Her lips throbbed, and she lifted a trembling hand to her mouth to capture the memory of his possessive kiss. “You are mine now, Celine, and it’s time I claimed what is mine.” And oh, how she wanted to blindly follow him to the bedroom and let him, but nothing between them was simple.“Sebastian.” was all she could get past the emotions. He kissed her tears and gently led her to sit on the couch, where he held her, stroked her, and told her it would be okay.When the tears finally ceased, she shyly smiled at him, embarrassed because she had cried. “Let’s talk,” Sebastian said, letting her go so he could face her.They were silent for a spell, and she waited quietly for him, too afraid to speak. He was so angry when he found out about the contract cancellation. She knew she hurt him, and she didn’t know how to undo his pain or how to proceed.“The day you came to me about a contract marriage, I would have said yes to anything if it meant I could be with you again.” He gave her a wry sm
Darkness peaked between his lowered lids, and his look of desire mirrored hers. “You are exquisite, Celine. Perfection.” He ghosted his hands over her breasts, driving her crazy. She tried to push her heavy breasts into his hands, but he withdrew them and hummed. “Do you want me to touch you, Kitten?”She whispered urgently, “Yes.” His hands twitched to do just that, but he governed himself, and she whimpered. “Please. I want you to touch me.”“You want me to suck and bite your pretty nipples?” he growled out hoarsely, and she nibbled her bottom lip and nodded. “Come here.” He patted his lap, and she hurried to straddle him. He groaned when she lowered her dripping sex onto his rock-hard erection and grabbed her hips, grinding into her heat.Her breasts bobbed with the motion, and he said, “God baby, your tits are so fucking pretty.” He sucked one nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue, and cupped the other with his hands, feeling its weight and rubbing her nipple with his thumb
The sun glared over the cityscape, evaporating off the pavement in waves, cooking moist New Yorkers like dumplings in a bamboo steam cooker. Celine had never spent a summer in the city. Summer was the busy season in the Hamptons, and she decided that she would rather spend the sunny season working her fingers to the bone by the sea rather than spending it in decadent idleness as one of the “one percent” in the sauna of Manhattan.Startling her from her musings, Sebastian spoke, “Move in with me.”Celine turned from the view of the city from Sebastian’s corner office, tilting her head, “Excuse me?”, she asked dreamily.He raised an eyebrow and purred, “I could get used to looking up and seeing this view every minute of the day. Move in with me.”, Sebastian said.“I thought that was a given?” she said, smiling at him. He was so cute when he was demanding. Surprised, she wondered when his arrogance had become cute. She was so smitten that his bad traits had somehow become adorable. She h
It was the fifth boutique, and Celine swore it was their last. But she was not in charge of selecting the clothing they would be wearing; Kim was. Celine had already refused to wear the sheer 1920s flapper-style dress Kim had picked out for her. She had boundaries, one of which was becoming a member of the ‘Naked Barely-There.’ Club. Kim, on the other hand, had no such qualms and had purchased a sheer black dress that revealed her naked perfect breasts. Celine was afraid she would need to carry a stun gun to keep the men off her.“You need to be lascivious. We need to grab the attention of everyone when we walk into a room.”, Kim said, handing Celine a dress that was not sheer. And it looked like it had enough fabric to cover her.“You have that part taken care of.”, Celine said, referring to Kim’s see-through dress. Kim shooed her in the direction of the changing room.Dutifully, Celine obeyed but soon became frustrated with trying to figure out the complex puzzle of cloth and straps
She would have recognized his scent anywhere, so she wasn’t scared when Sebastian grabbed her from behind. Vlad, on the other hand, didn’t know who Sebastian was and exploded into action, ripping Celine out of Sebastian’s arms and twisting Sebastian into a submission hold within seconds.“Vlad, no. VLAD.” People ran and screamed around her. Security appeared and began clearing a circle. Sebastian struggled, his face red. He didn’t look like he could breathe. Celine begged Vlad to let Sebastian go, but he didn’t listen to her. She tried hitting him, but it was like hitting a brick wall.Before she could think about it, she leaped onto Vlad’s back and screamed into his ear. “Let him go. That is my fiancé.” Vlad let Sebastian drop, and Sebastian began to cough. Desperate to get to Sebastian, Celine tried to scrabble off Vlad’s back, but Vlad did some twisty thing with his body, and he had her dangling, like a kitten, in front of him. Green eyes, so like her own, looked quizzically at her
The elevator dinged, and yet another person squeezed into the packed elevator. “Is anybody getting out?” asked a hopeful-sounding voice. Celine almost laughed out loud. The guy was only echoing what they were all thinking. There were too many people on this elevator, and it was stifling. But nobody got out, and the shiny chrome doors closed, crushing their dreams of personal space.“Something smells good.”, the same voice commented. A few passengers laughed at that. Celine blushed. They were smelling the homemade lunch she had made for Sebastian. Lately, he had been working long hours, coming home late and leaving early, and she missed him. She checked with Kevin, and he told her Sebastian had a few minutes free, so she begged him not to schedule anything. Now, she was on an elevator with some home-cooked love, ready to surprise him.Only a few people got off with her on the executive floor, and she groaned when she saw Yuri was one of them. He was going to talk to her. She just knew
