CHAPTER SEVEN
SEBASTIAN CONTINUED TO rub the towel over his damp body even though he knew Brandi stood frozen in the bathroom doorway. He’d been at it for fifteen minutes or more, just waiting for her to show up. Under normal circumstances when alone with a woman he wanted—who he knew wanted him, too—he would have been oblivious to his nakedness, most likely because the woman would have been naked, as well.
Not so with Brandi standing there, her flannel gown dragging the floor, her eyes still puffy from sleep, her soft lips parted in shock. He could feel her curious gaze burning over his body and he wanted to pull her close, to feel the inquisitive touch of her hands, her eyes…her mouth.
He pretended indifference, but in fact he was wound so tight he hurt.
The weather matched his mood, waking him this morning with a powerful thunderstorm. Rain slashed the windows and the sky appeared as dark as early evening. He’d slipped away from Brandi after a loud crack of thunder and he had purposely left the bathroom door ajar as he’d showered. He’d hoped the sounds of the running water would eventually wake her, even though the storm hadn’t. Of course, she’d been snuggled up close to him then, warm and secure. He’d felt the chill of the room as soon as he’d left her, and though he’d tucked the blanket around her, he’d thought that the loss of his warmth might be enough to rouse her.
He wanted her familiar with him and his male routine. He wanted her comfortable with his body. The more she thought of him as just a man, male to her female, the less she’d think of him as a dominant counterpart to her feminine vulnerability. The mundane chores of shaving and bathing and eating would help lower him to the status of just another flesh-and-blood person.
Finished drying, he slung the towel around his shoulders and turned to face her with a wry grin on his lips, but Brandi didn’t notice. Her gaze was nowhere near his face. He cleared his throat and she jerked. When her eyes rose quickly to meet his, he asked, “You okay, babe?”
“You’re naked.”
“Am I? Damn, that’s right.” He mustered up a puzzled look. “I took my clothes off to shower. That’s usually how it’s done, you know.”
Brandi slowly and carefully licked her lips, her gaze now glued desperately to his. “You’re…awfully big.”
Chuckling, he deliberately looked down at himself—and saw he was thankfully still inattentive to the fact of a very appealing female in the area. “Hmm. And I’m not nearly so impressive as I can be.” Then he looked at her. “Does it bother you?”
She shook her head, her dark curls moving around her pale face, and her eyes again went over his body. She said softly, “I wasn’t talking about that. I meant you were just so massive. All over.”
“I know. I was teasing you.”
“Oh.” She looked around, then shrugged. “The door was open.”
“I wanted to hear you if you woke up,” he said with a straight face.
Brandi nodded. “The storm woke me.”
Damn. He couldn’t very well stay unenthusiastic if she continued to watch him this way. He had to distract himself, so he moved to the sink and turned on the hot water, then opened his shaving kit.
“What are you doing?”
There was less shocked reserve in her tone, and more natural curiosity, which is what he’d been counting on. He flicked her a glance and saw that she’d stepped a little closer. He treated his nudity as natural, and she seemed to be attempting to do the same.
“I’m going to shave.” Then he added casually, “I don’t want to scratch you with my whiskers if you decide to do any of that touching or kissing we talked about.”
She remained silent, her eyes boring into him, over him. Squirting the shaving cream into his hand, he asked, “Have you ever watched a man shave?”
“No.”
“Not even your father?”
“My dad’s very private. Besides, he and Mom had their own bathroom.”
Flipping down the toilet seat, Sebastian said, “Come on in and sit. I don’t mind the company.”
“I…um…” He watched as she shifted her feet, her hands clasped together in front of her, then she blurted, “Okay, but could you wait just a moment? I’ll be right back.”
Before he could answer she darted out. Sebastian chuckled. Of course, she needed a trip to her own bathroom. He only hoped she didn’t stop to change clothes. He liked her in the loose-fitting flannel gown with the tiny blue flowers all over it. Its Victorian styling suited her.
He didn’t want her to comb her hair or splash her face, either. He liked seeing her all sleepy-eyed and warm and tousled. She looked sexy as hell and so sweet, his stomach muscles ached from being pulled so tight.
