot get out of my head. Sebastian, the beautiful man
whose lips I still dream about on mine. With trembling hands, I lift the beautiful coat up and gasp at the PRADA label.

“Try it on!” Kylie urges
, and I slide my arms into the sleeves.

It is
perfect, and I absolutely love it, but I can’t accept it. It is too much.

“I can’t accept this Kylie!
It’s Prada for goodness sake!”

        
“YES, you can! You don’t even have a coat now, remember? Besides, it’s not like you know where to return it.”

“O
kay, ladies, time to get shaking up front. We got a house full already!” Jesse shouts from around the corner. I smile once again at the beautiful coat in my arms and lay it back in the tissue-filled box. I tie my grease stained apron around my waist and smile at the memory of yesterday. For the rest of my shift, I can’t help but stare at the place at the counter where he sat. In some way, I had hoped he would be sitting there again tonight, but I had hoped wrong.

Two more days go by and still no Sebastian.
If it weren’t for the red coat that I am wearing, I would swear he is a figment of my imagination. I feel like an idiot running off like that after we kissed and I’m sure he must think I’m not worth the time.

Way to go
, Skylar.

It is
hazing night at the university, and this is always a busy night for us. I show up an hour early because I know that Jesse would be calling me in early regardless. It turns out to be a complete madhouse. Jesse has Tina’s hand wrapped in a towel when I walk in, and she is looking down at the blood-soaked fabric and crying hysterically.

“Thank
heavens you’re here! Tina just cut her hand wide open in the kitchen, and I have to take her to the emergency room. Tony has the grill under control, but Kylie called in sick, so it’s just you, kiddo. Can you handle things until I get back?” Jesse shouts.

“Uh
, yeah, I hope,” I reply as I nervously look at the massive group gathering in the café.

Jesse grabs his keys and is out the door faster than I can
change my mind. Not that I will of course, but the thought has honestly crossed my mind. I hurry and put the orders out that are waiting on the serving window and hustle to take the new orders from those who have just come in. I don’t think I have ever worked so hard in all of my life as I do tonight.

I
am sitting the tray of drinks down for a back table of guys that I recognize from campus and try to pass them around to the right people. One particular face I recognize all too well… Tanner Matthews. Tanner is the leading quarterback for the university’s football team and a widely popular guy among campus. He has asked me out more times than I can count, but I have always turned him down and will continue to do so. He has a nasty reputation for being rough with girls and I want no part of it. Normally I can handle him, but tonight, with the combination of alcohol and his other friends to cheer him on, he is way too brave with his moves.

“Hey
, Skylar baby, you wanna go in the back and fuck?” he blurts out loudly.

“Tanner, you need to shut your mouth,” I spit back.

“Just as long as you don’t shut yours, baby. You have such a beautiful mouth. I’d love to have it on my cock,” he says as he grabs my ass and pulls me tightly against him. His friends begin chanting him on and laughing as he continues to try to run his hand up the back of my dress. Finally, I manage to free one of my arms, grab the pitcher of tea, and dump it on him.

“You fucking bitch! I’m going to
make you do me extra for that one,” he snarls and pulls me back down into the booth with him. We are in the back room, and nobody can see me up front. He pins me down and holds a hand over my mouth to muffle my screams. He is just about to run his hand up my skirt when suddenly, he’s jerked off me. I hear a loud thud as I slide back up the booth. Sebastian’s strong forearm is pinning Tanner’s drunken body against the wall. Tanner is gasping for air, and Sebastian leans in closer to him with a look of murderous rage on his face.

“You
ever fucking lay a hand on her again and I will kill you. Do you understand me?” Sebastian growls at him.

Tanner gasps and nods as he is dragged over to the booth where I am sitting.
Sebastian has him by the collar and forces him in my direction. “Apologize! And so help me, you’d better be sincere, because if you aren’t, you are going to eat the asphalt outside.”

“Sorry,” he mumbles under his
breath.

“EXCUSE ME? You heard me
. I said APOLOGIZE to the lady!” Sebastian roars and shakes him.

