Your Irresistible Love Page 17

  Ah, the dreaded talk with Dad. I knew it was coming. Strangely, now that it’s upon me, I even find myself looking forward to it. We both sit on a bench further away from the group.

  “Ava’s a great girl.”

  “She is, but don’t get your hopes up. When her assignment ends, she’ll leave.”

  Dad nods, as if considering my words. “I told you this before, son, but it bears repeating: nothing is more important than having someone strong to share your life with.”

  “Dad—”

  “Whenever there are ups and downs, we’ll be here for you. However, we’ll never replace the woman you love. You know how hard those years were before you built your business.”

  “I do.”

  “I wouldn’t have gotten through them without your mother. Now, I’ll go get a beer. Think about what I told you.”

  ***

  Ava

  The smell of cinnamon and raisins inside the house welcomes me, rich and warm.

  “Sit here, dear.” She points to the couch in the living room. I sit and wait patiently until she returns with rubbing alcohol and cotton pads. Raising my hands, I intend to relieve her of the items and nurse my knees by myself.

  “I’ll do it. You can let someone else take care of you once in a while, dear.”

  “I’m not used to it.” It feels wonderful though. I remember when I was sick and Sebastian took care of me, and when Pippa did my hair. “Your son takes good care of me.”

  “He’d better. That’s how I raised him.”

  I offer her a smile.

  “So, let me see your knees. Humor an old lady.”

  I laugh. “You’re not old, Mrs. Bennett.” I point to my knees, and she immediately pours alcohol on a pad.

  Holy hell, that stings.

  “Motherf—” I clamp a hand over my mouth, squeezing my lips together as she tends to my wounds. The burning sensation lasts even after she’s done, though it lessens in intensity.

  “I want to thank you.”

  “For what?” I ask, confused.

  Mrs. Bennett smiles and sits on the couch next to me. “For making my son so happy. I haven’t seen him like this in years. I don’t know if others notice the difference, but I do. He’s opened up to you and welcomed you into his life in a way I feared he’d never do.”

  I remain silent, unsure what to say, my emotions rolling to form a lump in my throat.

  “I was so happy when I found out he asked you to move in with him. He saw how special you are. If you aren’t next to him, he searches for you. I’ve watched him. He’s not even aware. He simply needs you.” She pulls me into a hug that I return wholeheartedly. She smells of warmth and love, and it’s wonderful and motherly. Oh no. My eyes sting. God damn it, I have to control the sprinklers. Taking a deep breath, I calm myself, and my eyes are surprisingly dry after she lets me go.

  “What’s taking you two so long?” Sebastian’s voice booms from the hallway.

  “Like I said, he can’t stay away from you.” Mrs. Bennett winks at me, pushing herself up from the couch and leaving the room. She and Sebastian exchange a few words in the hallway, and then the front door shuts.

  Sebastian enters the living room.

  “How is my girl? Ready to go back out?”

  Sinking deeper in the couch, I confess, “I want to stay here a little longer. It smells like heaven.”

  Sebastian furrows his brow, as if he’s considering something. “Let’s go to the kitchen and steal some pie.”

  “It can’t be ready.”

  “I know Mom. The pie’s been ready for at least an hour.” His eyes light up with a look of mischief. Suddenly, he appears younger by at least ten years. Taking my hand, Sebastian helps me stand, leading me to the kitchen. He’s right, the pie is ready. I cut two slices, putting them on the plates Sebastian hands me. I’m about to dive right into it, but he stops me.

  “Wait, it’s better with whipped cream.”

  Armed with whipped cream and the plates, Sebastian shoulders open a door that leads directly into the garden on the other side of the house. There’s no one here, and the moon is the only source of light. We settle on the small, wooden bench next to the door. I add whipped cream, and we dig in.