She returned a moment later, her hair still wild and disheveled, her gown in place and her blue eyes bright. She rushed forward and took the seat beside him, which put her eyes on a level with his navel. Damn. He’d never survive this.
“Go ahead.”
He laughed. “Intend to enjoy the show, do you?”
She’d regained enough of her impudence to stretch out her legs, cross her ankles and lean back against the commode. “You offered. It’s certainly not something I’ll get to see again anytime soon.”
“Ah, now, there you’re wrong. You can watch me shave any time you like. All you have to do is tell me.” So saying, he started by spreading the shaving cream around his face, then went through the contortions all men employ to reach those hard-to-shave places. Brandi sat in fascinated silence beside him. Amazingly, her gaze was as much on his face and the process of removing whiskers as it was on any other part of his body.
He was almost done. As he swiped the razor one last time across his jaw, Brandi said softly, “You look so hard.”
He nicked himself and cursed, but when he turned to her, he saw her staring at his hip where his skin was a shade lighter from being forever protected from the sun. She lifted her hand slightly from her lap, then lowered it again.
Sebastian grabbed up a facecloth and wiped his jaw before turning to face her fully. He couldn’t help himself, his body stirred with her interest, and being that he stood there completely naked, hiding his reaction wasn’t an option.
Her gaze flicked to his face, then back to his swelling erection. She looked absurdly amazed, and he tried to grin, tried to muster up one ounce of humor, but failed.
“You…you get excited just because I’m looking at you?”
Rather than answer her, he let his own gaze linger over her body as she lounged back in feigned negligence. He could detect the soft mounds of her breasts, the slight curve of her belly, the gentle slope of her thighs. He took his time, letting her feel where he looked. She shivered and her cheeks flushed—but not with embarrassment.
“You react when I look at you, too, babe. It’s just that your body isn’t as obvious as mine. But if a man is smart, if he knows where to look, it’s plain to see.” His tone was low and gravelly and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Without moving closer to her, he reached out his arm and very gently, with only the barest touch, circled a pointed nipple with his forefinger. Brandi gasped and her eyes closed, but she didn’t pull away. “This is a small clue.”
Her lips parted while she breathed deeply. “I liked that.”
She sounded amazed, not at all repulsed. “Good. Should I do it again?”
Her eyes opened and she stared at him. Biting her bottom lip, she gave a tiny, uncertain nod.
To most people this might have seemed to be the most bizarre situation—a woman covered from neck to toe in sturdy flannel, a man buck naked and on display, leaving himself vulnerable, doing no more than touching one sweet soft breast. To Sebastian, though, it meant he’d made incredible progress. He wanted to shout with his success—Brandi wanted him to touch her in a sexual way. Nothing else mattered to him at the moment.
His hand trembled a bit as he reached out again. He wanted to move closer, to touch her everywhere, to give her unbearable pleasure and hear her moaning his name, hear her crying out in an intense, mind-blowing climax. But he was also afraid of doing one little thing wrong and spooking her. He didn’t dare push her too far too fast.
He toyed with her nipple, still using only that one fingertip. He brushed against her, used the edge of his nail for a more tantalizing stroke, circled and flicked until Brandi panted and said in a tiny, almost indistinguishable voice, “Please.”
He was so hard, he hurt. His erection pulsed with every heartbeat, but Brandi was now oblivious to everything but her own body. Sebastian licked his lips and whispered, “Both breasts, all right, honey? You’ll like this, I promise. But if you don’t, just say so.”
Not giving her a chance to think about it, he lifted his other hand and this time he cupped her breasts, feeling them warm and firm in his palms. Her heartbeat thundered. Brandi made a strangled sound and her gaze remained glued to his face. He knew she was watching for any loss of control, so he did his damnedest to hide the level of his arousal. He couldn’t remember ever being so primed, so hot. But Brandi’s innocence, her trust, was both a powerful aphrodisiac and a potent reminder of who she was to him. More than he wanted anything, including his own pleasure, he wanted hers. He wanted her to trust him enough to let go, to give herself over to him for safekeeping while the pleasure swamped her and left her insensate.
Luckily, his arms were long, keeping him a safe distance from her. It gave her the room she needed to feel secure. It also afforded him an incredible view of her body; the way her stomach muscles fluttered, the way her thighs tightened, how her throat worked and her hands clenched.
