Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit) (16 page)

Sebastian’s guiding hand gently nudged Ashley toward the table. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like. I spent most of the day at a friend’s house making several dishes.”

Her head jerked back, surprised. “Really? You cook?” Sebastian didn’t strike her as the type who would or could prepare a meal. The amused glint in his eyes affirmed her question. “Impressive.” She gave an approving nod.

As though he had intercepted her next thought, “I’m quite domesticated. I do my own laundry, put down the toilet seat when I’m done,” he teased, pulling out a bamboo chair for her.

She pursed her lips and sank into the comfort of the seat. “Someone trained you well,” Ashley quipped.

His left hand lingered on the back of her chair. Sebastian leaned down, placed his right hand on the table. His deep timber whispered into her ear. “I’m housebroken, but don’t mistake that to mean that I’m tame.” The thick vein in his neck pulsed hard. Instantly, she warmed, despite the chill rolling off the shore.

Ashley glanced at him. Light bounced off the silver Burberry watch banding his wrist. “I’d never make such a mistake.”

His expression morphed into a dangerous half smirk, the silent warning a guaranteed promise of the night to come.

Sebastian shifted away, took his place at her side. All man and muscle crammed into a small seat, and so close to her, Ashley broke into a light sweat. She scooted her chair to the left, creating a pronounced chasm between them. Her knees locked together. She wasn’t tame either. Sebastian would be wrong to think otherwise.

Her eyes roamed the feast spread out in front of them. He had made more food than two people could possibly eat in a setting.

Ashley frowned. “Why so much food? Is someone else joining us tonight?”

His eyes twinkled once again. “Yes, there is a lot of food.” His tone darkened, matching the storm brewing behind seductive eyes. “You’ll need lots of energy tonight. All night. Now, eat up.”

Sebastian’s heat rolled off his body in waves. His piercing gray eyes laser-focused on Ashley. Usually she had complete control in situations involving men. Usually a man sitting across from her would be a bundle of nerves sporting sweaty palms and donning a racing heart. A knot at the pit of her belly settled like a fifty-pound weight. For the first time in a long time—heck, if ever—vulnerability found her. She didn’t like the feeling.

Ashley blanketed her lap with a cloth napkin. Sebastian followed, repeating the motion. He dished out small servings of the feast for them both. Spearing a crab-and-shrimp-stuffed mushroom, he brought the fork to Ashley’s tempted taste buds.

Her eyes stretched wide, tasting the sample. The savory flavor exploded on her taste buds. “Hmm,” she moaned. “This is great.”

He smiled and raised an eyebrow. His surprise seemed genuine. “Glad you approve.”

Sebastian scooped a spoonful of seafood soufflé. “Open wide,” he said, pausing the morsel at her lips.

Ashley obeyed. Bursting with flavor, an infusion of pepper, onion, scallops, lobster, and shrimp seasoned with spices and lightly misted with citrus melted on her tongue. Her left hand cupped her mouth. “Oh my goodness. This. Is. Heaven,” she mumbled, her mouth filled with the delicious seafood medley.

“Darlin’, I haven’t taken you to heaven yet, but I’m glad you like the food.”

Ashley rolled her eyes and then swallowed. “You sure do a lot of smack talking.”

Sebastian’s spoon clanked against the square plate as he set it down. He pushed back from the table. Head cocked to one side, he stroked the light stubble on his chin. “Enough with the insults and sarcasm.” His voice remained calm and low. “I can see right through you. You’re afraid.”

That feeling swelled in her belly with a vengeance. “I’m not afraid of you,” she snapped, twisting in her seat.

His brow wrinkled, pegging her with a serious stare that burned a hole through her defense. “Yes, you are.” He sprung to his feet.

Her wide eyes traveled up his length as he stood. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “What are you doing, Sebastian?”

He held out a confident hand. “Taking charge.” Dark mischief flashed in his eyes. “Give me your hand.”

She shook her head from side to side. “No.” She wasn’t a freaking marionette to be pulled and jerked around as he pleased, when he wanted.

