The Man Without Rules (2 page)

The husband slid from beneath her and she made a dissatisfied sound deep in her throat which her husband silenced with a ravaging kiss. Sebastian watched, transfixed. Sex held no emotion for him, but these two sure did show him a thing or two of how it could be. He enjoyed their sensuality, the way they responded to each other and knew what the other needed.

The husband pulled away and gave a little shove. Sebastian met his eyes and knew what he wanted. Without pulling out of the delightful woman pressed against his naked body, he sat back and
laid
down, pulling her on top of him. His hands smoothed her dewy skin and he kneaded one breast. She sighed next to his ear.

"Catch your breath," he said softly. "Ride it out."

Her heart gave an extra little flutter. So she liked Englishmen. He
smiled,
glad he'd chosen to take this little foray.

The husband was above her now and he inserted himself into her once again. Though Sebastian got no rise out of being with another man, Mariss did. Her breath came in pants as he thrust in and out of her.

Sebastian pushed her up so he could rise up on one arm for a bit of leverage. The husband hugged her to him, though Sebastian kept one hand on her hip. He liked the way her soft skin felt. He pumped his hips against her at an anti-rhythm to the husband. Mariss reached her left hand up to caress the husband's face and the ample diamonds on her ring finger glowed in the black-lighting.

Sebastian closed his eyes. As his arousal built, for once he didn't think it was the simple act of sex. Attraction was a given. He seldom fucked women he wasn't attracted to. But there was something different about this woman - the way she smelled, the way she felt, the sounds she made. Whatever it was, it worked for him. She was the kind of woman he could keep around for a long time. He might not even grow bored of her.

No, he might not grow bored of her, but she may grow bored of him. It was almost inevitable. He wasn't a tender man, nor did he like to be monogamous. He was sure that was something they could work around eventually, given her current position between him and her husband.

He could convince her. He convinced them all that they wanted him, because, in some way, they all did. So, of that part he had no doubt. It was convincing her to stay that might prove the problem.

Sebastian bit into Mariss' neck. She cried out, a sound of pleasure and pain that pushed the depressing thoughts away. She fell forward against her husband and bit into his shoulder to muffle her moans as she came again.

She was so easy. Sebastian thrust into her, felt the husband reach his end, and had a moment to wonder if they were going to kick him out now that they'd gotten what they came for. The husband cleaned himself up, then sat back to watch.

Sebastian hid his smirk on Mariss' shoulder. He pressed his lips to her sweet skin and breathed her in. Her scent was
heady,
her sighs and moans erotic in a way that he hadn't known in a long time. Her hair brushed against his face and neck and tickled a little. He shivered and she returned the motion. Her body quaked against his as she reached another climax.

She was getting tired. He liked that. Running his tongue along her shoulder, up her neck, along her jaw, he tasted the salt of her skin and immediately found his release. Three more good thrusts and he pulled out, gently laying her body next to the husband.

Gathering his clothes from the floor, Sebastian took his leave so they could have time alone. He wasn't a heartless man, nor was he thoughtless. He cleaned up in the bathroom and put his clothes back on. Hellena was waiting for him outside the door.

"You'll be at my house tomorrow morning at seven," he told her without preamble.

"Yes," she answered. Her brow was furrowed with worry, but she said nothing to him and that was the way he preferred it.

Sebastian left the club, sated.

The Red Wife

Six months of research culminated in this day, when Sebastian would finally see Mariss Red once more. It was an extraordinarily lovely day to do a shoot at the London Library. He walked across the floor to relieve the strange fluttering in his stomach.

The camera crew arrived a few moments later. Sebastian turned to the woman on his right and demanded, "I need a bottle of water right away."

She blinked up at him, an irritated but polite smile on her face, and said, "Sure. I'll get that for you.
Right away."

Startled, Sebastian chuckled into Mariss' pretty brown eyes and gave her a once over. The grey scarf and blouse did nothing but enhance her beauty. Tight, black skinny jeans accentuated already wide hips, but the thing he found most mesmerizing were her burgundy, knee-high boots. With a heel of at least three and a half inches, she was still nowhere near his height of six foot three.

Sebastian let his eyes take her in, pulling his lip between his teeth. Not one to apologize, ever, for any reason, he smiled and said, "I'll appreciate that." He stuck his hands in his pockets and heard her indignant huff as she turned.

Oh, yes,
he thought.
Get riled up
.

He liked his women furious and cussing. Call it what you want, they fucked better when they were pissed.

Sebastian was taken to a green room and given a chair so his hair and makeup artists could get at his face.

"Ah," he said happily.
"Mariska and Elise, my two favorite women."

"Hello, Bastian," Mariska grinned.

Elise smiled, but it lacked luster.