He breathed as deeply as she. “Do you like this, sweetheart?”
“Yes.”
That one word sounded like a moan, and Sebastian had to clench his jaw to hold in his own guttural sounds of approval. “Honey…I’d like to try something else, okay? No, don’t look at me like that. I’m not planning a wicked perversion on your person. You’re the boss, remember? I’m just going to make a suggestion.”
It took her a moment, but she finally said, “All right.”
His appreciation for flannel doubled as he felt her small breasts swell and fill his palms. He continued to pleasure her breasts as he spoke. “You like my fingers and hands on you here. But I think you’d like my mouth even more.”
Frantically, she shook her head, her eyes going wide.
“Shh,” he soothed, his fingers still taunting, teasing. “Just listen a minute. You could stand on the toilet lid. I’ll even put my hands behind my back if you want. And if I do this and you don’t like it, you can just say so. No arguments.”
He could tell she was tempted and he held his breath.
“I don’t want to take off my gown.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Those men…the ones who raped me.” Her voice trembled and Sebastian automatically stilled, his heartbeat frozen. “They told me I wasn’t much to look at, that I was all bones and no meat. They…they laughed at me. I know I’m too skinny. Shay is always teasing me about needing a few pounds. My mother says I just take after her, that I won’t round out until I have kids. But since I’d never thought to do that—have kids, I mean—I figure I’ll always be too small.”
Goddamn them. Violent emotion slammed through him, making him want to crush those responsible for stealing away her confidence, her self-esteem. And even her family had added to her insecurity. Couldn’t they see how they’d hurt her with their careless remarks? They should realize, with what she’d been through, how sensitive she would be.
Shay would be devastated to hear of her part in this, but he damned well ought to tell her, anyway. He knew she loved Brandi and wanted the best for her. It wasn’t in Shay to deliberately hurt anyone, especially not those people she loved.
His eyes burned and his head pounded. He must have looked as violent as he felt, because Brandi scurried off the seat and moved around him, toward the door. He didn’t turn to her, didn’t try to stop her. No sane words came to his mouth. He wanted to howl in anger and frustration. He needed a minute to get his thoughts in order before he tried to explain a few facts to her.
“Sebastian?”
He shook his head. Without meaning to, his hands fisted and his voice came out in a growl. “They’re all idiots. Every damn one of them.”
Silence. Sebastian turned and found Brandi still standing there, her expression wary as she seemed to consider his words. “Look at me, Brandi.” When her eyes met his, he asked, “Do you think I’d want a woman this damn bad if she wasn’t sexy?”
“You don’t think I’m too small?”
He did shout then, a low, mean sound that made Brandi jump and take a startled step back. Sebastian was too far gone to heed that small message. He stalked toward her. “You can do anything you like this trip, babe. You can tell me to be quiet, to get lost, to stand on my head if that’ll make you happy. But don’t you dare believe anything those idiots told you. Listen to me. You’re small and delicate and feminine. You’re also the sexiest woman I’ve ever met in my life. And despite my own multitude of sins, I’m not an idiot. I know a beautiful woman when I see one.”
Surprisingly, she stopped backing away from him. “You really think I’m beautiful?”
“Yes!” He shouted the word, jutting his chin toward her for emphasis, practically looming over her. He watched her flinch, and then just as quickly, she smiled.
With one more perusal of his body, she said, “I think I’ll go get dressed now.”
He’d forgotten he was naked. Sebastian nodded, though it was the last thing he wanted. “That’s probably not a bad idea.”
“Maybe you should get dressed, too.”
His eyes narrowed at her teasing tone. “What’s the matter? You don’t want me strutting around the cabin naked?”
She looked to be considering it and he groaned. “Never mind. Forget I asked.” He moved past her and down the hall. With every step, he felt her eyes on his backside. Damn, but this was the most stressful trip he’d ever forced himself through.
Then he thought of the look on Brandi’s face as he’d touched her breasts, her nipples. It wouldn’t be long now. He had to believe that or he’d go crazy. Soon, she’d belong to him. Very soon.
