Scandal (Tainted #1) (18 page)

She looked back in time to see him settle against her opening, and the question in his strained expression was more like a plea. He didn’t just want this, he
needed
this, just like she did. Her smile was all it took for him to jerk his hips and fill her.

Alicia fisted her hands in the covers, so full and so close to the edge she couldn’t think or breathe. Sebastian leaned forward, resting his elbows either side of her, his lips whispering over her shoulder blades as he rolled into her again and again.

The friction was building and her stomach contracted. She couldn’t move, couldn’t roll her hips to try and control the building orgasm. The pressure magnified too intensely and she was pinned down, helpless to slow it even if she tried.

Even if she wanted to.

‘I’m close, Alicia. Too close. I need you there with me.’ He lifted a knee on the bed, slightly altering the angle until he stroked against where she needed him to.

She couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, and when the pressure exploded it was a never-ending spasm that rocked her to the core. Sebastian shuddered above her, then for a second she felt his full weight and though it knocked the breath out of her, it was nice.

Warm. Real.

He pressed a sloppy kiss to her shoulder, then he rolled off and headed to the bathroom. She had enough energy to turn her head. She smiled as she did. The sight of his rear, high and tight, wasn’t the worst view she’d seen. Then she remembered the perks of missionary position and wondered if she’d recover enough to have him that way, digging her nails into his firm flesh. The thought sent a fresh sizzle of heat through her.

Chapter Thirteen

Sebastian flushed the condom then sat on the ledge of the tub to catch his breath. Christ, his cock was still hard, showing no signs of deflating despite the fact he was pretty sure he was going into shock.

He’d never smacked a woman to arouse her, especially not one as refined as Alicia. Though the second that pearly flesh was propped up, he couldn’t help himself. Seeing it turned her on was one thing, but hearing her admit it knocked something inside him into overdrive.

She wanted to let loose, discover how good sex could be, and despite his shady reputation or the fact he hadn’t told her everything about himself, she trusted him to be the one to do it. And he wanted to. It was like she called to a deep-rooted part of him that took control and gave what was needed, only now things were out of sync.

Now he wasn’t sure casual and fun could factor into the equation.

The orgasm had knocked him for six and hers had only intensified everything, so maybe that’s why he was having such a strong emotional reaction. Made sense. Good sex, hell, mind-blowing sex, could do that to anyone. Alicia’s former innocence was all he was reacting to. No need to make a huge deal out of it.

Convinced he wasn’t going soft, he splashed his face with water and towelled it off, ignoring the gnawing feeling in his gut that he was missing something important. He wasn’t, he was just high on endorphins, and he’d been in the bathroom way too long.

When he got back to the room, Alicia had slipped under the covers and lay on his side with her eyes closed. Her chest rose and fell steadily under his sheet, and he debated whether a shower would help cool off the last of his arousal, but changed his mind. She looked so peaceful and sated and right now he could do with some sleep. Over the last few weeks he’d been too restless, missing so much sleep because he couldn’t get her out of his head. Now she was here maybe he’d get eight hours for a change.

Sliding in beside her, he slipped his arm beneath her shoulders and tugged her closer. Alicia rolled over so her head rested on the crook of his arm, but her leg came over his like she was subconsciously staking a claim and the unease he’d beat down earlier roared back.

Closing his eyes, he prayed for unconsciousness, but her smooth skin against his didn’t help calm him. Sebastian buried his face in her hair, inhaling deep lungfuls of her light, citrusy shampoo – even better than the strawberry. Her slow, steady heartbeat thrummed against his palm and eventually he drifted off into a light sleep.

A too-stuffy heat woke Alicia. She looked around the pitch-black room, her mind still foggy and disorientated, when she realised why she was sweating. She was sprawled across a very naked Sebastian. Though her body was sticky from sweat where it touched his, she didn’t want to move away anymore.

Which was why she should. Chemistry and insatiable hormones or not, he needed sleep so he could train. Slowly, she moved off him and rolled to the edge of the bed. His arm caught her around the waist and he scooted closer. The part of him pressing against her rear didn’t feel asleep at all.