"What's wrong, El?" he asked the blonde. Gently, he took her by the wrist and pulled her into his lap. "Talk to me, beautiful."

"You didn't call me back, Sebastian," she answered, frowning furiously.

"Did I say I would?" he asked, feigning shock.

"Yes. You said you would let me know when we could have dinner, but you never called."

Sebastian pouted and watched the woman sitting on his knee melt. "How do you suggest I remedy this situation?"

"You owe me dinner."

"I owe you dinner. I'll tell you
what,
we'll go to dinner tonight. Will that work for you?"

Elise nodded and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Bastian."

Sebastian let her go and she attacked his hair, running her fingers through it for a few moments before she began to style it. Mariska fitted him with a bib and started the makeup process.

A knock on the door a little while later sent Mariska to answer it.

"This is for Mr. Boa."

"Thank you."

Mariska handed him a bottle of water. "You asked for this?"

Sebastian laughed. Mariss had sent someone else with his water and it was warm. What a feisty wench.

"I did." He set the room temperature bottle on the counter, thought again, and opened it. He was actually quite thirsty.

After half an hour in hair and makeup, Sebastian was ushered into the library where the lights were set up and the photographer was ready to go.

"Allo, Bash!" the man said in a thick accent.

"Hello, Bernard," Sebastian greeted his old friend. Very few people got away with calling him Bash, and only women he'd slept with - most of them - called him Bastian. "How's the wife?"

"She's doin' well.
Asked about you the other day."

"Did she?" Sebastian chuckled, hands in his pockets, relaxed. Until he saw Mariss Red and her burgundy boots off to the side, attending. Something struck him as odd about it, but he ignored it for putting on his social airs.

"Ah, Bash, I know ya too well," Bernard said, giving him a sly look.

"What do you mean?"

"I know when you're putting on for a woman. Who is it this time, eh?" Bernard looked around and caught sight of Mariss, his eyes suddenly bugging from his face.
"No, not 'er."

"Bernard, I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about." He knew he couldn't bullshit the old man, but he didn't really care.

"She's married," Bernard said. "Besides, she's as big as you are. That's not a good idea. People love and value 'er work.
If you ruin what that woman 'as it could ruin you."

Sebastian frowned. Though the man was trying to talk sense into him, he was doing exactly the opposite. Now, more than ever, he wanted to know her inside and out. That was more than he could say about most women. Mariss Red was a challenge to be eliminated.

Perhaps eliminated was a harsh word. He certainly had no intentions to ruin her, nor was he interested in owning her fortune. But she had his attention, the one thing no one else did. That not only made her rare, but valuable and Sebastian cherished rare and valuable things.

The lights were hot. Sebastian had chosen to work the "Reading is Sexy" shoot because it was Mariss' newest large-scale campaign since he'd met her at the club. It came at the perfect time, just when he was ready to make his move.

When the camera's started clicking, he fell into the groove. All of his training was second nature by now. He turned, he moved, he looked, he blinked, he flashed his signature smile, he smoldered. Every now and then a woman would come and fix his hair or dust a shiny place with some powder.

"I can't take it anymore," a deep, agitated female voice said. A moment later, Mariss marched up to him. Her
stiletto's
beat a staccato rhythm as her hips swayed toward him. She reached out, her soft hand taking his in hers. "What the fuck is this?" she asked. Her eyes shot daggers into his and he frowned, confused.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. What is what? It's an iPad."

"Why do you have an iPad?"

He blinked,
then
chuckled. "Well, sweetheart, many people now-a-days carry books on these so they don't have to carry so many paper books around. It
can
hold-"

"Don't you dare patronize
me.
I know what an iPad is," she growled and it was infinitely sexy. The corners of Sebastian's mouth twitched as he fought the urge to laugh.

"I specifically said no iPad."

"Well, what's the difference," Sebastian asked, trying to diffuse the situation, "if we do half of the shoot without?"

Mariss shook her head. "I understand what you're asking, but it's not what I want. It's not the look I want. Now, half the shoot is blown and I'm going to have photos that I'll feel obligated to use because I've paid for your time."

Sebastian cocked his head to the side.
"Aw, now.
Don't say it like that." He winked and flashed his most charming grin. Mariss rolled her beautiful eyes. They reminded him of a brown zircon necklace of his mothers as they caught the light. "If you need to make up the shoot we can schedule that," he told her seriously. "I'll make time for you."

Sebastian chuckled at the disdainful look she gave him. Beneath it was a shadow of veiled desire.

"Thank you, Mr. Boa, but let's see what kind of shots we get in the library and go from there."

She walked away from him and he almost reached out after her. He'd have to play it cool with this one, reel her in nice and slow. She would have to think it was what she wanted. It had to be her idea.

