"No apology needed, sweetheart. We needed that." He loosened his grip on her hips. Mariss swung her leg over and settled back on the sofa, this time with her head in his lap.
Sebastian ran his thumb down her arm. He stroked the inside of her wrist, her fingers playing between his until they fell still a little while later. He looked down at her closed eyes. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest denoted that she'd fallen asleep.
"Juliet," he whispered. "What do I do?"
Juliet turned. Her lips twitched as she assessed the situation. "Just leave her be. Wake her up when it's time to go."
Yes, she would have to go tonight. She couldn't stay here, not with the sexual tension between them and what had happened at the club.
Mariss woke as the movie ended. "I missed it." She stretched and snuggled into the crook of his arm.
"Time to go, Red."
"Ugh. I'm sleepy."
"I know. Juliet, can you call for the car, please?"
"No, sir," she said defiantly. "I am off duty. Call your own car."
"That's coming out of your check," he joked.
"No, it's not." Mariss sat up and stretched again. "If he gives you too much trouble, you can always quit and
come
work for me. I need an assistant who doesn't double as my resident artist and chief."
"I'll keep that in mind." Juliet grinned and turned away to take care of the TV.
Sebastian walked with Mariss to the door. "Don't start stealing my employees, Red."
She smiled at him. "I'll try not to, but we are working together. You could share."
"I could." He didn't know what to say. This felt like a date, even though it wasn't premeditated and he wasn't sure how to end a date. He smoothed her cheek with his thumb. "I'll have Juliet bring your clothes to you in the morning. We have a few loose ends to tie up at the club tonight."
Mariss nodded.
"I'd come myself, but I have a busy day and being seen with me after tonight…
At least for a little while."
An amused smile turned up one corner of her delicious mouth. Sebastian grunted. He needed to taste those lips again. He pulled her bottom lip between his and released it. Such a simple, small thing, but it meant so much to both of them.
"Good night, Mariss."
"Good night, Sebastian."
Sebastian opened the door for her and waited until she was in the elevator to close it. He sent a text to have his car brought around.
"Whether you believe in love or not," Juliet stood next to him, her hand on the door, "you've got it bad for that one. How do you want me to handle this situation? Most everyone knows you've been spending time with her and they know you were at the club together."
"Say it was someone who favored her."
"They'll know it's a crock."
"Well, say it anyway. Deny that it was her," he snapped.
"Calm down. I'll handle it. You need to be more careful, though."
"Good night, Juliet."
"Night, Mr. Boa. I'll see you in the morning."
Biting Lips
With much trepidation, Sebastian opened the door for Hellena and let her into his flat.
"What the hell is going on?" she bellowed as soon as the door was closed.
It was three o'clock in the morning. Since Mariss and Juliet had gone, he'd been going over the books for his clubs. Hellena's was the only one with money unaccounted for. Still, he didn't say a word about it.
"Not now, Hellena. I'm not in the mood."
"They're saying you carried a Mariss look-a-like out of the club and put her in your car," she continued. "I covered for you and I know Juliet did. You owe me an explanation."
Sebastian looked down at her and frowned. "That's where you're wrong, Hellena. I owe you nothing. If one of us owes the other, it'll be you owing me."
She gasped. "You said you'd never bring that up."
"I didn't bring anything up. Can we handle this tomorrow? I was about to go to bed."
"Is she here? Is that why you're trying to kick me out?"
Sebastian sighed. "There's no one here but us. You can check if you like." He crossed his arms and stared her down, daring her to venture into another room. She stayed put, but crossed her arms as well.
"She tortured that poor girl today," Hellena reminded him. "Do you realize that? There's something wrong with Mariss Red. The way she reacted today… You need to stay away from her."
The way her words mirrored Mariss' was not lost on him.
"We discussed it. She'll be fine."
"You discussed it?" Hellena huffed and threw her hands in the air. "Have you fucked her yet? Just fuck her and get it over with. You'll feel better, she'll be gone."
"And you'll have less competition." Sebastian nodded. "Mariss and I are friends. She isn't going anywhere and nothing is going to happen."
"Friends?"
Her tone held disgust.
"Hellena, I'm tired. I'm going to bed."
"I'll come with you."
"No," he said a bit too hasty. "Not tonight. I just want to go to bed."
Hellena stared wide-eyed. A moment later she nodded. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."
He nodded and showed her out. With a sigh of relief, he went to his room. He'd never been so happy to be rid of her.
