He kept me at the penthouse for the rest of the weekend and made sure I had no chance for escape while he worked on Monday. Timothy shadowed my every step, and there were plenty of times when I wondered if he was going to enter the bathroom with me. I slept with Sebastian as required by our deal, but I fought off my desires and his. Being with him at the restaurant had clouded my judgment, but seeing Link brought a new clarity to my situation.

I had to get out and return to my life. Sebastian had warmed to me so much over the past couple of days—and if I were being honest, I’d warmed to him far more than I wanted to admit—that I felt the time was right to ask for my release. Or, at the very least, more freedom than I’d been given so far. I could make a deal with him. I wouldn’t tell anyone about what he’d done, and he’d give me more room to roam.

Time ticked away on Monday evening, and I paced the living room as Timothy read a men’s magazine.

“Do you think he’ll let me go?”

“We’ve been over this.” He turned the page and yawned. “Not happening.”

“You’re no help.”

He arched a brow. “I’m plenty of help, just not in that particular area.”

“I think maybe he’ll let me go.”

“After the restaurant, I would have thought you’d want to stay.”

My cheeks flamed hot, and I gave him an acidic glare.

He shrugged. “What? I couldn’t help but overhear.”

I wrinkled my nose at him and retreated to the kitchen where Rita was cleaning up. When she was done, I had no doubt the kitchen would look brand new. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and plopped down on a bar stool.

When I heard the sound of a key in the front door, I laser focused on it. Steeling myself, I rose and met Sebastian as he walked in. His dark gray suit fit him perfectly, hugging every angle and giving him a debonair look that plenty of men would kill for.

“Hi.” I smiled.

His eyes lit, and he pulled me into a hug. “I missed you.”

I loved his scent. No point in lying to myself about it. His strong arms also had their perks. I’d missed him, too, but I’d never admit it. When he finally released me, I took a breath and blurted out my request. “Can we talk in the bedroom?”

“Sure.” He unbuttoned his jacket and whipped off his tie as he followed me across the living space. Timothy didn’t look up from his magazine, but I got the distinct impression he wasn’t reading a damn thing.

I closed the door behind us and leaned against it. “I want to ask you something.”

“Okay.” He sat on the bed and patted his lap. “If you have a question, I’m going to need you to ask it while you’re sitting right here.”

“Sebastian.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

He started to rise. “Fine, I’ll just go shower—”

“Wait!” I walked over to him and sat crossways on his lap.

“Not good enough.” He pushed me off. “Straddle me.”

“You’re insufferable.” I was wearing a knee length cotton skirt that was a comfortable favorite of mine.

“I’m dying to taste your pussy, but you’ve been cockblocking me ever since the restaurant. I’ll take what I can get.” He smiled, the look more predatory than anything. “And I’ll take it however I can get it.”

He killed in his dress shirt and slacks, the epitome of masculine beauty. My body heated, even though I was trying to stay focused on my request for more freedom. A man like Sebastian made it almost impossible.

“Come on.” He leaned back on his elbows.

“Fine.” I climbed onto his lap and placed my knees on either side of his hips, though I was careful not to scoot far enough forward for him to feel my pussy.

He put his big hands on my hips and pulled me to him, erasing the distanced between us as he sat up. “That’s better. And fuck, your pussy is so warm.”

His cock pressed against me, and I gripped his shoulders to try and keep myself grounded.

“Now what was it you wanted to ask me?” He slid his hands around to my ass, kneading me softly.

“Sebastian.” I grabbed his wrists. “I’m serious.”

“I am too.” His gaze flickered to my lips.

“Stop.”

His fingers stopped, but he didn’t remove his hands.

I’d just have to go with it. “I was thinking that we have become closer over the past few days.”

“Agree.” He dropped his mouth to my neck, hovering just along my skin, his warm breath spreading goosebumps all over me.

“And so I was thinking you could give me a bit more freedom.”

He leaned back. “Like what?”

“Like, let me leave the house, let me teach again, don’t fake my death. Things like that.”

“No.”

“But wait, hear me out. I won’t tell anyone about you or what you did. That’s between us. But I want to see my friends and—”

“That’s off the table.” His icy tone was like a slap.

“Why?” I struggled to free myself from his grasp, to no avail.

“I won’t lose you.”

“It wouldn’t be losing me.” I shoved at his shoulders, but he spun and pinned me to the bed.

“That’s exactly what it would be.” He shook his head. “Don’t you see? That moron would come sniffing around you, thinking you’re his. I can’t have that.”

“I’d tell him we were over.”

He barked a harsh laugh. “You think it’s that easy? To just let you go? No man in his right mind would ever let you walk away.”

“He’d have to.” I yanked, trying to free my wrists from his iron hold.

“No, he wouldn’t. He’s not the white knight he pretends to be. He’d do everything in his power to keep you. And then I’d have to kill him.”

“You promised.” The more I struggled, the more weight he rested on me.

“I did. But if he ever touched you again, I’d have to kill him. Promise or not.”

“He won’t touch me.” I bucked, but got nowhere. “Get off.”

“I will, but you need to understand that you aren’t leaving.” His intensity was back, no veil covering the darkness inside him. “I can’t let you go.”

“Then we have nothing more to discuss.” I turned my face away to hide the sting of tears.

“Fuck.” He growled and eased off me, then opened the top drawer of his nightstand.

The glint of gold told me what was next.

“Please don’t.”

“I have to.” He knelt and slid the cold metal onto my ankle. “For us.”

In that moment, I knew what I had to do.