The Man Without Rules (6 page)

Sebastian grinned and flopped down beside her, sticking his fingers in his mouth. He released Hellena's wrists and rubbed them gently to regain circulation.

Hellena turned her face into his stomach, and they rested for a bit. After the last few long weeks, it was nice to have her close by. As far as friends went, she was more understanding of his job and lifestyle than most.

"Are you going to reschedule your shoot?"

"Mm hm."
Sebastian kissed the top of her head and tapped her arm. Hellena rolled away so he could go into the bathroom to rid himself of the condom. He ran warm water in the sink and wet a washcloth so he could rinse off.

"I think I might have heard something about Mariss Red losing a baby," Hellena called.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, but I can't remember where I heard it. That's very sad. I knew that they were trying."

So did Sebastian. They hadn't kept it a secret. He wondered if he should send her a card. He should have done
that
three weeks ago.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Hellena asked.

"I have a meeting with
Red Wife Media Group
." In the bedroom, Sebastian found some sweat pants and put them on.

Hellena sat up in the bed, her dark eyes searching his. Sebastian knew she was waiting for him to explain, but he let her stare. After some time, she got off the bed and went to the bathroom. The sink ran while he checked his messages.

"You put Artemis in her terrarium?"

"Yes." The water shut off and Hellena reappeared. "Have you been researching her?" She wiggled into her jeans.

"I've learned what I needed to know," he answered casually. "If I'm going to be working with her, then I need to know about her and her company."

Hellena stared at him. "I knew it. I knew it was a bad idea for you to fulfill their fantasy at the club. You're infatuated with her."

Irritated by her tone, Sebastian frowned. "I'm not infatuated with anyone, Hellena. I simply have a new project that I am collaborating on."

"Call it what you want, Sebastian, but you and I both know where this is leading."

"I beg your pardon? And where is this leading?"

"When she refuses you, what then?" she asked. "I've heard things about this woman. She doesn't stray."

Sebastian frowned. "Why don't you just say what's on your mind, Hellena? Stop dancing around the subject."

"I don't want you messing with her. I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why?"

"She's a good woman," Hellena blurted.

"Ah. And she's too good for me."

"That's not what I meant, but since you asked, yes. She's too good for you, because she isn't going to leave her husband for you. She certainly won't be counted among your list of lovers."

"Hellena," he sighed, trying to keep his composure. "It's no secret that you want me all to yourself. I know you have feelings for me."

"This is nothing to do with that, Sebastian!" Her voice rose to a level that he wasn't about to abide.

"That's enough. If you can't control yourself, you can leave."

Hellena gave him wide eyes. "It's more serious than I thought. Sebastian, please listen to me. She is not good for you."

"You need to go." Sebastian stepped away from her and left the room, unsure of when the woman had become so unhinged. Clearly, her feelings for him were clouding her judgment. He waited for the front door to close before he made a phone call.

"Yes, Mr. Boa," his assistant, Juliet said after three rings.

"Are our plans finalized for tomorrow?"

"Yes, sir.
Your meeting with The Red Wife Media Group is scheduled for ten thirty and your dinner appointment has confirmed for six thirty. Will I be accompanying you tomorrow?"

"To the meeting, yes, Juliet.
I will attend dinner alone."

"Yes, sir.
I'll have the car ready to pick you up at ten."

"Thank you, Jules."

"See you in the morning, Mr. Boa."

Illumination

Sebastian took the elevator to the twelfth floor headquarters of
The Red Wife Media Group
, where Mariss ran her business. Six years ago, she'd started out as an independent publishing company, called
Red Wife Publishing
, with her own surprisingly impressive novels. He'd read a few over the last months and enjoyed them immensely, though they weren't really his taste. Within a year, she had one other author whom she helped achieve success, as well as her own, and they really pushed things to the top when they turned their novels into web shows.

Next to him, Juliet fidgeted with her phone, confirming some appearances and canceling others. When the elevator doors opened, he was high strung from watching her nervous movements and waiting so long to see Mariss again.

The elevators opened across from a wide open room. Desks were strewn haphazardly throughout with a TV hanging above each. The walls were each a different, bright color, all visible through the glass walls. Sebastian saw Mariss at the first desk, intent on the computer in front of her. He assumed her to be writing as it looked like her fingers were flying furiously. Her brow was slightly furrowed with an intense look in her eyes. And then it faded into amusement. He'd watch her write all day if he could.

"I'll get our badges." Juliet's voice brought him around and he looked at her. She looked from him to Mariss and back,
then
hurried off to the front desk. "I'm here to get two guest badges for myself and Mr. Boa," he heard her say softly.

