Chapter 58
Riley
“?Más margaritas por favor!” Kaz giggles as she pours fresh drinks for the three of us. Corrine and Kaz convinced me to have a girls’ night-in this evening since Sebastian was heading out for some “work” with his boys. Though he hadn’t shared details with me, I knew that he was working with his partner and friend Andre to track down Nate. The idea stressed me out. I was worried for him, for myself, but also for their business. I wasn’t sure how powerful Nate had become in this business but I sure as shit knew that Lockhart’s practices required a degree of illegal undertakings and his ties ran deep.
“Let’s skip to shots,” Corrine suggests as she fiddles with Sebastian’s stereo. Suddenly the room fills with 90’s pop. “It’s officially a party now,” Corrine says, pouring each of us tequila shots as she grins and starts dropping it low like she’s in a club.
“Corrine what in the world?” I ask, practically sloshing my margarita contents onto the couch.
“I’m sorry but the 90’s held some good sex songs. Do you not agree?” she asks .
“What, like Boyz II Men?” I ask.
“No girl. Like Ginuwine.” Then she starts singing the lyrics, “If you’re horny, let’s do it. Ride it, my pony…”
Kaz throws a pillow at her before she can continue. “Listen, we all know how horny you are Corrine. Xavier doesn’t let anyone forget it with the stupid ass smile plastered on his face all the time.”
Upon hearing this, Corrine simply shrugs. I laugh, thinking that it must be nice to convey what it is you want, without repercussions. Then I notice Kaz is eyeing me.
“What?” I ask.
“So… have you and Sebastian… you know?” Kaz smiles and looks expectantly at me.
“No. I mean aside from the few seconds in the club we haven’t come close. I just.. I’m not sure I can do that right now. I think I’m broken or something. And what if he’s not even attracted to me now? I mean I’ve been holed up, taking over his living space for weeks now. He’s seen me at my worst.”
“Honey,” Corrine interrupts me, “when we love someone we allow them the space for what they need. Whether that’s growth, exploration, healing, or simply giving them room to breathe. That’s what love does.”
The words catch me by surprise. “Love?” I ask. “You think Sebastian’s in love with me?”
Kaz and Corrine look at eachother and burst out laughing. “Seriously?” Kaz starts, “Riley, he’s seconds away from punching every person who steps within five feet of him. He’s angry enough to murder and also horny enough to fuck an armchair at this point. Yet when he’s around you… he’s patiently waiting.”
Is that true? I change the conversation then, not wanting to talk more about my feelings about Sebastian. I convince Corrine to turn off the music and we all huddle on Sebastian’s enormous couches. Corrine and I settle feet to feet with our heads on each side of the larger couch. I grab the throw blankets from the corner and cover us up. I drift off sometime later, the TV show lulling me to sleep.
Huge arms are carrying me off the couch when I wake up. I smell Sebastian’s musky scent then, his combination of aftershave and whiskey, and I smile. “Why hello there Sir,” I say.
“Riley Green, don’t talk to me that way unless you’re ready for the consequences,” he growls. I must be tipsy still because my usual fear and hesitation isn’t immediately at the surface.
“What will you do to me?” I ask.
“Riley,” he growls quietly as we near his bed. “The things I will do to your body will make you beg for me to stop.” He lays me down then and before I have time to think he’s unbuttoned his shirt and throws it on the floor. He climbs over me and nudges my legs apart then, settling in and bringing his face inches from mine.
“Sebastian,” I start, starting to feel a little shaky. “I, I miss you.” I stammer out.
“Little mouse,” he mutters, nuzzling my hair against my neck, “I’m right here, baby. I’m waiting for my little mouse to be ready for the chase.”
“That’s just it. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.”
“Riley.” It’s not a question this time but a statement. I look up at him, his tattoos on display and his jaw set in determination. “Your mind may not be, but your body is.”
Then he presses himself into me and I feel his erection against my body, jutting into my stomach. I try to pull away but he’s got me pinned down.
“Wait..” I start, the fear rising.
“Just look baby,” he says, quickly pinning both my hands together in one arm as he takes his other hand and drags it down between us. He’s reaching into my loose pajama shorts before I know it and his finger drags across my clit. I jolt from the sudden intrusion and the flurry of emotions it brings. He then pulls his hand back up between our faces and shows me his finger, wet from my pussy.
“Your body knows what it wants, little mouse.”
I’m embarrassed then, and almost ashamed. I clearly had more to drink than I thought. I start to wriggle away from him. “Sebastian, I can't do this.” I sit up on the bed and walk into his bathroom, shutting the door. I know I’m being immature, hiding in the bathroom and not facing this man who I am suddenly aware may love me. But I’m not ready to be out there with him.
Time passes. I busy myself washing my face and brushing my teeth, trying to think of what I can offer Sebastian at this point when I don’t even know what I want. By the time I leave the bathroom he’s left for the couch. I crawl into his bed and realize then that he was right. My body is electrified still, and I’ve been trying to ignore the impact his touch had on me. I fall asleep wishing he was next to me now.