An Innocent, a Seduction, a Secret

Air touched her hot skin as he slowly drew the zip of her dress down. She knew she should care—she was standing right in front of a window—but it felt illicit and wonderful. She could see her reflection in the glass as the dress loosened and fell to her waist, revealing her strapless bra.

Sebastio pushed her dress down over her hips so that it fell to the floor. Edie knew she should care about that too, but she let it lie there at her feet. Sebastio came so close behind her she could feel his arousal through his clothes. He wound a hand around her front, spreading it possessively over her belly. Then he moved it up until he was cupping one lace-covered breast.

The tip tightened painfully against the lace and he pinched it gently, making her gasp. Then he whispered in her ear, ‘I’m interested in making you fall apart, Edie.’

She was quivering like a taut bow. He undid her bra and peeled it away. She was naked now, except for her panties, and he made her watch their reflections in the window as he played her body like an instrument, until she was arching her back and his hand was deep between her legs, stroking her to a shattering orgasm.

She was so weak in the aftermath that he had to lift her up into his arms and take her straight into his bedroom, where he laid her down on the bed. He undressed with swift, graceful movements, and when he came down beside her on the bed Edie was already aching for him again.

She wondered with a mounting sense of desperation as he joined their bodies with a powerful thrust if she’d ever not want him with this insatiable hunger...

* * *

When Sebastio woke the following morning he put his hand out and frowned when it didn’t touch Edie’s warm sleeping body. He lifted his head and saw the room was empty. He felt a spurt of frustration as he got up and went to the adjoining door. He shouldn’t have offered her another room.

But she wasn’t there either.

He pulled on sweats and a top and went into the apartment. Dawn was coming up over the city, and when he saw Edie he felt a little breathless for a moment. She was sitting in one of his chairs, wearing a robe—his robe—and he could see that it drowned her.

She had her knees pulled up to her chin, her arms wrapped around them, and she was looking out of the window with a faint smile on her face. Her hair was messy and his hands itched to grab her up and carry her straight back to bed. For some reason he felt piqued that something private was making her smile.

But then she must have heard him because she looked around. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.’

He shook his head, coming into the room. ‘You didn’t.’

He was unable not to touch her, so he went over and plucked her up from the chair before sitting down and putting her on his lap.

She let out a surprised squeak and a chuckle. ‘I was quite comfortable there, you know.’

‘Now I bet you’re even more comfortable.’

She blushed and Sebastio shook his head, tracing her jaw with a knuckle. ‘Amazing how you can blush so easily after what we’ve just spent all night doing.’

She blushed even harder.

‘What are you doing out here anyway?’

She shrugged. ‘Just watching the city wake up. Christmas morning always feels magical to me. Like some kind of miracle has taken place overnight.’ She ducked her head against his shoulder. ‘You’ll think I’m daft.’

He shook his head slowly. She’d put on the Christmas tree lights and they sent out a low golden glow. It was the first time he’d ever had his own private space decorated for Christmas, and it reminded him of the Christmases he’d spent with his grandmother. For the first time since he’d bought this place it felt as if it had a little soul.

He said, ‘I have a present for you.’

She tensed. ‘But that’s not fair. I had no time to do anything.’

Sebastio marvelled. Any other woman he’d ever been intimate with would be licking her lips and trying to hide the greedy gleam in her eyes.

He stood up, pulling Edie up with him, and took her over to the tree. He said ruefully, ‘I’m afraid most of these boxes are empty—just dressing—but this one is for you.’

He handed her a small wrapped box and felt ridiculously self-conscious when she took it. He was very aware that she was naked under the robe. He could see the tantalising slope of one breast, the start of a dusky nipple...

She looked at him, biting her lip. ‘You didn’t have to do this.’

‘Just open it, Edie,’ he growled, not sure if he could control himself until she opened it.

Edie was all fingers and thumbs on the package. Her heart was tripping. She felt awful. Why hadn’t she thought of getting Sebastio something? Even though she’d had no idea she’d be here? Once again he was surprising her.

The paper fell away to reveal a long rectangular black box. She opened it and sucked in a shaky breath. It was a stunning silver necklace with a perfectly formed teardrop diamond encased in platinum.