AMAZING HOW A FEW WORDS or a simple occasion could change everything. Brandi left her bedroom feeling much more in charge, sure of herself and her intentions. Now dressed in the long, button-down denim skirt she wore yesterday, slip-on flats and a light cotton shirt, her hair brushed and her face washed, she was ready to face him again.
She was still shy about following through on her new plans; they kept changing on her, expanding, growing more exciting. But she was also anxious to get started.
She found Sebastian standing in front of the living-room window, looking out at the storm. He’d pulled on jeans and a white T-shirt, but that was all. His bare feet looked as strong and sturdy as the rest of him. His dark, damp hair had only been finger combed. She liked the look. She liked him.
He’d started a fire and the cabin no longer felt chilly. It seemed perfect to her, to be alone with him this way, on this particular rainy day, closed inside together, safe and warm and isolated from the rest of the world.
Brandi walked up behind him, and when he started to turn, she placed her hand on the solid muscles of his back. “Wait,” she said.
He went perfectly still, just as she’d known he would.
The sense of power gave her a forbidden thrill. She smoothed her open palm over the massive expanse of his shoulders. He was such a big man, she marveled.
He was also a gentle, sensual man, and he thought she was beautiful.
“I have a few things I want to say to you, Sebastian, and it’s easier if you’re not looking at me.”
He relaxed, shoving his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “Shoot. I’m listening.”
She drew a deep calming breath, then let it out slowly. “What you did for me this morning in the bathroom? I liked it very much. Thank you.”
He turned his head a little toward her, then caught himself and faced the window again. “That was my pleasure. Any time you want to do it again, just say so.”
“I intend to, but we’ll get to that in a minute.” She saw his shoulders tighten, heard him make a rough sound of surprise. She smiled to herself. “I feel a little silly, so bear with me, okay? And don’t interrupt,” she added when he started to do just that. Brandi knew he’d intended to chastise her for feeling silly, but she couldn’t help how she felt, and she wanted him to know. For some reason, sharing her thoughts and feelings with him had become important to her.
“I’ve been thinking about all this a lot. And since you’ve convinced me you really do want me, I’ve decided to make the most of this vacation package. It’s never been so easy for me to talk to anyone. But with you, it’s like I’m finally free again.”
“I’m glad.”
She heard the tenderness in his tone, and wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek into his shoulder blade. She barely reached his shoulders, even when he was barefoot. But his size no longer intimidated her as it had earlier. Now it intrigued her. He was big and hard and he wanted her.
Pressing a kiss to his flesh, she tried to absorb all the ways he appealed to her. He felt so warm and smelled so good. She loved his scent. Without thought, she opened her mouth and lightly bit him. He sucked in his breath, but didn’t move. “Will you take your shirt off for me?”
He did, stripping it quickly over his shoulders and tossing it onto the floor. He made no move to turn toward her, but every muscle in his body was now clearly defined.
“Since it’s raining, we can’t really go out today. And I don’t want to anyway. I’d much rather stay here and get acquainted with your incredible body and the wonderful way you make me feel.”
“Do you realize you’re killing me, honey?”
She chuckled, feeling her cheeks warm and her confidence soar. “I know that means you’re aroused. And I’m glad.” She began touching him again, loving the hot silk of his taut skin, the firm muscles of his shoulders and lower back. “I’d like to do everything, Sebastian, but I don’t think I can. At least not yet. But what you said about…about the bed…”
There was a moment of silence, then he swallowed hard and said, “You want to tie me down?”
His voice was almost breathless, holding a mixture of dread and anticipation. Brandi slid her hand around to his hard abdomen and heard him let out a soft hiss. His stomach muscles were ridged, lightly covered by crisp curls that led from his navel down.
“Yes,” she whispered, “I’d like to do that. But in a little bit. Right now, I like this. I like touching you without you looking at me. I can see every inch of you, but I’m not embarrassed, not with you turned away.
“I can’t be with you in the dark,” she continued. “It frightens me. I don’t mind admitting that now. When the men raped me, it was so very dark. It took a long time for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but the panic made it even more difficult. They seemed to be everywhere, and I couldn’t tell where I’d be grabbed or groped next. I didn’t know what part of my body to try to protect.”
“Babe, don’t.”
It was the only time he’d ever asked her to stop, and she knew it wasn’t the words he wanted to end, because Sebastian let her talk. Somehow he knew that talking about it made it easier for her. She wondered now if someone had been attentive, had listened as closely as he did, if she might have gotten on with her life sooner.
But it wasn’t the talk, it was the touch that Sebastian protested. Brandi had dipped her hand down until she felt the long solid swell of his erection under his fly. As she spoke, she stroked him, her fingers dragging up and down the rigid length of him. Sebastian was obviously uncomfortable with the mix.
“This is my time, remember? I want to touch while I talk because feeling you, knowing your body, makes the rest seem unreal and unimportant. That’s strange, I know, but I’d always associated this with pain and fear. But with you, touching and knowing your body is just…exhilarating.”
He tipped his head back on his shoulders and made an attempt to relax. Brandi stepped closer until her thighs were pressed to the back of his. His legs were so much longer, so much stronger than her own, and for now, she thrilled in the differences. His hands were still in his pockets and she said, “Put your hands up behind your head. I want to touch you everywhere.”
He groaned, but did as she asked, slowly, like a man being sent to the gallows. Brandi gave him time to get positioned, then she looked him over.
“You’re such a beautiful man, Sebastian. So big and hard and powerful.”
As she stroked him, her palms finding his taut buttocks, the steel of his upper thighs, his throbbing arousal, she said, “Do you know what I’d really like?”
“Tell me.”
“I’d like to give you pleasure.”
His knees locked. “You are, babe. You are.”
“No, I mean, complete pleasure.” This was even more embarrassing than she’d imagined, because now she’d have to face him. But first… She unbuttoned the top of his fly.
“Brandi…”
Her name sounded like a warning, but she ignored it. The sound of his zipper rasping down joined the rasp of his harsh breathing. “Tell me if I hurt you.”
Another rough groan was her only answer. She felt the power of him through his briefs, then slipped her hand inside the elastic waistband and touched him. Startled, she whispered, “You feel like hot velvet. But alive, and so hard.”
The entire line of his tall body went taut. His hands knotted together at his neck, his elbows pulled forward as if straining against imaginary bonds.
Brandi closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of him. Her fingers curled around his swollen length, sliding and exploring. Her arms were stretched around him, her body flush against the back of his. Her fingers found the tip of his erection and discovered a spot of moisture. It surprised her, and at the same time gave her stomach an instinctive little curl of pleasure. “Sebastian?”
“Brandi, I can’t take much more.”
In the face of his need, her embarrassment evaporated. Not looking at him had made this easier, but now she wanted to see his eyes, to judge his reactions, to see him wanting her.
Moving in front of him, she kept her gaze lowered to where her hands touched him, working up the nerve to meet his gaze. Sebastian immediately dipped his head and pressed his cheek to hers, but his arms remained behind his neck. “I want to touch you, too, Brandi. Please.”
“I…I’d like that. I really would.” She buried her face against his broad, comforting chest.
“You said you wanted to give me pleasure. That would surely do it. I’d die to touch you right now.”
She whispered, “I’m very afraid of disappointing you and myself.”
“I won’t let that happen, I swear. Trust me.”
She did trust him, but trust had nothing to do with it. Right now it was safe because she knew he’d respect her wishes. But if they removed all boundaries, what might happen? The fact of her body and her fears was all encompassing, taking over other considerations regardless of how she wished it to be.
Slowly, not startling her at all, Sebastian lowered his arms until his hands clasped her wrists. He pulled her hands away from her fascinated study of his erection and put them on his waist. “Okay?”
Brandi nodded. She did feel okay. A little off balance, but okay.
“I’m going to kiss you now.”
Brandi knew it wouldn’t be a shy or gentle kiss; that’s why he’d warned her. But at the moment, she didn’t want shy or gentle. She wanted all his greed, all his desire. She only hoped she could accept what he gave. She drew herself up straight and determination filled her.
Turning up her face, she looked into his beautiful green eyes and said, “I’m going to kiss you back.”
