Drowning to Breathe (26 page)

But somehow I forced myself to agree. “Yep…part of the plan.”

A grin pulled at one side of my mouth when he narrowed his eyes in my direction.

“You just showed up to torture me, didn’t you, woman?”

“Don’t be a pussy, man. A little anticipation never hurt anyone,” Lyrik spouted off as he raked a hand through his hair.

“Wouldn’t call four weeks a
little
anticipation.” He turned back to me with the suggestion of the demand twisting on his lips. “Tell me how you’re gonna make it up to me.”

Hands eager and teasing at the hem of his shirt, I pressed one more kiss to that pretty, pretty mouth. “Any. Way. You. Want.”

“Now you’re just asking for trouble.”

No doubt. But I was willing to take whatever he wanted to bring.

Sebastian ripped himself away and helped me right myself on unsteady feet.

Again, Sebastian left me in the little room, promising to be right back. He was gone for little more than five minutes before he was there. Changed, brown hair damp and darkened, he wore a long-sleeved button-up shirt with the cuffs rolled to just below his elbows, his undeniable strength revealed in the bristling muscle beneath the intricate ink etched on the exposed skin of his forearms.

There was no missing the heads that turned, the desire evident in the blatant stares as eyes were drawn in the direction of this magnificent man. Dripping of sex and darkness. Shrouded in mystery. A riddle only I had the answer to.

A freshly showered Ash waltzed in right behind and clapped his hands once in front of him. “Let’s do this.”

Sebastian gathered my hand back in his while Ash talked to the small group of friends who were meeting us at the club. The five of us headed out the back door and into the night, the November sky cool, the sounds of revelry riding on the air.

The SUV that had dropped us off sat waiting, but it was a black Maserati convertible parked behind it that Sebastian went straight for.

My steps faltered and my mouth dropped open.

I was supposed to be dishing out the surprises this weekend, not the other way around.

At my reaction, Sebastian just gave me an offhanded shrug and tugged at my hand as he walked out ahead of me, turning to face me and taking a few steps back. “Made a call when I ordered your stuff for the room. Figured we might want our own ride for the weekend.”

“I would hardly call that a
ride
.”

“What? It has wheels.”

And I knew without a doubt this was for me, because Sebastian’s tastes so obviously leaned toward the mean, blacked-out cars with big engines and muscle and guts. This car was sleek, small, and fast, pretentious luxury at its finest.

“You’re insane, Sebastian from California.”

His laughter was free and full, and filled me whole, my lungs pressing firm at my ribs as I relished in the sound.

“Can’t blame a man for taking care of his girl.”

“More like spoiling her.”

He tugged me hard, making me fall into the warmth of his chest. His heart beat steady and strong. Fingertips brushed along my jaw as the words went soft. “Don’t mind doing a little of that, either.”

I relinquished, and Sebastian helped me into the soft leather of the front seat, ambled around the front, hopped into the driver’s seat, and started the car.

We followed the SUV to the club Ash had arranged for Sebastian’s party, back when Sebastian thought it was just going to be him and the guys and a few of their friends out for a night on the town.

A kaleidoscope of lights blazed from the strip. Every casino and hotel was lit up like a torch that promised gratification found in no other place than this city. The top was down and the air was cool, and my heart beat a thunder of contentment in my chest. One of my hands was secured on Sebastian’s thigh, the other weaving through the rushing air where my arm was draped over the windowsill.

Ten minutes later, we pulled up to the valet right behind the Escalade, and Sebastian ran around and helped me out. He kept his hand in mine, his head lifted without the reservation he typically wore around the media, as a volley of camera flashes erupted the second we stepped into view.

A red rope held back a line of partygoers dressed to impress, hopeful to make it inside. A few of them called out for
Sunder
as the band strode right toward the entrance. Some singled out Sebastian, calling his name to grab his attention, as they lifted their phones and snagged pictures. He smiled in their direction—the man all happiness and excitement—without an ounce of bristling hostility that normally accompanied being in the public eye.

And I realized sometimes love soothes some of that anger away.