Sebastian gripped the cool, stainless steel door handle and walked into the room. There were six other women besides Mariss and they all looked up. Each of their desks, though all turned at a different angle so no one was facing the same direction, had a clear line of sight to the door. Six sets of eyes roved his lean, built body. Mariss simply looked up, blinked at him in irritation, and looked back down.

"Good morning, Mr. Boa."

"Good Morning, Mrs. Red." He tried for the professional, polite approach. "How are you feeling? I trust you've eaten."

A ghost of a smile played across her full lips. "Yes, I had a wonderful breakfast with my coworkers this morning. Thank you. They are as eager to make sure I stay healthy as you seem to be."

"Ah. That's good then."

"If you'd like to take a seat, we have a bit more work to do and an illumination meeting before we meet with the others."

"I'll stand, thank you. Lovely offices you have here." It was very feminine - that didn't surprise him - and very modern. Each TV screen played something different.

Mariss' computer buzzed and she stopped typing to click. Her eyes stared at her screen for a moment,
then
she laughed out loud. It was so unexpected that he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Inter-office humor," she told him.

"Perhaps you could let me in on the joke."

Someone snorted on the other side of the room. Sebastian looked to see who it was, but he couldn't tell.

"That one isn't for you."

"It was about me, am I right? I think I ought to be allowed to see it."

Mariss' right eye twitched. She took a deep breath and wet her sweet lips.
"Alright.
Come look."

She brought the image up for him to see. It was of a young, attractive man giving a 'you know you want me' me look.

"Apparently, this is how you looked at me when you walked in." She giggled. He liked the sound.

"You're welcome."

A woman with short, unnaturally red hair walked by and wagged her eyebrows at him. Out of pure habit, Sebastian smiled and winked back. Her grin widened.

"That's Brit.
Our gif-giver.
She likens everything that is said and done to a hilarious gif like this one."

"I wager that makes for a humorous work day."

"You have no idea." Mariss stood and grabbed a few files from her desk. "Time for the illumination meeting," she called. "Will you be joining us, Mr. Boa?"

"I think you could call me Sebastian, Mrs. Red. And I'd love to join you. I've never been part of an illumination meeting."

"Sure you have. You just don't know it." She walked to the glass door in stockinged feet and pushed it open. Sebastian almost lost his nuts right there. There was something so classical and elegantly sexy about a woman who wore stockings.

"Where are your shoes?" he asked.

"Under my desk.
We're creative types. We keep it pretty casual, even though I require office attire."

Mariss opened a door into a room with a queen-sized bed made up in bright swirling colors. Though this room had walls on either side, the front wall was glass, just like the office.

"What's this?" Sebastian eyed the bed with confusion.

"It's the illumination room.
Where we have our meetings.
You can have a seat in that chair there in the corner."

"Why do you have a bed?" he asked, somewhat aroused.

"Because it's comfortable and this is an office full of women who like to be comfortable." She settled at the head of the bed, her back against the wall and her knees bent so she wouldn't flash him in her black pencil skirt.

"Have you ever had sex here?" It was the first thought that came to mind and completely inappropriate, but he couldn't help himself. Mariss blinked at him, her shock plain in her wide eyes. "That's probably the first thing I would do if there was a bed in my office building." He watched her pupils dilate. "I'd like to have sex with you here. Do you remember what it was like that
night
?"

Her face went slack, her lips parted, and her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink. Of course, that was the moment her employees chose to walk in. Sebastian watched her dip her head to hide the desire the memories brought to her eyes.

"I guess I should have made introductions before," Mariss said as everyone got settled. "You met Brit. She's a bit brash. She's also my resident tech geek and cover artist. She does most of the visual work for us. She's practically a genius."

"I have friends we outsource for the big projects," Brit said, deflecting some of the attention. "Mare, he's totally macking on you."

"Yes, and I'm happily married." Mariss sent him a pointed gaze, which he ignored, before she went on. "Stacia is in charge of finances. She's so good with numbers it makes my head spin. Eloisa and Bennett are my editors. They are insanely awesome." She smiled at two women who looked almost identical. "Janette and Amanda are my R&D and quality control section."

"And you run your business with seven people?" Sebastian couldn't keep the awe out of his voice.

"Yes. As I tried to explain to you before, being independent means that my people come and go. I know that any day Brit could leave me for a better paying gig. I'd kill her and stuff her beneath the floorboards before I let her go, but I have no delusions about my company. I am the only constant."

"I've been with you from the beginning, babes," Brit told her, casting Mariss a glance that could only be described as sisterly.

"Thanks. You're my number one bitch."

"Better be."

Sebastian noted how Mariss deflected the uncomfortable, tender moment with a joke. Brit didn't seem to mind and Mariss moved on.

