Delaney

After showering in Sebastian’s bathroom, I was more than a little jealous. He had a large shower with marble tiles and a showerhead that would make any single woman giggle with glee. I kid you not; if Sebastian’s mother wasn’t downstairs, I’d have been tempted to enjoy Sebastian’s fancy rotating showerhead. After drying off, I looked back at the shower one last time, reminding myself I could always enjoy it later. If I was lucky, Sebastian would enjoy it with me.

Finding something to wear was a real challenge. I should have insisted Sebastian take me home for clothes earlier. Now, I was going to have to meet his mother in the leggings I’d arrived in and one of Sebastian’s shirts. This was not going to look good. In the end, I decided to grab one of Sebastian’s hoodies to hide that I wasn’t wearing a bra. After my earlier debacle with the sports bra, I had no intention of putting it back on. I was pretty sure it was trying to either kill me or ruin things with Sebastian.

I stared at the door, knowing I should go down. There was no reason to delay the inevitable awkward mom meeting. Then I realized I needed to message Chelsea first. It definitely wasn’t an avoidance tactic. She’d worry if I didn’t get back to her.

ME: I’m still alive.

CHELS: LOL! I didn’t think Sebastian was going to kill you. Did you work everything out?

Before responding, I went back into the bathroom to take a picture of Sebastian’s shower to send to Chelsea. This is the kind of thing you have to share.

CHELS: Wow! That is a nice shower. Where are you?

ME: Sebastian’s house. I guess he’s heir to a sex toy empire and some kind of sex toy app designing genius.

CHELS: Even when you text me, I only understand about half of what you say.

ME: I’ll explain later. I need to go downstairs and meet Sebastian’s mom.

On those words, I set my phone beside Sebastian’s bed and headed downstairs. Chelsea would likely leave me a dozen messages asking for details. At least, that’s what I’d do in her position.

Sebastian must have heard me coming because he met me at the bottom of the stairs with an outstretched hand and a reassuring smile. “My mom brought enchiladas.”

My stomach picked that moment to remind me of how little I’d eaten that day.

He clearly heard the rumbling of my stomach because he chuckled. “I feel the same. Let’s go eat.”

“That’s sounds good to me,” I replied with a smile.

Sebastian didn’t release my hand as he walked me into the kitchen. His mother’s back was to us, and it seemed she was replying to a text.

“Mom,” he called out. When she turned, he started to speak, but she interrupted him.

“You’re Delaney Monroe!” she said excitedly.

“Yes, I am,” I replied with a smile.

“Sebastian, how could you fail to tell me you’re dating Delaney Monroe?” she demanded.

“I didn’t know I was supposed to,” Sebastian replied helplessly.

“I’m Emily. Please, call me Em,” she introduced herself, sticking out a hand for me to shake.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I told her. “Finding me here must be awkward.”

Em laughed. “Awkward? Not at all. I’m glad you and Sebastian worked things out.”

Em was definitely different from my own mother. In this situation, my mom would be insisting on a wedding and possibly an exorcism. I’m exaggerating about the exorcism. My mom thinks Catholics are going to Hell.

“Sit and eat,” she told me. “I hope you aren’t a vegetarian. I expected only Sebastian, so I made carnitas enchiladas.”

“That’s fine with me,” I assured her, sitting at the table and inhaling to savor the delicious aroma.

“How did you two meet?” Em asked.

I’d just placed an enchilada on my plate when she asked that question. Thankfully, I didn’t have to tell her we’d met in a sex shop. No matter how comfortable Sebastian’s mom seemed with us having sex and me writing erotica, that might be too much.

“Sebastian offered to let me share his table in a crowded café,” I replied.

“That was sweet of him,” Em remarked with a smile.

“We hit it off, and she agreed to go out with me the next day,” Sebastian added. “

“That’s nice,” Em said in a distracted voice. “I need to ask you something very important.”

“Sure,” I told her, expecting some question about my intentions for her baby boy, or possibly about my age since I was eight years older than her son.

“What do I need to do to get signed copies of some of your books?” she asked. “I’d be willing to trade my second born for them.”

“Hey!” Sebastian protested. “I’m the male heir. You can’t just trade me for some books.”

Em rolled her eyes. “What makes you think your genitalia makes you a superior heir? Your sister is older, making you the spare.” Her attention returned to me. “So, about those books?”

I pretended to consider her offer. “How many books are we talking about? And will I get unlimited rights to Sebastian?”

“You already have unlimited rights,” Sebastian told me in a voice that made me squirm in my seat.

“Quiet, Sebastian,” Em scolded. “You’re ruining my bartering power and messing up my chance to get signed books.”

“You two can’t just barter me,” Sebastian insisted.

“Are you really arguing about me agreeing to let Delaney keep you?” Em asked with a laugh.

“When you put it like that, I feel like an idiot,” Sebastian admitted. “Barter away.”