The micro-beaded silk draped down her body like a shimmering column, from the gown’s rose neckline to her perfectly manicured toes. Her sleek black hair was bound in a classic French twist, and her makeup was effortless. She looked elegant in her Oscar de la Renta gown, like she belonged to the world of the ultra-rich.Glancing in the mirror, she saw a woman whose beauty was otherworldly, and for the briefest of seconds, she saw herself as something ethereal and worth looking at. But then she blinked, disbelieving her eyes, and she was simply Celine again, all done up and dressed in a gown that cost beyond her comprehension. An artfully crafted deception, an imposter.She heard Sebastian enter their bedroom. He was impeccably dressed in all wool, velvet, and satiny sin. His grey eyes, like the mists that clung to the peaks of mountains, and his mouth reminded her of sensuous kisses and unbridled pleasure. They gazed at each other, and she knew he was drinking her in. Studying her, me
Tender feelings filled Celine’s chest as she watched Sebastian dancing with Amara. He gently maneuvered the tender youth around the dance floor carefully and thoughtfully, and Celine wondered where he had learned to be so loving and gentle with children. He certainly hadn’t learned from his parents. Seeing how giant Sebastian seemed compared to Amara made Celine laugh out loud. His massive hands dwarfed hers, and he seemed to swallow up her little body in his enormous arms when he picked her up and swung her around, dangling her several feet off the ground—Amara’s ringing laughter brought smiles to anyone within earshot.A sweaty Amara and Sebastian returned to their seats. Sebastian leaned into Celine and kissed her cheek. Surprised, she looked at him. He was beaming, and his gray eyes reminded Celine of the light in a moonlit landscape. He was happy, and the satisfaction of seeing him so joyful gave her a sense of contentment. Breaking their eye contact, Sebastian scanned the table,
Tender feelings filled Celine’s chest as she watched Sebastian dancing with Amara. He gently maneuvered the tender youth around the dance floor carefully and thoughtfully, and Celine wondered where he had learned to be so loving and gentle with children. He certainly hadn’t learned from his parents. Seeing how giant Sebastian seemed compared to Amara made Celine laugh out loud. His massive hands dwarfed hers, and he seemed to swallow up her little body in his enormous arms when he picked her up and swung her around, dangling her several feet off the ground—Amara’s ringing laughter brought smiles to anyone within earshot.A sweaty Amara and Sebastian returned to their seats. Sebastian leaned into Celine and kissed her cheek. Surprised, she looked at him. He was beaming, and his gray eyes reminded Celine of the light in a moonlit landscape. He was happy, and the satisfaction of seeing him so joyful gave her a sense of contentment. Breaking their eye contact, Sebastian scanned the table,
The micro-beaded silk draped down her body like a shimmering column, from the gown’s rose neckline to her perfectly manicured toes. Her sleek black hair was bound in a classic French twist, and her makeup was effortless. She looked elegant in her Oscar de la Renta gown, like she belonged to the world of the ultra-rich.Glancing in the mirror, she saw a woman whose beauty was otherworldly, and for the briefest of seconds, she saw herself as something ethereal and worth looking at. But then she blinked, disbelieving her eyes, and she was simply Celine again, all done up and dressed in a gown that cost beyond her comprehension. An artfully crafted deception, an imposter.She heard Sebastian enter their bedroom. He was impeccably dressed in all wool, velvet, and satiny sin. His grey eyes, like the mists that clung to the peaks of mountains, and his mouth reminded her of sensuous kisses and unbridled pleasure. They gazed at each other, and she knew he was drinking her in. Studying her, me
The elevator dinged, and yet another person squeezed into the packed elevator. “Is anybody getting out?” asked a hopeful-sounding voice. Celine almost laughed out loud. The guy was only echoing what they were all thinking. There were too many people on this elevator, and it was stifling. But nobody got out, and the shiny chrome doors closed, crushing their dreams of personal space.“Something smells good.”, the same voice commented. A few passengers laughed at that. Celine blushed. They were smelling the homemade lunch she had made for Sebastian. Lately, he had been working long hours, coming home late and leaving early, and she missed him. She checked with Kevin, and he told her Sebastian had a few minutes free, so she begged him not to schedule anything. Now, she was on an elevator with some home-cooked love, ready to surprise him.Only a few people got off with her on the executive floor, and she groaned when she saw Yuri was one of them. He was going to talk to her. She just knew
