Hard Rock Love Box Set, page 7
“Oh really? Like what?”
“In crepes, for instance.” Sebastian cut another slice of his meal, displaying the banana inside for Lillian to examine. “They’re also quite lovely in bread.”
“Ah yes, banana bread, a favorite classic. Let me guess, you eat yours with…”
Sebastian stared her down. “Don’t you dare.”
“…ketchup?”
“Oh, I’m going to get you back for that. You can count on it.”
“Really? Are you so sure?” Lillian was having fun. She had missed this banter with Sebastian. When he had moved away, she had been devastated, unsure how to exist in a world without his humor and teasing to make everything brighter.
“Positive. And the benefit of living alone in a large apartment is that no one will interrupt us.”
Lillian giggled to cover the shiver than ran down her spine, the blood that was rushing hot to her face, the skip of her heart. She didn’t know whether to be frightened, aroused, or both. She knew she would always be safe with Sebastian, that he looked out for her, but sometimes he had a way of exerting his power that most people would find scary. She never had though. She knew he was always looking out for her. When they were younger, she had found the habit annoying, but now….
She didn’t want to complete that thought.
When they both had stopped laughing, Sebastian’s expression became serious. “Lillian, I have to ask, do you want to try having a relationship with me again?”
Lillian considered the question for a moment. Her immediate instinct was to say yes, to kiss him and just say yes, but she didn’t know what he meant by a relationship, how he felt for her now, after all that time, and what kinds of things that relationship might entail.
“I…I want to know how you feel for me first,” she said.
Sebastian sighed, the expression on his face a mix that Lillian couldn’t quite identify. “Lillian, I’m not going to lie. The things I feel for you now is not that whirlwind romance of the summer long past. I’m not in love with you anymore, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t be again, or don’t want to be again. I think of you all the time, but it is not for pure reasons you might wish. I want to be with you, Lillian, physically. I want to try to continue where we left off that summer long past, and I want to see if we might rekindle some of those feelings.”
Lillian nodded. It wasn’t ideal, but it was real, and she was thankful that Sebastian was being honest and upfront with her. “I can understand that.”
“I have to ask then, what are your feelings for me?”
“At this point…I don’t know. I’m confused, you confuse me. I like you, and I want to see if we can get back what we missed, but as you said, my feelings are not the same anymore.”
“We can agree on that then. Feelings are things that don’t stand the test of time when their source is far away and there is no hope to sustain them. But beauty, beauty ages like fine wine,” he said, his expression becoming sultry then, his eyes lazily perusing her body, resting on her face, her eyes, her lips. “And desire, well, desire seems to age just the same.”
Lillian could hear the latent lust beneath the words, and it was a wonder to her that Sebastian wasn’t standing up now to announce that they were heading to a more secluded spot, or even taking her under the table.
But no, those were Ash things to do. Ash, who had gently coaxed her to pleasure underneath the starlight beside the river, didn’t care who was watching or what people thought. Sebastian was all about appearances though. He might tease all he wished, but he wasn’t about to create any sort of spectacle, even a small one. He valued his image too much.
He had to, as a working professional in his field. He needed to maintain credibility.
“Are you up to try then, Lillian, to give those idealistic teenagers a second chance?”
She laughed, remembering how they had been back then, so oblivious to the world and its workings.
“I don’t know if we can quite go back to that.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then yes, why not.”
Sebastian smiled with pleasure and called for the check as Lillian finished up her very delicious crepe.
“Well, what about it?” he asked when he had paid.
“What about what?” Lillian replied around a mouthful of sweet strawberries. She was trying to finish her breakfast before Sebastian insisted that it was time to leave.
“Shall we head back to my apartment?”
There was so much implied within that question, but Lillian didn’t hesitate, she knew what she wanted.
“Yes, let’s.”
Eight
Lillian didn’t know what she was expecting Sebastian to do as soon as the apartment door was closed behind them and it was just the two of them inside his living room, but it certainly wasn’t heading to the kitchen to pour both of them some cups of juice.
When he noticed Lillian standing awkwardly by the doorway, bag dropped beside her, shoes off, looking about uncertainly, he laughed.
“Did you really think we were going to pick up right where we left off the other night as soon as I had you alone?”
“Maybe.”
“Oh no, my dear Lily, the best things require buildup. You’re going to be dripping before I even touch you, trust me.”
She could already feel pressure building up inside of her at those words, and she squirmed a little.
“Yes, exactly like that. Crave me. I want you to beg.”
“Who says I’m going to do that?”
“Oh, we’ll see. This is a dangerous game to be playing against me, Lily. I always win. Would you like some orange juice?” He offered her one of the glasses, and she walked over to the kitchen to take it from him.
He was careful as he handed it to her, so that their fingers didn’t even so much as brush, and Lillian felt her insides twist in spite of herself. Did he really plan to not touch her? There was no way he was going to be able to make her wet like that. Frustrated, yes. Dripping? Not so much.