Sebastian followed her into the next room, of the library. "Do you always attend engagements like this alone?"

Marissa nodded and explained, "It comes with the territory. I started out independent, so I guess I'll always be independent. People assume that because you choose to go that route you want to be a loner. I don't suppose it will ever change."

"You are the pessimist, aren't you?"

Mariss frowned at him, but shrugged her shoulders.

"Have you had lunch, Mrs. Red?" She looked up at him, surprise in her eyes. "I know who you are."

"Oh, so 'who I am' is supposed to bring you water?"

"That was a momentary lapse in judgement on my part." He turned his lips down. That was much too close to an apology for his liking. "I'd like to take you to lunch."

Mariss bristled. "We need to get through this shoot."

"Yes, and we will, but it's well past lunch time and as far as I could see there aren't many refreshments."

"The caterer cancelled this morning."

"You're just having a bad day all around, then."

"They need to get in here and start setting up," Mariss snapped as she turned. Whatever she was holding in her hand fell and she knelt to pick it up. Her ass was to him and Sebastian took the moment to appreciate it before she stood. "Oh."

Mariss pressed her hand to her head and reached out to him. Sebastian took her arm in concern.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm going to pass out."

Sebastian had just enough time to clutch Mariss around the waist before her knees gave out and she fell against him, unconscious. He lifted her, surprised by how little she weighed.

"Mariska!
Bring me some orange juice and some water."

Sebastian set Mariss in a chair and knelt beside her with her body propped against his chest.

"Mariss," he stroked her cheek gently. "Wake up."

Mariss moaned, but didn't move. The sound so reminded him of that night six months ago that Sebastian felt himself starting to be aroused, and he shook his head at himself.

Mariska came running. "Here you go, Bash- Oh my god! What happened?"

"I don't think she's eaten today." He twisted the cap and looked at the label.

"The machine only had apple juice," Mariska said hurriedly.

"This is fine." He tossed the cap on the floor and tapped Mariss' cheek a few times. "Mariss, I'm going to give you some apple juice. Try to drink it, okay?"

Mariss' eyes opened a little, but they were unfocused. Her face was pale and grey and, for the first time, Sebastian realized how gaunt she looked.

"Here, drink." Sebastian held the bottle to her lips and let some pour into her mouth. Slowly, he fed her a fourth of the bottle before her eyes focused on his. "There you are. Okay?"

Mariss nodded. "Sorry."

"For what?"
Sebastian asked. "I told you to eat, but you put me off.
Ready for lunch now?"

She shook her head.

"If they stay here and set up, will you let me take you to get some food?" Mariss nodded and he smiled triumphantly.

"What are we supposed to eat, Bastian?" Elise complained.

"I'll bring you something back." With that attitude, it might just be dinner rolls.

Sebastian helped Mariss to her feet, but made sure to keep a tight arm around her waist. She was unsteady on her feet and a few times he thought she might faint again, but he got her out of the building and to the nearest restaurant that just so happened to be five-star rated. He smiled to himself and helped Mariss inside.

"We need a table, quickly," he told the host. "My friend here is faint with starvation."

Sebastian felt her irritation like it was a physical thing. It radiated through his arm and into his chest and he chuckled.

"Do you have a reservation, Mr. Boa?"

"No, I do not." He gave the man a look that suggested that shouldn't be a problem and the host scurried off to find an empty table for two.

Sebastian leaned to see Mariss' face. She was still pale and looked like she was flagging.

"Still with me there, Red?"
She frowned at him, confusion written all over her face. "Can I at least get a chair, please?" Sebastian called as his irritation became palpable. The little host came rushing back.

"Why didn't you just leave me and bring me something to eat?" Mariss asked. Her voice was so weak that Sebastian wondered if that might have been the best idea.

"I wanted to take you to lunch, Mrs. Red."

"I have a table for you," the host gasped. "I'm sorry. Please, come this way."

Sebastian followed the short, chubby man's bobbing backside as they hurried through the restaurant to a table in the back. He chose not to complain about the hidden seating, but he usually preferred an area more open. Call him vain, but he liked to be seen and he certainly wanted to be seen with Mariss.

There was already a basket of bread on the table when they sat down.

"Given her pallor, I went ahead and had rolls brought out."

"Thank you." Sebastian set Mariss against the wall and, uncomfortably, put his back to the room. "Eat," he said, handing her a roll.

Mariss took an obedient bite, then another and another. Before long the roll was gone and she'd replaced it with one more. Slowly, her color began to come back.

"That's better," Sebastian said as her cheeks pinked a bit. "You gave me a fright."

"I wasn't under the impression you cared."

"I take care of my women," he replied, appalled at her insinuation.