"Bash, you need to get to the club now." Hellena's frantic voice pulled him up straight, all flirtation gone.
"What's wrong?" he demanded.
"The police are here. Sebastian, you need to get down here now."
"I'm on my way." He hung up.
"What's wrong?" Mariss asked.
"I have to see to something at the club."
She nodded. Her shoes
clacked
on the marble floor, drawing his eyes there. He'd never been attracted to feet, but her toes peeking out of the ends of her shoes were cute.
"We can do dinner another time then."
He thought she sounded disappointed.
Sebastian directed her to the door with a hand on her back. His car was already waiting at the curb. He opened the door and motioned her inside. Mariss looked at him, but slid across the seat to give him room.
"You'll come with me to the club." Sebastian took the seat next to her. Nodding to the driver, he slammed the door with finality.
"I don't want to go to the club," she insisted.
"Hellena won't bother you. I'll speak to her. It'll be fine. I'll straighten things up there and we'll go to dinner." He watched her eyes. She was conflicted, but she nodded. "Good."
Mariss was changing him and he wasn't sure it was for the better. She made him tense, always rethinking putting an arm around her or kissing her. He reminded himself that she was married, but that had never been a problem for him before.
"Would you like a drink?"
Mariss nodded and he poured them both a glass of Bourbon. She sipped daintily and he watched her sweet lips. Sebastian put his arm around her and pulled her against him.
"Sebastian, please." She pushed away from him and leaned against the other side of the car.
"Stop."
"You didn't mind being close to me earlier."
Mariss pursed her lips. "That was…a mistake. I'm still married, despite what happened earlier. I'm sorry for leading you on like that."
"Of course.
My mistake."
But he couldn't shake the feel of his arm around her. This woman was getting in his system in a way he wasn't used to.
"Don't let it happen again." She cupped both hands around her glass and lifted it to her lips.
"You like hard liquor," he observed.
"When I drink, I like hard liquor," she clarified. "I don't always drink like I did that day in the hospital."
"Just when your husband leaves."
She shrugged. "You know," her head tilted to the side, "I don't think I've ever heard you say his name."
"I try not to." Sebastian took a swallow of his drink.
"Why?"
"What do I need to say it for if I'm not talking to him?"
Mariss laughed. "There's no need to get pissy. It was just a question."
"There's nothing funny about it, Red."
"Okay, Bassy." She said his name with extra emphasis.
"Whatever you say, Hun."
"Hun?"
He smiled and something comfortable squirmed in his stomach. "You're starting to loosen up around me."
"Yeah, don't get excited. That's not a good thing."
"Why isn't it?"
"I get too comfortable and you see the temper."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "I haven't seen that already?"
She shook her head. "You'll know when you have. Trust me."
They pulled up to the club a little while later. Blue and red lights flashed from the tops of four cop cars. Club goers marched from the building, their faces contorted in anger. When the car pulled up, most stopped and waited for him to get out.
"What's the problem here?" he asked as he helped Mariss out.
"They're kicking us out," one man in latex answered.
"Something about a bomb threat?"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Bomb?"
He closed the door and ushered her to the building.
The club was practically empty. Hellena was to the side talking to a cop. When she saw him and Mariss her eyes darted between them for a moment before she motioned him over.
"You can have a seat over there," he motioned to the booths against the wall. "I'll send someone to bring you a drink. I should just be a few moments."
As he joined Hellena and the police officer, she was saying, "Thank you so much." The cop walked away and Hellena led Sebastian to the back room.
"What's the problem, Hellena?" he asked once the door was closed. "What is this I hear about a bomb threat?"
"I made it up."
"What?" It took a lot to confuse him, but he wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly.
"I knew you wouldn't be by tonight so I made up the bomb threat so you'd come."
For a moment, he wondered if what Mariss had said about her being unhinged wasn't accurate. Hellena hopped up on the desk. She was still wearing the corset from this morning, but with black besparkled skirts instead of her red jeans.
"I've been naughty," she crowed. She reached for him and
pulled
him into a passionate kiss.
Do You Want To See My Snake?
Mariss' table was littered with shot glasses, but that wasn't the thing that caught Sebastian's attention. A man in full-body latex paint sat next to her laughing like something was hysterical.
