Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit) (13 page)

Ashley didn’t budge. She frowned, looking up at him. “Hold on a minute, Sebastian. I think you misunderstood. I don’t want a relationship with you. That doesn’t mean I don’t have respect for myself.”

Sebastian squatted beside her, whispered into her ear. “Did you feel less respected when I almost screwed you at Robin’s Nest or when my cock went inside you at the art gallery tonight?”

Her chest heaved. She ignored the rolling sensations in her stomach. She resisted the danger of his scent, swirling around her like a whirlwind in the ocean breeze.

“We both have our reasons for not wanting to get involved. We have incredible chemistry. There are only a few days left. You’ll never see me again. Aren’t you at all curious?”

She deliberately ignored his question. “Sebastian, don’t ruin the evening. I’m not going to your place.” Sebastian had no idea how right he was. Ashley wanted to feel all of him swell inside her like the waves at their feet. But there was the matter of the cat. And everyone knows what curiosity did to that poor little creature.

“I don’t know why you women torture yourselves. It’s only sex. We all want it. We all need it. There’s no reason to feel guilty for wanting sex.”

“This isn’t about guilt.”

“Oh, I see. This is about control. You’ll sleep with me under your own conditions, not mine. Am I right?”

“No!” she exclaimed, although Sebastian had pegged the truth. To protect her heart, sex had to be on her terms. “Your fixation with sex is disturbing.”

He leaned away. Studied her face. A slow smirk appeared. “You can’t handle sex without strings. I scare you because you like me,” he said.

Any thoughts she had that might redeem her opinion of Sebastian fled in an instant. Ashley raised her hands in defeat. “I’m not a robot. In general, I tend to have some interest in the men I invite into my bed.” The man, regardless of the situation that left him wounded, was hopeless. Her plan to teach him a lesson was on, with a vengeance.

Sebastian settled down beside Ashley. Obvious frustration at their dissonance, tense fingers roiled through his hair. “I realize that I come across like an asshole. Maybe I am. The truth is I’m not good at meeting new people, especially women.”

“Really? I would have never guessed,” she said and then rolled her eye.

“I deserve that, and more. My life is complex. I’m complex. I’m not a man you want around for the long haul.” His comment revealed kinks in his armor.

Ashley jerked her head back. “I don’t want or expect anything from you.”

“Ah, but Ashley, everybody wants something. Everyone has a motive.”

“Is that the reason you work so hard to keep people away? You think people want something from you.”

He stared at her with empty, heartless eyes. “Maybe. What’s your reason?”

“My reason?” she asked. “I don’t push people away. I’m not the asshole in this equation.”

“Aren’t you? One minute, you’ve got your hands all over me. The next, you’re acting as though nothing ever happened. You’re like fire and ice. Soon you’ll reach your boiling point.”

“Then if I was you, I’d be careful. Boiling water burns, and it evaporates, like any thought I might have about seeing you again could disappear.”

The pad of his thumb swiped across his upper lip. “I have nothing to worry about. Desire like we have doesn’t vanish into thin air. Are you going to answer my question, or are we going to continue this childish game. I have all night. Why do you push people away?”

She clasped her hands tightly to avoid the mishap that would be her open hand smacked against his cheek. “You’re complex. I’m complicated.”

He squinted at Ashley. Raised her chin. Stared into her eyes. “You’re afraid that you might get too close. Too involved. Hurt.”

She swallowed hard. Her determination gave her strength. “No more than you are.”

“Possibly,” he conceded. He stared back at the sea. “Two tortured souls united on Peachtree Street, who just happen to find themselves thrown together in Key West. Don’t you wonder why?”

Ashley rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. “Our meeting was merely a coincidence. And who says I’m a tortured soul?”

He didn’t answer her question with words at first. His raised brow said what he thought. But just to make his thoughts clear, “Keep telling lies to yourself.”

A buzzing sound drew Ashley’s attention. Sebastian retrieved his phone from a pocket. Glaring at the number, he winced. “Excuse me a moment. I have to take this call.” He stood and walked several feet away.

