The Protege (19 page)

Sebastian
held her gaze.  Her eyes had softened at his question, but had become defensive
when Price had questioned her. If they could have a moment alone, Sebastian
felt certain she’d come to him; that she’d give him a second chance.

“Serena,”
Sebastian murmured. “Please give us another chance.”

“I
think I would like that.”

“Like
what?” Price shot out.

“I
would like to start again.  I would like to go back to the way it was.”  Though
there was affection and warmth in her eyes, something was missing.

Sebastian
felt a ball of pain and regret take hold in his gut. Something was holding her
back and he didn’t know if he’d be able to get her past it.

“But…”
Price interjected. 

Serena
cast her gaze to Price’s shoulder.

“There
are a few things Sebastian needs to know about you.  I wouldn’t want him to
have the false impression that he has the capacity to make you happy; to keep
you happy, right Serena?”

She
nodded but kept her gaze fixed to Price’s shoulder.

“Serena?”
Sebastian said, hoping to snap her out of the hold this man had on her.

Chapter 20

F
rom below her lashes, Serena looked at
Sebastian. From the very first time she’d met him, she’d been aware of the difference
between him and Price.  She’d even wondered if that had been part of the
appeal. Visually, he was dark and brooding where Price was fair and outgoing.
Internally, however, the two men seemed to switch extremities, leaving Price
with the dark and sometimes foreboding demeanor, while Sebastian proved how
sweet and kind he could be.

Now,
as she gazed at him, she felt the strong stirrings she’d felt for him right
from the start. Though she wanted to cling to the hurt and anger that had
accosted her when she’d found out about his wedding to Willow, deep inside, she
believed him. She believed he truly wanted to be with her… to win her back.

His
strength and determination faltered as he waited for her to respond to him.  He
suddenly seemed so beaten down; so defeated, and she knew she was responsible
for that pained look in his eyes. As much as she would have liked to change
that, there was little she could do about it now. Their paths had crossed. 
Their paths had mingled. And now their paths must diverge.

And
so life went on.

“Serena?”
Sebastian said again, the pleading tone of his voice enough to make her weep. 
“Do you believe I don’t have what you need to make you happy?  Do you not
believe that I would do everything and anything to make you happy?”

Flashes
of her nights with Price came to her; nights that were torrid, heated and
satisfying.  Sometimes their play turned rough. While she never would admit it
to anyone, she enjoyed those nights.  The pain Price inflicted on her brought
out something animal and instinctual in her, something she never failed to
respond to. She couldn’t deny Price had the magic touch, and while Sebastian
had proven to have the potential to please her just as much, she didn’t know
yet how far he’d go. Now, she wished she’d tested him more when she’d had the
chance. She wished she’d pressed him to go outside his comfort zone. 

But
more than anything, she simply wished she’d had the chance to tell him what
Price now wanted to expose of her. She knew how he played. He wanted to strip
away the image of the innocent girl she played. He wanted to show Sebastian
what he was truly up against. He wanted Sebastian to see the dark and wild
animal that resided in her.

No
doubt he felt Sebastian wouldn’t be up to the task of pleasing her. She could
already hear the victorious tone in his voice.

He
slapped her bottom and looked up at her.  “I think Sebastian Sorensen, the
noted professor and prized composer, would like to know more about you Serena
Singleton. I highly doubt he’ll be pleased with what you have to show him of
yourself, but I think watching him squirm as he discovers you, could be
amusing. There’s something fascinating in watching a pious, highly noted and
accomplished professional crumble in the face of black leather, strap-ons and
sex swings.  It’s always a pleasure to watch a man’s eyes darken with
confusion, then widen with arousal as he learns that the innocent woman he’d
come to care so much for is not so innocent at all.”

Sebastian’s
eyes darkened and hardened.  He’d not seen anything yet, and clearly he wasn’t
pleased.  When Price slipped his fingers under the frail fabric of her panties
and grabbed her bottom, Sebastian gripped the armrests and Serena was certain
he’d lunge at him, but he remained immobile. 

