Seducing Helena (8 page)

“Play with your clit. Come for me, sweetheart.”

The determination, the strain in his face, drove her higher and when she gave her throbbing clit a hard rub, she orgasmed. Wave after wave of intense pleasure crushed her, left her gasping in its relentless grip. Through it all, Seth kept whispering how beautiful she was, how perfect, how special to him. Then he jerked and roared, gripping her hips hard enough to hurt as he came.

A few seconds later, he rolled to his side a bit and collapsed on top of her, surrounding her with his body, his warmth. After a few moments of cuddling, Seth moved off her bed and went to use the bathroom, returning a few moments later to gently clean her aching pussy with a warm, wet washcloth. She hadn’t had sex in a while and the vigorous ride she’d given him, combined with his generous endowment, left her feeling pleasantly sore and sensitive to his touch.

He tugged the sheets and comforter down before hauling her next to him and wrapping both arms around her so tight she could hardly breathe.

“Seth, I’m not going anywhere. You can release your death grip on me.”

Chuckling, he let her go and drew the sheet and blanket back over them, cocooning her in softness and his warmth. “Sorry. I’m having a hard time believing this is real.”

“Me, too.”

He turned to look at her, his rough features beautiful in the candlelight. “I’m just some dumb leatherneck—”

She placed her fingertips on his lips, silencing him. “You are an amazing man, Seth. I don’t think you know how much you mean to me.”

“Ditto.” He kissed her fingertips and cuddled her closer. “Now you need to get some sleep. You have that big Sirens fashion show tomorrow, and I don’t want you being too sleepy to strut.”

“Baby, I can strut
in
my sleep.”

“I’m sure you can.” He rubbed her back and the combination of his touch, his scent, his presence soon lulled her into a deep relaxation extending all the way to her soul.

***

Seth tried to keep his cool as Helena sat in her chair before a well-lit vanity at the Sirens’ fashion show. Makeup and hair people buzzed around her like bees around their queen and next to him, a model was stripped down to her tiny underwear as she put her costume on. Of course he didn’t look at the women getting changed but he was aware of them and felt out of place. Everyone seemed so nonchalant about the models getting nude, but for a farm boy, the whole atmosphere was a little hard to get a grip on.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. “Seth! I didn’t know Helena was bringing you here.”

Seth turned to find his buddy, Leo, standing there in a pair of artfully worn jeans and a well-tailored black silk shirt. He looked right at home among the high-class chaos, and Seth couldn’t help giving him a quick hug. It was so nice to see someone who didn’t either ignore him entirely or try to kiss his ass because he was with Helena.

“I got into town yesterday.”

Leo gave Helena a mock glare as one of the assistants put sparkling blue crystals into her braided hair. “You should have told me he was coming up.”

She flushed, and her hairdresser gave Seth a curious stare. “I’m not sharing him.”

With a laugh, Leo threw his arm around Seth’s shoulders. “Helena, can I borrow your man for a few minutes? Ms. Vanity would like a word with him.”

A makeup artist scolded Helena and told her to hold still. Moving as little as possible, she said, “Go ahead. I need to get in the right headspace for the show anyway.”

Seth brushed past the makeup artist and gave Helena a gentle kiss, being careful not to smear her lipstick. “I’ll be right back.”

She blew out a low breath. “Sorry we’re not spending more time together.”

“Don’t worry about it. This is your job, and I’m a big boy. I’ll be fine.”

She gave him a distracted smile then settled back into her chair, closing her eyes as her team set to work finishing off her look.

Leo led him through the maze of supermodels, industry professionals, and people who seemed to be there just to hang out. The crowd ranged from the outrageous leather-clad fashion divas to ordinary women he wouldn’t be surprised to see attending Little League games with their kids. Soon he pushed his way through a thick cluster of people, following in Leo’s wake and trying not to elbow anyone.

When they broke through the mass Seth found himself face to face with Ms. Vanity. She wore a severe black dress with gold-lined circles cut out here and there, showing her still toned and amazing body. Taylor, her boyfriend, wore a similar outfit, but his was a suit with the stomach cut out to show off his impressive abdominal muscles. They both smiled at Seth and he could practically feel the envy of the crowd pressing at his back.

Being watched so carefully by so many people was fucking weird.

“Seth, darling.” Ms. Vanity kissed him on either cheek. “Have you agreed to my offer?”

Confused, he frowned at Leo. “What offer?”

Ms. Vanity shot Leo a glare that would have turned most men to stone, but his friend merely grinned. “Trust me, it’ll be better if it comes from you.”

She sniffed and faced Seth. “I want you to walk in the show with Helena.”

Seth had to resist the urge to bolt for the nearest door. “What? Uh, sorry, ma’am, but there is no way I could do that.”

Leo stepped closer. “Hear her out, man.”

Turning the full force of her gaze on him, Ms. Vanity leaned closer. “If you walk in today’s fashion show, Mr. March, it would boost sales of the calendar immensely. Think of all the families you’d be helping.”

“I’m not a model.” He shot Leo a pleading look. “I don’t know what the fuck to do out there. I could screw up big-time and hurt both of your businesses.”

Leo slung his arm over Seth’s shoulders. “Helena will be there with you. She’ll lead you. All you have to do is follow after her like a puppy dog.”

Seth elbowed Leo in the ribs. “Asshole.”

