Anger simmered behind her eyes as she regarded him for what seemed like hours before she finally spoke.
"You just assume that if I wasn't married I'd fall under your spell and into your bed like everyone else you flash with that charming smile and infuriating self-assured egotistical aura of yours. I'm not that easy, Sebastian."
"I never said you were. I've put more work into you than I've put into any other woman and, quite frankly, I've enjoyed every moment of it. I find it massively appealing when you fight me. When you can't fight me, I accept it as a reward for my efforts to fight my normal urges rather than me breaking you down. You are a challenge.
Not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.
You drive me crazy, and I don't think I'd have it any other way."
Sebastian brushed his thumb over her cheek. She blinked at him, speechless.
"Right now, I want to kiss you and I'm hoping that you'll let me, but if you don't…" He tipped her chin up and pressed his lips to hers. She kissed him back and he actually tasted her surprise.
"You have such a sweet mouth, Red." She gave a shocked grunt. "And now, we need to get inside. They'll be wondering where we are."
Sebastian guided her across the hall and to the seats Juliet had saved for them. He suddenly wanted to slap his mother for putting thoughts of love in his mind, but she was his mother and what he'd told Mariss was true. He'd never fought harder for anyone in his life.
The Truth is Set Free
Sebastian sat uncomfortably with his arm loosely draped across the back of Mariss' seat. What he really wanted to do was
haul
her onto his lap and kiss her the way she deserved. It was hard to keep his hands off her - friend-zoned or not - when she looked so perfect in that red dress, her hands folded in her lap, and her eyes watching the proceedings with rapt attention.
His mobile vibrated in his back pocket. With a frown, Sebastian discretely pulled it out, expecting a text from Hellena. He thought he'd turned it off, but apparently not.
:This
is the most boring thing I've ever done in my life. No wonder you dragged me here with
you.:
Sebastian blinked. He reread the text and checked the name. It was from Mariss, not Hellena. He snorted,
then
covered his mouth when the woman in front of him fought not to look back.
:You're
going to get in trouble for having your phone out.:
he replied.
:Then
you will too, Bassy.:
:I
never get in trouble, Red. Don't you know that by now
?:
:I
guess that's why you shamelessly flirt with anyone who crosses your path. Even married women who tell you no. ;):
:You
flirt right back, or I wouldn't waste my time.:
:So
, I'm a waste of time now.:
:Yes
.
A beautifully delicious waste of time.
I want to kiss you again, Red.:
Mariss didn't reply right away. She settled her phone beneath her hands in her lap and trained her eyes forward. Out of the corner of his eye, Sebastian saw one of the ushers move down their aisle and stop at the end, eyeing him suspiciously.
The corners of Mariss mouth twitched with humor. Sebastian sent a glare toward the usher who moved quickly away.
:You're
mean.:
Sebastian smiled.
:You're
too nice.:
:Am
I now? That can be
remedied.:
Sebastian's phone shook in his hands, but this text wasn't from Mariss.
:You
two need to stop. You're like teenagers with your texting. You're going to miss your name being
called.:
:That's
assuming it's called.:
He sent the text back to Juliet.
:Of
course it will be.:
"Excuse me, Mr. Boa. I'm going to have to confiscate your phone."
Sebastian turned empty eyes to the young usher and, amidst giggles from Mariss and Juliet, he said, "Absolutely not."
"Please, understand it's my job, sir." The usher's voice shook with fear, and his eyes were glassy with it.
"Please, understand that I'm under no obligation to give you my personal property, however, should someone ask, I will let them know you tried your best." He offered a smile that he hoped was more reassuring than frightening, but the gasp the boy gave proved it didn't quite work. Mariss and Juliet giggled some more before his mother shushed them.
"Grow up, you three," she said grumpily, but the gleam in her eye when he looked at her said she thought the incident was just as funny.
