The Red Wife Read online

  “Not right then I wasn't.” He chuckled, mocking her. “What can I do to make this more bearable?”

  “Leave?” she said without conviction.

  “Out of the question. I haven't seen you in three months and, quite frankly, I miss your lovely face.” When Mariss frowned he added quickly, “I will behave myself, Mrs. Red. I only wanted to see you, and I meant what I said about coming for company support. I know things have to be distant between us, but I am part of this company.”

  “I think 'understanding' Bassy is harder to handle than 'I'm a supermodel, deal with it' Bassy.”

  Sebastian smiled.

  “Yay!” Brit cried. She stood from her seat and leapt into the arms of a man who was the perfect mixture of attractive and nerdy. “Everyone, this is Brett.”

  Mariss felt her eyes widen. “No.”

  Brit grinned at her, confirming that it was the truth. Mariss covered her mouth and looked at Sebastian. He smiled and shook his head.

  “That is the cutest thing I've ever heard. Brit and Brett.” Mariss giggled.

  Her laughter was cut short, though, as Brett sank down on one knee. He pulled something out of his pocket and looked up at Brit with so much love.

  “Brit, your humor is the light in my darkness. You always manage to make me smile when all I want to do is frown. I need that in my life. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes!” Brit's excited answer pulled a round of applause from those in the restaurant who'd heard.

  Mariss covered her mouth with her hand, tears forming in her eyes. She hadn't even known Brit was dating anyone that seriously.

  Brit turned to her with a knowing smile. “Mare, will you be my maid of honor?”

  Mariss smiled, in spite of the tears in her eyes. “Matron of honor,” she corrected. “I'm married. And yes. Absolutely, yes.”

  Sebastian touched Mariss' back and she turned to him.

  “Are you alright?”

  “I didn't know she was dating anyone. Not this serious. She didn't tell me.” Mariss sat quietly for a moment while Sebastian regarded her. “It's because of what I've been going through with you,” she confirmed.

  “And what have you been going through with me?”

  His tone was light and teasing, but whatever was in Mariss' face when she looked at him wiped the look right off his face. His bright blue eyes changed to a lighter, softer color and he frowned.

  “I feel guilty every day, Sebastian. It's eating me up inside and I don't know how to tell him.”

  “You haven't told him?” Sebastian's shock was almost tangible. “Mariss,” he clucked, disapproving.

  “You want me to tell him?” She shook her head. “I am strong. I'm brave and determined. I get what I want. Yet, I can't face my husband with this. I just can't do it. I'm a coward and I'm afraid to lose him.”

  Sebastian's hand appeared on the table and his fingers twitched like he want to touch her.

  “You should tell him. Not because I need some kind of drama for the situation to be validated, but because I can see what it's doing to you. You cover your pain with jokes, but they're hollow. If I can see it, he certainly can.”

  Mariss turned away in time to catch Brit glaring.

  “No. None of that,” she commanded. “Don't make me split you two up.” She pointed between them.

  “She's right. This is a conversation for another time. We're supposed to enjoy this weekend.” Sebastian flagged down a waitress with nothing more than a wink and the crook of his finger. “Can we get a Pinot Grigio, please? I assume everyone is drinking.”

  Mariss smiled. Sebastian was always on top of it. Brit shot him an appreciative smile across the table.

  “My treat,” Sebastian said. “For the happy couple. Congratulations.”

  “Yes,” Mariss agreed. “Congratulations, Brit. And Brett.” Everyone snickered.

  Back at the room a few hours later, Mariss dumped a bucket of ice into the bathtub and went for more.

  “There has to be an easier way to do this,” she groaned.

  “If I'd known, I would have had some ice brought up.” Sebastian rolled up his sleeves before he took the ice bucket from her, baring his strong, tan forearms. That alone was enough to make her mouth go dry.

  “If I'd known you were coming I would have had you do that. Next time, be a little less sneaky.”

  “You wouldn't have come.”

  Mariss stopped moving and stared up at him. Sebastian's eyebrow went up in his characteristic way.

  “If I'd told you I was coming you would have found a reason not to come.”

