He met Ashley’s interested gaze. “I hope you like wine because we’re going to Napa.”
* * *
Ashley hadn’t expected the trip to Napa Valley. Now, she stared out the window, taking in the green trees and the acres of rolling hills and vineyards along the way. Inside the limousine, she breathed in, smelling Sebastian’s intoxicating scent and trying not to think about what had gone on the last time she’d been alone in the back of a limo with him for an extended length of time. But she found herself shifting in her seat anyway, sneaking glimpses of him when he wasn’t looking.
He, too, stared out the window, deep in thought, she assumed about the problems with the business and the possibility of Mandy’s culpability in some way. If she let herself think about it, the worry for Ethan when he found out would consume her.
Instead she focused on the fact that she was going out of town with Sebastian. True, she’d been sharing a suite with him without incident, unless you counted the limo, but this was a cottage in Napa Valley. There’d be wine. And conversation. And … did she want sex?
Sure, she’d told him sex wasn’t important, but that was before he’d kissed her until she couldn’t think or feel anything but him. Last night she’d lain in the room next to his, thinking of nothing but sleeping with him. Of smelling the scent of his aftershave, her body revved up with desire, his big hands traveling over her breasts, tweaking her nipples, making her so wet that when he was ready, he’d glide into her, thick and pulsing.
“Jesus.” She trembled at the thoughts going through her mind and pushed her hands against her thighs.
“Everything okay?” Sebastian turned her way, the scenery speeding by through the window behind him.
“Yes. I just didn’t expect to take this trip,” she hedged, not wanting to get personal with him just yet.
“I hope you don’t mind. It’s just another night in a different room. And maybe a tour of the vineyard and a drink or two of some of the best wine made.” His easy grin made her smile.
“No, of course I don’t mind. It actually sounds wonderful. I hope you get some good news from Stephan Romano about your contract with him.”
Sebastian rolled his big shoulders. “I’m counting on the fact that he wouldn’t send us his limo and bring us all the way up to his vineyard just to sandbag me.”
“You’re probably right.” She liked his optimism.
“Besides, I appreciate the break. It gives me time to think about how to handle things when we return to the office tomorrow. What direction to go in when it comes to figuring out what’s wrong and Amanda’s role in it. I’ve gone over and over those papers Katherine gave us. It’s something we’ll deal with when we get back.”
She nodded, reaching out and grasping his hand. “We’ll figure this out together.”
“We’re a team,” he said.
She glanced down at their joined hands, his skin darker than her paler flesh. She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and thought back.
What did she want from Sebastian?
Was sex on the table?
She knew if she gave him any indication she was willing, he would be, too. Her nipples tingled at the possibility of his mouth on them, his big hands gliding over her breasts. Yes, she wanted to sleep with him. She just had to quell the intellectual part of her brain sending warning signals that she couldn’t get further involved with him and walk out unscathed emotionally.
But.
Sebastian didn’t do relationships. He’d admitted as much. And she was going back to London when this situation was over and she knew Ethan was settled. So how much damage could a sexual relationship cause, especially when she was an expert at keeping her heart to herself?
She squirmed in her seat, knowing the decision was made. If the opportunity arose while they were alone in Napa, she was going to devour Sebastian like he was the tastiest chocolate bar she’d ever had.
* * *
Sebastian stepped out of the limousine and stretched his cramped legs. Ashley joined him, climbing out of the car and drawing her arms up over her head, her breasts lifting enticingly with the motion. He watched in fascination, the tips of her nipples showing through the fabric of her white dress. His mouth watered at the sight.
“It’s warm out,” she said, and he shook his head to clear it of any dirty thoughts threatening to take over after the long car ride, where he’d been achingly aware of her nearness with every breath he drew.
“It’s hot,” he agreed, sweating in his dark suit.
“Welcome!” A pretty brunette woman came rushing out from the nearest building to meet them, dressed in a tight black skirt and a silk blouse that hugged her curves. “I assume you’re Sebastian Knight?”