A Deal with Benefits. Susanna Carr

said as he walked away from the door. He could find another woman in a matter of minutes. Someone who was so grateful to be on his arm that she wouldn’t challenge him every step of the way. “You don’t want Inez Key that much. Understandable. It really isn’t much of an island.”

      “Wait,” she called out.

      Sebastian hesitated. He didn’t wait for anyone. That was one benefit he discovered after making his first million. The powerful people who used to ignore and instantly dismiss him would now wait endlessly for a minute of his time. Why should he treat Ashley any differently?

      And yet he was compelled to turn around. Because he wanted Ashley. No other woman would do. She had already invaded his dreams and captured his imagination. When Ashley wrenched the door open and stood defiantly in the threshold, his breath caught in his throat.

      Her long brown hair fell past her shoulders in thick waves. He bunched his hands as he remembered how soft and heavy it felt. His gaze drifted down to her face. Only the scowl marred her exquisite beauty.

      He couldn’t stop staring. The thin leather dress was perfect for Ashley. The casual design made him think of the oversize T-shirts she favored, yet the burnt-orange color reminded him of the sunset they’d shared on Inez Key.

      “Perfect,” he said gruffly.

      She skimmed her hands uncertainly against the metallic embellishments that gave the simple dress an edge. “Did you choose this?”

      Sebastian shook his head. “I told the stylist what I expected.” He’d wanted something that had symbolized the weekend they’d shared in Inez Key. He didn’t know that the dress would cling to her curves and accentuate her sun-kissed skin. His gaze gravitated to her long, toned legs. He remembered how they felt wrapped tightly around his waist. Sebastian swallowed roughly as his mouth felt dry.

      “It’s too short.” She tugged at the hem that barely skimmed the top of her thighs. “Too revealing. Too—”

      “Sexy as hell,” he said in a growl.

      Ashley’s breath lodged painfully in her lungs as she watched Sebastian advance. She took a step back and bumped against the door frame. The man moved quietly, like a jungle cat ready to pounce, and she stood before him like helpless prey. Her heart was already beating hard when she saw him. Now it wanted to explode out of her chest.

      Ashley wasn’t sure how she was going to get out of this situation. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to. She liked how he looked at her. Liked this tension that coiled around them, excluding everything else. She felt beautiful, powerful and vibrantly alive. Only Sebastian made her feel this way.

      But how many other women had felt like this with Sebastian? Her pulse skipped hard as the question bloomed in her mind. Just as he was about to reach her, Ashley held up her hand to stop him. She hoped he didn’t see how her fingers trembled. “Not so fast.”

      “Don’t worry, mi vida,” he said, his voice husky and seductive. “It will be slow and steady.”

      “That’s not what I meant.” She felt the heat flood her face as she imagined Sebastian exploring her body, taking his time while she begged for completion. Begged for more. “First, some ground rules.”

      He raised an eyebrow. “You can’t be serious.”

      Were mistresses not allowed to negotiate? She found that hard to believe. What they had was a business deal. “Do not tell anyone about this arrangement,” Ashley demanded as she crossed her arms, forming a barrier. She knew how men bragged. She remembered hearing her father discuss his conquests to any man who’d listen. Each story got bolder and raunchier as the men tried to one-up each other. “This is a private matter.”

      Sebastian watched her carefully. She couldn’t tell if he was offended by her request or if he didn’t know why it was worth mentioning. “I don’t discuss my private life,” he confided in a low voice. “And I won’t let anyone talk about you.”

      Ashley blinked. She wasn’t expecting that answer or the sincerity in his dark eyes. Sebastian Cruz was a good liar. He knew what she wanted to hear. If she didn’t know that he would say or do anything to get his way, she’d almost believe him.