meetings. You can have a seat in that chair there in the corner."
"Why do you have a bed?" he asked, somewhat aroused.
"Because it's comfortable and this is an office full of women who like to be comfortable." She settled at the head of the bed, her back against the wall and her knees bent so she wouldn't flash him in her black pencil skirt.
"Have you ever had sex here?" It was the first thought that came to mind and completely inappropriate, but he couldn't help himself. Mariss blinked at him, her shock plain in her wide eyes. "That's probably the first thing I would do if there was a bed in my office building." He watched her pupils dilate. "I'd like to have sex with you here. Do you remember what it was like that night ?"
Her face went slack, her lips parted, and her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink. Of course, that was the moment her employees chose to walk in. Sebastian watched her dip her head to hide the desire the memories brought to her eyes.
"I guess I should have made introductions before," Mariss said as everyone got settled. "You met Brit. She's a bit brash. She's also my resident tech geek and cover artist. She does most of the visual work for us. She's practically a genius."
"I have friends we outsource for the big projects," Brit said, deflecting some of the attention. "Mare, he's totally macking on you."
"Yes, and I'm happily married." Mariss sent him a pointed gaze, which he ignored, before she went on. "Stacia is in charge of finances. She's so good with numbers it makes my head spin. Eloisa and Bennett are my editors. They are insanely awesome." She smiled at two women who looked almost identical. "Janette and Amanda are my R&D and quality control section."
"And you run your business with seven people?" Sebastian couldn't keep the awe out of his voice.
"Yes. As I tried to explain to you before, being independent means that my people come and go. I know that any day Brit could leave me for a better paying gig. I'd kill her and stuff her beneath the floorboards before I let her go, but I have no delusions about my company. I am the only constant."
"I've been with you from the beginning, babes," Brit told her, casting Mariss a glance that could only be described as sisterly.
"Thanks. You're my number one bitch."
"Better be."
Sebastian noted how Mariss deflected the uncomfortable, tender moment with a joke. Brit didn't seem to mind and Mariss moved on.
"Wheeza and B, how are those new pieces working out that I sent you?"
"I love the one you sent me," one of the identical women said. Sebastian wasn't sure if Eloisa or Bennet was speaking. Whichever she was, her Latina accent was thick and lovely. She kept throwing him nervous little glances. Another fangirl. "The story arc is fantastic and I love the character development, but oh my god, they need to learn how to spell. Or at least figure out how to work the spell checker."
Mariss laughed. He loved the sound of it. It was real and heart-felt. She straightened her legs, making sure to keep them crossed at the ankle.
"Is it that bad?" she asked.
"Oh, my god! She always uses the wrong version of your. She substitutes y-o-u-r for y-o-u-'-r-e, and vice versa. If she was here I would slap her and shout 'What is wrong with you? Use the spell checker!' And she can't spell superfluous, but she keeps using it. I don't even think she knows what it means. When you're fighting dragons, a sword is not superfluous. That's just my opinion, but I think it's the right one."
Sebastian chuckled, and it brought every eye around to stare at him. "I'm sorry. I would have to agree with you. What's your name, sweetheart?"
"I'm Eloisa. Bennett has the longer hair. Yes, we're twins, okay?" She held up her right hand and rolled her eyes.
"I had assumed. You have a lovely voice."
"Thank you!" Eloisa's mood changed from indignant to pleased . "Here in America everyone falls for the accent." She beamed at him.
"What about you, Bennett?" Mariss asked, pushing the
"Why do you have a bed?" he asked, somewhat aroused.
"Because it's comfortable and this is an office full of women who like to be comfortable." She settled at the head of the bed, her back against the wall and her knees bent so she wouldn't flash him in her black pencil skirt.
"Have you ever had sex here?" It was the first thought that came to mind and completely inappropriate, but he couldn't help himself. Mariss blinked at him, her shock plain in her wide eyes. "That's probably the first thing I would do if there was a bed in my office building." He watched her pupils dilate. "I'd like to have sex with you here. Do you remember what it was like that night ?"
Her face went slack, her lips parted, and her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink. Of course, that was the moment her employees chose to walk in. Sebastian watched her dip her head to hide the desire the memories brought to her eyes.
"I guess I should have made introductions before," Mariss said as everyone got settled. "You met Brit. She's a bit brash. She's also my resident tech geek and cover artist. She does most of the visual work for us. She's practically a genius."
"I have friends we outsource for the big projects," Brit said, deflecting some of the attention. "Mare, he's totally macking on you."
"Yes, and I'm happily married." Mariss sent him a pointed gaze, which he ignored, before she went on. "Stacia is in charge of finances. She's so good with numbers it makes my head spin. Eloisa and Bennett are my editors. They are insanely awesome." She smiled at two women who looked almost identical. "Janette and Amanda are my R&D and quality control section."
"And you run your business with seven people?" Sebastian couldn't keep the awe out of his voice.
"Yes. As I tried to explain to you before, being independent means that my people come and go. I know that any day Brit could leave me for a better paying gig. I'd kill her and stuff her beneath the floorboards before I let her go, but I have no delusions about my company. I am the only constant."
"I've been with you from the beginning, babes," Brit told her, casting Mariss a glance that could only be described as sisterly.
"Thanks. You're my number one bitch."
"Better be."
Sebastian noted how Mariss deflected the uncomfortable, tender moment with a joke. Brit didn't seem to mind and Mariss moved on.
"Wheeza and B, how are those new pieces working out that I sent you?"
"I love the one you sent me," one of the identical women said. Sebastian wasn't sure if Eloisa or Bennet was speaking. Whichever she was, her Latina accent was thick and lovely. She kept throwing him nervous little glances. Another fangirl. "The story arc is fantastic and I love the character development, but oh my god, they need to learn how to spell. Or at least figure out how to work the spell checker."
Mariss laughed. He loved the sound of it. It was real and heart-felt. She straightened her legs, making sure to keep them crossed at the ankle.
"Is it that bad?" she asked.
"Oh, my god! She always uses the wrong version of your. She substitutes y-o-u-r for y-o-u-'-r-e, and vice versa. If she was here I would slap her and shout 'What is wrong with you? Use the spell checker!' And she can't spell superfluous, but she keeps using it. I don't even think she knows what it means. When you're fighting dragons, a sword is not superfluous. That's just my opinion, but I think it's the right one."
Sebastian chuckled, and it brought every eye around to stare at him. "I'm sorry. I would have to agree with you. What's your name, sweetheart?"
"I'm Eloisa. Bennett has the longer hair. Yes, we're twins, okay?" She held up her right hand and rolled her eyes.
"I had assumed. You have a lovely voice."
"Thank you!" Eloisa's mood changed from indignant to pleased . "Here in America everyone falls for the accent." She beamed at him.
"What about you, Bennett?" Mariss asked, pushing the
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