Ms. Vanity cleared her throat. “Will you do it? We don’t have much time to get you dressed.”

“Dressed?”

“Take off your shirt.”

“What?”

Ms. Vanity sighed. “Seth, darling, we’re running out of time. I need to see your body so I know what to dress you in.”

Flushing hard enough to fry an egg on his face, Seth did what Ms. Vanity asked. She walked around him, inspecting him in a way that made him feel like a horse up for auction. He was surprised she didn’t open his mouth to check his teeth. Around them, the crowd watched like they were witnessing a performance at a circus.

“Excellent. A little beefier than the models I usually work with but your frame will go well with what I have in mind.”

“I haven’t said yes yet.”

She examined him with a slightly amused tilt to her red-painted lips. “Would you really turn down the opportunity to earn potentially millions of dollars for the foundation?”

“Well, no.”

Seth clutched his shirt, trying to keep his panic at bay. He took a deep breath, reminding himself this was not a life-or-death situation. At the very worst, he’d fall and make a fool of himself. No one would die if he fucked up. The thought helped him get control of his nerves. He also knew how much good the money would do and how desperately it was needed. Besides, his buddies would shit themselves when they saw him walking down the runway with Helena.

“So, where do you want me?”

An hour later, Seth stood next to Helena. She looked like a sexy-as-hell mermaid. Her outfit consisted of a navy blue leather corset that matched his leather pants and teeny, tiny sparkly blue panties. Her five-foot train was the signature of the Sirens’ line, a sweeping expanse of glittering cloth resembling a mermaid’s tail.

Her makeup was done in shades of navy and teal blue that gave her an otherworldly appearance he found extremely hot. Or at least normally he would have. At this moment, his stage fright was back in full effect, and he was trying to fight off the nausea churning in his stomach.

Ahead of them, a stunning brunette with narrow hips and mile-long legs swept her train behind her as she climbed the steps, her gold-and-pink outfit flattering her coloring. Helena reached over and grabbed his hand, forcing him to meet her steady gaze.

“You’re going to be fine, Seth. They’re going to love you.” He tried to smile at her, but it must have looked as sick as he felt because she laughed. “Don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll pop a titty out, and they’ll forget all about you.”

Her humor helped him to let go some of his tension. “Thanks.”

One of the stage coordinators rushed up to them. “Ready? Remember, just follow Helena’s lead.”

Seth nodded and forced himself to breathe as they took the steps up to the stage. Deep, bass-heavy music played, and he glanced over at Helena. Her transformation as they climbed those few steps amazed him. She went from teasing girlfriend to sultry Siren, and by the time they reached the entrance to what seemed like a two-mile-long catwalk, she was fully in her supermodel mode. When she took her first step he followed her, his mind totally disconnected from his body, until he almost felt like a passenger rather than a driver. The bright lights partially blinded him to the crowd and when he fell into step beside her, the cheers and whistles from the audience washed over them.

He grinned at Helena, and she smiled back before nailing the crowd with her signature sensual pout as she stalked down the runway. The approval of the onlookers allowed him to come back to himself a little and actually put a strut into his stride. It was easy to fall into the rhythm of the walk that had been drilled into his head as a Marine and with every step he enjoyed himself more.

Left-left-left-right-left
.

The high was amazing, and he understood why Helena enjoyed modeling so much, if this was what it always felt like.

They reached the end of the runway, and she turned this way and that, striking perfect poses while he stood next to her and tried not to drool. She moved in front of him and gave him a mischievous grin before placing a kiss on his lips, one that threatened to give him a very unwelcome erection. In these leather pants, his assets were already visible enough.

She smiled at him, radiant with happiness, and slipped her hand into his as they walked back. He almost stepped on her train but managed to correct himself at the last moment, hoping no one saw him stumble. Pride filled him as he strolled down the runway with her, and the sudden knowledge that all of his military buddies would see him with Helena helped him get over his embarrassment at being bare-chested and clad only in a pair of leather pants in front of a couple million people via their TVs.

After what seemed like ten years—or a matter of seconds—they reached the stairs, and he let out a long sigh of relief as they went down them together.

After leading him out of the way, she cupped his face in her hands and gave him a smile that melted his heart. “You were wonderful.”

“Only because you were with me, sugar.” He wanted to hold her but was afraid of messing up her outfit. Instead, he placed his fingertips on the sides of her neck and stroked her velvet-soft skin. “I love you.”

He hadn’t meant to say it, but the words popped out. Cursing himself for pushing her too fast, he started to pull away but she stopped him. When he met her gaze again, he found tears swimming in her eyes. “I love you, too.”

They went to kiss but Helena’s team descended on her, getting her ready for her next walk. He stood back and watched them fuss over her while she never once broke eye contact with him. A rather silly grin curved her lips, and he probably wore an equally goofy expression. Happiness filled him until he thought he might burst, and he shook his head. Never in a million years had he thought he’d end up here, with a woman like her, but he intended to savor every minute he had with the woman who’d not only stolen his heart, but also his soul.

With over thirty published books, Ann is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened.

From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that often was the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and hopes to one day be able to use the bathroom without interruption from a kid, cat, or dog.

Ann loves to talk with her fans, as long as they realize she's weird and that sarcasm doesn't translate well via text. You can find her at:

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