Trusting Stone (13 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Eden knew he was avoiding answering her, but in that moment, she didn’t care. She wrapped her arms around his neck as his right hand moved down her stomach, past her navel, and onto her
sex
, his fingers brushing gently across her mound and then through her folds.

“Good girl,” he murmured, and she wasn’t sure if it was in response to her taking the champagne from him or the way her body was responding. She was already wet and she blushed again, self-conscious at what he was able to do to her with practically just his voice. His fingers slid over her clit, making her shudder, but they continued to move further, his finger almost sliding into her. “Miss Maxwell, I do say you’re ready for round two.”

She looked up to see Sebastian looking down at her, a mischievous smirk on his lips. He picked her up by her waist and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his body, locking her ankles together as he carried her toward his bedroom.

He placed her on her feet momentarily, in order to take off her robe, before lifting her onto the bed. He moved his head down, his lips caressing her belly button, and he dug his fingers gently into her hips, making her giggle. He kissed her hipbones as he ran his hands down her thighs and pulled them apart gently.

“God, Eden, I’ve wanted to taste your for days.”

Eden raised herself up on her elbows, tensing up again, cursing herself for doing that so much. Why couldn’t she just relax? Sebastian felt her shift and then become still. He looked up from his position, his eyes meeting hers, and she blushed at the sight of him, his face full of lust, framed between her cream white thighs.

“What’s wrong, Eden?”

“I…no one’s ever…” She looked up at the ceiling, hating her prude lack of experience more than ever.

“No one’s ever licked your pussy?” Sebastian’s voice was incredulous.

“Oh my God!” Eden flung herself back, covering her face with her hands. “No!” she replied, her voice muffled and exasperated. She couldn’t believe how blunt he could be, and why did it drive her so crazy? With no reply from Sebastian, she uncovered her face to see he had sat up now, resting on his heels, but his hands stayed on her thighs, holding her legs apart,
keeping
her fully exposed to him.

“Eden, at some point you are going to have to explain to me how you got to twenty-two without ever having a guy go down on you. I don’t even understand how you stayed a virgin this long. What kind of guys were you dating?”

“I didn’t date a lot. I mean, it was mostly just Joachim and a few
make-out
sessions with jocks when we weren’t together.” Sebastian’s eyes hardened at Joachim’s name and Eden wished she hadn’t mentioned it now.

“Fools.” He smirked at her now. “I guarantee you, you’ve been missing out. And right now, there’s nothing I want more than to taste this sweet pussy. I’ve been thinking about it for days.” His eyes were hooded, and he pushed her down with a hand spread flat against her stomach until she was lying on her back before bending down and softly kissing her inner thighs as he returned to his intended goal.

Eden squeezed her eyes shut and, as his tongue
finally
made
contact
, she grasped the sheets with her hands, pulling on them as he pushed further. His tongue delved into her, licking up her folds, consuming her, as if he couldn’t get enough. His hands moved from her thighs and reached up to cup each of her breasts. He massaged them roughly as he worked his tongue further inside her, retracting every few seconds to lick her clit.

“Let it go, Eden” he murmured as his mouth moved between kissing her clit and licking her folds, “it will be so much better if you just let it go.”

Her fingers unclenched from the sheets and moved to meet his hands on her breasts. It was like nothing she had imagined.

She had heard her friends talking about it and nothing about it had appealed to her. While she had felt a mild yearning whenever she had been with Joachim, his fumbling fingers had irritated her more than anything and she assumed that his mouth would have left her with the same frustrations. But whatever Sebastian was doing to her was making her feel like she had just discovered gold. She couldn’t believe anything could feel so good.

The softness of his tongue and lips sent vibrations through her clit and folds and she felt the now familiar feeling building in her stomach, reaching up to meet the sensations he was creating in her breasts. She bucked her hips up, wanting the feeling to keep growing, wanting him to be deeper inside her. Sebastian’s rhythm had changed and his mouth was pushing harder against her
sex
, his teeth nipping at her clit occasionally, making her jump slightly in surprise. He alternated between sucking on it and then blowing it, causing her to writhe even more.

Suddenly, he pulled away and grabbed her arms, lifting her up to she was sitting on top of him, straddling him, although because he was raised on his knees, she had to wrap her arms around his neck to avoid falling off. One hand snaked around her waist and his other hand wrapped itself in her hair, pulling her face toward him. She hesitated, seeing her wetness still covering his lips and chin.

“Taste yourself, Eden. Taste how delicious you are.” He gave her no option and pushed his mouth against hers, forcing his tongue hard into her mouth. She moaned as the subtle taste of her arousal filled her mouth. He was right, it turned her on even more, and she pressed against him, responding to his tongue with her own and pushing her hips down.

She could feel the tip of his rock-hard erection rubbing against her opening and she wanted him to be inside her. She moved her hips to try and push down on him.

