Page 7 of Love in Beauty
“Me too, because I’d really hate to kill my little sister.” He kisses my nose. “Now, where do you want me?”
“Inside me.” I lean into his lips as he growls. “But for now, I guess inside the salon.”
“Tease.” His hands snake down to my ass and squeeze it. I yelp then we walk hand in hand to the salon.
“Everyone, this is Sebastian. Sebastian, this is everyone.” He waves. I go back to my client and Tia Edna pulls him over to the counter for him to sit, since there are no chairs available.
“So where’s this teddy bear at?” Sebastian sits in my chair at my station about an hour later.
“I don’t know. Can you compete with this thing?” I drag out the teddy bear from the closet. He laughs. “When you’re in Boston, at least I won’t be lonely.”
“As long as he doesn’t have a cock, I’m good.” He winks at me, making my cheeks burn. “What do you want to do tonight? Are they setting up for something outside?”
“The Festival of Love,” I remind him. “We did our decorations in here so I can help there if they need me if I’m not busy.” I smile at him.
“Oh baby, I plan to keep you very busy.” He captures my lips again. The collective sigh from the women has me groaning in embarrassment. “I’ll go back to work.” He chuckles.
chaptereight
Sebastian
Carmen letme into her two-bedroom apartment above the salon. Carmen enjoys having her own space. Cupid’s Cove is everything Carmen told me about and more. The town is grand and the love her clients have for her is overwhelming. The stories they told me about her growing up make me like her even more. Someone told me how she was nine years old and made a lemonade stand in front of the salon to help raise money for a kid in her class to get the glasses he needed since a bully busted them. His family couldn’t afford the new ones. There was also the time where she went to the dance with the new kid because she didn’t want him to be alone.
Carmen is in the shower while I cook dinner in the kitchen. I’m making a simple chicken parmesan dish. I’m hoping to spend the next two weeks pampering and loving the hell out of Carmen. I know we need to talk about where this goes after the two weeks are up, but if I have a say in it, she’ll be Carmen St. James by the end of the year. Stephanie and I have talked a lot about my feelings toward Carmen. I’m not afraid of them and I fully intend to embrace them. I hope Carmen is on the same page as me. I hear a door open and smell vanilla hitting my nose before feeling arms wrap around my waist. My hands covers hers.
“Something smells good.” She kisses my back.
“It’s almost ready. If you want to, open the wine and let it breathe, or we can drink the lemonade I made.”
“Wine would be perfect. I’m so excited you’re in my apartment, in my town.” She talks as she moves around her kitchen. It’s a small kitchen compared to mine, but I designed my kitchen because even though I’m a bachelor I love being able to cook my meals. Cooking relaxes me.
“How about after dinner, I give your feet a massage? You were on them a lot today. From what your aunt was saying, it will not let up until after Valentine’s Day.”
“I’m already a sure thing, Sebastian, so you don’t need to butter me up.” Carmen laughs as she sets the table. I can’t help but laugh along with her. “But a foot massage sounds heavenly right now.” The oven timer beeps, and I go to the kitchen to pull everything out and move it to the table. She’s like a breath of fresh air.
“I serve you dinner, my beautiful.” I make a grand bow to her, and I’m greeted with a playful smack on my arm. “I hope you like it. I prefer to make my sauce, but I didn’t have time.”
“If you keep cooking for me, I might keep you here.”
“Is that supposed to be a threat or a challenge with a very nice reward?” I raise my eyebrow at her. “I’ll cook for you every fucking day if you let me. I love being in the kitchen.”
“I remember you telling me that on our video dates. I want to take you out and explore the town. I know we haven’t talked about what happens after the two weeks, but I hope you’ll be spending more time here.”
“I’d like that a lot, actually. I know you said that while you work, you don’t mind me working. I appreciate that a lot. I brought enough manuscripts with me to keep me busy. Plus, I still have meetings to do over video chat and things like that. I promise to keep my evenings free for you as long as you promise I can get you naked as soon as you walk in the door at the end of your day.”
“Oh, I can guarantee I’ll be naked for you.” She winks at me.
“You’re a vixen, Carmen Vega.” I lean over to kiss her. She parts her mouth so I can slide my tongue into hers. “No tempting me until after dinner. You’ll need your strength.”
“Oh well, then stop talking and let me eat.” This is what a relationship is supposed to be like, carefree, fun, flirty, and comfortable. But is this one too easy? I know we’re still in the honeymoon phase so everything seems incredibly easy for us right now. My relationship with my ex was toxic and it opened my eyes to a lot of things. This feels too good to be true and I know with Michelle one big fight wouldn’t end us because she knew how to work me. Hell I almost lost Stephanie, or I thought I would’ve, if she didn’t pull my head out of my ass. Fights early in relationships can make or break them but I know Carmen and I will be fine no matter what. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“I was thinking about relationships.”
“How this feels perfect, but too perfect?” Carmen sits her fork down on the table, abandoning her food like I did ten minutes ago. I play with the stem of my wineglass. I nod at her. “I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking it. I don’t have the answers and if I’m being honest with you, you’re my first real serious relationship. I’ve had one-night stands, casual situations when I needed a date for a dance or something that required a plus one, but they didn’t get my heart pumping like you do. One thing, I’m not scared. I don’t feel it when I’m with you or even when you’re back in Boston. I don’t worry about you finding someone else because of the connection we have with each other. This is it for us, and I can’t explain it.” She lets out a sigh before continuing. “I talked to Stephanie, and I know you did too.”
“I did because she’s my best friend too. I know she’s your as well. I don’t think we’re betraying each other by talking to others. My ex didn’t like my connection with my sister and tried to sabotage it. I almost lost Stephanie because of her, and I won’t do it again. I also don’t want you to lose her either, so there is some risk of being with me.”
“I didn’t talk to Stephanie about taking sides in the divorce.” She rolls her eyes at me. “I talked to her about my feelings and how strong they are for you. I wanted to know if this was normal and since she knows you better than anyone, I needed advice about it.”