“Shall we sit on the couch?”
Sebastian guided Lillian to the white leather sofa, seating himself so he looked like an emperor surveying his conquest. Feeling defiant, Lillian sat across from him instead of next to him, and Sebastian raised his eyebrows, amused.
“Careful not to stain the leather,” he said, and Lillian knew he wasn’t talking about the orange juice. “I just had it redone recently and it would be a shame if something were to ruin it.”
In spite of herself, there was a heat in Lillian’s stomach, and she shifted a little, uncomfortably, trying to find a position that eased the ache before it could grow anymore.
Sebastian took a long sip of orange juice from his glass then, watching Lillian as he did, licking his lips as his gaze slid down, and then back up. “It’s quite a delicious drink. Was made fresh today, I have a local farmer deliver produce daily. Won’t you try it?”
Lillian lifted the cool glass to her lips, thinking in spite of herself how much she wished Sebastian might be kissing her right now, that she might taste the sweet tartness of orange juice on him. It was delicious, cool running down her throat. The taste filled her senses, and she closed her eyes in pleasure.
“Shall I play you something on the piano, Lily?” Sebastian asked when she set down her glass, still eyeing her as if he was deciding what the best strategy might be.
“That would be lovely.”
She was thinking of another time now. When the two of them had been teenagers, Sebastian had always played for her on his piano. And one time, when they had had his house to themselves, they had explored each other on that piano, him playing a little melody with his left hand while he kissed her, then pleasured her with his right.
He was sitting down at the piano bench now, his fingers long as they hovered over the ivory keys. The first note was played, and then he worked up a melody, slow and longing, there was something about the combination of the notes that made Lillian feel sad, nostalgic. They felt familiar, even though she hadn’t heard this song before.
She had expected him to play one of those songs he loved playing for her as a teenager, but this was something new. And somehow, this felt more special. The song sounded like it was meant for her, and only her, like she was the only one in the world who had ever heard these notes in this order and would be the only one to ever experience them like this.
It made her shiver with delight, with anticipation as his fingers continued to work up to another set of notes, creating a world around her with their sounds.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, and only to herself, but she knew he heard it, or maybe he just understood the way her lips moved, the way her mind thought, for he nodded in appreciation and pleasure.
When he had finished, he turned to look at her.
“Won’t you come sit and play something for me?”
Lillian hesitated. Yes, it was true that she had played piano before. Especially when the two of them were together, she had always been playing: some new song, some melody stuck in her head and drifting off her fingertips like dandelion seeds. Sebastian used to joke that she was in communication with the fae, that they whispered in her ear when she played.
She had thought…they had both thought that that was what she was going to do for the rest of her life. She had wanted nothing more than to play the piano, in a large concert hall, with an orchestra, by herself, in a coffee shop, it didn’t matter. Just as along as she could play.
But things had happened after he left. Things she still didn’t want to think about. Sometimes her hands still shook. Sometimes the memories came back, and the shaking was for other reasons.
She had only taken up photography seriously after that, after she stopped playing.
Hands shaking a little, she sat down next to him, hitting a note experimentally. It had been so long since she had played, but despite everything, the muscles in her hands still remembered their places and how to move.
With Sebastian beside her, she began to play, a song she hadn’t played in a very long time. She tripped up a couple of times, especially in the beginning, and her hands weren’t as sure as they had once been, but the emotion was still there, and obviously Sebastian recognized the song.
He slid closer to her, still not touching, and his hand hovered at her lower back, tantalizing in its closeness.
“You still play beautifully,” he breathed in her ear as her hands stilled, his breath hot, his words full of desire.
“You’ve always inspired me,” she replied.
“Yes, and I hope I can continue to.” He slid the cover over the keys with one hand, then guided her without ever making contact so that her back was against the piano, the bench was off to the side, and he was standing in front of her, hands on either side of her waist, caging her in, making it so that she could only see him.
She squirmed as he examined her, looking every bit the emperor, the successful lawyer, the New Yorker with an expensive apartment. He brought his hand up, almost to her face, and then stopped before his skin made contact with hers.
She could feel that empty space, could sense the tension within it in every fiber of her being. It was like trying to keep magnets apart, not touching him, not leaning into him.
“Not yet, Lily,” he said, reading the desire in her eyes. “I want you to understand my power first.” His hand moved, tracing the shape of her jawline, running along the curve of her neck, down her body, then back to resting on the piano.
He moved his face next, coming close to her lips, and blowing cool air on them. She shivered in pleasure at the anticipation, feeling the heat building within her. He moved to tease her ear next, whispering, “You don’t even know the things I want to do with you,” then blowing cool trails along her neck.
It was killing her, this wait, this refusal to make contact. Oh, she understood very well the power he had over her now. She was wet without him even trying, there was already a heat building up inside of her. She shivered to think of what he might be able to do to her with his hands, with his mouth, with all of him.
