07

Now that he knew Sebastian was unhappy with our new friendship, he might leave me alone and I wasn’t sure how I was going to go about seeing other people if they all scurried away in fright.

Damn you, Sebastian.

“Hey, it’s alright,” Marcus murmured to me with humor in his tone and I found him smiling at me knowingly as if he just read my mind. “He just likes to intimidate. He’ll get over it.”

I almost snorted that I highly doubted he would.

No one really knew of Sebastian’s possessiveness but Marcus didn’t need to know that—not if Sebastian was going to play by the rules and let me date other men.

Our group settled in easily for dinner.

It was full of conversation and light-hearted humor.

I didn’t once dare risk a glance at Sebastian’s booth. I couldn’t see it very well from where I was which made it easier although I was burning with curiosity.

I’d just put in my choice of lemon ricotta cake when they were rounding up for dessert before I excused myself to the washroom.

I was drying my hands when the heavy door swung open and Sebastian came striding in.

I glanced around, realizing the room was empty, and frowned at him as he grabbed the cushioned wooden bench in one corner and dragged it behind the door to hold it close.

“What the hell are you doing in here ?” I demanded, angrily throwing a balled up damp paper towel into a trash bin. “Get out of here before they throw you out, Sebastian.”

“Are you dating Marcus Aldridge ?” he growled, reaching forward and catching me by the waist as I tried to walk around him. “Tell me, dammit.”

He pressed me flush against him, his breath warm on my cheek as his forehead touched the crown of head.

My breath quickened and my reply was not as steady as I would’ve liked. “Why should I tell you anything when you’re keeping tabs on me anyway ?”

“Not since this afternoon, remember ? When you asked to be left alone ?” he grumbled sulkily, the hands on my back shifting up to slide through my hair. “If I’d known you’d be out on a date with Aldridge, I would’ve made other plans.”

“And ditch dear, lovely Krista ?” I retorted, unable to keep the contempt out of my voice. “She’s a total class act, Sebastian.”

Sebastian smiled. “I actually already ditched her two days ago when I thought I’d be having dinner with you tonight. I’d forgotten all about it until she showed up in my office insisting we go out and since you practically pushed me to see other women, I thought I would.”

“Of course,” I muttered bitterly. “I always seem very successful in giving you the excuse to go screw other women. Must be one of my many blasted gifts.”

His expression darkened. “You’re welcome to take back that rule anytime.”

It was tempting and I could see the hope flickering in Sebastian’s eyes.

“No,” I bit out stubbornly. “I actually have genuine intention in finding someone I might possibly like enough to date, not just to add to my tally.”

“Well, Aldridge isn’t certainly going to be that.”

His anger snapped and he crushed me against him as he walked us over to the wall, trapping me between it and his arms.

As always, I didn’t have the willpower to fight Sebastian when he was kissing and touching me like this.

We were frantic and clumsy almost, my fingers gripping his thick, wavy hair, his hands slipping under the hem of my turtleneck shirt and sliding up to cup my breasts under my t-shirt bra.

I moaned as he sucked on my lower lip, his fingers dipping behind my bra and grazing my hardened nipples.

A series of raps sounded against the door, snapping me back to reality and with a horrified gasp, I shoved him away from me. Of course, I didn’t get away until he actually released me, taking a step back and smiling as he studied me.

“There,” he said with pure male satisfaction. “You look perfectly mussed and kissed swollen.”

I glowered at him angrily as I reached up to tame my hair back down. “Did you purposefully kiss me to make me look like this and ward off Marcus ?”

“I don’t need an agenda to kiss you, Cassandra, but if it helps my cause, I would certainly apply myself,” he answered smugly before turning away to remove the bench barring the door.

Emma stood there waiting outside, staring at a smirking Sebastian and then at me, her brows raising delicately as she took in my appearance. I flushed in embarrassment and guilt, especially since my skin still tingled from his touch.

“Get lost, Sebastian,” I hissed at him, turning away to face the mirror and fix what I could of my appearance.

He chuckled softly. “I’ll see you around, Cassandra. Emma, good evening.”

When he was gone, I muttered a string of curses as I dampened a paper towel and rubbed it around my lips, trying to rid myself of his feel and taste.

“Did he force himself on you ?” Emma asked as she came in to stand next to me, watching me in the mirror.

I pursed my lips, hating the answer. “No. Sebastian never has to force me to give in to him. I sabotage my resolutions all on my own. It’s like a disease.”

She smiled. “I think you might have been enjoying it before I interrupted you.”

“Emma !” I protested, glaring at her. “Did you know that he followed me ? Did you give him time to accost me in here ?”

“No,” she returned sternly, frowning. “I saw him get up and walk towards the washroom but I didn’t think he knew you’d gone in as he wouldn’t have been able to see our booth from where he was. But when neither of you came out, I kind of put it together.”

I groaned. “I can’t believe he kissed me senseless and made sure Marcus and everyone else could tell while he’s walking back to join that witch Krista for dessert.”

Emma’s mouth quirked in amusement. “I don’t think you have to worry about that. I saw her escorted out earlier just after you left. She was fussing so loudly as one of Sebastian’s bodyguards, I’m assuming, led her to the door. I don’t think he was happy with her.”