Your Irresistible love

Chapter Fifteen

Ava

On Saturday, I arrive at the beach a full hour earlier than my scheduled jogging session with Sebastian. He tried to insist on picking me up, but I won the argument. Well, won isn't the right word, because there's no winning against him when he puts his mind to something. We compromised. I agreed to let him drive me back to the apartment after the run.

The truth is that I wanted to have a whole hour to myself. The last three weeks were so full of Sebastian. If I'm not seeing him at the office, I'm thinking about him. He consumes my thoughts every waking moment. Every sleeping moment too, I might add.

After I'm done stretching, I break into a light run on the sand. How did I get out of shape so fast? I stop often, clutching my left side, panting. When I can't move anymore, I grasp mentally for any motivational crap about sports and health and all that jazz. I am sidetracked by the sight of the mouthwatering donuts the couple lying on the sand a few feet away from me is eating. I sigh, forcing my legs to carry me forward. I know better than to break into a run again, so I advance with quick steps. I'm meeting Sebastian at the other end of the beach, and there are still a bazillion miles until I get there.

Except for the couple with the donuts, the beach is deserted, so I don't have anything to distract me from the miles I still have to walk.

"Morning, beautiful."

A jolt shakes me, and I turn around. A short, balding man in his late forties—or possibly fifties—stands behind me. He wears jogging attire, but by the sleazy look he gives me, I can tell he's not here for jogging.

"Err, do I know you?" I don't bother to sound interested.

"You do now." He says the words with all the confidence in the world, as though it's the best pick-up line. "I'm Ray, what's your name?"

"None of your business." I turn around, intending to put as much distance between us. He catches up with me.

"You're right. I was trying to be polite. I live in one of those blocks." He points vaguely to some skyscrapers in the distance. "We could go there for a quick fuck."

My jaw drops. Is he serious? I've never heard such a lame-ass pick-up line, and I live in New York.

I force my voice to sound calm, even though I'd like nothing better than to smash this idiot's nose. "No thanks, I'm going to pass."

"Oh, come on. Don't play hard to get. You came here looking for it. Do you want to get paid, is that it?"

This actually makes me stop. "What?" I bark at him.

"Flaunting your tits like that on the beach."

"I came for a run." Clenching my fists, I glare at him. I'm wearing tight jogging pants and a bra.

"Sure you did."

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I stomp my foot, placing my hands on my hips.

"You need some convincing."

"No. Please leave."

"She said no," someone booms from behind me. Relief washes over me at the sound of the familiar voice. Sebastian. Knowing that Sebastian's here makes me feel safe. "Leave or you won't ever be able to walk again when I'm done with you."

Ray's about two heads shorter than Sebastian; he's no match for him. He must realize this too, because his smirk fades as he eyes Sebastian. "Get out of our sight before I call the cops," Sebastian says.

Sebastian doesn't take his eyes off Ray until he's at a considerable distance from us. He turns to me, laying his hands on my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. I blink away tears.