I clung to his side. The force of my smile, this joy inside me, was more than I could understand.

“Delaney Rhoads,” someone shouted from the line.

On instinct, my eyes flashed that direction, not sure what to do. Whether I should run or hide or lift my chin in pride the same way Sebastian seemed to do.

Sebastian hugged me a little tighter, quiet support, voice casual when he called out, “Her name’s Shea, man. Don’t forget it.”

Someone laughed and hollered, “Shea,” and I just smiled and offered a timid wave, allowing Sebastian to lead me through the entrance of the overflowing club.

Inside, it was darker than night yet brighter than day, bodies lit up like silhouettes in the strobes of light. Professional dancers were suspended from the high cathedral ceiling in cages as the crowd raved below, coves of booths and tables tucked out of sight around the dance floor.

Led upstairs to a private room, we were seated on plush sofas. A myriad of lights glowed from the mirrored ceilings and glass-paned walls, giving us an unobstructed view of the writhing dance floor below.

Sebastian was quick to pull me down beside him, and I curled into his side as he fastened an arm around my shoulders.

More of Sebastian’s friends piled in, some who I’d met at the show, others completely unfamiliar, arms draped around girls wearing next to nothing as they filtered in to wish Sebastian Happy Birthday.

But none were as eager to get the party started as Ash.

He ordered a round of shots for everyone, and the two cocktail waitresses assigned to our party delivered them a couple minutes later.

Ash stood and lifted his glass. “I do believe it’s time for a toast.”

Sebastian muttered, “Uh, oh.”

A round of hoots went up, and everyone lifted their tiny glasses of tequila rimmed in salt and garnished with wedges of lime.

I followed suit, smiling up at Sebastian.

Playful eyes glinted down at me.

“We all know I’ve been putting up with your sorry ass for a long time now…” Ash began his toast in a tone that sounded regretful, but by the smirk showing up on every line on his face, everyone knew it was anything but. “Years just keep flyin’ by and you keep getting’ older and uglier while I somehow manage to maintain all my boyish good looks. No surprise there, right?” he offered while he raised his arms out to the sides in that cocky way, nodding his head around the room as he tried to get everyone to agree with him.

Laughter rolled.

Sebastian just chuckled quietly and rubbed his palm over his mouth, amusement clear as he let his friend razz him the way he always did.

No harm given.

None taken.

While he continued to gloat, something genuine edged the creases at the corners of Ash’s eyes. “We’ve been through some really horrific times, man…some really fuckin’ good ones, too. And my hope is those good ones just keep coming and coming, because I don’t know of anyone in this world who deserves them more than you. Happy Birthday, Baz.”

They shared a silent moment before Ash raised his glass higher and toward Sebastian.

“To Sebastian.” A racket of voices lifted. “Happy Birthday.”

Shots were downed.

All except for Sebastian’s and mine. Because he turned the intensity of those eyes to my face, passing the moment Ash and he had shared on to me. I felt drawn, and I shifted in the same second Sebastian was turning me, urging me forward.

I straddled his lap.

I didn’t care there were a bunch of people here I didn’t know, who didn’t know me. Didn’t care about the women who were probably thirsting for my man, thinking I was just another passing craze, a fling or a fuck or whatever they wanted to believe me to be.

When the truth was, I was his.

Sebastian glanced his thumb over my bottom lip, eyes trailing the action, before he took a wedge of lime and ran it over the same spot.

I could feel the blood rush to plump my lip.

He then ran it over the top, the sensitive skin tingling with the touch, wet by the trickle of juice.

The scent of citrus filled my nostrils.

I sucked in a shaky breath, and he lifted the shot glass to my mouth, the taste of salt hitting my tongue right before the tequila followed it.

Sebastian leaned forward to gather his own taste. His tongue was soft as it rimmed my lips, before it softly slipped inside.

Savoring.

Tempting.

Teasing.

A promise of what was to come.

I wrapped my arms around his head while he kissed me and I whispered, “Happy Birthday.”

“Best birthday ever,” he whispered back.