  He was right, of course. “With good reason,” she countered.

  “Yes?” Sebastian closed the space between them, his shoulders hunched like he thought he might kiss her. “What reason would that be?”

  “This one right here.” Mariss swallowed and wet her lips.

  “The tension and teasing is fun,” he said. “No harm done.”

  Mariss tried to smile. The harm was already done. Sebastian frowned and dipped his head to see her face. Mariss tried to wipe whatever look she had away, but he caught it anyway.

  “I know what you're thinking, Red, but stop it. Everything is fine.”

  “It really isn't.” How did you explain guilt to someone who'd never felt it? How did you explain morals to someone who didn't have any? Sebastian wasn't a bad man. That, she had learned through the course of their relationship, but he was sorely misguided in his assumptions about, well…women. Romance. Sex.

  “Hm.” Sebastian's look was contemplative, his eyes blazed with thought. “I don't know that look, but I'm going to figure it out. Get the drinks in the tub. I'll get the ice.”

  Again, he touched her cheek affectionately.

  Hadn't he proved her wrong? She'd done the one thing she swore she wouldn't do. She'd cheated on her husband and slept with Sebastian and he was still here. He was still being funny and inappropriate and tender when he should have been long gone by now. For the first month after their little tryst she'd expected him to pull out of the company. Instead, he'd hovered around the edges, checking in when he knew she wasn't in the office, running numbers, making phone calls. He was looking out for her, for them. He'd proved her wrong, and Mariss was willing to bet that he'd proved himself wrong too. Because he wasn't the same man he'd been when they first met. Sure, he was still self-assured, arrogant, and entitled, but there was a new depth to him.

  Sebastian stopped in the doorway to let Amanda in. She worked for Red Wife in research and development and quality control with Janette. Her chestnut brown hair had fallen from it's cute twist on top of her head, but the Victorian dress she wore with its high tucks in the front called a lot of attention. Sebastian was no acception. Mariss watched as he fingered the hem of the skirt, and laughed when he made a comment about the fabric it was made of. Leave it to him to make fabric sexy.

  Mariss turned away as he left and caught Nora's eye.

  “How are you doing with all of this?” Mariss asked.

  Nora blinked like she was surprised to be addressed by her, but quickly recovered, giving an award winning cop face.

  “He schooled me in how things work before we left.”

  Mariss nodded. “And what exactly did he tell you?”

  “Not to be offended when he kissed, touched, winked, flirted, or spoke to other women.” Nora shrugged.

  Mariss chuckled. “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. And are you offended?”

  “How can I be with a proposal like that?”

  Mariss smirked. “Sounds like you were offended by the proposal.”

  Nora just shrugged again. “He also told me that I'd regret it if I caused a scene and if I messed with you I might get cut.”

  Mariss snorted. “He really likes to play that up. I promise I won't cut you. As for him, I'd listen to what he says. He doesn't make idle threats.”

  “Mariss Elizabeth!” Brit called from the next room.

  “That's not my name,” Mariss sa
id to the face poking around the door.

  “Every woman's middle name is Elizabeth. Just like every British man's middle name is William.”

  Mariss smirked. “I known that to be false.”

  “Ooh! What's Sebastian's middle name?”

  Mariss shook her head. “Can't tell you that. You should ask him though.”

  “It's Fenwick!” Juliet skipped into the room.

  “Speaking of Fenwick.” Mariss said, nodding toward the door. Juliet's eyes widened as Sebastian entered.

  “He's right behind you,” he purred.

  Juliet's shoulder's slumped. “Thank god Sebastian is here,” she said in a flat tone. “Otherwise, what kind of party would this be?”

  “Party without Sex himself is no party at all!” Brit agreed.

  “Are you still angry with me?” Sebastian asked, posting his lean body against the door frame. His body language was non-threatening and flirtatious, but Mariss saw in his face that it hurt him to know that Juliet didn't want anything to do with him.

  Juliet must have noticed too, because her body language changed abruptly. Suddenly, she seemed apologetic, even sad.

