Suddenly he stopped, his hand freezing, fingers wrapped around her thigh.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, opening her eyelids and meeting his serious gaze.
“I said I could keep my hands to myself and I meant it.” He released her, and she felt the loss of his warmth against her skin.
Disappointment filled her along with innate understanding. This had to be her choice, her decision. He didn’t want to seduce her into a yes that she’d regret later or have her agree in a haze of desire that left her incapable of true consent. They’d been through too much for that. She couldn’t deny how much she wanted him and wouldn’t lie to herself about that.
But there were other factors to consider before entering into any kind of relationship with Sebastian, including a purely sexual one. She had a life in London, friends there, a job she’d have to go back to. She was only here temporarily, but wasn’t that all Sebastian wanted in life? Ethan had told her he had a habit of entering physical relationships that meant nothing to him in the long run. And as for Jonathan, he might not be willing to take no for an answer, but she’d already declined his proposal. He wasn’t an obstacle to anything she did with Sebastian.
Ashley realized whatever she said now would set the course of where they went from here. While she was in town.
Did she really want to walk away from this kind of once-in-a-lifetime passion?
She drew a deep breath and faced him. “I don’t want you to keep your hands to yourself, Sebastian. Not anymore.”
He remained still, listening to her words, and so she continued. “Back then, we were kids and I understand that everyone shared a role in sending me away. I don’t blame you, despite me bringing it up again last night. But we’re adults now. I swear to you I’ve put it in the past,” she said, hopefully clearing the way to a sexual future between them. She promised herself and silently him, she wouldn’t bring up that time in their lives again.
His intent gaze bored into hers. “I believe you,” he said. “But I need to hear you say the words. Tell me what you want, Ashley.”
It was all up to her.
“You,” she whispered. “I want you.”
His fingers clenched around her so tightly he’d leave marks. And she didn’t care. Then he began to move again, gliding his fingertips up her thighs, no longer focused on massage, clearly on a mission of a different kind. And whereas before, she’d closed her eyes to better enjoy the perks of his massage, now she watched as he pleasured her.
His strong jaw was taut, muscles set as his gaze focused on his fingers, darker and more tanned against her fairer flesh. He slid her dress higher and higher still, crinkling the material above her thighs, revealing her barely there, sexy panties, white lace with a black bow on top. His thumb skimmed along the crease in her thigh, and she gasped, the sensation so intimate, her juices dampened her underwear even more.
“So wet,” he murmured. “So turned on.” He dipped a finger beneath the bow, the pad of the strong digit gliding over her pubic bone, drifting lower.
“Sebastian.” She barely recognized her own deeply husky voice.
“Shh. Let me play.”
He removed his hand and pulled her panties down her legs, not taking them off completely. Just slid them down enough to bare her pussy and, at his urging, bend her knee to the side, opening herself wide for him.
“So beautiful.” His dark gaze stared at her bared and open intimate flesh. Damp and glistening, she knew.
Her cheeks burned at his perusal, but when his fingers slid over the lips of her sex, parting her and beginning to work her over, she forgot to be embarrassed. Instead she was consumed with the pleasure of his touch.
Gliding back and forth, he slicked her moisture over her bare lips and coated his fingers with her wetness. She writhed beneath him, bucking at his sensual touch and exploration until he placed his palm against her belly, holding her in place.
She groaned at the feeling of possession he invoked, then one finger slid inside her, and at the sudden invasion, her inner walls clasped around him.
“You’re tight, baby. You’re going to feel so good on my cock.”
Her insides spasmed at his bold words.
Releasing his hold on her stomach, he slid his hand lower, his thumb pressing on her clit, drawing circles that her hips began to mimic as she climbed toward an explosive climax.
He circled her clit harder and harder, urging her along with his sex-roughened voice. “Reach for it, baby. Come on.” She arched her hips. He pinched her clit. And she cried out, consumed with pleasure, lost in a long spiral that took her over and left her spent and shaking.