“Just wait, Eden, we’ve got all the time in the world.”

She moaned in frustration, but smiled as she felt his hand slip down from her lower back and reach under her to touch her again, pushing his fingers into her slowly. She could feel herself getting even wetter. With his fingers covered in her arousal, he slowly ran a wet finger up to her other opening. Before she even had time to flinch, he pulled his mouth away.

“Trust me, baby. I’ll only make you feel good, I promise.”

She nodded slowly as his finger continued to massage her tight back passage before sliding back to lose himself again in her wet folds, running his fingers back and forth,
keeping
a slow rhythm that Eden started to respond to. She had never had anyone touch her so intimately and she rested her forehead on his shoulder, letting her hips roll back and forth in unison with his fingers as they continued to trail back and forth between each of her sensitive openings, relishing every second of his touch.

“You’re not quite ready for that yet, but I promise when I do take you there, you’ll love it just as much as everything else I do to you.”

 
Eden could barely focus on his words and she made no effort to answer him. His fingers hovered on her puckered opening one final time before he moved his hand away, grabbing his cock against her
sex
, his other hand moving down to her hip.

Responding to his guiding hands, Eden slowly lowered herself onto him, moaning into his neck as the full feeling she had been yearning for was achieved. He guided her down further, pushing in slowly, giving her body a chance to adjust to his size. Her body stretched to accept and it was only when she was fully pushed down to the hilt that Sebastian started to move. She wrapped her legs around his back, hooking her ankles together, giving herself to him completely as he began to move back and forth, in and out of her. One arm wrapped around her waist, holding him close to her. His other arm reached up behind her and he held her shoulder,
keeping
her locked to him. She moved seamlessly with his body as he pushed up into her. The feeling he had built up in her when he had used his mouth was starting to grow again.

Sebastian’s breath was quickening and he pushed his face into her neck as his hips began to thrust up faster. In this position, Eden could feel him more, and the fullness was more intense than the first time they’d done it. She was a bit sore, but the feeling quickly dissipated as she lost herself in the bucking rhythm as his cock slid in and out, touching nerves inside her she never knew she had. Eden clung onto his neck, whimpering as the feeling grew, swelling from inside this time and pulsing down her inner thighs. Her leg muscles began to quiver as her orgasm built. She felt her hips responding to Sebastian’s thrusts and she was amazed that her body seemed to know what it needed on its own. Her thighs clenched tighter around Sebastian’s waist as she got closer to the beautiful precipice.

She moaned wantonly into Sebastian’s neck and
suddenly
she found herself on her back as Sebastian’s thrusts came faster, harder. He was pounding into her and she could do nothing but hold on to him, her arms around his neck, legs around his waist, and she cried out his name as the hard thrust pushed her over the edge and she felt herself writhe from her orgasm. In that moment, she was only aware of how her body felt connected to Sebastian, how her muscles spasmed with joy and that electric feeling shot through every inch of her. She drifted momentarily, barely aware of Sebastian’s own orgasm, although she heard him grunt into her neck, his hands pulling on her hair as his hips pulsed gently as he finished.

They lay together, both of them trying to regain their composure. Sebastian shifted onto his side
finally
, and Eden winced slightly as he pulled out.

“Oh God, are you sore?” Sebastian looked at her as she lay on the bed, still stunned from the orgasm. He turned to lie behind her so she was spooned against his body.

“A little. It’s not bad, though.”

“I shouldn’t have taken you again. I should have waited. Forgive me. But I couldn’t resist.”

Eden giggled into his arm her head was resting on. “You didn’t
take
me, Sebastian. I wanted to go again. It was worth it.”

Sebastian ignored her joking tone. “I did take you, Eden, because you’re mine. And when I’m around you, I can’t keep my hands off you.” Sebastian
emphasized
“you,” staring straight at her.

She stilled at his words. His voice was serious and she wanted him to revert back to his warmer tone. Eden didn’t know what he meant.

Sebastian ran his hands gently down her side, running them from her hip up to her neck, back and forth, gently stroking her. “You’re mine.” And there it was, that silky English accent, the warm voice that could calm her and arouse her all at the same time. They were the last words she heard as she fell asleep in his arms.

They stayed in his
apartment
the rest of the evening, having more food ordered in. Sebastian refused to let her get dressed, and the only thing she managed to get on was the black silk robe that he would then inevitably take off her when he reached for her.

“I have to go to work tomorrow, you know. I’m going to have to eventually put clothes on and go home.”

“No, you’ll spend the night again and I’ll take you back to your
apartment
on Monday morning so you can get changed. That was the deal we made. I’ll get you to work on time, I promise.”

Eden was starting to learn that Sebastian didn’t ask, he dictated. Part of it irritated her, but she also knew that she spent so much time second-guessing herself that it was refreshing to let someone else make the decision, especially in such a way that seemed to eliminate any doubt.

