Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit) (8 page)

“Beautiful,” he rasped.

Sebastian lowered his head. His wet tongue circled a hard nipple, forced an ache between Ashley’s thighs. She wanted him. There. Tonight.

Long red fingernails tangled his thick hair as she held him to her bosom.

“Oh, yes, yes.” Desire in her voice leaped into the night chill.

Sebastian pulled away. “I guess you didn’t want me to do that either,” he teased, his voice soft, tender.

“Mmm,” she murmured back, peering up at him with hungry eyes. “Are you going to finish this?” She reached down, placed needy fingers on Sebastian’s groin, pleading without shame.

“Yes.” His sinewy hand raised the fabric over her bosom, and he sat up.

Sebastian’s body away from hers extinguished the burning flames he ignited inside her. A frigid chill rolled through her in waves. “Sebastian, what are you doing?” she asked.

“Finishing this.” A cool smile eclipsed the sensual glare that had been her captor. “I told you I wanted to make sure you arrived safely. My being here with you, like this, isn’t safe. I accomplished my mission, and now I should leave.”

“You can’t be serious!” Ashley belted out.

“I meant what I said. I want a second chance with you.”

He pushed himself to his feet. A large hand extended down to help Ashley up. She glared at him. She couldn’t believe that she had allowed Sebastian Stone to bring her to the brink of desire. This game was supposed to be hers to win. Remembering her plan, and upset with how easily she had caved at his kiss, at his touch, anger welled up inside her.

Ashley jerked away from Sebastian’s outstretched hand. “Fine.” Shuffling to her feet, she dusted sand from her dress for the second time that evening and shook the granules out of her tousled mane. “Just go.”

A smug grin greeted her. “Good night, Ashley.” Sebastian lowered his head.

Ashley balled her fists at her sides, tightening each wad until her nails pressed into her fleshy palm and sent a shock of pain through frazzled nerve endings. She whirled around. Not waiting for his next move or words, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her toward the house.

Sebastian, one. Ashley, zero. She would fire the next round in their dangerous duel of desire and show that chauvinist pig exactly how unfilled desire felt.

Chapter Five

Sebastian clicked on the next tab. Scrolled to the left. His beloved Ellie stared back at him. Sebastian always loved that photo. He snapped the secret shot of her exactly two weeks to the day. Her radiance still affected him even five years after she had left him. Since his last drink and vow of sobriety three years ago, Sebastian found a new vice—his ritualistic morning cup of steaming hot java. Sometimes two cups. Sometimes more. Anxious fingers wrapped around a warm mug, lifted the rim to his lips. The sweet scent of mocha and cream teased his nostrils, and he sipped. One hard gulp and his eyes closed. He always found Ellie in his memories, and he always had memories whenever he closed his eyes, explaining countless sleepless nights, red eyes, and his general lack of focus.

A blaring ringtone startled Sebastian back to the present day. He closed the laptop, took another sip of coffee, and reached for his cell phone.

The number displayed on the screen made him cringe. He sucked in a deep breath. “Hello,” he bellowed into the phone while massaging his throbbing temple.

“Stone, we have a serious problem. I need your head in the game. Do you understand how much is at stake?” The man’s boisterous voice broadcast through the phone’s speaker filled the tiny makeshift office in his suite.

“Stephen, I’ve told you one hundred times I’m working on a solution. I need a little more time.” Sebastian slammed the mug down on the desk. Hot coffee splashed onto his hand, scalding him. “Shit,” he mouthed silently.

“Your time is nearly up. If you can’t present a plan to the board in three months, you’re out and the Carlisle on Peachtree will go on the auction block.”

“Damn it, Stephen! I told you I was working on a solution. Can’t you buy more time? I need more than three months.” Sebastian stood and ran his fingers through his hair. He paced back and forth between the fireplace mantel and the small desk.

“I’ve done all I can do. Hell, you’ve had time. More than enough time. You’ve had two years to pull your shit together. Everyone has been sympathetic to your situation. But business is business. You either get your head back in the game, or you’re done. You have three months. Got it, Stone?”

Hard, labored breaths forced air through Sebastian’s flaring nostrils. “Yeah, I got it.”

The call ended. He slammed the cell phone down on the desk. Rage stewing inside him, Sebastian pulled his left arm back and catapulted the half-filled cup of coffee through the air. Soaring like a baseball aimed at an outfielder, the mug slammed into the wall, sending jagged shards of ceramic airborne. Black coffee streaked the wall and stained pristine bed linens.

“Fuck!” Sebastian yelled, startled by his action. He stepped back from the scene of the crime. He lowered his head, eyes shut. This time, Ellie didn’t greet him behind closed eyelids. A minute later, like embers rising from flames, his head lifted and he erupted into side-splitting laughter. Garrett Wooster and Stephen Holman III would be in for one hell of a fight if they thought Sebastian would be forced out of the empire he had helped to build without a knock-down, drag-out brawl to the mother-fucking death.

“So what.” Kerrigan turned her back to Ashley. Snickering under her breath, she pulled a carton of eggs from the refrigerator. “You and Sebastian got a little frisky. You’re both adults. Have a little fun. Try something new. I recall very similar advice coming from your lips when Axel and I were dating.”