Heavy steps, head hung low, and eyes downcast, Sebastian paced back and forth.

“Look Stephen, I told you I’ll have it,” she heard him say. His gait quickened. He stopped. “No! Are you fucking kidding me? I’m not going to make a decision about that right now. I need to research the options.” He glanced at Ashley and then turned away. “When is it? A week! We agreed to three months!” His stride, taken with long, broad stokes, matched his fiery words. “Fine. I’ll be there with a plan.” Sebastian disconnected the call. After fiddling with his phone for a few seconds, he headed back toward Ashley.

He plopped down. Folded his legs. Didn’t look at her. His mood had changed. “You’re smart not to get mixed up with me. People in my life end up hurt or worse.”

Had his comment been about his shady business dealings or something else? She didn’t have the guts to ask.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Words stuck in her throat. “What were you like as a child?” she asked. Her change of subject seemed a welcome distraction for Sebastian.

“Lonely. Scared. Sad. Death is hard, especially for children.” He spoke in clipped sentences, distanced and disinterested in the conversation.

She nodded in agreement. “I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for you.”

“Well, I grew up. I got over their deaths. What was your childhood like?” Sebastian’s one question that showed interest in something other than sex forced Ashley’s eyes to widen.

“I’m an only child, raised by a single parent. I never knew my father. I had a good life, though. My mother worked two jobs and provided everything I needed. Who raised you?”

“I lived with my grandmother until she became ill. Then my older brother took over the job. Apparently I was a surprise to my parents who already had two grown children when I came along. At twenty-three, my brother put his life on hold to care for me.”

“Do you stay in contact with him?”

Sebastian’s tone softened. His contentious behavior subsided. “I do. He lives in London. I stalk him and his family during the holidays.”

Ashley leaned back on her elbows, laughing. “I always wanted a brother or sister. It’s nice that you get to spend time with him.”

“Or depressing,” he chuckled. “I’m always intruding on his family time.”

“I understand,” she said. “I’m intruding on my best friend right now. I feel so guilty.”

Sebastian glance at her. “Aren’t you on vacation? Why do you feel guilty?”

The cool night breeze swept across the ocean, sending shivers through her body. “This isn’t really a vacation. Kerri sort of forced me here for my own good. She’s a newlywed, new mom, new business owner. For the next two weeks, she’s going to be a really good friend, and I feel guilty for taking her away from her life.”

“Hmm,” he murmured. “She certainly has a lot of ‘new’ in her life.”

“Yeah, that’s another story entirely.”

He inched closer. “Come here.” He patted his chest. “You’re cold. Let me keep you warm.” The muscles in her face pulled tight. Ashley’s lips twisted, left brow arched up. Sebastian frowned and jerked his head back. “Don’t give me that look. I’ll behave.”

Ashley nuzzled up to Sebastian. She surrendered her skepticism, yielded to his beckoning embrace.

“Your being forced here on vacation, is that topic off-limits?” Sebastian’s fingers danced along her arm, a feather-light caress waltzing in repeated pattern across her skin.

Ashley closed her eyes, delighting in the tickle of his trace. “Yes, that topic is off-limits.”

“Hmm,” he murmured again. “You don’t have to tell me. I can guess.”

They talked all night long, amicably, no mention of sex. Ashley learned that Sebastian played recreational soccer on the weekends. His love of the arts had led him to purchase several galleries.

“Why did you buy the Moss Studio?” she asked.

“The gallery is a special place for me. Don’t ask.” He shook his head, tightening his hold.

“I used to dance. Ballet. I stopped years ago though.”
Like everything else in my life, when Chris died.
“Don’t ask.”

Sebastian gave her a gentle squeeze. “Have you ever considered dancing again?”

Her cheek pressed into his shirt. She shook her head.

“You should. You have a great body. And I mean that in a very nonsexual sort of way. You have a beautiful dancer’s body. Like artwork.”

“As the owner of a few art galleries, I suppose you are an art expert.”

His lips touched her forehead, the feel of genuine affection. “Only fine art, baby. And you are definitely that.”