“And then?” Eden had been avoiding thinking about it all weekend. What did Sebastian expect after this?

“And then I pick you up from work and we repeat this whole thing all over again.”

She couldn’t help but blush at his cheeky grin. At that moment, she couldn’t help but laugh with him. Eden was learning that behind Sebastian’s confident
armor,
there was a boyish charm that she liked even more than the brooding billionaire. “Unless, of course, you disagree.”

“No, I’m definitely on board with that plan.”

Chapter Fifteen

Sebastian was true to his promise and they repeated the weekend experience, condensed into the hours after work, on Monday through Wednesday. During the time they were apart, he didn’t so much bombard her with affectionate texts, but he checked in on her throughout the day, making sure she took a lunch break and actually left the dark corners of the archival office she had been allocated. On Wednesday, when she had told him she was too backed up with work to get lunch, an hour later a courier had arrived with a tuna nicoise salad from the deli down the
street
where she told him she often went.

That evening, she found herself once again wrapped up in same the black silk gown, sated and dreamy in Sebastian’s bed. Her relaxed state was shattered when she turned to see Sebastian frowning down at her. Eden had yet to figure out what caused his mood swings. It confounded her that sometimes he seemed to withdraw from her for no real reason, almost in irritation at her, but it would dissipate quickly before he smothered her with his embrace. This was one of those times when she wasn’t sure if it was her that had caused the scowl she now looked up at it.

 “What’s wrong?”

“Unfortunately, I have to go on a business trip for a few days. I should be back Friday, if all goes to plan. I’ll pick you up after work.”

“I don’t work Friday, only Monday through Wednesday. It’s a part-time position…at the moment. I’m hoping it develops into something else.” She didn’t know why she felt compelled to tell Sebastian so many details about her life. She’d never been embarrassed about her career choice, and her position at the archives was good, just not as good as her parents had expected.

“Of course. I’ll pick you up at your
apartment
as soon as I get back. Any plans for while I’m away?” Sebastian smiled at her. What was he asking her? Eden wondered if he was trying to find out if she was seeing Joachim again. He hadn’t asked again about their relationship, but the scowl on his face when he saw her receive a text from him one evening said it all.

“Well, for one thing, I know I’m seeing Mara.”

“You’re close?”

“Yes, she’s my closest friend. Actually, Mara’s only just moved to the
city
.” Eden told him all about Mara, how she seemed to only know how to have fun now that she wasn’t a student anymore, and about how happy she was with Enzo. Describing their friendship to Sebastian, Eden
realized
how good Mara was for her. “So she’s taking me out
dancing
on Friday night. I’m not exactly looking forward to it, but I think it’s probably good for me. I guess I’ve become a bit of an introvert over the years.”

Realizing
she’d been rambling, she looked up, surprised to see a grim look on Sebastian’s face.

“Which
club
are you going to?”

“It’s a Latin one, Granada. Why?”

“I’m due back on Friday, unless I get delayed. If I can, I’d love to join you.”

“Of course, I’d love that. I mean, that would be great.” Eden
realized
how enthusiastic she sounded. She seemed to be incapable of playing it cool with Sebastian.

“Promise me something, Eden.” Sebastian’s voice was cold
suddenly
. He grabbed her chin, forcefully tilting her face toward his. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m always careful.” Eden resisted, pulling her chin away. She wasn’t a child. She felt infantilized by his request. No, his order. But pulling away from him would only reinforce the feeling.

“Because you’re too beautiful. And bad things can happen to beautiful women.”

Eden wrenched her face out of his grip. She was stunned and hurt by his words. It had almost sounded like a threat. She looked away to avoid him seeing her eyes starting to pool with tears. Why would he remind her of that now, after all she had told him? How could he be so callous? “I don’t need you to remind me of that fact, Sebastian,” she whispered, clenching her fists in anger. She slowly turned her back to him and slid to the edge of the bed. Swinging the black robe on, she
suddenly
felt
dirty
. Without facing him, she spoke quietly. “Um, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower.”

           
Sebastian remained silent and Eden forced herself not to turn to him, knowing he would be glaring at her with those cold eyes. She
finally
took a deep breath and walked to the large bathroom, closing the door softly behind her. Now moving on instinct, she locked the door before disrobing and stepping into the shower.

Eden stood for a while, letting the warm water run over her before reaching for Sebastian’s shower gel. She hesitated. She wanted to wash off whatever that moment had been between them. He had been so cold, taunting her with his words. But she didn’t think smelling like him was a good idea either. Eden decided to shower with his soap and then go home where she could take a bath with her own products and have a long soak. And a cry.

