I glanced at their eager faces. "I think they'll cope," I said.
"Wonderful. Where are you?"
"Zeta bar, in the Hilton Hotel."
"I know it. I'll be there in half an hour."
"See you then."
Ruth snorted as I stashed my phone back in my purse. "Yeah, casual indeed."
"What?" I replied.
"Look at you, you can't wipe the dopey smile off your face."
"I can too!" I said, making a conscious effort to twist my mouth into a scowl. It was surprisingly difficult.
"Lou?" Ruth said, turning to the other woman.
She grinned at me. "If you'd been any more gooey-eyed, Soph, you'd have been melting onto the table."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Sure, I was excited to see Sebastian, but that was purely my raging libido talking. "You can shut up, both of you. It's just fun because it's new, you know? That's all."
"If you say so," said Lou, although her expression said she didn't buy it.
"Anyway, he'll be here soon, so I'd appreciate if you two could do your best not to embarrass me."
I was secretly looking forward to them meeting Sebastian. I'm not ashamed to admit that I wanted to show him off a little. I'd been with attractive guys in the past, but none had nearly the same visceral impact that he did. His sheer presence and overt sexuality were a sight to behold. I couldn't wait to see the effect he'd have on the girls.
He didn't disappoint. A little while later, I spotted him sauntering through the crowd.
"So somehow she thinks it's my responsibility because..." Lou was saying to Ruth, however she trailed off as Sebastian appeared behind me.
"Sophia," he said, laying a hand gently on my shoulder.
"Right on time," I replied. "Sebastian, these are my friends, Ruth and Louisa."
"A pleasure to meet you," he said, shaking each of their hands. They returned the gesture dumbly, their mouths hanging slightly open like they'd forgotten how to speak. It was incredibly satisfying seeing them stilled like that, although I couldn't say that I blamed them. He looked good enough to eat. Somehow he'd managed to maintain that perfect level of rough stubble he'd worn the first night we met. That, combined with his wild black curls and roguish smile, gave him an exotic, devil may care look that practically screamed, "mind blowing orgasms!" I didn't think there was a woman in the room who would be immune to that.
"You too," said Ruth eventually. "Would you like to sit down? We could get another round."
"As much as I hate to turn down the company of three beautiful women, we should go. The party has already started. You two don't mind if I take her away do you? I'd be in your debt."
They both shook their heads slowly.
"Wonderful. I'm just going to get a glass of water and then we'll go, okay?"
"Sure," I replied.
I could only grin as their eyes followed him across the room.
"Jesus, Soph," said Lou, when he was out of earshot, "I take back what I said before. I think you'd be hard pressed not to go a little gooey with him on the other end of the line."
Ruth exhaled slowly. "Yeah, I've gotta hand it to you hon', that is one fine specimen of a man. I don't suppose he has any eligible friends?"
I laughed. "I'll let you know after I meet some of them tonight."
She turned to Lou. "Think you could find your way back to that bar? Maybe there's another function we can slip our way into. Something with firemen, hopefully."
"Give me another few drinks and I might just be on board," Lou replied. She grinned at Ruth's surprised expression. "What? I'm engaged, not dead. I can look!"
At that moment Sebastian returned. "Ready?"
I nodded. "Yep."
"You have a good night, girls," he said.
"You too," replied Lou.
Joe was waiting by the curb outside. "Hi Joe."
"Good evening, Sophia."
"What did you get up to while Sebastian was gone? Did you go out and paint the town red?"
"Oh, nothing as exciting as that I'm afraid. It was a lot of staring at the phone and waiting for him to call, looking back wistfully on old pictures of me driving him around, that sort of thing."
Sebastian grinned. "That's what I like about you, Joe, that unwavering respect."
"I try, sir."
Joe opened the door and Sebastian ushered me through, easing in behind me. In a few moments the engine growled and we pulled out into the Sydney traffic. It was peak hour and the streets were thronging with cars. I never tire of that busyness. The first chance I got I moved from the suburbs to the city and never looked back. There's a living vibration to it, a sense of constant fluctuation that's a thrill to be a part of.
The back seats of the limo were spacious, with room for five or six to sit comfortably, but nonetheless Sebastian had guided me to one corner and then slid in next to me until our thighs were touching. I couldn't have moved even if I'd wanted to. Not that I did. I'd fantasised all week about being close to him, and now that I was, my body was kicking into overdrive. His raw presence radiated over me. There was an amazing sense of banked power to him. Even in the simple act of sitting in a car, he somehow looked primed, like a lion at rest between meals.
He looked over at me, something carnal flaring in his eyes. "Sophia," he said, and then taking my head in one hand and my shoulder in the other, he pulled me in, capturing my lips in his. Instantly, the heat simmering in my stomach began to boil over. This was what I'd been waiting for.
His kiss was hungry and fierce, an act of raw desire. He ran his hands through my hair, desperately pulling me closer, as though trying to fold the two of us into one. I loved that I stoked such passion in him. In that one simple gesture I could feel the weight of the week we'd been apart. He hadn't been lying. He'd been longing for me as much as I had him.
Our tongues darted together, exploring each other's mouths. I don't know why, but he tasted sweet, like strawberries and wood smoke. I quivered and sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers began to work their way up the soft flesh of my thighs, gradually peeling back my skirt. Meanwhile his other hand had slid down my neck and looped inside the shoulder strap of my dress.