Sebastian didn’t say another word. He turned his back to her and strolled through the sliding glass doors. The door slid closed with a bang, and a shiver skittered up her spine. He left her alone on the patio. Ashley closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, meeting the crossroads in her mind for the one hundredth time. Consequences of their intemperate passion terrified her. She could never admit the truth, even to herself. She liked Sebastian, and sleeping with him would leave her vulnerable to feeling. No man made her feel, or penetrated her shield, since...

Exactly seventeen minutes later, after mulling over her plan again, Ashley stood. She had nibbled on her food during her musing. Sebastian abandoned his plate of food when he left. Ashley shook her head. He was a grown man, and one whom she didn’t know very well. Being concerned for his well-being was irrational and infuriated her.

She stared at the plate for another minute, tapping her toe against the wood planks. Ashley turned toward the sliding glass door, expecting Sebastian to walk out at any moment. She pushed away from the table with brute force. “Ugh,” she huffed and snatched the plate from the table. Ashley kicked her heels to the side. Long strides and the heavy stomp of angry feet led her to the glass door.

Sebastian leaned against the small kitchen counter, arms folded across his solid chest. Head cocked to one side with an arched brow, “You knew what you were getting into when you came here tonight,” he said softly. He stalked toward Ashley.

She lowered her head. “I know.” She handed him the plate of food as a peace offering. “I thought you might want to eat something before...” Her words trailed off.

Sebastian arched a brow, like he was either surprised by her thoughtfulness or shocked that she gave in to their desire. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry for food,” he said, easing the plate from Ashley’s clinging fingers. He set the dish on the counter. “I want to treat you the way a man should treat a woman.” Fire flashed in his eyes, and his voice growled seductively.

Ashley’s head spun, and she faltered. “I’m sorry. I’m okay.” She flushed as his hands spanned her waist to keep her steady on flat feet.

Sebastian’s eyes seemed to laugh at her despite the hard lines in his face. “Come with me.” He held out a hand.

This time she accepted his offer. “Where are we going?” She didn’t need to ask. Heavily lidded eyes and the bulge growing in his slacks answered the question.

He squeezed her fingers in his large hand. “Where do you think we’re going?” he asked.

She swallowed hard as they passed the threshold to his bedroom. Her eyes roamed the space, an ode to classic Key West character and charm. White sheers draped the canopy covering the bed blanketed by an aquamarine duvet. Across from the foot of the mattress, another set of glass doors framed a breathtaking ocean view of the private beach. The hurricane brewing in the Atlantic felt mythic in view of the calm, peaceful waves.

The spotless room appeared untouched by its occupant. Sebastian’s scent permeated the air, the only evidence that he had lived there for almost two weeks.

Releasing her hand, “You look tense. Have a seat,” he said, motioning to the heavy oak bed. “Would you care for a glass of water? Might help you relax.” Not giving her a chance to respond, “And, don’t tell me that you’re not nervous.”

This was crazy. Being around a man never made her anxious until Sebastian. In fact, she had been the aggressor on an occasion or four. “I’m fine,” she said coolly. “I’ll take that glass of water, please. Or something stronger.”

Sebastian sauntered to a built-in minibar and began filling a glass. “You know,” he began, giving a slight glance over his right shoulder, “maybe when we get back to Atlanta…”

Ashley bounced to her feet, her erect index finger meeting his words with immediate opposition. “Sebastian, let’s get one thing clear. I’ll give you tonight,” she spouted, her neck prepared to roll. A deep breath prevented the full-on verbal assault she’d became quite adept at delivering on command. “But I won’t become your regular booty call. You will not have access to me whenever you want. This is only one night of sex. No strings, remember?” She sucked in her belly, tempering the tremble that threatened to overtake her body.

Sebastian turned back to his task, pouring the next glass of water. “I was only going to say maybe when we get back to Atlanta the weather will be nicer than when we left.” His voice remained even.