The sun began to peek above the horizon, bursting through the clouds. The early morning rays streaked across the aureate sea. Ashley had never noticed the bright gold strands highlighted in his darker tresses. Their date had been filled with the unexpected and new discoveries.

Sebastian walked her to the front door. She fumbled with the key. He held out his hand. “Here, let me,” he said.

The door opened and Ashley stood at the threshold. Her fingers wrapped the frame. “Thank you for a pleasantly surprising evening. I did have a good time.”

“I’m glad. I’d like to take you out again.” He paused and looked away. His gaze fixed on the lush landscape. “I have some business to handle. I won’t see you until Friday.”

She shrugged heavy shoulders. “You don’t owe me an explanation. I understand.”

“Our time is running out. I hate to lose four days with you.” Sebastian leaned closer, pressed his lips into the crook of her neck. “I want you, Ashley,” he rasped.

Ashley rolled her neck to the side. She closed her eyes. Breathed him in. “Make it happen,” she muttered.

Sebastian tilted her chin. Impassioned eyes met her apprehension. “I’m going to give you the best night of your life.” His questioning brows squeezed together. “Ashley, I don’t want to hurt you or lead you on. Are you sure you can handle this? I only have one night to give.” At least he had been thoughtful enough to consider her feelings, the asshole.

Snapped out of her intoxication, Ashley blinked hard twice. “Of course.” She scoffed at his concern, marked by her frown and twisted smirk. Inside, the pang in her chest spread to her stomach. “Sebastian, don’t screw up. This is your last chance.”

His brutal honesty didn’t make the reality any easier to absorb. To Sebastian, Ashley had been nothing more than a conquest, an easy lay. Their desire, a temporary affliction.

Ashley watched him drive off. She sprinted to the guestroom. Slammed the door shut. She leaned against the wood grain and closed her eyes. Soon Sebastian would become a faded memory like everything in her life that held any significance.

Chapter Nine

Kerrigan stumbled into the kitchen. She whirled past and plopped into the seat opposite Ashley at the breakfast table. “Ash, you didn’t come home last night,” Kerrigan chimed, a wide grin plastered on her naturally rose-colored lips. “That’s good, right?” She paused, scrunched her face into a frown. “Why do you look pissed?”

Ashley’s shoulders twitched, a limp shrug. “There’s nothing to tell. Sebastian is like every man I date. He wants sex.” Anger burned in her belly, the mere thought made her temperature rise.

Kerrigan lifted a glass, gulped a large swig of orange juice. “But you already knew that about Sebastian. What changed?”

Ashley gave a dismissive wave. “Nothing changed. I’m tired.”

She pierced Ashley with a penetrating gaze. “No. Something’s different.” Suddenly her mouth fell open. “Oh, Ash. You really do like him. I’m sorry. I know you were hoping for better.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “Yep, my mistake. I let my guard down. Then he reminded me. To men, I’m only a piece of ass.” She turned her face, nodded her head.

Kerrigan’s jaw clenched. She reached out. Lean arms encircled Ashley, engulfing her in a comforting hug. Ashley yanked out of Kerrigan’s hold. She shoved her plate away and stood.

“Kerri, I’m sorry. I was up all night running my mouth. This is exhaustion talking. I’ll be back to normal after a few hours of sleep.” She crossed her arms over her chest and bolted for the exit.

At the sound of chair legs scraping the tile floor like tongs of a fork dragged across a chalkboard, a shiver skirted up Ashley’s spine and she winced. Kerrigan’s footsteps amplified as she drew closer to Ashley.

“Ash, forget what Sebastian thinks or says or does. You are worth gold. Don’t let him reduce you to feeling less than your worth. You deserve better.” Her voice trailed Ashley’s steps. “I mean it, Ash. You are worth gold.”

Ashley spun around. She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the pep talk. Right now, I feel like I’m worth about ten karat gold or that gold-plated stuff that wears away.” She trudged off toward her room and yelled down the hallway. “Or maybe that gold-tone stainless-steel crap that rusts and turns skin green. I’m going to bed.”