The atmosphere was easy, carefree, and Sebastian refused to let me off his lap as he talked with those who’d come to help him celebrate.

The mood became elevated as more drinks were tossed back. Ash and Lyrik let go, the way they so often did at
Charlie’s
, joking around, living their lives on their terms.

Somehow they’d managed to create their own dance floor upstairs in our private room, people coming and going as more and more unfamiliar, star-struck faces appeared.

I could only assume most of them were willing women they’d raided from downstairs.

“Dance with me.” Sebastian’s smooth words licked through me like flames. Unlike when he’d uttered them to me that night at
Charlie’s
. The night I’d worried this hope was slipping away. Now, none of the sadness or fear held me.

I should have known better, then.

Should have known this was real.

Unstoppable.

Unbreakable.

Sebastian helped me off his lap, and pushed to his feet. That strange, intense energy brimmed to life as he gazed down at me. He said nothing as he wove his fingers through mine. He took me by all kinds of sweet surprise when he didn’t lead me into the mix of his friends in the private room. Instead, he led me slowly down the stairs to the main floor of the club.

With each step, I could feel the rate of my pulse increase, the boom, boom, boom of my heart escalate as he led me into the manic fray that thrummed with the electric beat.

Sebastian’s movements were slow. Intentional. Sensual and sexual, causing stuttered breaths to gasp from between my lips when he aligned us front to front. His heat, his heart, and his eyes upon me, shutting out the rest of the world, while he wrapped me up and lifted me out of it.

His hands slid down my back, cupping my ass before he ran them down the outside of my thighs, our own thrumming beat swirling around us. Our bodies moved in sync. In the key we always struck. Rough and desperate and needy.

He kissed me and kissed me and kissed me while one song transitioned from one to another and then another.

Until I was breathless, hot and wet, and sure I couldn’t take a second more.

“Let’s get out of here,” he finally murmured at my mouth.

“God, yes.”

A chuckle rolled from his tongue, and he was suddenly striding through the crowd, my hand in his as I struggled to keep up with a man who was most definitely on a mission.

I giggled and clutched him a little tighter, more than ready to go along for the ride.

He gave the valet the slip for the car, and went right back to kissing me while we waited, neither of us concerned about the cameras or gawking eyes.

Because none of that mattered except for this incendiary moment.

When the car came to a stop in front of us, Sebastian handed out another one of his outrageous tips, snatched the keys, and led me to the passenger side. He helped me in, leaning in to grab another kiss.

Lust and love fought for dominance in his expression when he tore himself away, and he slammed my door shut and ran around to his side. I didn’t hesitate to shift in my seat, my hand going to the flat, rigid planes of his abdomen as he shifted hard, tires squealing as he took to the street. I kissed at his neck and teased at his ear, fingers toying with the waistband of his jeans, while he groaned and tried to focus on the road.

“You tryin’ to kill me, Shea?”

I gasped when the car jerked and Sebastian made a sudden, sharp turn, and then another. He screeched to a stop on a deserted side street.

A fog of lust clouded my mind as I was yanked back onto his lap, my knees on either side of his legs, his needy cock grinding at the seam of my cut-off shorts as his mouth overtook mine.

Oh. God.

I moaned, fingers digging into his shoulders.

I arched up and pressed my breasts to his chest. They ached with just a glimmer of the need throbbing between my thighs.

Hot hands gripped the outside of my hips, forcing me back down on his dick that strained from his jeans.

I might have been on top, but he was definitely in control.

“Fuck, baby…what have you done to me…what have you
done
to me? Dying to be inside you. Have to feel you. Need you so bad.”

“You have me.”

He palmed my ass, hands running up my sides as he lifted me higher, his head rocking back as he moved and grasped the back of my head, forcing it down as he continued that frenzied assault of tongue, teeth, and mouth.

“Need you forever. Need you wearing my name and showing off my ring.” It was all a slur of desperation.

Shock sifted through me, and I froze as what he said penetrated.

I edged back a fraction, still holding onto his shoulders.

It felt as if the world were trembling around me when I took the chance to peer down at him.

He met my gaze.

Raw and severe and honest.