  “This is delicious,” I mumble through mouthfuls. Sebastian grunts in agreement. Neither of us speaks until we’ve finished eating and put the plates on the floor.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Ava

  “You have cream on the tip of your nose,” Sebastian says with a smile. I wipe myself clean, a little embarrassed. He covers my mouth in an unexpected kiss. Our tongues meet in a clash, and everything blurs for me except him. Everything about him comes into focus. His taste, for one. Cinnamon mingled with the flavor of him. His scent excites me: mint shower gel and the underlying smell of him—oh, I know that one so well. In a haze, I feel him pulling me into his lap, careful not to touch my knees. Our lips don’t part at all, as I fist his hair with both hands. He rests his fingers on my waist. Remembering what Mrs. Bennett said about his feelings for me, I shudder. I feel the same way about him, and it’s damn frightening.

  As if sensing my predicament, he pulls back, resting his forehead against mine. “Is everything okay?”

  I cannot withhold the truth from Sebastian. Also, the darkness around us gives me courage.

  “I’m scared,” I confess.

  His fingers tighten on my waist, but his voice remains gentle. “Of what?”

  “My feelings for you. I’ve. . . It’s the first time I. . .” My voice fades as I search for the right words. “I’ve never had feelings this strong for anyone else.”

  “This makes two of us.” Sebastian raises one hand to cup my cheek, and I liquefy at his touch, my heart growing twice in size.

  “I’m scared,” I repeat.

  After a beat, he says, “So am I.”

  “No, you’re not.” Chuckling, I pinch one of his nipples. “Nothing scares you.”

  “This does. You complete me, Ava, and I don’t know how I’ll carry on without you.”

  Wham. The force of his words knocks the wind out of me, as if I’ve been hit with that damn soccer ball squarely in the chest again. The best thing that’s ever happened to me is temporary and it’s killing me. By the look of him, it’s killing both of us. My heart shrinks until it feels the size of a small diamond, yet it’s heavy. It carries the weight of all the lonely days and sleepless nights awaiting us.

  “So what do we do?” I whisper.

  “Run with it and enjoy it while it lasts. Or—” I put a finger on his lips to silence him.

  His gaze ripples through me. I lower my eyes to his chin, heat creeping into my cheeks. He demands I give up my inhibitions and he tears down the walls I carefully built. Sebastian makes baring my soul remarkably easy by revealing himself in front of me. This man knows not only to demand but also to give.

  He kisses me again, this time like a man possessed. His mouth demands everything of me, and I savor him right back. Desperation tinges our passion, pushing us further and further on the spiral of need. Sebastian Bennett is not a man who gives himself easily, but when he does, he’s all in. So am I. Lowering my hand between us, I moan into his mouth. He’s hard for me already. The recognition sends arrows of heat between my thighs.

  “Fuck. How can you turn me on like this, Ava?”

  Sebastian buries his head in my neck, his lips nibbling at my sensitive skin. I sling my hand behind my back between us, caressing the rows of hard muscles.

  “Get up. I want to take you from behind,” he unexpectedly says into my ear. My knees weaken at his strong, no-excuses-allowed tone.

  “Yes,” I say in a small voice, too aroused to bring up any objections. We both rise from the bench, Sebastian guiding me away from it.

  “Lean forward and put your hands on the wall.”

  “Okay.” I do as he says, equal parts curious and nervous.

  “Spread your legs.” He pushes my dress up around my waist
.

  As soon as I do what he instructs, I peek over my shoulder and see him kneel. He moves aside my thong and dips his tongue between my folds. My knees buckle as he licks me on the inside, desire ensnaring me. I need something to hold onto. The wall doesn’t provide much support, and I dearly need it. I wish we’d stayed closer to the bench. My thighs are quivering already. Sebastian drags his tongue from my clit all the way back, tipping my ass out, cupping my cheeks with his hands. When he slides two fingers inside, he rouses all of my nerve endings, sexual need overpowering me. It’s raw, primal, and delicious. He removes his fingers from inside me, but keeps his hand at the apex of my thighs, spreading me wider.

  He swears loudly, and I whirl around in alarm.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “I don’t have a condom with me.”

  I lick my lips, my heart thudding in my chest. “We can do it without one. I’m on birth control pills.” I avert my gaze, cringing at the last words. I didn’t keep this from him on purpose, but the topic never came up. Sebastian tips my head up so I have no choice but to look at him.

