Bidding on the Billionaire (22 page)

She bit her bottom lip to stifle a groan. Her resolve slipped another notch, and the word left her mouth on a bare whisper. “Baz.”

“Wrong one.” He rocked his hips into hers, his erection sliding against the softness of her stomach. “Say my name, Tina.”

The sound of her pet name on his lips sent a hot little shudder down the length of her spine. She gasped. Her traitorous hands sought out the warmth of his body, sliding up his delicious chest and over the pecs she'd admired only a few minutes ago. His skin was better than she'd expected. Hotter, sleeker. He had the right amount of chest hair, a light dusting, and the hairs were coarse yet downy beneath her fingers. The last of her resolve to push him away went up in a puff of smoke.

His name rolled off her tongue on a defeated sigh. “Sebastian.”

His lips trailed the side of her neck, licking, sucking, and nibbling. His hands wandered down her sides to her ass, and he gave her cheeks an appreciative squeeze. “God, you have the finest ass I've ever seen. Say my name again, sweetheart.”

“Sebastian.” This time she couldn't help herself. His name flew off the tip of her tongue on a quiet whimper. He was gaining ground, and she couldn't do a damn thing to stop him. His mouth on her skin was a fantasy come to life, his hands like heaven. He had complete control over her, and he knew it. Damn him.

He groaned in her ear, a sound of torment and need. “I love the sound of my name on your lips. I ache to hear you moan it while I slide into you.” His warm palm curved around her left breast, his thumb stroking the elongated, painfully tight nipple. “God, you don't know how much I ache to make love to you, Tina.”

Oh, for sure he tormented her on purpose, teased her until she caved. Sebastian liked to toy, to play games, but her body melted regardless. She slumped back against the counter behind her, two desperate little seconds away from wrapping her arms around his neck and begging him to do everything he'd said and then some. “Sebastian, please.”

This time, his mouth paused on her neck. Seconds ticked out, and her body was poised, waiting for him to make the next move. She couldn't be certain anymore if she wanted him to stop or to continue, but her panties were drenched and her clit was throbbing.

Finally, he pinched her left nipple, a delicious combination of pleasure and pain, and pulled back. His eyes blazed at her, the wild look in the depths of them one part challenge, one part hunger, and one part something she couldn't quite reach. The hunger stole the breath from her lungs. Sebastian had never looked at her that way before.

As she tried to form a more coherent thought, he kissed her again, hard, then released her and shoved her away from him.

“Now go. Because if you don't leave right now, I'm going to pick you up and carry you back to my bed, and I'm going to fuck you until you scream my name.” He spat the words at her like a threat, pivoted and stalked away from her.

Christina stumbled back a step. For a moment, she could only blink and watch his progress. Confusion waged a war in her head. But in that moment, she knew two things. He could have had her if he'd wanted her. She'd have gladly given in to his whim, for the pleasure she'd have at his hands, and damn the consequences. More important, though, he didn't seem like himself. He'd done a lot of things over the years, none of which meant recognizing her as anything more than his best friend's sister. What the hell had gotten into him?

He stopped at the front windows and stood, unmoving, staring out over the city. His shoulders remained stiff, his back straight as a steel rod. Tension radiated off him. As her breathing calmed, a memory floated through her mind. He'd done this before, deliberately pushed her buttons. When Sebastian didn't want to face something, he could evade like nobody else.

Once when they were kids, he'd pushed her buttons until she'd become so angry she'd sworn never to speak to him again. She'd discovered later that he'd had an argument with his father. She couldn't remember what about, but Caden had been the one to point out he'd likely taken his bad mood out on her. Rather than asking for what he needed—support, kindness—he pushed away the people he held closest to him. Sebastian was used to the people he loved leaving him. First his mother, then his father.

Ever since, she'd always forgiven him, because she knew, deep down, Caden had been right. Sebastian wasn't this man. This was his coping mechanism. Besides, he was family. Did he really think she wouldn't see through him now?

Yes, that's exactly what happened here. He attempted to evade grief, and he'd lashed out at the first person within reach. Oh, for sure he needed someone, but not in the way he'd stated. She'd call Caden later. Being a Monday morning, he and Hannah were no doubt sitting down to breakfast. They were barely a year into their marriage, still newlyweds, and she hated disturbing them. Not to mention that Hannah was six months into her first pregnancy. They'd get enough interruptions when the baby came. For now, Sebastian would have to make do with her, because no way would she leave him alone. Clearly, he'd gone down a dark road.

Decision made, she turned to the counter behind her, picked up her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Then she dialed her assistant. “Hi, Paula. It's Christina. Would you clear my schedule for today, please? We've had a family emergency, and I'm going to need to take the day off. Give my apologies, will you, please?”

“Of course, Miss McKenzie. Is everything all right?”

“I'm afraid we've had a death in the family. I'm needed at home.”

“Oh, no. I'm so sorry, ma'am. My condolences to you and your family. I'll make sure you won't be disturbed.”

“Thank you, Paula.”

She hung up her phone and returned it to her to purse. Then she toed off her heels and carried them to the edge of the hallway, where she wouldn't trip over them. On her return to the kitchen, she came up short. Sebastian stood in the kitchen entrance, blocking her path, arms crossed and a firm scowl puckering his brow. “What are you doing?”

She hiked her chin a notch and held her ground. “Taking care of you.”

The grooves between his brows deepened, and his jaw tightened. “I'm not a child, Tina.”

Ignoring his clear attempt to push her off, she pivoted and moved around him, heading around the center island toward the fridge. Thankfully, Lupe kept it well stocked. What Sebastian needed was a friend and a full stomach. In her experience, men were simple creatures. She'd learned by growing up with Caden and her father that the way to tame a riled male usually began with a good meal, so she'd start by making Sebastian breakfast.

She pulled open the refrigerator door and peered inside, ignoring the gaze burning a hole into the back of her head. “It's Chris, if you don't mind, or Christina if you prefer. I'm not ten years old anymore, either, and I know darn well you're aware of that, because you just had your hands all over the proof. I'm staying. You can grump all you want, but don't bother attempting to bully me. I'm not one of your employees or one of those weak-kneed groupies you date. In case you've forgotten, I graduated from M.I.T. at the top of my class. That means I'm smart, and I'm used to men like you who think they can push me around. You're stuck with me for the day, Sebastian. So deal with it.”

JM Stewart is a coffee and chocolate addict who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two sons, and two very spoiled dogs. She's a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession.

Learn more at:

AuthorJMStewart.com

Facebook.com/AuthorJMStewart

Twitter: @JMStewartWriter

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