Part 10 (1/2)

”Her,” he said, nodding at a statuesque brunette who was walking across the lobby. But before Kat could speak a man came forward and took her arm. His hand on her hip left little doubt she was taken.

”How about her?” Sebastian said, pointing at a redhead in a white chiffon dress.

”With that ring on her finger?” Kat teased as the woman raised her hand to brush back her hair and a giant diamond slipped into view.

”Not that easy to spot in a darkened theater,” he murmured darkly in his defense.

”I know,” she cooed in mock-sympathy.

”Her,” he finally said, pointing at the woman with the topknot Kat had mentioned earlier.

”Ooh, good choice. I like your style, Prince. You're smarter than you look, you know that?” He looked at her down his nose and she couldn't help it, a giggle burst out. It charmed the smile right back onto his face.

”Well what are you waiting for? Go,” Kat shooed him away, an odd mix of pride and pettiness in the pit of her stomach.

”How much longer must you lecture me? First the opera, now a lecture. Only a root ca.n.a.l would make this night better,” Sebastian said as he crossed the threshold of the apartment.

”Or a hunting trip with Prince Vlad,” Sergei added as he held the door open for her.

”You didn't even get her last name. How can we figure out if she's Queen material if the fact that she dots her i's suggestively is all we have to go on.” The men were giving her bored stares as they helped her out of her coat. ”You don't like hunting?” Kat asked, changing the subject.

”I don't like listening to my uncle's self-aggrandizing speeches outside in the cold. If I must be bored to tears I prefer the warmth of the dining room.”

Kat looked at Sergei with a raised brow. ”Prince Vlad has a tendency to talk politics when they venture out.”

”Speak plainly my good man.” Sebastian turned to Kat. ”My dear Dya drones on about the inadequacies of our government and his view of the future when he's armed and his captive audience knows it.” He mimed c.o.c.king a shotgun and pointed it at a picture of his parents across the room.

”If there's nothing else sir,” Sergei grunted. He gave the barest hint of a bow before turning on his heels and disappearing into his office.

”What was that?”

Sebastian waved the question away. ”Sergei doesn't think I should be so forthright with my opinion in front of an outsider. That's you by the way. He thinks your approach to matchmaking shows a distinct lack of Sezynian culture and understanding. He also thinks I'm just wasting my time with you to enrage my father and wishes I would abandon such a reckless sport and grow up.”

”Okay. And on that note I'm gonna change and leave,” Kat said, heading for the bedroom.

”Change?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. ”Why would you change out of that gorgeous dress? It's not a loaner you can keep it Kisa.”

”Oh, I plan on it. It's not the dress, it's my brother.”

”What's your brother?” Sebastian yelled the question through his closed bedroom door. He took off his tie and twisted it around the doork.n.o.b.

”The reason why I'm changing.”

”You don't think he'll like it?”

”Oh I'm sure he'd love it. He's ecstatic about his little sister wearing revealing dresses out on the town with notorious playboys.” Kat's sarcasm was unmistakable, even though the door. ”All Marco gave me once was a scarf and Blaze flipped a lid.”

”You talk about your brother often and with so much color. I really must meet him.”

”I don't think so,” Kat said, throwing open the door with a flourish to reveal her jeans and t-s.h.i.+rt. She didn't want him to get any farther with that thought, anything to distract him. Her hair, previously pulled up in a chiffon revealing her graceful neck, was down. She shot him an offhand smile as she gathered it up for a ponytail.

”Don't.” His hand reached out and batted hers away, spilling her hair back down around her shoulders. ”Don't.” She looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes and her breath started coming ragged at the look in his eyes. The one she always wanted to see on someone's face anyone's, Marco's even when they looked at her.

Sebastian had a weakness when it came to her hair he couldn't manage to keep his hands to himself. He wound his hand in the brunette strands and dragged her forward into a persuasive kiss. It had been too long since he'd touched anyone and he was greedy, demanding, intense.

”I ” Kat gasped as Sebastian pulled back to breathe.

”Kisa,” he murmured, his hands playing across her hips as he walked her backwards into the bedroom, ”shut up.” Her eyes danced for a moment and that's all the encouragement he needed to kiss her again, darting his tongue in to coax a response. A slight murmur escaped her and he drank it up.

Her thighs smacked into the dresser, nowhere else to go, and the s.p.a.ce between them disappeared. Sebastian's lips trailed from her mouth, down her chin, gliding against her neck. His teeth raked across her clavicle and she wrapped her arms around his torso as her knees started to buckle. She looked over his shoulder and saw the door to the bedroom still standing wide open; he hadn't even attempted to close it. He never thought about privacy, Sergei or any of his bodyguards could walk in at any moment and see them. How did she feel about that?

Sebastian's lips curved around her earlobe and she made a decision, pus.h.i.+ng him away from her forcefully. He dropped down on the end of the bed and eyed her l.u.s.tily. She liked it. A matching smile appeared on her face as her s.h.i.+rt came up over her head. He kissed her hungrily, pulling her close until she was straddling him.

”What a delicious curve,” he said, running a hand down her shoulder to caress down her back. He was looking in the mirror behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see what he was looking at, back down into his face and snorted in disgust.

”What? It was a compliment,” he protested as she rose, reaching out to grab her hand.

”You were mocking me, and comparing me to a motorcycle.” Kat tapped the picture of James Dean's bike slid into the frame of the mirror. ”Don't think I don't remember.” She grabbed one of his s.h.i.+rts hanging on the bedpost and started b.u.t.toning it up. His eyes lit up with humor.

”I'm sure you're just as good a ride.”

”G.o.d you're such an a.s.s,” she said, flinging the curtain of hair over her shoulder as she left the room. The heady mood before had vanished, probably the best decision of the night.

”Yes but what an a.s.s it is, right?”

”Did that guy ever call you about the bike?”

”No,” he lied.

”Hmm, Karma. Serves you right.”

”Where are you going?” he asked as she reached for the door.

”I'm leaving.”

”Don't go,” he laughed, leaning lazily in the entryway, ”I'll be lonely.”

”Yeah well if I know you, you won't be for long.” She was already opening up the door.

”But you took my little black book.”

”I did, didn't I?” she murmured, an extra twinkle in her eyes. ”Think about how hard it is without me when I'm gone.” The door closed behind her and he just shook his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

Chapter 10.

Sebastian walked in the front door of his apartment and threw his phone down onto the table. Why had his bodyguards stayed downstairs? Something was off, though he couldn't quite place it. Had he left that door open? When was the last time they'd even been in the storage closet? And whose jacket was that?