"Wheeza and
B,
how are those new pieces working out that I sent you?"

"I love the one you sent me," one of the identical women said. Sebastian wasn't sure if Eloisa or Bennet was speaking. Whichever she was, her Latina accent was thick and lovely. She kept throwing him nervous little glances.
Another fangirl.
"The story arc is fantastic and I love the character development, but oh my god, they need to learn how to spell. Or at least figure out how to work the spell checker."

Mariss laughed. He loved the sound of it. It was real and heart-felt. She straightened her legs, making sure to keep them crossed at the ankle.

"Is it that bad?" she asked.

"Oh, my god!
She always uses the wrong version of your. She substitutes y-o-u-r for y-o-u-'-r-e, and vice versa. If she was here I would slap her and shout 'What is wrong with you? Use the spell checker!' And she can't spell superfluous, but she keeps using it. I don't even think she knows what it means. When you're fighting dragons, a sword is not superfluous. That's just my opinion, but I think it's the right one."

Sebastian chuckled, and it brought every eye around to stare at him. "I'm sorry. I would have to agree with you. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"I'm Eloisa. Bennett has the longer hair. Yes, we're twins, okay?" She held up her right hand and rolled her eyes.

"I had assumed. You have a lovely voice."

"Thank you!" Eloisa's mood changed from indignant to
pleased
. "Here in America everyone falls for the accent." She beamed at him.

"What about you, Bennett?" Mariss asked, pushing the meeting forward. She gave him a look that said he needed to stop talking. Sebastian smirked.

Bennet shook her head. "It's going to need some work. I've already contacted the author about possible options, but they don't want to budge. This one might not be worth it."

"Do I need to talk to them?"

Mariss' voice became diplomatic. Sebastian enjoyed watching her in action. Reading about her was one thing, but seeing how she handled herself and took control in real-life situations was erotic.

"That might be a good idea."

Mariss made a note on her clipboard. "I'll give them a call tomorrow. Stacia, give it to me straight. How's the money?" She set her face in a grimace, waiting for bad news.

"We are up in sales by three percent. Not much, but we are also down in spending by the same margin."

"Nice."

Sebastian watched a smile brighten her features. She was a completely different woman here with her peers and coworkers than she was with him. The dynamic in this office was comfortable and very feminine. He had a mind to fire all the men who worked for him and hire on all women. Or maybe he'd just create a new department.

Of course, then it would spiral into a support group for 'women scorned' who'd slept with him and not received 'the treatment'.
Whatever that was.
Hellena might even head it up, and then where would he be?

"Sebastian."

Mariss' voice brought him out of his daymare. "Yes?"

"Thinking hard over there?"

"Always hard, Mrs. Red."
He hadn't meant it to be so suggestive, not this time, but he grinned anyway.

"Dios mio."
Eloisa fanned her face with a hand.
"Si?"

The other ladies snickered. Not Mariss. She stared at him with hard, irritated eyes.

"Si."
Sebastian winked at Eloisa and she flailed.

"Oh, my god.
This is too much.
Too much in this little office."

Sebastian glanced at Mariss who now looked to be amused. "You ought to know better than that by now, Red."

Mariss nodded. "You're right. From now on I'll screen what I say before I say it out loud."

Sebastian inclined his head. "If you think that best." He certainly hoped she wouldn't. He liked seeing her flustered. Mariss' voice was soft as she continued with the meeting. Ten minutes later, they slid off the bed and disappeared.

"Your turn," Mariss said, waiting for him by the door.

"Finally."
He followed her out, but instead of turning right to go back to the office with the other women, she turned left and continued down the hall.

"I can give you the tour after our meeting if you like, Sebastian."

"I like it when you say my name."

"I like it when you shut up."

He chuckled. "You flatter me."

"How?
I was purposefully trying to be rude." Mariss pulled the door open to a board room. Once again, the outer wall was glass. A long table ran the length of the room with at least twelve chairs tucked around it.

"Yes, I know. It's amusing. I didn't get where I am today by letting people get under my skin." She turned, as the doors closed and he invaded her personal space. "Do I get under your skin, Red?"

She blinked at him. Her eyes were so soft. The way she looked up at him so frightened made him frown. Sebastian smoothed his thumb between her eyes where worry lines nestled.

"Why are you afraid of me?"

"I'm married." Her voice came out a hoarse whisper so she cleared her throat and said again, "I'm married."

"Yes, I know. You were also married the night that-"

"Brit!"

Mariss jumped to cut him off when the door opened. She set her papers down on the table and hooked arms with her friend, dragging her from the room. Sebastian followed at a distance. If she kept running from him, he was going to develop a complex.