“Touch me,” she whispered, not able to take it any longer. “Stop playing with me.”
“Are you wet yet?”
She nodded. “You’ve teased enough. Now kiss me!”
He smiled at her, that lazy, self-satisfied grin. “Of course.” He leaned forward, drawing out that moment before their lips touched, and then he was against her, and it was like no kiss she had ever had before. He still tasted of orange juice, and he was so soft, and the wait was so worth it.
One of his hands crept up under the skirt of her dress as he kissed her, teasing her lips with his tongue, his teeth, and felt where her arousal had soaked through the lace underwear.
He made a sound of satisfaction as his fingers encountered this, and the pressure—especially after last night—did more than anyone ever had. She felt the heat spike up inside of her, and she gasped into his mouth as he began to massage her gently, rubbing the soaked panties against her sensitive bits.
He was slow, methodical, bringing her pleasure with the combination of his kisses and the light massage, and his other hand was on her back, pulling her closer to him, making her feel as if she was the only one in the entire world.
“You have no idea how sexy you are,” he breathed as he broke away from her, mouth tracing a path along her jawline, tugging at the sensitive skin near her ear. “No clue.”
Lillian brought her hands up to run through his hair, feeling the soft locks fall away from the position they had been slicked into. He hummed his approval against her neck, then stepped back.
“Will you let me help you take off that dress? It’s so lovely on you, but if my instincts are right, whatever is beneath it will look even more lovely.”
“Of course,” Lillian replied, reaching around behind her to start unfastening the clasps, but Sebastian stopped her with a shake of his head.
“No, let me do it. It would be an honor.”
She let her hands fall to her sides, stepping away from the piano so that he might undress her. He ran his fingers up and down her back first, gentle, teasing, and then, one by one, undid the clasps that held the dress together in the back. With knowing hands, he slipped the dress up and over her head, her arms, letting it pool into a puddle on the piano bench.
He sighed as he saw the white lace of her lingerie, running his fingertips along her spine, the hem of her bra, the waistline of her panties, always teasing, never going a step further.
“Turn around for me,” he breathed, low, in her ear.
She did, turning to face him, seeing that desire written all over his face, in the curve of his lips, in the light in his eyes. She cupped his cheeks, keeping eye contact as she rose onto her tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips.
He sighed, seeming to melt into her like waves were washing away all other earthly tethers.
“You’re so goddamned hot,” he whispered against her, biting her bottom lip to punctuate the sentence. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I knew what it was to want someone. I’ve wanted to take you since you walked into that apartment and I saw I had another chance.”
She made a sound of pleasure as his hands trailed down her sides to cup her at the hips and then gently eased aside her panties to have better access. His index finger gently stroked her, finding that spot of pleasure and teasing it. She gasped, and he kissed her, more fervently this time, as the deep ache built up within her.
Then he pulled away, watching her lazily as he loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt.
He was the perfect image of undone sexy, an underwear-ad-worthy picture. As he took off the pristine button-up, Lillian could see that the attractiveness didn’t stop at his face. He had abs worthy of a Greek god.
He unbuckled his belt and slid it out of the belt loops, letting it slighter to the floor like a snake, then undid the top button of his dress pants. Lillian could see the trail of hair leading down from his chest, disappearing beneath the exposed band of a set of boxers.
She wanted him. She craved him in that moment with every fiber of her being.
She stepped closer, threading her fingers through the loops of his pants and pulled him against her, shivering as their skin touched.
“Eager, aren’t we?”
She responded by kissing him, trailing away from his lips and claiming his neck. They weren’t teenagers any longer, so she didn’t leave marks as she once did, but she still kissed him, sometimes taking the skin between her teeth, making sure to be gentle, enjoying the sounds of him gasping in pleasure.
His hands ran up and down her back, unclasping the hooks of her bra, and tracing patterns along her shoulder blades as she kissed him, still holding him close.
“Fuck,” he breathed as she kissed along his collarbone, running her hands along his chest as she made her way down to his waistline, teasing him with kisses and touches of the tips of her fingers.
“Do you like that?” she asked, feeling coy as she glanced up at him from where she was kneeling in front of him.
“More than you can imagine. And while I’d love nothing more than to have you pleasure me on your knees, I want tonight to be about you.”
Lillian stood, and Sebastian backed her gently to the couch, laying her down on her back. She was breathing hard now, desire filling her lungs like smoke, and her legs opened of their own accord as Sebastian held eye contact, letting his pants fall to the floor first, and then slipping his boxers down, revealing the length of him. That glorious length.
Lillian wanted him inside her, but the words wouldn’t come out, she could only form them with her lips as the sounds escaped her, her eyes lidded with lust.
Sebastian was watching her now, noting her wetness, his cock long and hard. He came closer, hovering over her, putting one knee between her legs, and the other on the outside of her, pressing up against the ache as he leaned down to kiss her.
Lillian arched against him, wanting him in her now, but Sebastian gently stopped her with his palm.