She had let herself get swept up in the moment that had
led
to another one, but now with what had just happened, she
realized
she had been living in a fantasyland. She chided herself for the position she had placed Sebastian in. He wasn’t her knight in shining
armor
. She didn’t need anyone to save her. And if there was going to be someone in that position, it was more likely to be Joachim than this man she barely knew. But she didn’t need a knight. She was no longer the damsel in distress. Wasn’t that what the last few years had been about? She’d been running from the people who wanted her to be nothing more than a girl who could be ordered around. Then why had she been so willing to let Sebastian in? And now she had let him speak to her like she was some dumb bimbo. She was an idiot.

Eden stepped out and wrapped a soft towel around her. Suddenly, the past few days came rushing back to her and she blushed in embarrassment. All she had to do was hold it together enough to find her clothes and get out of the
apartment
. She dried herself off and hung up the towel before putting the black robe back on, bracing herself for Sebastian.

 
She wasn’t surprised to see that the bedroom was empty. She knew her dress was out in the living room. Earlier in the evening, she had watched Sebastian gently lay it over the arm of one of the sofas after he’d taken it off her. His fingers had softly adjusted the folds so they wouldn’t be wrinkled any further. It had been almost like he was touching her, not wanting the material to be damaged unnecessarily. She gathered up her shoes and walked out of the bedroom. She stopped when she saw Sebastian standing near the window, her dress bunched up in his fists. He clearly didn’t care now if it got wrinkled.

“Are you looking for your dress?” he spoke, turning toward her. His eyes had lost the horrible coldness and were warm and almost pleading, but his voice was still hard and distant.

No. Eden shook her head. She had to stop projecting onto him. “Yes.”

“What if I said you couldn’t have it?”

She didn’t respond initially. She couldn’t figure out what he was doing. “I would ask you for it again and hope that you’d give it to me.”

“That doesn’t sound like a very good plan, Eden.”

Suddenly,
she understood what he was doing. And she didn’t like it. “I’m not a child, Sebastian. I don’t need you to teach me lessons about being careful. I clearly made a mistake coming here this week. Now give me my dress.”

Sebastian’s face fell. Eden was surprised to see that he looked hurt. “That’s not what I was doing… I…” He faltered, unable to find his words.

“You what? You what? You didn’t want to show me how careless I’ve been? How I stupidly trusted you? How reckless I was? I don’t need this humiliation, Sebastian. Give me my dress!” She shouted the last part.

“No!” he shouted back at her. He turned and stormed down the hall to the left of the kitchen. Eden flinched when she heard a door slam.

Without hesitating, Eden tightened the robe and grabbed her purse that had been placed on a side table near the door. She’d brought her shoes from the bedroom and slipped them on as her anger grew. Sebastian clearly thought she wouldn’t leave without her dress. He obviously didn’t know her well enough. She slipped out the front door, not bothering to pull it shut in case he heard the latch. As she waited for the elevator, she
realized
she looked ridiculous. But she didn’t care. No matter how embarrassing she might look, it was better than staying in Sebastian’s
apartment
and being humiliated. She thought that when she had laid out her past to him, he would understand that she wasn’t interested in playing games. And now here he was, trying to mess with her head. Well, he wouldn’t have very much fun playing by himself, that she was sure of.

Holding her purse close to her, she held her head up high as she walked through the lobby. The doorman’s mouth dropped open as he saw her exit the elevator and she saw him reach for the phone, mostly likely to call up to Sebastian’s
apartment
.
Too late
, she thought. She swung through the doors onto the
street
, expecting people to gape at her strange outfit.

Thankfully, she managed to hail a cab almost immediately, and even then the driver didn’t seem surprised to see a
young
woman wearing nothing but a black silk robe and heels climb into his cab. Clearly, she had underestimated New York’s nightlife.

Rick smiled at Eden as she walked into her lobby and she nodded in return, praying he didn’t try and engage her in conversation. But he looked back down, clearly pretending to be busy with something on his desk. She made a mental note to make sure she found out what kind of liquor he drank because he deserved a present for being the most understanding doorman she had ever met.

The elevator rose and she sighed in frustration. She wouldn’t let herself think about Sebastian. She was so bewildered about what had happened. Initially, she had been angry when he wouldn’t give her the dress, but now she felt a myriad of emotions. She was mad at herself for always assuming the worst about him, always assuming that he meant to hurt her. It was a ridiculous position to put him in, always prepping him to mess up and behave like she expected most men to behave. Whatever the hell he had been trying to talk about by
keeping
her dress had clearly been misconstrued. She thought back to the look on his face when she said spending the week with him had been a mistake. The genuine hurt hadn’t been part of his game.

She giggled at the thought of him returning to the living room and finding her gone. If the whole thing hadn’t been heartbreaking, it would have been actually pretty funny. Entering her
apartment
, she dropped her purse on the floor, ignoring the buzzing she could hear from her phone. She barely had time to turn around before her front door vibrated with thunderous pounding.