Sinking back into the plush mattress, “Oh,” she muttered, feeling insignificant and small, like discarded shipping popcorn. He wanted the gift at the apex of her thighs. The rest of her he could do without.

Sebastian stood in front of her, his masculine glory exhibited as his unbuttoned shirt hung open. Slacks set low on his waist. He placed the glasses of water on the wicker nightstand. Ashley’s eyes roamed his sculpted strength. She sucked in her bottom lip. As though she were a rag doll, he whisked her into his arms. Square-tipped fingernails dented his biceps through the cotton fibers of his black shirt sleeves.

Hot lips grazed her neck as he whispered. “Are you wearing the other gift underneath?” The bulge in his pants grew larger, pressing into her stomach.

Ashley’s knuckles ached, her tight grip clenching his arm. Her eyes lifted to his wanton leer. “I am.”

Sebastian’s hand dipped under her dress. His fingers sank into her cheeks, grabbing as much flesh as he could grip. “I love your ass.” He lifted the dress just above her waist. Ashley poured into his waiting hands. “Darlin’, you’re already wet for me.”

Starting in her core, the intensity built, spreading in all directions and igniting every cell in her body. Tonight she faced a moment of truth, a confrontation between her raging hormones and the feelings she denied. Whether or not she dared to accept the truth, Ashley wanted to be more than Sebastian Stone’s last night in Key West.

Chapter Eleven

Sebastian’s tongue swept into Ashley’s mouth, mingling their unique minty flavors into one. One hand inside her panties massaged her swollen clitoris. Responding to the sensations of his caress, she curled her fingers around his biceps, clenching and releasing them in rhythm to the circling motion. His other hand held her close, cradling her crown and tangling her hair.

Slowly Sebastian brought their burgeoning passion to a still. He pried lips from hers and unfolded his body from around Ashley. “Do you want to keep the dress?”

She frowned. Her fingers relaxed, and she came down from tippy-toes. “I don’t have many occasions to wear something like this.” She panted between breaths. “Why? Do you want to recycle the dress for your next conquest?”

He deserved that. He knew how he treated her, from the beginning, had been wrong. “No darlin’, I don’t have any other conquests lined up. I just wanted to know if I should rip the dress off or be gentle.”

Smiling, she rolled her eyes. “There’s something sexy as hell about a man who takes control.”

Sebastian chuckled. “You’re my kind of woman,” he said, releasing her from his hold. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Flat palms flush on either side of the bathroom mirror, Sebastian leaned in close and stared at his reflected grimace. His right hand fisted and then pounded the wall without making a sound. “Maybe when we get back to Atlanta, the weather will be nicer than when we left,” he muttered to himself quietly. Anger filled him at how easily he caved at Ashley’s tirade when what he intended to say was maybe they could continue to see each other. He would have to work hard to convince her to give him a chance. Sebastian tore away one of the square gold packets and stuffed the condom into his pocket. Time for his hard work to commence.

Sebastian strutted into the room. Ashley had settled back against the oak headboard, one leg slightly bent, the other stretched out straight atop a contrasting white sheet.

“Thought I’d spare you the agony,” she said.

His feet failed him. Sebastian stopped where he stood. White clearly shone around the circumference of dilated pupils set in gray irises. His admiring gawk caressed every square inch of silky smooth brown skin. “You’re naked.” He approached. Took slow, calculated steps, ensuring his balance. A confident hand unbuckled the leather belt encircling his waist and then dipped into the safety of his pocket.

Ashley scanned his shirtless torso. “And you’re halfway there.” She arched her back. Her bosoms thrust forward. “I guess you’ll have to exert that barbaric energy in some other way.”

“I guess so,” he said, the growl of his voice deep and husky.

Black slacks fell to his ankles. He kicked the annoyance to the side. Shed off equally irritating briefs, a toss sent the underwear airborne, flying across the room and landing next to a white wicker chifforobe.

Gravity was no match for his desire. Her eyes ensnared by the one-eyed beast, Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat.