I’m surprised when Sebastian opens the front passenger door for me, but then the driver gets out and Sebastian slides behind the wheel of the black Mercedes. He doesn’t say anything to me the entire car ride. I can tell he has something on his mind, so I don’t intrude on his thoughts.
Once he pulls into a parallel spot twenty yards back from the church, I start to open the door, but he scowls at me. Sighing, I release the handle. He sets his uniform hat on his head before he opens the passenger door and holds his hand out. I still can’t get over how handsome he is in a uniform as I put my hand in his. With Mina’s gift bag in my other hand, I step onto the snow cleared, newly salted sidewalk.
“At least it’s not snowing,” I say, glancing up at the burgeoning clouds ready to dump another four inches by the evening, according to the weather app on my phone.
Sebastian grunts his agreement and tucks my hand in the crook of his arm. I hold onto him, appreciating the support since the sidewalk has a bit of an incline.
When we approach what appears to be a patch of snow at least twenty feet long, Sebastian doesn’t say a word, he just turns and scoops me into his arms.
“I could’ve walked across it,” I say quietly, my face turning beet red when an audience of people standing outside the church start clapping.
“You’re not twisting your ankle on my watch,” he says in a matter of fact tone, completely ignoring the two guys who are now belting out a few lines from An Officer and a Gentleman’s theme song.
As soon as we reach the well-salted area in front of the church, he sets me down. While Sebastian is greeted by his half-brothers, Gavin and Damien, with shoulder hand-clapping and a bit of ribbing, I look up the stairs leading to the church’s massive main doors, and meet the icy, distrusting stare of a thin, blonde woman holding court by the left door. I instantly recognize Isabel from news articles about the Blake family. Standing beside her is her husband, Adam, who is shaking hands and chatting with those just arriving. She gives me one last disdainful glare, then turns away with a tilt of her nose to smile at someone reaching in to hug her. I start to move closer to Sebastian when another guy with short, light brown hair clamps on to Sebastian’s shoulders, wrapping an arm tight around his neck. “Heya, bro. Long time no see.”
My heart races for Sebastian. As I watch him turn and shake Calder’s hand then pull him into a hug, happiness fills my chest. Calder might be his cousin by blood, but he’s truly his brother. I’m so glad he came to the christening. I hope that means they’ll get a chance to talk.
My hand is clasped and it’s instantly tucked into the crook of another man’s arm. I look up and smile at Den, who’s gazing down at me from his massive height with wise eyes. “Would you allow me to escort you up the stairs, Miss Lone?”
I smile brightly at him and squeeze his arm. “That would be wonderful. Thank you, Den. And please, call me Talia.”
He nods and walks me up the stairs. Without consciously realizing it, people move out of Den’s way. His imposing build and height are like an invisible force field. I smile at the effect he has on everyone without even trying. “No wonder Mr. Blake hired you. This is like ‘red sea’ awesome.”
As we move off the last step and into the crowd near the church doors, Den lets out a deep laugh. “You’re so refreshing, Talia. It’s my pleasure. Anytime.”
When I look over and see Adam staring at Den, I release my hold on him. “Thank you for the escort. I believe Mr. Blake needs you.”
Den doesn’t even look Adam’s way. He just gives me a slight nod and glides through the crowd toward his boss.
“Talia!” Mina calls excitedly as she weaves her way through the people, her charcoal wool coat flapping around her calves. Josi is propped on her hip wearing an adorable white dress under a fur-trimmed winter coat.
When I touch her coat’s fuzzy hood and smile at Josi, Mina waves her hand. “It looks real, but it’s faux. I’m so glad you’re here early.” Craning her neck, she turns to look for her parents. “I wanted to introduce you to my mom, but it looks like she and my father might have already gone inside. Where’s Sebastian? The pastor wants Josi, me, you, and my brother to come inside now.”
“He’s down there talking to Calder…” I start to say, then trail off when I glance down the stairs to see a tall woman with long dark hair hugging Sebastian. Pulling back, she grins at him then swipes his hat off his head and drops it down on hers.
“Calder’s here?” Mina practically squeals in my ear. Before I can ask who the woman flirting with Sebastian is, Mina’s curled blonde hair is flowing behind her as she races down the stairs, excitedly saying, “Calder Blake. I can’t believe you came!”
While Calder swoops she and Josi into a huge bear hug, spinning them around, my gaze stays locked on Sebastian and the brunette. She’s standing in his personal space, fiddling with his lapel. He reaches for his hat, but she backs just out of his range, laughing as she holds it on her head.
“They are striking together, aren’t they?” a woman’s husky voice says next to me. When I look at her, Isabel turns cool blue eyes my way, her face flushed from the frigid air. “Regan should be standing up there during the ceremony, but despite my best efforts, I can’t control the whims of my flighty daughter.”
Regan. That’s the girl who Sebastian had a semi-relationship with when he first got back from leaving the service. The girl’s obvious familiarity with him makes sense, while also making me nauseous. But as much as Isabel’s statement about Sebastian and Regan bothers me, it’s her comment about her own child that I focus on. “Mina’s not flighty, Mrs. Blake. She’s had a rough time of it, so maybe instead of tearing her down, you could try to lift her up.”
Isabel narrows her gaze on me, her breath coming out her nose in long, dragon-like plumes. “How dare you tell me how to be a mother, you conniving little gold-digger. You might’ve snowed my husband, but I’ll be perfectly clear with you. You will never see a penny of Blake money. Your role as godmother is just window dressing.”
I shake my head at her vitriol, not at all surprised by her one-track mind. No wonder Sebastian despises her so deeply. “The great thing about not being motivated by money or social status, is that I have nothing to lose. It would be wise if you steered clear of me, Mrs. Blake. I have no problem calling you out, whenever and wherever you deserve it. My only priority is Mina and Josi’s well-being.”
“Uncouth trash,” Isabel utters before walking away in a huff, her heels clicking on the hard floor in the church’s entryway.
A petite woman close to Mina’s age approaches. Tucking her wavy, shoulder-length black hair behind her ear, she wrinkles her nose, a spattering of freckles showing up along her smooth light brown skin. “That was better than reality TV. Now I see why Mina chose you as godmother over us.”
I smile and hold out my hand. “I’m Talia. You must be one of Mina’s childhood friends.”
She nods and shakes my hand, dark brown eyes reflecting amused respect as she releases me. “I’m Laura. I’ve never seen anyone stand up to Isabel like that.” Tilting her head toward the bottom of the stairs, she continues, “Not even Regan. We deserve second chair.”
“Second chair?”
She nods. “Yeah, Mina’s mother insisted that she have more than one godmother, so Regan and I get the honor of second godmother, for lack of a better term. Which basically means we get to sit upfront beside Isabel in the pew during the ceremony.”
“Ah, I see,” I say, offering a smile of sympathy that she has to be anywhere near Isabel.
At that moment, Mina shoulders her way back through friends and family with Sebastian in tow. Josi is giggling while her mom happily calls out, “Coming through with the girl of the hour.”
Quickly passing by, Mina says to Sebastian, “Grab Talia. The ceremony starts in ten minutes, but Pastor Meyer wants us there now.”
Though surprise reflects in his eyes, Sebastian doesn’t hesitate to clasp my hand and pull me inside the church with them.
After the stoic-faced pastor with a bone-crushing grip tells Sebastian and me where to stand during the christening ceremony, and then turns to Mina to discuss a couple last minute details, Sebastian says, “Why didn’t you tell me Mina asked you to be Josi’s godmother?”
I offer an apologetic shrug. “When you invited me to come with you today, I realized that you had no idea Mina had asked me. I didn’t know what to tell you. What if Mina wanted to surprise you?”
He snorts. “She certainly accomplished that.”
His sharp quip makes my chest hurt. “Is it so hard to believe she would ask me?” I say, frowning slightly. I glance toward the front pew where Regan and Laura are seated next to Isabel, Adam, Gavin, and Damien. “Do you think Regan is a better choice to stand up here with you?”
“What?”
“Talia, Sebastian, it’s time,” Mina whispers, beckoning us.
As Sebastian and I walk forward, and then turn to the side to wait for the ceremony to begin, I catch a glimpse of Regan staring at Sebastian with heat in her gaze. When she turns to whisper something in Laura’s ear, then gives me a smug look, I swallow the bile in my throat. Based on Laura’s scandalously shocked expression, it’s probably something kinky she and Sebastian have done.
The pastor calls us forward to stand beside Mina and all my focus shifts to Sebastian’s little sister and her child. And as I watch the love in Mina’s eyes as she holds a squirming Josi still for the pastor to pour water over her head, I can’t help but hope for an unconditional love in my own life one day.
Do Sebastian and I even have a chance? Or were we doomed from the start, each of us carrying too much baggage for the other to handle. Cass’ last words come back to me. If anyone’s worth the risk of losing my heart to, it’s Sebastian.
As the pastor discusses the important role godparents play in shaping the life of a child, I look at Sebastian and see him staring at me with an unfathomable depth of emotion. I smile, and just as he returns it, the pastor turns to us.
“In lieu of traditional vows, Mina has chosen a different one today.” Opening the pamphlet he’s holding, he continues, “These ribbons represent your commitment to Josi. Speak from the heart as you tie your bow on each wrist, binding your word and your hearts with hers. Sebastian, you take yours first.”
My pulse rises as I stare at the two quarter-inch-wide ribbons, ten inches in length lying side by side in the crease of the pamphlet. One is baby pink and one is baby blue. Sebastian won’t be able to tell the colors apart. Why would Mina do this to Sebastian?
I glance to her for help, but Josi is keeping her mom busy by working herself up to a good cry. Mina is too distracted to rescue Sebastian, so I quickly reach over and grab the pink one. When the pastor frowns disapprovingly at me for not waiting my turn, I smile sheepishly and whisper, “Sorry, I’m just so excited.”
Sebastian chuckles and takes his ribbon, then gestures for me to go first.
I tie the delicate ribbon in a bow around Josi’s tiny wrist now that Mina has settled her. Josi’s big green eyes stare up at me as I rub my fingers through her blonde baby-soft curls. “Little Josi, you and I are going to have great adventures together. There will never be a puzzle you can’t solve or a mystery you can’t figure out. You will grow up smart and brave, and you’ll never fear failure, because you’ll know that no matter what, you’re protected and loved for just being you.”
Sebastian ties his ribbon around Josi’s other wrist in a very neat bow. I smile at his military precision and patience despite the baby’s flapping arm. Cupping her entire head in his big hand, he bends down and kisses the top of it, then says, “Josi-bean, there’s no greater protector than your Uncle Sebastian. You concentrate on growing up strong-minded and fearless, and I’ll take care of the riff-raff. Enough said.”
As the entire congregation laughs at Sebastian’s no-nonsense vow, I can’t help but smile. It’s so Sebastian. Watching him kiss the baby’s head about does me in though. I sniff back the tears that cloud my vision. He is everything I want. Everything. Can I convince him to keep me—to want us—forever?
When the ceremony is over and after the photographer has taken tons of pictures of us with Mina and Josi, my heart skips a beat when I hear Adam call Sebastian’s name as the crowd disperses out of the church.
“Sebastian, a word please.”
I try not to stare when Sebastian walks out of the church to speak to his father, but Mina distracts me, gripping onto my arm. “I’m so horrified.”
“By what?” I glance around to see where Josi is. Isabel is showing her off to some friends. Resisting the urge to walk over and snatch the baby away from her grandmother, I say calmly, “I thought the ceremony went well.”
Mina looks on the verge of tears. “The ribbons, Talia. I provided a red and navy blue one to make sure Sebastian wouldn’t have an issue, but the pastor is very traditional. He switched them without telling me.”
I lay my hand over hers. “It all worked out. Sebastian doesn’t blame you.”
“Only because you jumped in. I can’t thank you enough for fixing my blunder.”
I release her hand and hug her, whispering in her ear, “We’re family, Mina.”
She hugs me back, squeezing me super tight. “Thank you for storming your way into my life.”
I laugh and squeeze her back. “I’ll be waiting for an invite to that girls’ night out you promised.”
Pulling back, Mina smiles. “And thank you for the lovely bracelet for Josi. I especially love the heart. Your gift is coming later tonight. You’ll see why.”
I nod my understanding, a little sad to see she’s not wearing the floating heart I gave her. Not that I expected her to wear it everyday. All that really matters was the thought behind it. Asking me to be her child’s godmother pretty much solidifies that Mina trusts I’ll keep my word.
“Here, she’s getting fussy,” Isabel says, handing Josi back to Mina. Eyeing me, she continues, “It would’ve been a much nicer ceremony if you hadn’t been so rude to the pastor by jumping in front of Sebastian like you did. You’ll never see him again, but I have to see that man every Sunday.”
“Mother!” Mina looks like she’s about to explode, but I put a restraining hand on her arm where she’s holding Josi on her hip.
“I apologize for my overzealousness, Mrs. Blake.”
She sniffs and tilts her chin up. “See that you don’t teach my grandchild such uncivilized behavior. It won’t be tolerated.”
As her mother walks away, Mina looks at me, her eyes full of abject apology.
I just smile. “She’s exhausting, isn’t she?”
Mina starts giggling and can’t stop. She’s giggling so much Josi starts laughing, which is the sweetest sound. I start to laugh too. Laura comes over to see what’s so funny and Josi’s laugh draws her in as well. We’re all still chuckling as we walk into the church’s entryway together. I let the girls walk out and slip into the bathroom.
When I leave the bathroom, I’m surprised to see Calder open a side Exit door instead of walking out the way everyone else has.
“Calder, right?” I call out quietly.
His broad shoulders tense and he turns to look at me, light brown eyebrows pulling down. “You’re Josi’s godmother, but we’ve never met. How do you know me?”
I approach and hold my hand out. “You met me as ‘Scarlett’ at that masked party for Mina a few years ago. I’m Talia.”
A brief smile registers in his serious expression as he takes my hand, vivid green eyes skimming over my face. “Ah, Scarlett of the Red Hood. You’re much prettier without your mask.”
“Thank you,” I say with a smile, then gesture to the main entrance. “Why aren’t you leaving that way?”
Pain flickers in his expression for a split second before he releases our clasped hands. “I came for Mina and Josi, but I can only handle so much family time.”
I tilt my head, studying his expression. The loneliness in his eyes breaks my heart. “I’m sure Sebastian would love to have a drink with you now that the christening is over.”
“Yeah, he mentioned it, but…” Calder spears his hand through his short hair, then rubs the back of his neck and exhales a long breath. “I’m not…I just can’t be here right now.”
He starts to turn away, but then looks back at me. “Would you do me a favor though? Can you tell Celeste that I appreciated her letter more than she’ll ever know, and… apologize to her for me for not writing back? My life kind of went sideways right after that party.”
Did Cass send him a letter as Celeste? Why didn’t she tell me? I know he’s referring to his father passing away, but I don’t want to bring up a painful memory, so I quickly nod. “I’ll tell her.” And even though I want to tell him the truth about Celeste, I don’t know if he’s in the right frame of mind to hear it, but I want to give him something that’ll brighten his day. “I’ll bet she’d love to hear from you. It’s never too late to reconnect, Calder.”
A half smile tilts his lips as he slides his hands in his suit pant pockets. “You think so?”
If he and Cass start communicating via email, she can meet him in person and tell him who she really is. The truth should come from her, not me. I lift my hands and smile. “What do you have to lose?”
He shrugs, glancing toward the church entryway where people are outside chatting and laughing. “Not much.”
It makes me sad that he feels so disconnected from his family. “Would you like her contact information?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’ve got it. Thanks, Talia.”
At least he kept it. As he opens the door, I say, “Please touch base with Sebastian and let him know how you’re doing. He’s been worried about you.”
Calder snorts and gives me a “you really don’t know my cousin very well” look. “Bash never worries.”
Before I can tell him how wrong he is, he’s gone, the door quietly clicking closed behind him.
When I step outside, I glance around, looking for Sebastian. Regan has cornered him outside yet again. Apparently she’d grabbed his hat from the church pew, and now she’s flirting with him once more. Makes me wonder why he even brought it. The moment he walked into the church, he took it off. Then again, it is part of his uniform.
Instead of walking over and snatching the damn hat out of her hand like I want to, I decide to wait by the car. Too many uncivilized moments in a row might revoke my godmother card. Since most all the guests have already driven home, I can see our car from here. I hug Mina and Josi goodbye. While Mina’s chatting with Laura, I wave to Den as he walks out of the church ahead of the Blakes, then start down the sidewalk. At least someone has cleared the snow from earlier, leaving me a clear path.
Cars zoom by, horns beeping. Always in a rush to get around someone. I shiver as cold air blows against my coat and turn my collar up, then push my hands deeper into the pockets. Staring at the steep pile of snow that has been pushed along the backside of the sidewalk, growing taller as I head down the street, I let my mind wonder. I would’ve crawled all over that as a kid and used it for cover in snowball fights. At one point, the pile of snow completely covers the three-foot brick wall that frames the small courtyards in front of the homes lining the street. I grin when I see that the mound grows to over six feet farther down. Now that would make an awesome hill for King of the Mountain.
“Talia!” Sebastian calls my name at the same time I hear his footfalls coming up behind me fast and hard. I pause, his tone is so sharp and full of alarm, I glance over my shoulder.
“Run!” he yells at the same time I see a fast moving car fully jump the curb not thirty feet behind him, racing out of control.
I start running, but the snow is blocking my way on the left and other cars are driving by on the right, completely ignoring the car careening down the sidewalk. The only path I have to run is straight ahead.
My lungs burn and running in heels is crushing my toes, but I keep pushing forward. I yelp when I’m suddenly yanked off my feet. Sebastian’s arm is a steel band around my waist and we’re climbing up the huge mound of snow. I try to help, but he’s much bigger and faster. All I can do is touch my toes to the snow and pray he gets us out of the way.
The force of the car hitting the pile of snow, its back end jackknifing into the front of a parked car, sends us careening over the edge. Sebastian turns as we fall, taking most of the impact as we roll the rest of the way down into the snow-covered yard. When we finally stop, I land on his chest, facing him. Heavy clumps of snow rain down on us, and my forehead stings, but at least the danger is over. The brick wall and heavily packed snow stopped the car.
While I try to regain my breath, Sebastian grasps my head between his hands. “Shit, I thought—” He cuts off and swallows. “Are you okay?”
I gulp and then nod, finally regaining the ability to speak. “Are you ok—?”
The hard pressure of his warm mouth landing on mine feels so good, I instantly kiss him back, soaking in his warmth and amazing smell. He tugs me closer, and when he tilts my head, his tongue tracing along mine, seeking deeper intimacy, the snow caked on my hair seeps into my scalp, making me shiver.
Breaking our kiss, he brushes the snow out of my hair, his voice suddenly brusque. “We’re not going back to the hotel.”
“We’re not?”
Sebastian shakes his head, then rolls to his feet, pulling me with him. Scooping me up in his arms, he carries me across the snow-covered yard. Just as he sets me down on the pavement, Den reaches us, his attention on full alert as he addresses Sebastian. “Jesus, you weren’t kidding about the danger she’s in.” Shifting his gaze to me, he says, “Are you all right?”
When I nod, Sebastian looks over the crushed front end of the car, then peers past the broken glass and beyond the empty driver’s seat. Glancing up at Den, he says, “Steering wheel is tied and a heavy brick is on the gas pedal.” His narrowed gaze searches up the street where the car had to have started from, looking for the culprit. Shifting his attention back to Den, he says, “I’m taking Talia somewhere safe. I’ll send some of my men here. Check out the vehicle and let me know what you learn.”
“You shouldn’t take the car you came in just in case.” Den pulls a pair of keys out of his pants’ pocket. “Take my car. It’s around the corner on the backside of the church. I’ll be in touch.”
Sebastian cranks up the heat in Den’s BMW. I don’t say anything while he makes a call to someone named Elijah as he maneuvers through traffic. But once he hangs up and we’re on the highway, I say, “Sebastian…”
“Not a word,” he says in a clipped tone.
His expression is intense, his hold on the steering wheel tight. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but I can’t just sit here. “We should—”
He reaches over and clasps my hand. “I didn’t think I was going to get to you in time, Talia.”
I glance down at his big hand folded around mine. The tension in his hold says volumes. He’s on-the-edge and really doesn’t want to talk. Not right now. So I fold my fingers around his hand and clamp my lips closed. He’ll talk when he’s ready.
After we pull up to a sky rise apartment building on the Upper East Side, I glance at Sebastian as he hands the car keys to the valet. Then he tugs me through an elegant main entrance and straight into an elevator.
He doesn’t release my hand. Instead he punches in a code with his free one, then hits the top floor button.
Who lives here? I wonder as we zip toward to the penthouse floor.
The moment we walk inside and low lights automatically turn on, Sebastian begins slipping the gold gilt eagle buttons of his coat free. Reaching over, he slides the silky black scarf from my throat. While he turns and sets them on a side table farther into the room, I stand in the entryway, staring in awe at the floor-to-ceiling windows that span across the entire apartment and the amazing city-view beyond.
Sebastian stalks forward, and I back up at the focused look on his face. Placing his hands on the intricately carved doorjamb on either side of me, he commands in a low tone, “Take off your coat.”
“Is this your apartment?” I ask as I fumble with the buttons.
He straightens and yanks his tie off, then unbuttons the top two buttons on his shirt, his fingers moving with swift precision. “It’s wet. Get it off.”
As soon as I shrug out of it, he takes my coat and tosses it behind him. When it lands in a heavy heap on the polished wood floor, he steps into my personal space. His broad shoulders blocking me in. “There’s only one place I want to be right now. Take your underwear off.”
Stomach fluttering with anticipation, I swallow and start to speak, but his mouth sets in a determined line. “If I remove them, you won’t be able to put them back on.”
My heart races as I toe off my heels and then start to shimmy out of my underwear. Now that I’m barefoot, Sebastian’s massive size towers over me. But he hasn’t moved back an inch; he’s taking up my entire personal bubble. Once I’ve kicked my underwear to the side, he clasps my hips and slides his hands down my curves. Bunching my skirt between his fingers, he dips his head, his husky voice vibrating against my jaw. “Unbuckle my pants, Talia. Show me that you want us.”
My hands shake with my own need, but I manage to unbuckle his belt. Quickly sliding the leather out of the loops, I drop the belt to the floor with a loud clatter. When I reach for the button on his pants, Sebastian’s lips mark a searing path down the side of my throat. I gasp in excitement when his hands slip under my dress to palm my bare hips in a fierce hold, warm skin to warm skin.
“Touch me,” he commands, his fingers digging into my ass.
The second I push his pants and boxers down, and then wrap my fingers around his thick erection, Sebastian exhales harshly in my ear. Stepping aggressively between my thighs, he effortlessly lifts me, sliding my body along the door.
Heart thrumming, I grip his shoulders and wrap my legs around his hips, holding his serious gaze as he slowly lowers me until his cock slides just inside me. The tease shatters my even breathing. As a gust of want rushes past my lips, Sebastian closes his eyes for a second, then snaps them open. The lustful heat and yearning in them whooshes the rest of the air from my lungs. “You’re soaking me, and it’s sweet fucking torture. It has always been for me, hasn’t it, Talia?”
Tears spill down my cheeks with my nod.
“I need to hear you say it,” he says, desperate.
I clasp his jaw with both hands. “I want you to fraternize me senseless, in every way possible, Sebastian. You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted.”
A rumble of unadulterated satisfaction sounds in his throat and he pulls my body down over him in one powerful jerk.
As I let out a wail of shocked pleasure, he goes completely still and locks his hands on my hips, keeping me in place. “Don’t move. Not one muscle,” he orders.
I bite my lip, but even as I nod I can’t stop my body’s reaction to finally feeling him deep inside me. Of their own accord, my lower muscles begin to contract around him, and once they start, my orgasm rushes over me. I vaguely register what sounds like wood cracking as my body is racked with pulses of intense shudders, quickly followed by chill bumps scattering across tingling skin.
Sebastian mutters colorful curse words, then drops his head to my shoulder, literally shaking. Once my body stops clenching around his hardness, I slide my fingers through his hair and clasp his head to my shoulder, whispering in his ear, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop. I can’t help how you make me feel, Sebastian. It’s just too intense.”
“Fuck-ing hell.” His breathing continues to bellow, his back and shoulder muscles turning hard as stone. Pressing his face into the crook of my neck and shoulder, he grips my ass with both hands and takes several deep breaths. I didn’t even realize he’d been holding me up with just one hand until then. Finally, he stops quaking.
A warm, steady breath rushes out, teasing my collarbone just before his grip on me tightens. Slowly withdrawing from me, he slides his thick length back inside with an erotic roll of his hips. As he moans along my neck, pressing his mouth against my skin, I twist my fingers in his hair and hold on, soaking in every breathy bit of the mounting intensity and passion between us.
He picks up the pace, this time burying himself so deep I lean my head back and relish the gratifying sensation of being so thoroughly taken. Arching, I begin to move with him, meeting his powerful thrusts with counters of my own.
Sebastian pauses and hooks one arm under my ass and the other against my back. On a deep rush of breath, he says, “Hold on a sec, Little Red.” Stepping out of his pants and boxers, he walks us over to the black leather couch.
Lifting me off him, he sets me down on my feet, then quickly turns me around to unzip my dress.
By the time I step out of my dress and slide free of my bra, he’s already taken his shirt off. Tugging me onto the couch, Sebastian tucks me under his powerful body, then clasps my hands, pulling them over my head.
Our breathing ramps once more as his knee nudges my thighs apart. When he slowly eases himself inside me once more, he rumbles, “Fuck, you’re perfect, Talia. Made for me.” Letting out a primal sound, he dips his head and sucks one of my nipples into his mouth, then releases it. He does the same to the other, but doesn’t stop increasing his mouth’s pressure until I moan. As soon as I start to move my hips, he jerks his forward, thrusting hard.
I arch into the erotic sensation of his rough claiming of my body. Tugging my hands free, I dig my nails into his back, jacking his desire even more. “I want to smell like you, Sebastian, to be unable to walk tomorrow without cursing. You keep telling me I’m yours, show me why I’ll always feel empty without you inside me.”
“I am the last fucking man for you,” he vows. Hooking his hand on my thigh, he yanks it high up on his hip, and a fierce roar erupts from his throat as he surges deep. His balls teasing my sensitive sex, Sebastian rocks against me, grinding his hard body along my clit, heightening my desire with just the right amount of pressure. When I squirm and gasp, my insides tightening, building toward release, he says in a low, determined tone, “There’s no question you’re mine. That you will always be mine.”
The intensity of his words, mixed with the sharp edge of pleasure/pain he inflicts as his powerful frame stakes its claim on my body, puts me on the precipice, but it’s the last statement he utters before clamping his teeth on my bottom lip that sends me over. “And I am yours.”
The bliss and intensity of my orgasm is so extreme that my vision dims, then it blurs with tears. Sebastian captures my cries of pleasure in a dominant kiss before he follows me over. I hold him close and relish the sound of his guttural shout and the comforting sensation of his big muscular body locked to mine while he coats my insides, thoroughly marking me his.