‘Where are you running off to?’ he asked, his voice rough and deliciously tempting.

‘I wanted to let you get some rest.’

His hand slid up from her stomach, tweaking a nipple, but again the slight sting sparked a flood of heat until she arched into his palm. He trailed his nose along her shoulder, barely skimming her skin but it didn’t matter. The contact had her squirming and pressing her thighs together to ease the ache.

‘I can rest when I’m old,’ he whispered against her skin.

Sebastian leaned over and she heard the drawer open on his bedside table. He handed her something, and she pressed her thumbs into it, feeling the circular ridge beneath the foil package.

‘Open it,’ he said, trailing his fingers down her stomach then between her legs.

She was ready for him, had been since she woke on his chest, and he slid inside with ease, making her hips jerk as the heel of his hand pressed against her clit. Alicia tore the package in half, almost dropping the condom as he ground his erection into the crease of her rear. He suckled on her neck, thrusting his hand in time with his hips until they were both gasping.

‘Condom,’ he muttered against her shoulder.

But she couldn’t twist the way she wanted to and even then, she didn’t have enough experience to get it right. Regretfully, she tugged his wrist until he withdrew, then handed it to him.

It didn’t take long, and he lifted her leg up to get better access. ‘Arch your back, Alicia.’

She did, and then he was inside her. They both froze, savouring the feel of being joined, then Sebastian leaned back and turned on the lamp. She squeezed her eyes shut against the bright light, but he started thrusting slowly until he hit the spot that made her insides burn and her eyes flew open.

There, at the side of the bed lining the wall, was a mirrored wardrobe and she could see them both, her breasts and stomach in shadow, her hips covered with the sheet pulled down by the angle he held her leg.

And down to where they were joined. She could see the sparkle of her arousal coating him as he thrust in and out. The visual coupled with his skilful thrusts just made her wetter.

Her skin was flushed and so was his. Despite their wild hair, their heaving breaths, and the sweat beading on their skin, seeing their reflection just revved her up more. Each thrust pushed her closer and closer. As she started to convulse under the waves of pleasure, Sebastian met her eyes in the mirror with a look of raw lust. She’d never felt so sexy or desired before.

But she wanted to see what he looked like when he went over the edge. Needed to touch him, every part of him. ‘Sebastian, I want you on top.’

Instead of cracking a joke like she’d expected, he rolled her onto her back and made his way between her legs. As soon as they were joined, she took advantage and explored the smooth flesh covering muscles on his back and down, all the way to his hard buttocks. She dug her nails in, rising to meet each thrust. He feathered her neck with kisses, nibbling her collarbone and her nipples.

Mindless with pleasure, she kicked the sheets off, needing to see them totally joined. The image of her pale skin against his all-over bronze, his hips thrusting so powerfully into her, hitting that place that made her melt over and over, was beyond beautiful.

Sebastian kissed her jaw and the image didn’t matter. Not when she could see and feel him first-hand. She turned so she could feel his lips on hers as he drove her over the edge again, taking her mouth as thoroughly as he was taking her body. He trembled, saying her name on a gasp as his hips jerked with his own orgasm.

After he rolled onto his back, his chest rising in wild jerks, she couldn’t stop smiling. She’d done this to him.
Her.
The girl who until last week had convinced herself there was something bad and seedy about wanting hot, slick sex with a man she didn’t have to fall in love with and then marry.

He caught her smiling and tugged her close. ‘What are you thinking?’

‘How did you know?’ she asked.

‘Know what?’ His lids dropped as she snuggled closer.

His scent was divine, and although it might be weird she was even attracted to the man’s sweat. But there wasn’t time to worry, not when his slowing heartbeat was lulling her into sleep. ‘That I’d like all that. I was a bit of a prude.’

He chuckled sleepily. ‘Not a prude. Just misinformed. I knew you’d be a vixen.’

‘Funny.’ She wasn’t a vixen.

‘Go to sleep, Blondie. I promise there will be more taming of your libido tomorrow.’

Snorts weren’t sexy, but she was too tired to care. ‘I think you might have made it worse.’

‘How so?’ he mumbled, his arms contracting around her.

