CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
EMILY
––––––––
A side from the no-coffee rule torture, I’m enjoying living with Sebastian. What’s not to love about living in one of New York’s most stunning penthouses and with a gorgeous man who makes me come morning and night?
There are worse fates.
Because it’s temporary and completely crazy, I’ve decided to just enjoy the moment. For the past few nights we have had dinner, snuggled up, and either watched TV or chatted after. Sebastian does a workout in his personal gym before bed.
I opted out.
It was good in theory, but I’ve been tired. Probably jetlag, moving across the world, and starting a new job that I’m almost certain I won’t be keeping after this situation comes to an end.
How can it?
Last night, I had time to call Lexi and have a quick chat.
“How’s it going with Sebastian?”
“Amazing.” I held up my ring finger. “This comes with a security guard.”
“What the fuckkkkk?”
I let the shock settle before catching her up on all that’s happened.
“Show me again. Holy heck. What is that thing worth?” Lexi shakes her head, leaning into the camera.
“More than my kidney and liver combined, trust me.” I laugh, tugging up my legs as I curl into the sofa cushions. “It’s so nice here. I’m sleeping in his bed and honestly, whoever snags this man is going to be one lucky woman.”
Someone who won’t be me.
It’s not the first time I’ve thought that. While only our chemistry is real—and off the charts—it doesn’t mean I haven’t taken a few private moments to imagine what it would be like to be loved by Sebastian.
Of course, I’d love this to be real. He’s a catch, as my late grandma used to say about men. I’m trying to keep my feet on the floor but, coffee aside, he’s pretty perfect.
Even his equally handsome friends are nice. Surprised too. Which was to be expected. Obviously successful from the way they dressed. They might have ogled over my ring, but I saw their heavy, expensive watches.
“Let me show you the view.” I gave Lexi a guided tour of the living area, not wanting Sebastian to catch us.
“It’s the American version of a castle.” Lexi sighs.
“It’s gorgeous. This view in real life is incredible. Central Park is just down there. Sebastian has his own gym and there’s a hot tub,” I told her. “Pretending to be the woman he loves isn’t horrible, either. The man is a sex god in bed.”
The woman he loves.
“What do the people you work with say?”
“They don’t know. I had to lie to Terri because Josh, my security protection, was following us at lunchtime, and she nearly maced him.”
Lexi started laughing.
“He’s a Navy SEAL.”
More laughing.
“After the gala, I’ll move back to my apartment. In the meantime, we need to keep the media out of it, so it’s a little tricky,” I shared.
Lexi repositioned the phone as she cooked dinner back in England. “Oh my god. Your father’s face if he found out.”
I shivered. It wasn’t worth thinking about.
“Well, right now, I’m just trying to keep my job.”
“What? You pretend to be his future wife and then he’s going to fire you?”
I don’t know.
I shrug. “I can’t remain his PA. He’s had his face between my legs, Lexi.”
She pouts.
“I might be able to work in a different division.” I share and tell her my plan.
Sebastian walked into the room, rubbing a towel over his face near the end of our call. He headed straight for me, leaned down, kissed me on the lips, and said, “I’m going to shower. Come to bed when you finish up.”
“Okay,” I replied in a whisper.
Lexi and I stayed quiet until he disappeared, then my eyes snapped to hers.
“Fake my ass. That man is in love with you.”
“Shh, no. It’s...not real.”
I thought about her comment all night long. I was ninety-nine percent certain Sebastian knew I was on the phone and kissed me without thinking.
Now, as he slides his hand over my tummy and down between my legs, his warm breath on my neck, I stop pretending I’m asleep.
“Good morning, Mr. Remington,” I say sleepily.
“Don’t wake for my benefit, I’m going to help myself.” Sebastian slips his fingers inside me. “That’s it. I need you really fucking wet for me, Em.”
Em.
His large thigh moves over mine, nudging me onto my tummy and then accesses my sex from behind. Sebastian’s thick fingers enter me again, and I let out a delicious moan and clutch the feather pillow.
“Fuck, I love waking up inside of you.” He lifts, his body covering mine, and presses his cock to my soaked entrance.
Stretched, my body takes all of him as he arches and slides right inside.
“Sebastian.” I moan, twisting my head, knowing he’ll take my mouth.
Our lips collided greedily as explosive pleasure plows through me. Feeling his weight on me makes it even more erotic as he dominates me.
“Tighten around me, sexy. Yes, fuck, I love your cunt.”
Oh god.
His dirty mouth has me coming so fast every time it’s getting embarrassing.
Slapping against my ass as he speeds up his thrusts, Sebastian orders me, “Rub your clit.”
