I couldn’t wait.

“I’m sorry, Sebastian. I didn’t think. It just came out,” I said.

“I didn’t come here to talk about that.”

“Oh.” Maybe I had jumped the gun, thinking he was actually back.

“I came here today hoping you’d tell me your whole name.”

“No,” I said sternly. “I don’t want you to push me away. I’ll stay your Jessica.”

There I’d said it. I showed my desperation and while I should have been completely embarrassed by it, I wasn’t.

“So you’re perfectly okay sleeping with a man who calls you by another woman’s name forever?”

“Well maybe not forever, but…” I stopped. “What do you mean forever?”

Sebastian never said the word forever. I seriously doubted he even thought about the following week when it came to his girls.

“I mean, I went a week without you, and I’m not sure I ever want to go that long again.”

He moved around the counter and stood next to me.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Mr. Black?” I asked playfully.

He looked down at me with a soft expression, before pressing his lips to mine. “Tell me your name,” he said against my lips.

Pulling back, I let my eyes devour his face. If it was possibly going to be the last time I saw him, I wanted to take it all in.

“Rosslyn. My name’s Rosslyn Harris.”

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard before pulling me closer. “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

“You think I’m beautiful?” I asked as I batted my lashes at him.

“You know I do, smartass. And what makes it even better, you’re all mine.”

“Again, are you saying what I think you’re saying, Mr. Black?”

“I don’t know, Miss Rosslyn Harris. What is it you think I’m saying?”

It felt good to hear him say my name. After being called Jessica for so long, it was nice to finally be acknowledged as myself.

“It sounds to me like you’re saying you’re prepared to throw away you’re little black book.”

He threw his head back and laughed out loud before leaning down and kissing me softly. I lost my fingers in the soft hair that touched the back of his neck and he filled his hands with my hips. Pulling away, he smiled down at me before kissing the tip of my nose sweetly.

“What black book? I own no such thing,” he grinned.

Twenty-Five

Sebastian

It was official. I was the most stupid motherfucker alive. I should have stayed away from her. I should have stayed off her register and cared for her from afar. It was the least I could do for her. But then I’d seen her and my resolve crumbled.

She had been standing there, across the street, looking at me with that fucking smile I loved so much. I wanted to go to her. I wanted to take her in my arms, put her in the back seat, and spend the rest of the day in bed with her. But I didn’t. I blew her off, got in the car, and drove away.

I was in my office for the rest of the day and most of the night, doing everything but handcuffing myself to stay there. I hadn’t seen Vick all day, even though I knew she was downstairs when the club opened for the night. She knew it was best to stay away from me.

It was about midnight when I broke. Grabbing my jacket, I left my office, marched down the stairs and through the busy club, and went straight to Rosslyn. I’d deal with the consequences later, if there even were any.

After thinking on it all night, I decided I could be with her. She’d never need to know anything about me and Vick. I could make her happy—give her back the life we’d taken away from her. I would give her anything she wanted.

When I got to condo, she was sleeping sweetly on the couch, clutching her phone. I sat beside her. Pushing the hair from her face, I watched her sleep for a bit, before taking her to bed. I spent the rest of the night staring out at the New York skyline and making plans.

“Let’s go somewhere,” I said.

She was lying beside me naked, her skin flush with mine.

“Where?”

“Some place tropical. I’m talking white sandy beaches, palm trees, and fruity drinks with umbrellas in them. I want to see you in a two piece with a big floppy hat.”

She considered my offer and became serious. “There’s one problem, though.”

“Oh yeah? And what is that?”

“I don’t do floppy,” she said, grabbing my dick.

We broke down laughing and I kissed her nose. “You’re right. Very poor choice of words.“