“I’m sorry
, okay? Fuck! I’m sorry, Skylar,” Tanner confesses, and Sebastian pushes him back into the wall.

“Yo
u see her, you go the other way. Understand? Whatever you do, you stay the fuck away. Now fuck off!”

              A terrified Tanner and his cowardly crew begin fleeing the café.

“Are you ok
ay?” he asks, standing before me.

“Yes…
I… I’m okay, thank you.” I manage to reply.

“Where is Jesse anyway?”
he asks angrily as he looks around to the front of the café.

“Tina cut her hand in the kitchen
, and he took her to the emergency room. He asked me to handle the place until he gets back.”

“You need to close the place up, Skylar. I am sure Jesse will understand,” he says.
His voice is filled with a new and unfamiliar authoritative tone.

“What? No, I can’t
close the place, Sebastian. I have a whole front section full and people waiting. Tonight is one of Jesse’s busiest of the year, and besides that, I’m the only waitress he has tonight. I promised him I’d stay.” I desperately explain to him.

He looks angry
, and I swallow the lump in my throat. His amber eyes soften as he moves to tuck my fallen hair back behind my ear.
He tips my face up to him and gently kisses my lips.

Gosh,
how I have missed him.

“So, where’s another apron?”
he asks.

“What? Why?”
I stutter trying to recover from the kiss.

“Because, if I’m goin
g to help you, I might need one,” he says and winks. Heat rushes over my face, and I can’t believe he is here and willing to help me now.

         
I untie the apron around my waist and hand him the order book. He flashes me smile as he makes his way behind me.

“You
cover the counter, and I’ll take the room. How about that?” I offer.

             
“Deal, but you are going to owe me pie after this,” he jokes.

“You got a deal,”
I say smiling.

I am so happy he is here.
HOLY SHIZNOTS! He is REALLY here!

For the next two hours
, we slide past one another as we grab our orders and place new tickets in the window. Jesse is finally walking in the door when we are turning off the neon
OPEN
light.

Jesse thanks
me over and over for working tonight and promises he will make sure I get paid extra for all my trouble. He reaches in the register and pulls out some money and tucks it in Sebastian’s hand.

“Thanks
, man. I don’t know what we would have done without your help.” Jesse offers as he shakes his hand.

Sebastian tries
shoving the money back to him, but Jesse refuses to take it back.

I see
that the large glass tip bowl on the counter is over halfway full of bills, and I break out in a huge grin. I should have known that Mr. Gorgeous would fill up the damn tip jar.

“Looks like s
omeone earned some major tips and a few phone numbers tonight,” I tease and shove the jar towards him.

Sebastian smir
ks and sits down at the counter in front of me. I try to appear unaffected by his presence, but I can’t seem to keep myself from admiring him.

Holy shit, he is HOT! Get control of
yourself, Skylar!

“
If you don’t mind, I could really go for a cup of coffee,” he says, and I pull myself out of my dreamy state.

“Sure thing,” I reply
turning my back to him. I try to regain my composure and pour the last bit of coffee in a cup. Sebastian purposefully grazes his fingers across mine when I hand him the cup and I shiver at the energy that exchanges between us. Our eyes meet, and I see him studying me closely as if he is trying to read my reaction. Nervously, I look away and turn around to begin washing the empty coffee pot. Jesse sits beside him and engages in conversation, and I bravely steal a glance toward them. Sebastian’s eyes are locked on to my every move, and I feel the nervous flutter in my stomach and the reddening of my cheeks. Turning away from him, I begin straightening the shelves in the cabinets behind me. For the next fifteen minutes, I do anything and everything I can to keep my mind off the beautiful man behind me.

When I finally turn around to face him
, he has placed the entire contents of the tip jar in front of me. He pulls out the money that Jesse gave him and adds it to the pile. There is at least $200 sitting there on the counter in front of him.

I look at him with complete shock as I register what he is doing.

“What can I say? I am a big tipper,” he jokes and finishes his coffee.

“Well, since
I have this awesome customer that tips me so well, how about I buy you that piece of pie?” I tease while I untie the apron from my waist.

“Deal! Now
, lead the way,” he says and winks.