“They can wait a few more minutes. Why do you want to avoid me? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, absolutely nothing.”
He tilts my head up, looking at me with desperation. Oh, damn. How do I explain this to him without coming across as a clingy, insecure little girl? This isn’t me. I’m a strong woman. I didn’t have a privileged upbringing, and I had to fight for everything. I don’t regret it, and I am proud of how far I’ve come. But after being cheated on twice, my confidence in this department vanished into thin air. I can do a lot of things. Put a campaign together from the ground up? Check. Make my clients gain a significant advantage over the competition in just a few short months? Check. Make a man love me enough to keep it in his pants around other women? Im-freaking-possible. Or so I thought, until Sebastian.
“That’s the thing. You’re too perfect. If I stay in here with you one minute longer, I might say something silly.”
“Like what?” he asks, exasperation on his beautiful features.
“Like, I love you.” I catch my breath.
His frown melts into the sweetest smile. “Let’s be silly together. I love you, too, Ava.”
“You do?” My knees weaken. As if realizing that, Sebastian wraps his arms around me, pulling me close to him. I rest my hands on his chest.
“Yes, and I’d never cheat on you. That’s not the kind of man I am. It’s a privilege loving you.”
“Oh.”
He kisses me with tenderness, his hands cupping my cheeks and drawing me up to him. His arms give me warmth and a sense of safety. God, this feels so wonderful, so absolutely wonderful, that I don’t want to worry about anything. My eyes brim with tears. I’ve never felt so cherished or loved.
Our kiss grows more urgent, and Sebastian pushes me further, until we reach a wall. Unhitching his lips from mine, he kisses my neck, dropping his hands to my thighs, his fingers lifting my dress until they touch my bare skin. I shiver, heat pooling between my legs.
“I want to make love to you, Ava,” he murmurs against my skin.
“Not here. The people outside. . .”
“Let’s go. Right now.”
Sexual tension crackles between us. It’s so thick and loaded that one single spark would be enough to make us both forget where we are. He locks his gaze on mine, and the mix of emotions in his eyes almost convinces me to give in to his request. The need to be alone with him hits me hard.
Swallowing hard, I say, “I still have to check on a lot of things. Give me two hours, and then we can leave.”
Leaning in to me, he says in a tight voice. “Two hours.”
Chapter Thirty
Sebastian
I watch her from afar for the next two hours. Ava’s her confident self again. She orders everyone around and keeps checking every little detail that could lead to confusion on the presentation day. As I expected, she treats Simone as if nothing happened.
Ava is a strong, independent woman. The thought that the lowlifes who cheated on her made her doubt herself even one bit, makes me want to find those idiots and smash their faces. She’s amazing, and any man who doesn’t see that is a fool. Their loss, my gain.
I almost came undone seeing her like that inside. My beautiful Ava was so fragile, so scared that I might hurt her. I flex my palms, rage coursing through me. No one will hurt her again. I’ll see to that. I want Ava just the way she is. She wiggled her way into my every thought, filling a void I thought would remain unfilled. I won’t ever desire another woman.
After precisely two hours, I walk up behind her. She’s dismissed almost everyone, and she’s now looking for something in her bag, with a lovely frown on her face.
“Your two hours are up,” I tell her over her shoulder. She flinches, but then turns around, a grin spreading on her face.
“I know.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“Home, but I’m starving. Let’s pick up some food on the way.”
“That’s my girl. Nothing can stave off your appetite.”
“Nope, not really.”