Sebastian grinned, but as he very slowly lowered his head to hers, the grin faded. He covered her mouth with his own and Brandi didn’t have room in her swirling mix of emotions for fear. His mouth was hot and damp and it ate at hers, pulling in her tongue to gently suck on it, then giving her his, stroking over her teeth, teasing and enticing. He nipped her bottom lip and then slanted his head for better access and made love to her mouth.
Through it all, he held back, careful not to loom over her, making certain not to threaten her in any way. His mouth was devouring, but his hands were gentle, merely holding her, not pulling her closer, making no demands.
When she leaned fully into him, her arms around his neck, her body subtly urging against his, he pulled far enough away to say, “Come to the kitchen with me.”
A nervous giggle escaped her. “Don’t you mean the bedroom?”
“No. The bedroom seems too blatant to start, though we’ll eventually get there. I want to make love to you so damn bad. But I’d rather start safe. This means too much to me to screw it up.”
“And the kitchen is safe?”
He nodded. “Will you come with me? Will you trust me?”
She really had no choice. Her body pulsed with wanting him and the thought of stopping now made her ache with dissatisfaction. The fear was still there, but it wasn’t as strong as the wanting. “All right.”
Sebastian took her hand and led the way. Once in the room, he went to the small round kitchen table and pulled out a chair. Brandi started to sit, but he stopped her. “The chair is for me.” He caught her around the waist and lifted her to the edge of the table, facing his chair. “I want you here.”
Brandi blushed. When he took his chair, the position put him below her, which she felt certain had been his intent. But it also put him between her legs with her long skirt stretched tight between them. His hands rested on the tops of her thighs and his eyes were even with her breasts. He took advantage of the view, his gaze seemingly glued to that particular spot.
“Is this okay?”
Painfully aware that she’d not put on a bra, Brandi nodded. Already she could feel her breasts tightening, her nipples growing stiff, pushing against the fabric of her blouse.
Sebastian muttered something low, then licked his dry lips. “If you don’t like this, tell me.”
That was all the warning she got before he leaned forward and his hot mouth closed around the tip of one breast, completely enveloping her swollen nipple.
Her breath came in with a whoosh, but with Sebastian situated so much lower than she and his hands idle on her thighs, she didn’t in any way feel overpowered by him. She did feel protectively surrounded by him, though.
Twining her fingers in the silkiness of his dark hair, she closed her eyes and relished the feel of his tugging mouth. Even through her cotton shirt, the stroke of his tongue was exquisite torture.
He switched breasts, tantalizing the other nipple while lifting a hand to the abandoned breast. His fingertips found the damp material of her shirt, smoothing it over and around the nipple, as if to soothe it. The dual assault was more than she could take, and she instinctively started to lie back.
Sebastian’s other hand supported her spine, keeping her upright. Brandi whimpered.
“Easy, sweetheart.”
His voice was a deep rumble, barely heard through the sound of her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. He nipped the tip of her breast, much like he’d done to her mouth, and Brandi felt the small sting all the way to her womb. Her fingers tightened in his hair. “Sebastian…”
She had no idea what she wanted, only that she needed something. He stood, but kept space between them.
“Let’s unbutton this skirt a little, okay, sweetheart?”
The possibility of just such a scenario had entered her mind when she’d chosen the skirt. It hung almost to her ankles, but her legs were bare beneath. She’d pulled it on, thinking how convenient it would be to adjust to his greedy hands, and now the fantasy would be a reality. Brandi slipped her feet out of her flats and nodded.
Sebastian had a way of doing things that made them seem so natural and right. He didn’t leer at her, didn’t start caressing her. He merely unbuttoned the bottom button, down by the hem, then gave her a moment to change her mind.
She remained quiet, waiting, and after a second, he slipped another button free. All his attention was on his hands and her skirt, so Brandi could watch him freely, without him detecting her bright blush or the anxious fluttering of her pulse.
So this was wanting, and in wanting, she hurt with her need for him. She’d never guessed that it would be so strong, so overpowering. She had to bite her lips to keep from whimpering again, this time in impatience.
It seemed to take a long, torturous time before the skirt hung open above her knees. Sebastian lifted the material to the side and stood there surveying her thighs, parted around his hips and hanging over the edge of the table. Still looking at her uncovered legs, he reseated himself, and now her thighs opened even wider to bridge his upper body, fitting beneath his arms. Brandi knew he could see her plain cotton panties in the open V of her legs. Just once, his fingers contracted on her soft thighs, then relaxed.