***
Sebastian tossed and turned all night. He couldn't get comfortable, couldn't seem to stay warm. Every time he rolled over he expected to see Mariss laying there next to him. He remembered moments from the night before that he hadn't realized he'd noticed. Like how she moved with him every time he did so they were always touching. Or the way she sighed and murmured in her sleep. If it was this bad after spending one night with her, he didn't think he could handle any more.
By the time morning came, Sebastian hadn't slept a bit. He showered and dressed in an argyle jumper and some slacks and went to the kitchen to make coffee.
"Good morning." Juliet was already there, sitting at the bar. "I heard you up so I made coffee."
"Why are you so early?" he groused. His voice grated like gravel underfoot.
"You sound and look terrible, Mr. Boa. Did you sleep at all?"
"No." He sipped his too hot coffee. "I thought I gave you today off."
"I didn't think you were serious." She blinked big blue eyes at him.
"Do you have Mariss' clothes from last night?" She nodded. "I'll take them to her after my fitting. You can go."
He didn't mean to dismiss her, but she smiled.
"Thanks, Mr. Boa. Have I ever told you what a great boss you are?"
"Stop lying or I'll take it back. Did Hellena call you last night?"
"Yeah.
She was upset. Said you kicked her out and didn't want anything to do with her anymore because you were in love with Mariss. I told her there was
no
possibility of that happening, but she seems to see the same things I see when you look at Mariss." Juliet shrugged. "I'll go before I get myself in trouble. Call me if you need anything. And by that, I mean, please don't. I'll leave the clothes with your driver."
"Thank you, Jules."
"Sebastian?" She said before she left.
"Yes?"
"Be careful with Mariss, okay? As her friend and yours, I'm going to be honest. She has feelings for you, but if you forced her to choose, she would choose her husband, hands down. Just…be careful, okay?"
Sebastian frowned, but nodded.
Starting the day off in such a sour mood didn't bode well. They were halfway to his fitting when something popped and the back end of the car fishtailed.
"Did we blow a tire?" he asked the driver.
"Yes, sir.
There's a shop just up the road. I'll stop there."
The shop owner was a bitter, irritable man who grated on Sebastian's nerves.
"I need to have my tire fixed," Sebastian told him. "I have an appointment in fifteen minutes."
"You gotta wait your turn, sir," the man drawled in a thick Brooklyn accent. His face was smeared like he'd tried to wipe away the engine grime, but hadn't been able to get it all off. When he shook his greasy hair, Sebastian had to take a step back. The smell that came off of the man was offensive at best.
Sebastian looked around. "There's no one else here."
"I got people ahead of you, mister. You gotta wait your turn."
Sebastian let out a long, slow breath so his voice was even, yet firm when he said, "I don't have time to wait. You're going to fix my car so I can be on my way or I will shove you in a stack of tires and light your bloody arse on fire." He kept his face emotionless and stared, waiting for the answer.
The man swallowed and nodded. They were out of the shop ten minutes later with a new tire and a voucher for a free oil change.
He was half an hour late for the fitting. People ran around scowling at him, but there was nothing he could do. He didn't bother explaining, but let them lead him into a room full of Burberry patterned clothes. Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm going to need a moment," he said. "Where's the loo?"
The little man was livid, but he pointed him to the restroom. Sebastian locked the door and dialed Juliet.
"I knew it was too good to be true," she sighed when she answered.
"Jules…" He didn't know what to say. He felt panicked and lost and hated being so vulnerable.
"What's wrong?" she asked immediately. "Is everything okay?"
"I need you at the fitting," he said, trying to put some authority in his voice.
"Is there a problem with the clothes?"
"Yes. It's all Burberry."
"Uhm, yes.
You already knew that."
He took a deep breath. "I, uhm…fuck. Juliet, will you please come down here."
She chuckled softly. "Sebastian, if you need a friend you can just say it."
"Yes, that's what I need." He wasn't used to needing anyone. Now he needed Jules and his body ached to be close to Mariss again. Sebastian felt like he was dying.
"I'll be there in ten. Just be a good boy until I get there and don't throw anything. Or anyone."
Sebastian tried to calm himself. He caught his reflection in the mirror and started. Dark circles made the blue of his eyes much brighter, almost otherworldly. He took another deep breath and left the restroom. They were waiting impatiently for him.