  “Sebastian, you're nothing but trouble.” Juliet's tone was icy. It didn't match her attitude.

  “Yes, I know.” Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. “I wouldn't be me if I didn't cause a little trouble now and then.” He looked over and winked at Mariss.

  “No fighting, you two.” Brit swooped in to keep the peace. She was like the team mom, always keeping people from fighting. “Lookit!” She held her new ring out to Juliet whose scowl turned into a wide grin.

  “Congrats, girl!” Juliet bent over to pull Brit into a tight hug. “I knew he was going to do it tonight.”

  “Aw!” Brit pulled back and pretended to be hurt. “And you didn't tell me? Jerk!”

  Juliet shrugged.

  Brit turned back to Mariss. “I need you in here with me.”

  Mariss nodded and followed her friend back into the room. She knew what was coming.

  When they were in the room with the door closed, Brit planted her hands on her hips and said, “Alright, let me have it.”

  “You didn't tell me,” Mariss accused. “Why?” The hurt she'd been feeling all night bubbled to the surface. Tears burned in her eyes and she held back a sob.

  “You've been going through so much, I didn't want to add to the stress.”

  “Stress my ass!” Mariss exclaimed a little too loudly. She folded her arms and glared at her friend. “I know I'm a bad friend. I should have figured it out. Why would you let me be so selfish?”

  “Seriously, if you ever pulled that knife on me, I wouldn't know what to do. I was doing it for the good of all mankind.”

  Mariss frowned. Her best friend was afraid of her. That hurt more than she cared to admit. Even more than not knowing about the boyfriend.

  “All those lunch dates,” Mariss sobbed, ashamed at herself. “Always late for morning meetings.”

  Brit chuckled and put her arms around her. “Don't cry, Mare. I wasn't hiding it from you. If you'd asked I would have told you.”

  “That doesn't make it any better!”

  Brit laughed again. “You're not really crying over me and my amazing love life are you?”

  “Of course, I am! To cry about anything else would be completely unacceptable. Plus, I might be PMSing.”

  “We need to get some beer in you, STAT.”

  Mariss shook her head. “Not strong enough.”

  There was a knock on the door and Sebastian poked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but there seems to be some kind of commotion out here.”

  Mariss narrowed her eyes at the smug grin on his face. “What did you do? Or who did you do?”

  Sebastian only chuckled and disappeared.

  Brit gave Mariss one last hug.

  “It's okay, Mare. I promise. I'm totally fine. You're going to be my maid of honor because 'matron' just sounds old. Next weekend we'll go dress shopping. It's going to be so much fun.”

  Mariss smiled. Yes, she was definitely looking forward to helping her friend get married.

  They joined the others in the living room where Sebastian lounged on the sofa next to Nora. Juliet, Amanda, and Janette sat at the counter surrounding the wet bar.

  “Ice will be here soon,” Sebastian said. He was stretched out, his arms along the back of the sofa, one ankle crossed over his knee. Nora had her head on his chest, but she looked uncomfortable, like she was waiting for Mariss to snap at any moment. Instead, she just shook her head.

  “What the hell is this?” Mariss asked of the large, oblong basket on the coffee table.

  Sebastian shrugged galantly. “Maybe look inside?” he suggested.

  Mariss pulled the ribbon off and pushed the crinkly paper out of the way. Inside was more Asbach liquor filled chocolates than she should be allowed to have in her possession. A smile spread across her face and she said, “This bitch is getting drunk tonight.” Mariss pulled out a box and tore into it. She put one of the chocolates in her mouth and bit down.

  “Oh, god,” she moaned. “This is almost as good as getting my feet rubbed.” She pointed at Sebastian, “Holden does that now, by the way. I owe it all to you.”

  “I'm glad I could pleasure you,” he purred. “Even if I have to do it through your husbands hands.”

  Mariss closed her eyes and fought the hysterical giggle that bubbled up.

  “Are these those chocolates you put in our stockings a few years back?” Janette asked, coming over to peer into the basket.

  “Yes! Grab a box! Chocolates all around! Here!” She handed a box to Brit and one to Nora. “I hope you don't mind,” she told Sebastian without looking at him. She tossed a box to Juliet. “These are too good to keep to myself.”