Ashley tugged at her bathrobe’s tie, nervous fingers seeking distraction. “Kerri, this is different. My brain knows that this guy is bad for me, but my body wants him.”

Kerrigan cracked an egg along the edge of the mixing bowl set on the butcher block counter. “Ash, I don’t get you. You’ve had more one-night stands than I care to discuss or know about. How is Sebastian any different?”

Ashley leaned forward, her elbows resting on the breakfast table. “I don’t know, but he’s different somehow. I don’t have the upper hand when I’m around him, and that feels strange. I should hate him, especially after the way he’s treated me, but I don’t. I haven’t been with anyone like that since…”

The words clogged in Ashley’s throat like a hair trapped in a drain. Kerrigan finished her sentence. “Since Chris.” She gave Ashley a warm smile and walked to the table. “Ash, liking someone is okay.”

Ashley’s eyes darted and then fixed to Kerrigan. “Even if he’s a disgusting pig? What in the hell, Kerri? I’m screwed up.”

A gentle hand covered Ashley’s as Kerrigan sat beside her. “That’s not true. As you said, you think there’s more to Sebastian Stone than his rough exterior would have you to believe. Maybe you need to explore the possibilities.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “That’s it! I’m done talking about Sebastian Stone.” She pulled her hand away from Kerrigan’s grasp. “Come on. I’ll make the sausage and toast.”

After shoveling a hearty breakfast down her throat, Ashley strolled back to her room. The room, painted in muted shades of gold and teal with wicker chairs with bold floral seat cushions, was the epitome of Key West opulence. White sheer drapes covered doors that opened to a large veranda. Solid teak furnishings in rich tones anchored hardwood floors. An Indian silk throw draped across the bed covered in crisp white linens added ornamentation. She pulled the wicker chair back and plopped down in front of the computer. Ashley’s fingers flew across the keyboard. S…e…b… fifteen keystrokes later, she stared at Sebastian Stone’s name in the Google search field. Page after boring page of results on Wooster, Holman, and Stone surfaced. If fate had thrust them together, then fate had better give her a sign. Ashley smacked a palm against her forehead, scolding herself for giving credence to the ridiculous notion.

As if she had conjured fate’s hand, Ashley’s eyes skimmed an intriguing headline on page 20 of her search. “Stone tragedy makes investors nervous. Partner in…” she read aloud. Her eyes scanned the words while the page loaded, skimming the article for a nugget. And then suddenly the site stopped loading. Redirected to a new page, an error message said technical issues were being addressed. Hands placed on the desk’s edge, she shoved away. He probably had been involved in some crooked business scheme. She knew everything she needed to know about Sebastian Stone. The man was a womanizer. Nothing she read would change her opinion.

Ashley collected her thoughts, kept her composure. She walked into the living room, greeting Kerrigan with a monotone, “hey,” as she shimmied past and settled into the comfort of the down seat cushion, her friend at her side.

Kerrigan frowned. “Are you all right?” Curious wrinkles creased her forehead.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Have you heard anything from Axel about finding Copper?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, Ash. Nothing yet. He’s not giving up though. Axel is determined to find your little fur ball.”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “No, Axel is determined to do anything for you. Thanks for getting him to help.”

Ashley sank deeper into the sofa and stared blankly across the room. A small red and yellow figurine resting on a console table caught her eye. “I’ve never noticed that before,” she remarked.

“What?” Kerrigan asked, looking in the direction of Ashley’s gaze.

“That.” Ashley pointed to a ceramic bird. “I’ve never noticed that red robin before. Where did you get that?” A hand flew to her chest to ease her harsh breaths.

“Oh, that?” Puzzled, Kerrigan’s wrinkled face turned to Ashley. “That robin was one of my finds in an estate sale. I had planned to take the little bird back to my boutique to sell, but I forgot.” She tilted her head. “Ash, what’s this all about?”

“Uh, noth… nothing.” Ashley’s heart pounded hard in her chest.

“Wrong answer. Try again.”

She lowered her head, nerves nearly choking her words. “Kerri, you’re going to think I’m crazy.” Ashley paused, looking away. “I think Chris is sending a message to me.”

Silent, Kerrigan scooted closer and placed her hand over Ashley’s. “I don’t think you’re crazy. What do you think he’s saying to you?”

Ashley stood, made her way to the mirrored table. Shaky fingers enclosed the little figurine in the ball of her fist. Her back to Kerrigan, “Each anniversary, Chris gave me a red robin, just like this one,” she said as she turned a hazy gaze toward her friend.

“Oh, Ash. You should take the robin.” Kerrigan smiled tenderly.

The tight feeling in Ashley’s chest intensified. She placed the figurine back on the table. “You don’t understand.” Clammy hands covered her face.

Kerrigan leaped up. “Ash, tell me. What don’t I understand?”

Ashley swallowed hard. Closed her eyes. “Chris said that robins are the promise of a new beginning, new happiness.” A sinking feeling anchored Ashley in place.

Kerrigan’s mouth dropped open. She gasped. “Sebastian!”

Ashley’s left eye popped open. A pained expression painted her scrunched face. “Oh, hell no! Sebastian Stone is not my new beginning.”