"What are you drinking?" Sebastian asked her, leaning in close. The music was turned back up and there were more people than there'd been a while ago.
"These three were called Pink Pussy," Mariss shouted over the music, "which you smell like. The four over here were Blow Jobs, which you probably just had one. This one was sex on the beach, and my favorite was this one, the flaming gator. My new friend was kind enough to keep me company while you were in the back room fucking Hellena."
"Mariss-"
"I have no delusions that you'll suddenly straighten up because you want to get into my pants, Sebastian, but for god's sake! At least call me a cab or let your driver take me home."
"You're right," he said, feeling every bit of the ass he knew he was. "Let me make it up to you."
"No. I'm done making things with you that shouldn't be made. Fuck, I'm drunk." She scooted out of the booth and tried to stand, but she was wobbly on her red stilettos, so Sebastian reached out to steady her. "
Don't
fucking touch me with your sex hands." She slapped him away, but couldn't keep her balance. Mariss teetered and fell on her backside with
an
oof
and a little cry.
Sebastian reached for her and he had to
wrangle
her hands away to get a hold on her.
"Stop fighting me," he said as he pulled her against him. It felt like a violation. He hadn't had a chance to clean up after his little tryst. He'd
drank
some liquor, hoping it would help cover Hellena's scent, but for the life of him, he didn't know why he'd done it. He hadn't really wanted to. After Hellena's display today he really didn't want to deal with her, but she'd come on to him and he'd gone along with it.
"You smell like her."
There was so much hurt in her eyes, he thought she might start crying. Despite her words, it hurt her to know he'd been with another woman. He didn't think it mattered what woman it was at this point.
"Please, stop touching me." Her eyes looked teary, or maybe she was just bleary.
"Can you get to the car on your own?"
Mariss deflated and he knew she couldn't.
"I'll take her," the man in latex paint said. "I'll help her out to the car."
Maris reached for the other man and Sebastian relinquished her. The ache in his chest when she was in another man's arms ripped his soul apart.
That
was why he'd fucked Hellena in the office. Because Mariss did things to him that he didn't want to admit. She made him want to be someone he wasn't. Her words couldn't have been truer. He would change everything about himself for her, even though he would never get what he wanted. He struggled with the terror of what that meant as he let the man in the latex body paint help Mariss into the back of his car and he drove her back to his flat. She would probably protest, but he just didn't care. He didn't want to be alone, even if it meant he spent the night with a woman he couldn't have sex with.
"This isn't my apartment."
"No, it's my flat."
"Sebastian, I am not going to have sex with you," she slurred as the liquor really started to hit her.
"We're not here to have sex." The elevator doors closed.
"Then what are we here for?"
"I don't want you going home to drink more."
"So I have to stay the night here?
Fucker."
"Excuse me?" He shook his head. "I don't care how drunk you get, Mariss. You won't talk to me like that."
"I tried to warn you. You haven't seen a temper until you've pissed off
drunk
Mariss."
"Hm."
They rode the elevator up in silence. The electricity from earlier was gone, replaced with her fury. Sebastian felt some kind of twisted duty to her. When they got to his floor, he led her to his flat with an arm around her waist. He unlocked the door and led her across the marble entryway to sit in the front room.
"You want to see my snake?" he asked, though he wasn't sure why. He winked and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Sebastian," she said with a giggle. "No."
"Sit here. I'll be right back."
Sebastian went to the bathroom and washed his face and hands. In the next room, he released Artemis from her terrarium, and settled her across his shoulders. He wasn't sure why he carted her out to show Mariss, but he did. She was pouring herself a drink from his bar when he rejoined her.
"Mariss, the whole point of you being here was so you wouldn't drink anymore," he sighed.
She turned and blinked at him. For a moment, he thought she might freak out, but she grinned, though it wasn't quite straight, and exclaimed, "Fuck yeah!
A snake!"
Mariss teetered up the two little steps from the front room to the foyer and intercepted him with outstretched arms. Sebastian lifted the snake over his head and settled it across her shoulders.
"Her name is Artemis."
"The goddess of the hunt," Mariss slurred.
"How fitting for you."