Because even now, when I can’t move, I still want you. I don’t know if this will ever stop.

But she didn’t speak the words, they were too heavy for a temporary fling and besides, they still had time. She could get her fix and keep her head in the process. The French Opens was ages away.

Sebastian’s breathing deepened and his body relaxed, saving her from having to lie. Still, Alicia wondered if she was cut out for a sex-only relationship, and that worry fought off sleep despite the fact she was exhausted.

Was that French?

Alicia forced an eye open, though it was harder than lifting a 10kg weight after a session at the local gym. It felt ungodly early, and a glance at the window showed the sun still wasn’t up.

Sebastian entered the room, looking hot in a white polo with a pair of loose shorts that would no way keep him warm in London in January. He held a sleek cordless phone to his ear as he combed his shower damp hair, nattering in fluent French with the other person.

She blinked the sleep away, wondering why she was surprised. His mother was French and his parents lived in the country. After he finished smoothing out his hair, which was pointless considering it always got wavy and wild when it dried, he held up a finger to say he’d be a minute, then parked down next to her on the bed.

His clean scent affected her, as did the arm he wrapped around her. He trailed his fingers up and down her arm, enticing more than a few shivers.

He soon ended the call. ‘You’re awake.’

‘Just. What time is it?’ She swore it looked like the middle of the night.

‘Four thirty.’ His tone suggested that was a perfectly normal time to be up and about.

‘You’re insane. Why couldn’t you pick a career that let you stay in bed till, I don’t know, daytime?’

The bed shook with his laughter and he lightly smacked the side of her thigh, reminding her of what he did to her last night. What she’d wanted him to do. Suddenly it didn’t feel so early, and a spark of restless energy woke her all the way up.

‘What would be the fun in that? I like the sportsmanship.’ He tugged at the covers, exposing her breasts. ‘And if I wasn’t training as much as I have been, I wouldn’t have lasted as long the second time. Though I have to say, you’re more than enough incentive.’

He trailed his finger around her areola and she was almost lost in the need. But it wasn’t fair to keep him, not when he had work to do. Plus her job was to make him look good, not slack off.

‘You don’t have an accent,’ she pointed out, desperately trying to change the subject. ‘I mean, you grew up in France, didn’t you?’

He stopped torturing her to shift so he was lying on his side looking down at her. ‘No, we moved around a lot. My dad liked to train in the country he was competing in and my mum liked to travel.’

She tried to imagine what that was like, flitting from country to country all his life. In a way, she’d been lucky with her father as she’d had the same friends through school with minimal upheaval. But she’d never travelled, never explored the world like Sylvia and Daria did every day. While a huge part of her needed to feel grounded and secure, the wistful part wanted to travel the world and do the things she’d been too afraid to. Which wasn’t going to happen full-time. But she should holiday more. Maybe she should use her vacation time to catch up with her sisters.

‘Was that your mum?’

He nodded. ‘She wants me to spend the time leading up to the Opens in France with her and Dad.’

‘Oh.’ Alicia tried to hide the surge of disappointment, and obviously failed miserably because he grinned broadly.

‘I told her I had some things to sort out here.’ His gaze drifted down to her breasts suggestively before returning to her face. ‘And anyway, James is the best trainer I’ve had. He’d kick my arse if I didn’t give him a chance to get a win in.’

She grinned, feeling instantly better knowing he’d be around to enjoy for a while longer. There was no way she’d had her fill yet. ‘I guess I should get dressed and let you go.’

His lips pressed against hers, hot, coaxing and way too briefly. ‘Get some sleep first. There’s not much appealing in the fridge, but you can help yourself. When you head home, take that with you.’

She glanced at the sports bag he pointed to, next to the chair with her dress draped over it. Her cheeks flushed remembering him taking it off her. ‘What’s in the bag?’

‘Clothes. I’ll come by after training and we can slot in a press release. Then I’m taking you out.’

‘You know, bossy Sebastian is kind of sexy.’ Well, very sexy, actually, but he didn’t need his ego inflating. It was big enough to block out the sun as it was.

‘Glad you think so,’ he said, then kissed the tip of her nose. ‘I'll see you later.’