Juliet sauntered in a few moments after they got started with his measurements. She took a seat and watched him with a self-satisfied look on her face that he didn't quite understand.
Sebastian began to relax. Maybe it was having Juliet - a friend - close by. He wasn't sure. But as the tension drained, he started to feel just how tired he was. He struggled through the fitting and managed to only snap twice at the little man doing his measurements. Juliet thought it was hilarious.
As they left she asked, "Do you need anything else?"
"I'm going to take these clothes to Mariss and stop by the club."
Juliet chuckled. "You are absolutely twitterpated. I'll see you in the morning, Mr. Boa. Call if you need anything. I guarantee you'll feel better after you see Mariss."
He hoped she was right. He sent Mariss a text.
:Are
you busy?:
She answered right away.
:Nope
. I was just about to call
you.:
That made him smile. He slid into the back seat of the car. "Take me to the Red Wife building."
:I'll
see you in a few minutes.:
:Come
into the office when you get here. =):
The smiley face made him grin.
He didn't think they would ever get where they were going. The anticipation had him on edge the whole drive. When they finally did arrive, Sebastian couldn't get out of the car fast enough. The elevator stopped on every floor to pick up or drop someone off. When he made it to Mariss' office, it felt like the doors would never open.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Boa," the receptionist at the front said. "Mrs. Red said to send you on in."
"Thank you." Sebastian pulled the office door open. Everyone looked up when he entered, but he only saw Mariss. She smiled when she saw him. It was a happy smile of contentment and glee.
He smiled back. "Good afternoon. Sleep okay?"
"I did. You look like you didn't though."
"Hm. Bed was empty."
Mariss chuckled and patted the chair beside her. "Have a seat. I had my phone in my hand to call you when you text messaged me. I wanted to discuss using your club for a book launch in a few months."
"Yes," Sebastian agreed. She gave him a smiling frown. "You don't know by now that I can't deny you anything?" Just being close to her had his frayed nerves mending.
"I was hoping you wouldn't, of course." Her cheeks flushed.
"When is this?"
"Three months from now. The author is actually one of your patrons." Mariss clicked some commands on her computer and brought up an image of a young, heavyset woman with a charming smile.
"Yes, I know her. She is lovely. Please don't ask me if I've slept with her."
"But you don't sleep with women," she retorted.
Sebastian huffed. "I get tired of telling you all the women I've been with. You already think the worst of me."
"I don't think the worst of you."
Mariss looked up at him with honest eyes. He badly wanted to kiss her. His lips tingled with the thought "I brought your clothes. I'm afraid I left them in the car in my haste to see you."
She hitched her eyebrows. "Is that normal for you?
To be hasty to see a woman?"
"Not in the least. You, however, always seem to be too far away."
"Hi, Mr. Boa."
Brit came around the front of the desk and leaned on the partition. "How are you today?"
"I'm well, Brit. How are you?"
"Not as well as you, I'm sure." She winked.
"Brit pretty much knows everything," Mariss admitted. She speared him with her brown eyes and repeated, "Everything."
Sebastian smiled. "I'm flattered to have made the gossip rotation."
Brit thought that was hilarious. "Check your e-mail, babes. I sent you a little somethin' somethin'."
Mariss clicked open her e-mail and cringed as she opened the one from Brit. Nothing popped out like he expected. There was a gif of Jennifer Aniston from Bruce Almighty when she was in the bathroom orgasming. At the bottom it said "My feet!"
"Oh, my god!"
Mariss said and closed it quickly.
Sebastian laughed. "Are you embarrassed?" he asked when she hid her face behind her hands.
"You have no idea." Her voice was muffled.
"That's pretty accurate," he said. Mariss punched him in the arm.
"Brit rubbed my feet once. I had a cramp like last night. She thought it was hilarious, so when I told her, she knew exactly what happened."
Sebastian grinned at her. "If I were to rub your back what would happen?"
"I would rape you."
"Oh?" he chuckled.
"That bad, eh?"
She nodded slowly. "It wouldn't be pretty."
"It doesn't have to be pretty, as long as it's good." He bit his lip, releasing it slowly. He loved to watch her eyes go moony when he did.
Her voice was a cracked, low whisper when she said, "That's not fair."
"Never said I was.
Shall we discuss particulars or do you need time to figure them out?"
Mariss shook her head and her sleek hair brushed her shoulders. "Wheeza!" she called. "Let's go into the board room to discuss the launch party with Mr. Boa."