"I thought so." Sebastian watched her with deep interest.
Mariss glared up at him. "I'm still not having sex with you."
He shook his head. "I've already told you three times that
isn't
what I want. This is the last time I'll tell you, Mariss. I did not bring you here to have sex with you."
"Yeah, I hear you."
Artemis slithered over her hand, tasting the air with her tongue. Her head settled there in her palm and she looked up at Sebastian as if taunting him.
"I think she likes you."
Mariss smiled. "Holden doesn't like snakes, so he won't let me have one. She's beautiful, though."
"She's a Brazilian Rainbow Boa.”Artemis' iridescent scales shimmered in the light.
Mariss yawned.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
She gave him a warning look. "I'm not staying here tonight."
"Actually, I'm not giving you a choice. You're staying here. That's the end of the conversation."
"Well, aren't you all high and
mighty.
"
"Usually.
Have a seat. Would you like some coffee?"
"Sure."
Mariss kicked off her shoes. He watched her hips sway as she walked away, leaving them in the middle of the floor. She sat down on the sofa and twisted her legs underneath her. With a heavy sigh, Sebastian picked up her shoes and set them, neatly, against the side of the couch. He crossed into the kitchen and took a mug out of the cabinet.
Sebastian had her in his home and he had no intentions - no desire - to take what he so badly wanted. He filled the mug with water and poured it into the back of the single serve coffee maker.
Sebastian peeked out to the living room. Mariss was unconscious with her head dropped back against the leather sofa. Artemis had curled protectively across her lap. There were too many reasons to have feelings for her and one big reason that he needed to keep his distance.
But Sebastian Boa was the Man
Without
Rules. He loved to break them. It was part of his lure. It was who he was. He didn't want to be that man with Mariss. But he did want to be that man. He couldn't help it. You can't teach
an old dog new tricks
if you're going to use the same old treats.
Once the coffee finished brewing, Sebastian doctored it with a little cream and sugar and carried it to the living room. He picked Artemis up in one hand and took her into the office so to put her to bed. Coffee still in hand, Sebastian went to his bedroom. He set the mug on his dresser so he could
loosened
his tie and hang it up with his jacket and belt. His shoes he kicked off in the closet, nudging them with his toe until they were perfectly lined up with the others.
When he went out to get her, Mariss was in the same position she'd been in a few moments ago. Sebastian scooped her up and, in her sleep, she wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her face against his neck. Her soft breathing tickled his skin. The smell of berries was sweet and perfumed the air he breathed. As he carried her into his room and laid her in his bed, Sebastian debated whether he should undress her so she'd be comfortable. He decided against it. She'd probably kill him in the morning with that knife of hers if he did. The thought of finding out where she kept it was
tempting,
however, whatever he did would have to wait until he got a shower.
Sebastian undressed and bathed quickly, but thoroughly. He washed his hair and dried off, wrapping the towel around his waist.
Mariss hadn't moved, but of course, he hadn't expected her to. She was still
laying
on her back where he'd put her. Sebastian didn't bother with putting on clothes, but he left the towel tied around his waist and lay down next to her.
***
Sebastian woke and stretched before he realized Mariss had curled up against his side during the night. She moaned and threw an arm across his stomach. It was a strange feeling, waking up with a woman in his bed. Stranger yet was
knowing
he hadn't had sex with her the night before. He never allowed women to stay the night. Not even Hellena was often afforded that luxury. It implied feelings that he just didn't care to have or deal with. Keeping things simple meant they could both go about their lives and pretend nothing had happened.
It was late morning. He had appointments, fittings, general work things to do, but this morning, all he wanted to do was
lay
in bed and watch Mariss sleep. So he did. If she was asleep she couldn't complain about that damned husband of hers or how she couldn't trust herself around Sebastian. He didn't have to control anything because there was nothing to control. He could pretend that he had everything he wanted.
Pretending meant there was something he couldn't have. Suddenly, he couldn't get the thought that this was a married woman out of his head. He was cuddled half naked in his bed with a married woman who had no intentions of…
Gently, so as not to wake her, Sebastian scooted out of the bed. He covered her with the blanket and threw on some clothes before he left her alone in the room.