  “I know you are. I saw you take them.” There is no accusation in his voice.

  “Are you mad at me?”

  “Of course not. I don’t want you to feel pressured into saying yes right now. If you’re not sure, we can wait until we get home.” A smile plays on his lips, but his eyes remain serious. “I might also die of sexual frustration; but I’m a grown man, I can handle it. Or we can do. . . other things.”

  My only answer is, “I want you inside me. Now.”

  “It goes without saying that I’m clean. But do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to say it, Ava.”

  “I trust you.”

  His eyes warm, and he places the sweetest of kisses on my lips. The fact that he patiently waited for me to trust him and didn’t confront me with his knowledge tugs at my heartstrings.

  He flips me around again. I hear him unzip his pants, fiddling with his clothes, and then he poises himself at my entrance. I press my palms into the wall for support.

  Sebastian tortures me, dragging the tip up and down my sensitive flesh. When I can’t stand the pressure anymore, I push my ass into him. He loses control, driving into me at once.

  “Avaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Fuck.”

  I swallow hard, blind from the impossibly intense sensation. Everything is magnified. His sharp exhalations against my nape burn me. My nipples pulse urgently. My palms aren’t enough, I rest my forearms on the wall, desperately trying to ground myself, fearing my legs will give in. Sebastian fists my hair as I push my hips against him, the pulsing between my legs begging for release.

  “I won’t last long, babe. You feel so good.” His strokes get faster, harder. “You are mine,” he says, gripping my hair tighter, tipping my face to him. With a guttural groan, he empties himself inside me, driving me over the edge. My orgasm rips a loud cry from my mouth. “Mine.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Sebastian

  “This was a brilliant idea,” Pippa says two weeks later, on the deck of Logan’s newest yacht. We’re inaugurating it Bennett style. That means most of my siblings are here, as well as a few close friends.

  “I can’t believe Mom and Dad are sitting this one out,” Logan says. He, Pippa, and I are the only ones on the deck, lying in armchairs in the sun. The rest, including Ava, are swimming around the boat.

  “Their way of telling you they don’t approve,” Pippa says.

  “Way to rub it in, sister,” Logan says, annoyed. “After all these years, they’re still not used to it.”

  I smile. My parents are simple people. Yachts, fast cars, and expensive outings are unnecessary luxuries for them. Vain. Even convincing them to accept that house was a lot of trouble. I admire the values they taught us, but find nothing wrong with indulging in the sweeter side of life. When one becomes more fortunate, it’s no sin to enjoy it. My personal mantra is to also help those less fortunate, which is why Bennett Enterprises donates a hefty percentage of our profits to various causes.

  Rubbing more oil on her arms, my sister says, “This outing is just what the doctor ordered. Otherwise, I would’ve spent this weekend at the office too.”

  “You should take it easier,” I tell her.

  Logan perks up. “How come you never tell me that?”

  “Because I’m his favorite sister, so I get special treatment.”

  “What she said,” I reply. I don’t have a favorite sibling, but Pippa needs all the attention she can get right now. I know why she spends so much time at the office lately. It’s not only because the collection launch is approaching. She’s made a few trips to her lawyer in the past two weeks to settle the divorce. I offered to accompany her, but she refused, often returning to the office with red eyes and working until late at night. She does the same thing I do when she feels her personal life slipping through her fingers. She puts all her time and energy in the one thing that’s solid—Bennett Enterprises.

  “Anyway,” Pippa comments, “you two are workaholics all the time. I’m like that only when a launch approaches. By the way, I can’t believe what a fabulous job Ava’s doing with the campaign.”

  “Yeah, she’s very talented,” I agree, but don’t elaborate, a knot forming in my throat. Instinctively, I peer across the yacht railing and into the water to where I saw Ava last. She’s still swimming with Alice and Summer. The closer we get to the date of her departure, the harder talking about her becomes.

  “You have it bad for her, brother,” Logan says.

  “It’s that obvious, huh?”

  “I work with you, remember? I see the way you look at her. It’s. . .”

  “What?” I frown at him, shifting in the chair.

  “Everyone’s happy about the two of you.”

