never have wasted all those years on the jackass of the century.”
Sebastian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest again. He kissed her temple and said, “I’m sorry. If I’d stuck around, maybe things would’ve been different.”
“How’s that?” she asked, curious about what he meant. Would he have seen through James and warned her, or was he referring to the attraction they’d always had for each other that had run just below the surface? The attraction neither of them had been brave enough to confront back then.
His gray eyes flashed almost silver as he stared down at her with an intensity that made her blood pressure spike. After a moment, her gaze shifted to his full lips, and all she could think about was how many times she’d daydreamed of tasting him.
Sebastian’s hand came up, and he gently caressed her cheek before clearing his throat and saying, “You needed someone back then. If I’d had the courage to stay, maybe that someone would’ve been me.”
Gigi reached up and placed her hand gently over his. “Don’t do this. You know I needed you, but you needed to take care of yourself, too. That town… if you’d stayed, they’d never have stopped harassing you. Besides, I was already dating James. It’s not like I would’ve listened if you’d told me he was a user who deserved a swift kick in the balls.”
“No? Why’s that?” he asked. “Didn’t you trust my judgement?”
She snorted out a laugh. “I should have. Trust me when I say I will now. But back then? No one could’ve told me anything. James has charisma in spades and is really good at making a person feel like they are the center of his universe. It’s intoxicating… until it isn’t, and then you realize he’s just a controlling asshole who will say or do anything to get his way. I was too young and inexperienced to know better.”
He pursed his lips, contemplating something that he didn’t voice. Instead, he gently brushed his thumb over her bottom lip and said, “Ever since I kissed you that night when I brought you home about a month ago, I’ve been wanting to do it again.”
Her breath caught, but even though she’d had the same thoughts, she didn’t say anything. She just kept her eyes on his and unconsciously licked her lips.
Sebastian let out the faintest of moans. “If you do that again, I’m not going to be able to refrain from tasting you.”
She felt her lips twitch up into a tiny smile as she darted her tongue out, running it over her bottom lip.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He moved in, gently brushing his lips over hers. But the moment they touched, hunger swept through her and she opened for him, turning their sweet kiss into something hungry and slightly desperate.
“Gigi,” he whispered.
“Yeah?” she said, running her fingers down the back of his neck.
“I want to take you upstairs and finally find out what I’ve been missing all these years.”
The bluntness of his statement shocked her. This attraction was something they’d always been careful to step back from. But damned if she didn’t want him, too. And the fact that she was forty-one and no longer a clueless eighteen-year-old meant that there was no reason to say no. No reason to keep her distance. It was time Gigi finally got what she wanted for a change.
Without a word, Gigi stood and held her hand out to him.
He glanced up at her, his eyes glinting again, but also holding a question. Was she sure? They both knew this would change things. It wasn’t as if they had a close friendship these days, but they’d been very close at one time, and it would be easy to fall for him. Did she even want that?
No. She wasn’t in the market for any sort of serious relationship.
But as she looked down at him and felt his hand tighten on hers, she didn’t care about what might happen in the future. Right then, all she wanted was Sebastian.
“I’m sure if you are,” she said, answering his unspoken question.
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” Sebastian rose from the couch, picked her up in one swift motion, and carried her upstairs, all while kissing her with everything he had.
Chapter Nine
Despite the obvious passion raging through Sebastian, Gigi was surprised when he gently set her on her feet at the edge of her bed and moved away slightly, letting his forehead