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He watched me drink, and I reminded myself I loved Ruben. Adored him, in fact, and we were like glue when we were together.So why was I attracted to Augustus as well?
The loneliness was getting to me, and I was beginning to spin ridiculous theories in my head. That was all this was.
“Right, well, thank you for the drink, Lord Huntington. I must be going. I’m afraid my work doesn’t stop with the end of the shoot.” Linda got to her feet and slipped into her coat, glancing at the three of us. “Great work, all of you. Kai, I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow so we can go through the images, all right?”
Kai drummed his hands on the tabletop. “Yes, marm. I can’t wait. I’ll start looking through them tonight.”
“Good man.” Linda turned to Aug and me. “Have a great weekend, you two. Next week we begin planning the autumn catalog and our big, annual Christmas Eve charity gala. You’re going to love this, Sienna. It’s our biggest night of the year. Sonja never misses it.”
It sounded like work was going to get crazy busy over the next little while.Hoping I was up to this monumental task, I pasted a big smile on my face. “I look forward to it.”
Linda and Kai left me alone with Augustus,and I sipped my drink. This was a tenuous situation. I liked him. I liked him a lot and knew he wanted more from me than I ought to give him, given my situation.
Augustus shook his head. “I can’t believe those two bailed on your celebration.”
“I can,” I mumbled. “I’d bail, too, in their place.”
Augustus studied me curiously.
I made myself meet his gaze. “There’s something here, Aug. I thought it was just me being, well,me, but whatever is going on between us is strong. They left because they know it. We’re drawn to each other in a way that can barely be controlled.”
Aug reached out and slowly stroked his fingers through my hair, caressing my scalp as he did so, and I let him. He pushed my hair away from my face, traced his fingertip down the length of my neck, and again, I let him. Then Aug moved his hand around to cup the back of my neck, and my heart pounded like a war drum against my ribs as he moved closer. When he pressed his forehead to mine, my breath hitched, and his warm exhale caressed my face as his lips hovered close enough to flutter over mine.
“You don’t know how badly I want you.” His deep, husky whisper had me trembling with need. It was a desire I ought to ignore, but something about him dared me not to. “I want to fuck you hard and fast, slowly and sensuously. I want to spoil you and ruin you. To make you beg for me to end the elicit torture and mark you as mine. Oh, the things I could show you, hotness.”
I drew my bottom lip between my teeth, andmy core clenched. Instantly, the wetness pooled between my legs as a flush ran from my cheeks down my body. I drew my bottom lip between my teeth wanting him to do those things to me, but I would never go behind Ruben’s back. My sexy nerd meant way too much to me. “I know how much you want me, and I—”
“You what?” His lips feathered over mine with his question.
“I can’t.” Leaning into Augustus, teasing him in my own way, I murmured, “I can’t. As much as I want to, as much as I’m fiercely attracted to you, I won’t do that to Ruben.”
Augustus sighed. His thumb rested against my bottom lip. “I admire your loyalty, Sienna.”
“Thank you.”
His closeness and the scent of his expensive aftershave were intoxicating. I was drunk on him.
“Will I see you on Monday?” I asked, forcing myself to focus.
“No. My shooting contract is up. I’ll only be around for the promotional stuff once the campaign goes out.”
My breath failed me for a moment. This meant I wouldn’t be seeing Augustus anymore. He was a viscount living in one of London’s wealthiest suburbs, and I lived in a tiny studio apartment in a split-up terrace house in Tottenham. We were from different worlds. Two worlds that had collided for a moment in time to achieve a common goal. He would have no need for me from now on.
I ran my hand over his chest and shoulder as though I wanted to remember him forever. “Oh. Well, okay. Then I guess I’ll see you around. Or not. Whatever.” Squaring my shoulders, I stepped back from him and tried not to let my disappointment show. “Thanks for the good times, Augustus. It was interesting working with you.”
“Sienna—”
I didn’t let him say another word and bolted out of Lord Huntington’s favorite fancy bar. Before he could see the tears welling in my eyes, I jumped out onto the sidewalk and was blasted by the cold afternoon air. I fumbled with my things as I pushed my arm into my coat, hightailing it down Knightsbridge Street as fast as my legs could carry me, desperate to put as much distance between myself and the playboy viscount as I possibly could.
CHAPTERSIX
The weekend was all my own. For the first time since I’d arrived in London, I had time to explore my temporary home. I was only here for a few months before I was supposed to head back to California to work in the new Estate Styles’ offices in my hometown of Wayborough Shores. I had to make the most of my spare time since I had so little of it.
Armed with a tourist map, my morning coffee, a twenty-four-hour hop-on, hop-off bus ticket, and sporting my new favorite suede jacket, extra thick jeans, and calf-high-heeled boots, I was set for the day.I caught an Uber into the Central London area and waited at the stop specifically for the hop-on, hop-off bus.
I buzzed with excitement when I stepped onto the iconic red double-decker bus and headed directly for the open-top seating on the roof. I wanted the best view as I rode around London Town, and I hoped it wouldn’t rain too much. Mind you, this was fall in the UK, after all. It was not unlike Wayborough Shores at this time of year. Showers were inevitable.
As I sat, I pushed my straight, dark brown hair behind my ears so I could pop in a pair of earbuds. Once I was hooked up to the side of the vehicle, informative audio flowed through my ears. I was about to learn everything there was to know about Central London.