Next minute, I’m pulled onto my knees, and he takes my hand and presses my fingers to my pussy.
“Good girl. Touch yourself. Pleasure yourself while I take what belongs to me.”
I belong to him?
For some reason that hits deeply, and I imagine him claiming me for real.
Falling in love with me.
Walking proudly hand-in-hand in public, and those green eyes of his truly meaning what I see in them.
That all of this is real.
“Come for me, Emily,” Sebastian orders, gripping my neck and licking along my skin. “Come, baby.”
Baby.
Stars explode behind my eyelids, and I let go.
“Yes, good girl. My naughty little assistant. Fuck, fuck, fuck!” His grip tightens as his hot seed fills me.
––––––––
SEBASTIAN
––––––––
“I have a dress being delivered to you this afternoon.” I tell Emily as she pretends to sip the green juice I put in front of her.
Her eyes dart up in surprise.
“You don’t like the one I bought?”
“You can’t wear it a second time.” I shake my head. “This is a black-tie gala. You are my fiancée.”
“What if you got my size wrong?”
I haven’t.
I down the rest of my juice and rinse the glass.
“You think I don’t know your body? I’ve memorized every inch of it with my tongue.”
She blushes.
“I can’t drink this.” Emily slides the juice my way. “It could be what makes you grumpy in the mornings. I’m calling it sad juice.”
I glare at her, then a smile forms on my lips.
“That’s not the first juice I start my day with... anymore.”
Her blush deepens. “You talk very dirty.”
I round the counter and pull her off her stool, taking her chin and kissing her. “You love it.”
Emily kisses me back, her fingers pressing into my pecs through my blue shirt, and I wish for the third time this morning we could just stay in bed and make love all day.
Something I’ve never desired to do in my entire career. Two or three orgasms usually do me, then I’m happy to leave any woman.
But with her. Jesus, I could spend days exploring Emily’s body, watching her cheeks flush as she falls apart. Feeding her, bathing her, running my fingers over her as we stare out at the moon.
Did I just say making love?
I take her fingers in mine and our kisses slow. My chest feels odd as she rests her head against it. Warm. Familiar. Scary.
“Why me?” she asks, and it snaps me out of the moment.
“What do you mean?” I ask, even though I know exactly what she means, but I’m buying time.
“Why did you ask me to be your pretend fiancée?”
A lot of this doesn’t feel like we’re pretending anymore, but I’m not damn well telling her how I feel.
It’s irrelevant.
We are doing this for a reason. I will not end up like Jack. While I doubt Emily is a murderess like Sandy, I know she’s impressed by my wealth and power.
And cock.
Which means, whatever she’s feeling isn’t real.
Even though my own emotions are getting entangled in these lies...and her beautiful thighs.
“Because, Emily Harper, you know this isn’t real. Our situation and how we met, that you work for me...it could never be real.”
A dark shadow crosses her blue eyes, and her light dims.
I can’t promise her anything. I don’t have anything to promise.
But I owe her the truth. “You are the only woman I want in my bed. That’s why you are here.”
Her smile is as fake as our engagement. When she starts to pull away, I take her hand with the blue diamond and kiss it.
“I’m enjoying every minute of being with you.”
She’s hurt and won’t look at me.
“Surely other women you’ve dated, or are dating, would’ve been a better fit and easier to explain to your business associates.”
Maybe.
But I couldn’t stand any of them in my home or in my bed.
I wanted Emily.
I chose Emily.
“I’m not dating anyone, if that is your question, and I made it clear you are not to, either.” I clarify, the thought that she might think she can get involved with anyone has my teeth grinding and shoulders tensing.
“Oh, I’m not. I wouldn’t like it if you did either.”
I’m both happy and concerned with her response.
God, I’m giving myself whiplash.
“Emily.” I force her eyes to mine. “I am not with anyone else. I do not fuck multiple women at the same time, and that includes you and this fake engagement. Nor...” I try to hold the words back, knowing they will hurt her, but they come out harsh, regardless. “Am I interested in marrying anyone.”
The color drains from her face.
Shit.
If I could take back words and give her some context, I would. Emily doesn’t know my past. She doesn’t understand what we all experienced losing Jack.
But I have a feeling she does know that if I were to choose a wife, it’s unlikely to be a young girl from London with no career prospects or position in society.
“Well, Mr. Remington”—her mouth sets in a hard line and she tugs out of my arms—“you play the part well.”
Shit.
Emily strides across the room and picks up her bags, then heads to the elevator.
“Fortunately, you’re nearly rid of me, so let’s get this over with.” She barely glances at me when she adds, “Boss.”
I’ve offended her and deserve every word.