Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit) by Lauren H. Kelley Page A

most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. If you’re not careful, you’re going to make me put you over my shoulder and haul you back to my place. You need a lesson in submission.”
    Ashley inhaled a deep breath and pulled back hard. Freed from his clutches, she whipped around. Their eyes met. “You kinky bastard. I told you there would be no sex, and just as sure as hell is hotter than summer in Georgia, I certainly won’t role-play with you in the bedroom.”
    Sebastian tossed his head back and laughed. The thunder of his deep voice vibrated through Ashley’s core. “That’s not exactly what I meant,” he defended. Entertaining her interpretation of his words, his laugh faded into a sinister grin. “Although, I do like the way you think.”
    Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. She quickened her pace, taking long, measured steps away from Sebastian and toward the beach house. “Go home, Sebastian,” Ashley yelled over her shoulder.
    A sudden burning sensation on Ashley’s ankles and calves arrested her steps. Sebastian’s wide gait had closed the distance between them. His less-than-graceful stride stirred up grains of sand, stinging her legs.
    “What do you want?” Exasperation leaked from her lips, wilting Sebastian’s grin into a frown.
    “I just want to talk.” He glanced around, peering at the sea swell, and then fixed his gaze on her. “A do-over. A second chance.” Surrendered hands fell at his sides.
    His earnest words, like a cool breeze coming from the ocean, sent a shiver up Ashley’s spine. She shuddered and looped her arms across her chest to stave off the chill, and him. As if instinct had commanded, Sebastian stepped forward and placed his arms around her. The urge to resist the warmth of his embrace fled. Her head pressed against his chest. Her arms spanned his torso. Ashley surrendered to him, enjoying the feel of Sebastian’s warm body against hers.
    Sebastian’s head angled down, he whispered, “Ashley, I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you. If you give me another chance, I’ll make up for my behavior.”
    The desperation in his voice cut through her muddled thoughts. She peered up at him, her eyes wide, her vulnerability exposed. She swallowed hard. “Sebastian, this isn’t the right time. I… I can’t… The timing is…”
    He leaned down. Gray eyes impassioned with tenderness locked on hers. “The timing is perfect,” he whispered.
    Slowly Sebastian’s soft lips covered Ashley’s, silencing her stammer. Her knees buckled. With limbs as unruly as hers, Sebastian collapsed to the earth, brought them both to their knees and clinging one to the other in a tender embrace. Her hands clawed at his chest to push him away, to pull him closer. Conflicting movements matched her feelings. Feelings that swelled and receded like ocean waves. His hardness pushed against her stomach. Ashley whimpered and moaned. Sebastian’s tongue moved with expert precision, swirling inside her mouth, mixing her tattered emotions and thoughts into pure heat. He cupped her behind, molded her cheeks with skillful hands.
    Passion, raw and tender, erupted. Sebastian laid back into the bed of sand and pulled Ashley onto him. The intensity of his commanding tongue and touch grew. Greedy fingers crawled up the back of her thigh and under her pink dress. Ashley reached back, covered his wandering hand with hers. His journey paused, Sebastian’s fleshy palm pressed firmly against her naked flesh.
    “Sebastian,” she moaned, a hesitant, wanting whisper.
    His desire unleashed, he rolled Ashley onto her back and forced her to the ground underneath the weight of his body. Sebastian devoured her lips, chest heaving, wild eyes locked on her. He reached down slowly, lowered her strapless dress, and exposed her breasts. Her golden-brown skin shimmered in the moonlight.
    “Beautiful,” he rasped.
    Sebastian lowered his head. His wet tongue circled a hard nipple, forced an ache between Ashley’s thighs. She wanted him. There.