She would have recognized his scent anywhere, so she wasn’t scared when Sebastian grabbed her from behind. Vlad, on the other hand, didn’t know who Sebastian was and exploded into action, ripping Celine out of Sebastian’s arms and twisting Sebastian into a submission hold within seconds.“Vlad, no. VLAD.” People ran and screamed around her. Security appeared and began clearing a circle. Sebastian struggled, his face red. He didn’t look like he could breathe. Celine begged Vlad to let Sebastian go, but he didn’t listen to her. She tried hitting him, but it was like hitting a brick wall.Before she could think about it, she leaped onto Vlad’s back and screamed into his ear. “Let him go. That is my fiancé.” Vlad let Sebastian drop, and Sebastian began to cough. Desperate to get to Sebastian, Celine tried to scrabble off Vlad’s back, but Vlad did some twisty thing with his body, and he had her dangling, like a kitten, in front of him. Green eyes, so like her own, looked quizzically at her
It was the fifth boutique, and Celine swore it was their last. But she was not in charge of selecting the clothing they would be wearing; Kim was. Celine had already refused to wear the sheer 1920s flapper-style dress Kim had picked out for her. She had boundaries, one of which was becoming a member of the ‘Naked Barely-There.’ Club. Kim, on the other hand, had no such qualms and had purchased a sheer black dress that revealed her naked perfect breasts. Celine was afraid she would need to carry a stun gun to keep the men off her.“You need to be lascivious. We need to grab the attention of everyone when we walk into a room.”, Kim said, handing Celine a dress that was not sheer. And it looked like it had enough fabric to cover her.“You have that part taken care of.”, Celine said, referring to Kim’s see-through dress. Kim shooed her in the direction of the changing room.Dutifully, Celine obeyed but soon became frustrated with trying to figure out the complex puzzle of cloth and straps
The sun glared over the cityscape, evaporating off the pavement in waves, cooking moist New Yorkers like dumplings in a bamboo steam cooker. Celine had never spent a summer in the city. Summer was the busy season in the Hamptons, and she decided that she would rather spend the sunny season working her fingers to the bone by the sea rather than spending it in decadent idleness as one of the “one percent” in the sauna of Manhattan.Startling her from her musings, Sebastian spoke, “Move in with me.”Celine turned from the view of the city from Sebastian’s corner office, tilting her head, “Excuse me?”, she asked dreamily.He raised an eyebrow and purred, “I could get used to looking up and seeing this view every minute of the day. Move in with me.”, Sebastian said.“I thought that was a given?” she said, smiling at him. He was so cute when he was demanding. Surprised, she wondered when his arrogance had become cute. She was so smitten that his bad traits had somehow become adorable. She h
Darkness peaked between his lowered lids, and his look of desire mirrored hers. “You are exquisite, Celine. Perfection.” He ghosted his hands over her breasts, driving her crazy. She tried to push her heavy breasts into his hands, but he withdrew them and hummed. “Do you want me to touch you, Kitten?”She whispered urgently, “Yes.” His hands twitched to do just that, but he governed himself, and she whimpered. “Please. I want you to touch me.”“You want me to suck and bite your pretty nipples?” he growled out hoarsely, and she nibbled her bottom lip and nodded. “Come here.” He patted his lap, and she hurried to straddle him. He groaned when she lowered her dripping sex onto his rock-hard erection and grabbed her hips, grinding into her heat.Her breasts bobbed with the motion, and he said, “God baby, your tits are so fucking pretty.” He sucked one nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue, and cupped the other with his hands, feeling its weight and rubbing her nipple with his thumb
Her lips throbbed, and she lifted a trembling hand to her mouth to capture the memory of his possessive kiss. “You are mine now, Celine, and it’s time I claimed what is mine.” And oh, how she wanted to blindly follow him to the bedroom and let him, but nothing between them was simple.“Sebastian.” was all she could get past the emotions. He kissed her tears and gently led her to sit on the couch, where he held her, stroked her, and told her it would be okay.When the tears finally ceased, she shyly smiled at him, embarrassed because she had cried. “Let’s talk,” Sebastian said, letting her go so he could face her.They were silent for a spell, and she waited quietly for him, too afraid to speak. He was so angry when he found out about the contract cancellation. She knew she hurt him, and she didn’t know how to undo his pain or how to proceed.“The day you came to me about a contract marriage, I would have said yes to anything if it meant I could be with you again.” He gave her a wry sm
The door to Sebastian’s office was violently pulled open, and in strode a scowling, red-faced Sebastian with Kevin on his heels. He took one look at Celine sitting on the couch but did not stop until he got to his desk, where he splayed both hands on his desk and leaned forward. “What are you doing here?”Okay. The board meeting did not go well. She knew better than to respond to his snarky question and raised one eyebrow at Kevin, who mimicked a man hanging from a noose behind Sebastian’s back. Shit. What went wrong? Gale Hospitality was over-performing; the hotels and vacation destinations were booked solid and were bringing money in hand over fist.Was it because he had not secured the German hotels? That was because Sebastian needed Heidi Wolf. Gale Hospitality had a weak presence in Germany, and he needed the Wolf family’s established business lines and relationships. So, he was negotiating a partnership.However, a group of executives led by Yuri was undermining the deal. They