:You
got in trouble.:
Sebastian looked down at his phone, then over at Mariss, humored but indignant. He started to answer her. He was halfway through typing the text when the usher cleared his throat from the end of the row.
"Mr. Boa, you're going to get me in trouble," the young man pleaded. "They can see you on the cameras."
Sebastian looked up to see a camera trained on him. Mariss covered her laughter with her hand.
"Here," she whispered. "You can take my phone. I started it."
"Too nice."
Sebastian shook his head as the usher took her phone.
"Sebastian Boa!"
The room erupted in clapping as Sebastian's name was called. He stood, leaving his phone in his seat, and buttoned his jacket on his way to the stage. As he was handed the award and given room to step to the microphone, the applause and cheers died down. His mother, Juliet, and Mariss beamed at him from their section.
"This is a real honor," he began, "to stand up here where so many others have stood before me. If it wasn't for my tolerant, supportive mother I don't think I would have made it this far.
Of course, Juliet, my assistant who handles everything for me and Mariss for being such a tolerant friend."
He couldn't help but laugh. Sebastian listed off a few more people before he went back to his seat amidst much more cheering and clapping.
He handed the award to Mariss as he took his seat and unbuttoned his jacket. She took it from him and inspected it, reading the inscription and running her fingers over its smooth surface. Mariss held onto it, cradling it against her body. For what reason, Sebastian didn't know, but he wasn't about to take it from her. He'd rather see it in her dainty hands than in his anyway.
By the time the ceremony was over, Sebastian was starved.
"Here." Mariss handed him the award.
He stared at it for a moment, trying to figure out why it upset him that she was giving it back. Waving a hand in dismissal, he said, "Keep it."
Mariss frowned. "Keep it? Like, keep it, keep it?"
He nodded. "Yes. It's yours."
"What if your mother-"
"She'll be fine."
Mariss gave him a strange look, but finally said, "Alright, but don't try to ask for it back."
Sebastian shook his head.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Juliet and his mother joined them a moment later. Martha smiled up at him. She looked exhausted.
"Juliet is going to take me home," she told him. "It's way past my bedtime."
"Of course, Mother." He kissed her on the cheek.
"You two behave," Juliet said before she walked his mother out of the building.
"Shall we?" Sebastian asked, turning to Mariss and offering his arm.
She nodded. "I want to get my phone."
"Of course."
Sebastian took her to one of the stations.
"Someone already came to get that phone," the usher said. "I gave it to someone about ten minutes ago.
Said they were going to give it to you."
Sebastian stretched his suddenly stiff neck. "Was she a young woman about Mrs. Red's age? Wearing a black leather corset?"
"No, sir, Mr. Boa.
It was a man. I didn't really see him. I was on the phone."
Sebastian took a calming breath as Mariss arm tightened around his. "Thank you. In the future, don't give out personal property to anyone it doesn't belong to." He'd have the young man's job by morning.
"Yes, of course, Mr. Boa. Congratulations."
He nodded and walked away.
"What about my phone?" Mariss asked. "Someone has all of my contacts. All of my author's phone numbers."
"Don't you have a lock on it?" he asked.
"Of course, but what if they figure it out? Or hack it?"
He sighed. "We'll deal with that when it comes to it." He was sure Hellena had something to do with the missing phone. Of course, there was no proof. "Right now, we should get to the dinner, because I'm hungry."
They were stopped along the way for pictures with his award, and with his presenter, and just pictures. He refused to take any without Mariss and made her hold the award for each one, even though she tried to give it back to him. By the time they broke away, everyone was confused.
Sebastian made sure Mariss was seated before he took his own chair. A waitress came to pour wine. He frowned as Mariss drained her glass. She caught him watching and turned to him.
"You don't want yours?"
"I haven't eaten much today. It's probably not wise to drink it right now."
She motioned for his glass with her fingers and a grin. "I'll drink it."
Sebastian handed it over, against his better judgement.
"Something bothering you, Red?"