  “I’m not just happy,” Pippa interjects. “I’m thrilled. So are Mom and Dad.”

  “Tell them to keep the thrill low. She’s only here for another three weeks.” The thought suffocates me. Where did the time go? I make a grab for my glass, only to find it dry.

  “Have you thought about asking her to stay?” Logan asks. He and Pippa exchange a glance that tells me they’ve talked about this.

  I clasp the glass tighter. “She has a job and a life, and I respect that. I can hardly tell her to leave everything behind for me.”

  “She travels a lot,” Pippa says. “Relocating wouldn’t be too hard for her.”

  “I can’t ask her to give up her job. When the project is over, she’ll move to the next one.” My voice is hollow. Why the fuck is this thought so depressing?

  “Dude, you already sound like a love-sick puppy. No way am I going to listen to your drunk ramblings about your lost love after she’s gone.” Logan hefts the glass in my direction as if he’s toasting me.

  I stare him down. “When did I ever get drunk and talk about women?”

  “Oh, that’s right,” he admits. “Never.”

  “Damn right.”

  He takes a sip from his non-alcoholic cocktail, looking at Pippa with wide eyes.

  “Oh, Logan, stop the puppy dog eyes. Though you’ll always be known as the family puppy,” Pippa informs us with a lovely grin. “Sebastian’s the family’s lion, nursing his wounds alone and all that shit.”

  Logan leaps to his feet. “How does Sebastian get to be the lion and I the puppy? Why can’t I be a tiger, or at least some scary dog breed?”

  Ah, a good old Bennett brawl.

  Pippa puts a hand on her hip, squinting at Logan as if she’s considering something. “Yeah, you’re right. Not a puppy. I’ll look up the appropriate breed later. Must be one that barks a lot but doesn’t bite.”

  “Don’t forget it must have an oversized ego,” I supply.

  Pippa nods. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “I’m very glad the two of you are having fun at my expense.” Logan’s tone clearly indicates he’s not glad at all. Pippa and I grin. �
��But we were talking about Sebastian, and how the family lion will be stupid enough to let the woman he loves walk away.”

  My smile drops.

  “Sebastian, don’t be an idiot,” Pippa begins, now turning to me, placing both hands on her hips. “If you love her—”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You don’t have to,” she insists, tilting her head.

  “Oh, you can just see it?” I ask sarcastically.

  “I can,” Pippa says triumphantly. She glances at Logan, who backs her up with a strong nod. Oh, here they go again.

  “Yes, yes, Pippa, we all know you’ve been blessed with Mom’s exceptional people-reading skills.” I give them a dismissive hand gesture, but they won’t let me off so easily today.

  “Except when it comes to the people I date or marry, apparently,” she adds. I pull a face, fully aware of what she’s doing, bringing up her broken marriage so I don’t brush her off. I’d get mad at her for being so manipulative if I didn’t love her so much. Which she knows very well.

  “How is it that every time we do something together out of the office, you two corner me about my personal life?” I inquire, tapping my fingers on the glass.

  “You want us to do it at the office too?” Pippa asks with mock surprise. “Why didn’t you say so? Logan, are you up for it? Hey, we could even call in Alice for a Bennett sibling meeting now and again in the CEO’s office. Or in the meeting room.”

  Groaning, I drag my palm down my face. “Please don’t.”

  “Let’s get through this step by step,” Pippa says. She sits down on the floor, crossing her legs as if she’s about to do some yoga or shit. Damn it. I know that expression on her face. Lifted eyebrows, lips curled into a half smile. It reminds me of our days as kids, planning our way into or out of a mess. “The point is you can’t let her go.”

  “You jumped a few steps in the process,” Logan tells her.

  “What will you do after she leaves?” Pippa continues, and now a shred of seriousness tinges her playful tone. “Get back to your old life? Find a Terence, like I did? You’ve had enough sharks have a go at you over the years, wearing silicone and Botox to mask their teeth. You’re the billionaire CEO of one of the biggest companies in San Francisco, and we’re in a sexy industry. Everyone knows you, and you’re one of the most eligible bachelors around.”