But when he looked at her, there was nothing relaxed in his expression. His eyes blazed with heat and desire. “I want to make certain you’re enjoying this, Brandi.”
“I am.” She swallowed, then because she couldn’t stand a minute more of this, she said, “Make love to me, Sebastian.”
His expression tightened, but he shook his head. “Not yet.” He was silent a moment before he asked, “Do you know how to measure your own desire, Brandi? Do you know what happens to your body when you’re turned on?”
His gaze was intent, and she stared back dumbly, then shook her head. “I only know I want you. Now.”
“But it might not be enough.” His hands coasted over her thighs, then stilled. She closed her eyes with a sigh, but opened them again when he said, “Honey, look at me.”
His cheeks were flushed darkly and his eyes were heavy lidded. He looked so sexy and compelling, she reached for him. “Sebastian.”
His curse was low and strained, and he avoided her kiss. “I don’t want to hurt you, babe.”
“You won’t. Sebastian, please.”
“Brandi…I have to make sure you’re with me before we go any further.” His gaze held hers, fierce and intent, while one hand slid further up her thigh. Brandi gasped.
“Is it easier with me looking at you, or would you rather close your eyes?”
She couldn’t help but give a strained smile. “Why don’t you close your eyes?”
“Because I want to see you.” There was a heavy throb of desire in his tone, ridding her of any humor. She could only see Sebastian, only feel Sebastian. His fingers inched closer and closer up the inside of her leg.
Brandi held his stare, unable to look away. And then his nostrils flared and his palm cupped her and he said softly, “Ah.” Sensual satisfaction spread over his features, darkening his eyes, sharpening the line of his jaw. “You are ready for me, aren’t you?”
The low growl of his voice sank into her, just as his fingers probed, sliding over her soft panties now dampened with her excitement. The realization that she was wet—and he was touching her—caused her to tighten her thighs. But Sebastian was there, his hard body unyielding.
He stared into her eyes, watching her every movement, her every expression. “Don’t shy away from me now, babe. Stay with me.”
“I don’t think…”
“You don’t have to think. Just feel.” His fingers worked under the edge of her panties, and slowly, so slowly she panted, one finger parted her and pushed deep.
Brandi cried out. Without her permission, her eyes closed and her head tipped back. She would have gladly sprawled on the table except that once again, Sebastian caught her and kept her upright.
“You feel so good, babe. So hot and wet, just the way I want you.” His finger teased, pushing in and then out again. Brandi clutched at him, only marginally aware that he now stood before her, holding her close and kissing her face, her ears, her throat. He loomed over her, and there was a moment’s alarm, but then he stepped back the tiniest bit and at the same time pressed a second finger deep.
Her body seemed to be suffering some great tension, growing tighter and tighter. It unnerved her, but she didn’t want it to stop. With an arm behind her, Sebastian arched her body. He bent and again took a nipple into the heat of his mouth. Brandi cried. She felt the tears on her cheeks, tasted them at the corners of her mouth. Her hips moved rhythmically against his hand, and even though it embarrassed her, she couldn’t stop herself from doing it. She didn’t feel like herself, didn’t feel in any way familiar.
Sebastian encouraged her, slipping his fingers a bit higher and finding a spot with his rough thumb that made her choke on a scream of pleasure.
“Yes, right there, babe. A little more, okay? Just a little more, Brandi.”
She clutched him, her eyes squeezed shut tight, her thighs practically wrapped around him.
“A little more…”
Brandi groaned as a wave of intense pleasure broke over her. Sebastian groaned with her, his arm tight as he murmured and reassured and continued the magic touches. “Yeah, honey, that’s right. Come for me. You’re mine now, Brandi. All mine.”
She heard the soft words, but they didn’t make sense. And they didn’t alarm her. Not while her world exploded, not while Sebastian held her so close she felt a part of him. And even afterward, when her heartbeat started to slow and her mind reassembled itself, she didn’t have a chance to think about the claim of possession he’d made.
Sebastian swept all coherent thought aside by leaning back to smile gently at her, and then asking, “Would you like to tie me down now?”