“I’m
anxious to see if you’ll be aroused, Professor Sorensen.”

Sebastian
grimaced and chewed on his inner cheek.

“Nice
ass, wouldn’t you say?” Price taunted as he kneaded Serena’s firm but round
butt cheek.

Sebastian’s
gaze jumped from the workings of Price’s hand to Serena’s eyes. How could she
let this arrogant ass, show her off like this? The Serena he knew, who stood up
to his parents at the fundraiser, wouldn’t allow her bottom to be handled like
that in front of people. His eyes pleaded, begged and sought to understand. Was
Laura right? Did Serena’s return to her Master squelched her spirit as a
person, too? Where was the Serena he knew?

Chapter 21

H
aving spent a good portion of the night
weeping after seeing how hurt Sebastian looked when Serena acted like she never
knew him, never cared for him, Serena got out of bed the moment she heard Price
leave the penthouse. The night with him had been heated and they’d had little
chance to sleep. If their little spectacle last night didn’t arouse Sebastian,
it had certainly turned Price on. He’d been insatiable, coming back again and
again, and wanting more and more.  His requests had gone beyond anything he’d
ever asked of her before, leaving her sore and sensitive all over.

By
the time he awoke late that morning and left to go to the office, she’d been
awake for hours. Her mind had played and replayed the events of the night
before, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. She’d wept in
silence as Price had slept soundly. She’d been desperate to keep him from
knowing just how heartbroken she was about Sebastian. He’d only ridicule and
torment her about her failure to keep her emotions in check.

Her
bare feet were soothed by the warm thick carpeting of his bedroom as she
stepped to the window and pulled back the heavy drapes. For a brief moment she
was blinded by the brilliant sun. It was a shame.  Her mood would have
preferred a gray and rainy day.

As
far as the eye could see, sunlight glistened on every tiny wavelet of the
peaceful ocean.  Occasionally the sun hit on the sail of an elegant sailboat. 
Far below, people strolled or jogged on the beach sand while others milled
around the dock as they prepared for a leisurely boat ride, or an afternoon of
fishing.

From
the outside, it promised to be a beautiful day; the type of day Serena usually
hoped for; the type of day that left a spring in her step; the type of day that
made her smile for no other reason than the sun on her face and the breeze in
her hair.  Yet today, the day seemed doomed to be dark and painful.  No amount
of sunshine or laughter would alleviate that.

Still
strapped into the leather corset she’d put on the night before, she headed to
the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.  As she passed the hall mirror she caught a
glimpse of herself and immediately thought of Sebastian. 

In
her mind’s eye, she saw his eyes as Price had exposed her true nature. Shock
had mingled with arousal. He’d been intrigued, but had held back. His gaze had
held restrained interest. His eyes had widened one moment and he’d even
protested a time or two, but the slow lick of his lips and the subtle narrowing
of his eyes had betrayed him.

“Go
get dressed,” Price had ordered.  “Sebastian and I are going to enjoy a moment
of male bonding.”

She’d
not heard their exchange as she’d left the room to dun the clothing Price
requested, but she’d noticed the red splotches on Sebastian’s face when she’d
returned. What exploits had Price regaled him with? During her brief absence,
she’d heard Price’s throaty laugh, the type of laugh he usually reserved for
the people he didn’t particularly like; for the people he was happy to hurt.
She knew Price can be cruel like that when he was set on winning. Being one of
the youngest self-made billionaires, he knew how to be ruthless.

As
she’d exited the room she shared with her master, her steps had been tentative
at first.  Destroying the image she’d created for Sebastian was at once painful
and thrilling.  How would he react?  What would he say?  Aroused by the very
notion, she walked out and hoped he’d be ready to get in the game.  She longed
for nothing more than to show him her true colors and to have him appreciate
all those colors. 