  “I assumed. That's why I bought you so many.”

  She smirked.

  “Oh, god.” Nora's eyes were wide with surprise. “These are amazing.”

  Mariss nodded. “My mom used to keep a box around the house all the time. I snuck some once, before I knew what they were.” She giggled and popped another chocolate in her mouth, savoring it before she continued her story. “I was young so I got so tipsy I couldn't stop giggling. Then we had dinner and I puked everywhere. Mama was so mad.”

  “This was in Germany?” Sebastian asked. His eyes sparkled with the telling of her story.

  “Ja. Vhen I vas little girl.” Mariss slipped easily into her accent. She smirked at Sebastian's smoldering gaze.

  “I heard that you were German,” Nora said. She sat up, but leaned her head on Sebastian's arm. “I didn't see it though. Not until just now.”

  “I learned to hide it well. I have secrets. Or had.”

  Sebastian gave her a reproachful look. Mariss shrugged back and turned as someone knocked on the open door.

  “Oh, good! We have the right room!” a young woman in a sexy steampunk number said when she saw Sebastian. “We have ice!”

  Mariss smiled. “Of course, you do. Bassy, where's your hat?”

  “Shall I get it?” he asked, simply.

  “Yes, please.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  PARTY GAMES

  Mariss rifled through the papers, digging to the bottom of Sebastian's top hat to pull one out. It smelled like him. Not just his spicy cinnamon scent, but him. The man. She opened the piece of paper she'd pulled out and held it close to read in the dim light. It didn't help that she was halfway to drunk either.

  “I have never…done four girls at once?”

  “I have,” Sebastian was quick to say. He held his shot glass up and toasted the room before he tossed it back. In all respects, he should have been losing the game, but Mariss was twice as drunk as he was and he wasn't even slurring. He was just…cheerful. His smile was easy and lazy, the embodiment of the most potent 'come hither' look ever to exist. The way he sat there so relaxed, with one arm around Nora and the other possessively around Mariss, made her want to
rip all of her clothes off. Again, that could have been the liquor imparing her judgement.

  But Sebastian, seeming to sense her lack of inhibitions, was the picture of a modern gentleman. Though his arm around her may have been a little tighter than was proprietary, he didn't touch, speak, or act inappropriately. It was a bit of a disappointment, but she was also thankful for it.

  “Oh, excuse me.” A blonde woman stumbled through their little ring of friends. “Sorry,” she mumbled. Her hair obscured her face, so Mariss couldn't get a good look at her.

  The next second, the blonde tumbled into the table, knocking the hat and its contents on the floor. She rolled to her feet, somehow coming up without a scratch or a muss and the hat on top of her head.

  “Hey,” Mariss whined as the woman walked away. “She ruined our game.”

  “I know plenty more games that might be far more entertaining than 'I've never',” Sebastian said. His face was inches from hers, his lips dangerously close. Mariss could taste the liquor on his breath and badly wanted to suck it from his tongue.

  “Sebastian, back away from the drunk woman,” Brit said in a commanding voice.

  Sebastian turned to look at her. Mariss couldn't see what his face looked like, but from Brit's amused expression, she was sure it wasn't kind.

  “You can glare at me all day with those gorgeous eyes of yours. I have to deal with Mariss on a regular basis, and I promise, you're no match for her temper. I made her a promise I fully intend to keep. Please, back away slowly and leave her clothes intact.”

  Sebastian's body shook with laughter as he peeled himself away from Mariss in the most enthralling display of sexual dominance anyone in the room had ever seen. He didn't even have to touch anyone. The simple fact that he was moving away because he chose to and not because Brit told him to was made to turn everyone - man and woman - into a quivering puddle of wanton need.

  The quivering coming from her own body had nothing to do with sex, though. Mariss pushed away from him and staggard to the bathroom. Her stomach rolled as she moved and she barely made it to the toilet before she was sick.

  “Mariss? Shit.” Sebastian knelt beside her, his normally heady scent overpowering her senses. She heaved again.