Mariss blinked at him over the glass she had to her lips, glanced down at it, and set it on the table. "Why do you ask?"
"You're drinking quite heavily."
Mariss gave him a rueful smile. "You don't want to be burdened with a pitiful drunk?"
"You're never a burden. Not even when you're drunk. But if something is bothering you…" He shrugged. "Maybe I can help?"
She took a deep breath and let it out slow. "I'm sure Hellena is the one who has my phone." She shook her head. "She could cause a lot of problems for me if she gets into it.
For you too."
Sebastian nodded. "I understand. I'm not sure
what's
gotten into her-" Mariss laughed bitterly. "What?"
She raised an eyebrow at him and, when he still didn't know what she meant, she shook her head.
"Sebastian, for someone so well-tuned to women, you sure do miss a lot."
"What have I missed?" he asked.
Mariss only grinned.
There was a disturbance near the door. Sebastian turned to see Hellena swaggering through, completely drunk. She shoved one woman out of the way and bumped into another because she was staring at something in her hand. She stumbled.
Sebastian watched her move clumsily around people and tables. When she smiled, she flashed her white teeth in a way she only did when she was trashed.
"How much have you had to drink tonight?" Sebastian asked when she was next to him. She was texting something on a mobile. "And whose phone is that?"
Hellena motioned to Mariss without looking away from what she was doing. She was so focused on making sure her text was right.
"A man had it," she slurred, "so I offered to bring it to her." Sebastian knew she was inventing her own version of the truth.
Mariss face was red with anger. She held out her hand. "You're here now. Let's have it."
Hellena grinned and slapped the mobile into Mariss' hand as it started to ring. Mariss heaved a heavy sigh and answered the call.
"Hey, baby."
Sebastian turned his attention to Hellena. "What is wrong with you?"
"I'm drunk!" the German woman exclaimed more loudly than was necessary. "Isn't that what you like? To take care of
drunk
women?"
"I don't know, baby," Mariss was saying into her mobile. "She hacked my phone…"
"
Hellena, that
is enough. It's time for you to leave."
"Take me home then." She tilted her chin up and swayed slightly.
"I will not. You'll get your date to take you home."
Hellena shook her head. "If I was her," she jabbed Maris with a finger and the other woman slapped it away, "you'd do anything I asked."
"That's not true," Sebastian denied, even as he realized that it probably was.
Mariss turned her back to them and put her finger in one ear. "Yes, I know. Yes, I'm sorry."
Hellena blew stale, alcoholic breath in his face. "Yes, it is. You even settle for giving it to her in the ass, 'cause she won't give you her pussy."
Sebastian's eyes went wide. Everyone at the table stopped moving as the camera's started clicking. Mariss turned slowly and came to her feet, the mobile phone forgotten as it fell to the floor.
Sebastian motioned to some ushers at the door. "Bring security."
The smirk on Hellena's face was full of bitterness. She may not have meant to say it the first time, but now that she knew what she'd done, she was going to take it as far as she could. "That's why she came to the club the first time.
For a threesome.
Don't you remember,
Bassy
? She came to have a threesome with you."
Sebastian snarled as two men took hold of Hellena and dragged her from the room. By the time she got to the door, she was screaming in panic, "Don't let them take me! Sebastian, don't let them take me! Please! You promised." Her voice faded as they took her from the building.
Sebastian scrubbed a hand over his face. Mariss stared at him wide-eyed. For a moment, he was afraid she was going to slip into the frightening place where she became someone else entirely, but tears slipped down her cheeks and it was too much for him.
"Let's go." He retrieved her phone from the floor, gathered her clutch and the award, and led her from the room with a firm hand at the small of her back. He kept her walking
briskly,
hoping to clear the building before the breakdown came, but he didn't make it. Mariss stopped dead in her tracks as sobs shook her body. Sebastian pulled her to him, forgetting for a moment that she was soaking his jacket with tears.