When
she turned the corner and entered the living room, Sebastian’s jaw dropped and
he instantly stopped talking.  His disbelieving gaze took in the tight red
corset that left her breasts almost completely exposed.  Her nipples were erect
and her breasts hard with want of a strong hand. His gaze dipped to the thigh
high, four inch heeled boots, and the riding crop.

“You
sure you want her?” Price had taunted.

Sebastian
didn’t say anything, but from the heated look in his burning blue eyes, it was
clear he wanted her.

Serena
shook the images from her head and tried to shake off the intense arousal her
reverie had brought. She’d wanted so badly to play with Sebastian; to show him
what she could do to him; what she could make him do to her.  In the end, she
had to assume the shock of it all had been too much.  Without saying a word,
and without taking another look at her, he had gotten out of his seat so fast,
Serena had frozen in place, speechless. 

He’d
left without saying a word and now she had no idea what he thought of what he’d
seen.  What, if anything, did he want of her.

With
her cup of coffee in hand, she returned to the bedroom to find more suitable
clothing for the day.  After a night in the tight corset, she wanted to spend
the rest of the morning in something loose and comfortable.  Price would be
gone for a good portion of the day and she wanted to go back to the innocent
college girl for a little while. In a way, she was very much this girl who had
wide-eyed innocence and dreams of a future in music. She sighed as a single
teardrop fell on her cheek. It was worse, knowing how Sebastian had encouraged
her all the way as a true professor and mentor. He truly thought she was
talented, and understood how notes can meld together to form melodies that
moved people. She was going to miss Sebastian…

She
reached for the second drawer of Price’s dresser hoping to find a soft and
comfy t-shirt. No such luck. All he had was an assortment of boxers, boxer
briefs and special mini briefs for those special nights, she knew too well.

She
opened the bottom drawer and rummaged beneath the many polo shirts all nicely
folded and sorted by color. Instead of finding soft t-shirts, however, her hand
came over a thick envelope.  Never one to pry, she now felt an irresistible
urge to find out more about Price. For all their time together, he’d always
been so private, so secretive. He’d given her tidbits of information about
himself, but he’d always doled out that information with great care.

What
could be the harm in knowing a little bit more about him? she thought. The
envelope was heavy and clamped closed with a thick paper clip.

Sitting
on the bed, she pried the paper clip off and pulled the flap up.  Her heart
beat at a quickened pace and she suddenly had the foreboding sense she was
about to learn something she might not be happy to learn. Her fingers reached
inside and prepared to pull the thick stack of paper out, but she needed a
moment to catch her breath first.

Ignorance
is bliss, she thought. Yeah, she silently countered, and curiosity killed the
cat.

“Okay,”
she scolded herself. “Get it over with.”

She
pulled out the stack of paper and was confronted by a picture of herself and
Sebastian; the same photo that had been taken on the yacht the night of the
party.

Her
heart sank. Why did Price have such a photo?  Where had he gotten it?

Don’t
blow this all out of proportion, she reminded herself. The photo had appeared
in the society pages and it was easily conceivable that Price, deeply concerned
for Serena, should have the photo in his possession.

As
logical as all that seemed, Serena wasn’t convinced of the innocence
surrounding the envelope and her picture, but why?

And
more importantly, how long had he known of her relationship with Sebastian? 
Sebastian had been adamant about keeping the relationship private, at least for
the time being.

She
thought back to the night of that party.  So many people had filled the yacht,
all impeccably dressed. With the men all in tuxedo, they’d easily blended in
with one another. Had Price been there that night, he could have easily missed
Serena’s sweeping gaze.

Thinking
back to that night, she remembered how she’d thought of him. She’d looked for
him.  At the time it’d been just an amusing game. She’d felt certain of the
improbability, but now… It was exactly the type of party that drew him in.

But
why would he now want to keep this photo? Though Price could be possessive at
times, he’d never been the type of man to be jealous. After all, their
relationship had always been an exclusively physical one; there was nothing to
be jealous about.