Listening to the confidence in her voice, he almost believed her. Yet another reason to terminate their contract and get the hell away from her. He should never have contacted her in the first place. He should never have listened to his cousin’s open window speech.

“Romanov’s take. Romanov’s conquer. They want and get.” He slashed a hand through the air. “Did I not say those very words to you?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “But you apologized. Would your dad have apologized?”

No, but it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. “I only apologized for my words, not my deeds.” He turned away from her, moving to the window and looking out.

“Quit trying to push me away.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and he tensed. “You’re a better man than he is, and you’ll be a better dad, too.”

Christ. He’d nearly forgotten about the baby. Yet another reason why he should support Daisy financially and leave her and their child the hell alone. They’d be better off without him. “When Vladimir had a stroke, I put him in a hospital that would sooner kill him than heal him.”

“Oh, well, he had it coming. I don’t feel bad about saying it either since he got out of that place and died in an accident on a yacht with a female friend.”

He let his forehead fall to the windowpane. “I tried to destroy my brother’s career by letting pictures of him snorting coke go viral on the Internet.”

“His bad decisions, his bad consequences. Besides, you took the blame for him. That’s a great big brother. Looks like their situations were more about results than your evil plans,” she said, her tone on this side of teasing. She was trying, God love her, to make the situation not as bad as it was. As it had always been.

“It was my fault Vladimir and his mistress were murdered, because I refused to honor past deals with certain entities.”

“Wow. Those world domination fellows mean business.” She snorted. “Guess horse heads are too seventies, huh?”

Was there nothing he could say that would make her not be on his side? “Bloody fucking hell, Daisy, would you be serious?” He whirled around, intent on shaking some sense into her. Instead, he froze at the sight of tears on her cheeks.

“I’m trying, but I can’t.” She shrugged, more tears falling. Her lashes were black and spiky, mascara running at the corners of her eyes. In her hand, she still held the towel that she had gotten for his cheek.

Because she cared about him. No, because she loved him.

In the space of a heartbeat, he held his arms open and she threw herself into them. “I’m sorry, love.” He tucked her against him, stroking her back. “I need some time…a few hours to think.”

“Okay.”

“Afterward, I’ll come to you at The Hall. We’ll spend the night there and decide what to do later.” He already knew what to do. The money she needed had already been transferred to her bank account, and all that was left was the Board’s vote, but he wouldn’t wait that long. The sooner she was back to her old life, the better.

Leaning back in his arms, she tipped up her chin. “Can we sleep in the bedroom that isn’t haunted by the ghost of the bride who stabbed herself in the heart after finding her husband doing the maid?”

He gave her a look of disbelief. “That’s the story they’re telling now?”

“Everyone in my tour group ate it up. So I told the one about the ghost who haunted the well that my Aunt Jeannie and her sons use to make moonshine. The Feds won’t go near that place. Except once, but that was during the day.”

Oh, his giddy aunt. Where the hell had Ivan been? “You went on a tour, by yourself?”

“No, Ivan was there. You know, he has a really hard time blending in.”

“I don’t pay him to blend in,” he said, fighting the urge to smile. “I pay him to keep us, you especially, safe.”

A teasing light entered her eyes. “From all the other world dictators who get mad when you out dictator them?”

He guessed it wasn’t the end of the world if she thought his dad had been a regular bloke. “Of course.”

“Do you want me to wait to eat dinner, until you come home?”

“Eat without me.”

Those teasing eyes of hers narrowed. “But you will come home tonight.”

“I promise, and you know how I feel about promises made to you,” he said with a playful wink. However, on the inside, all that resided was pain, betrayal, and old memories he had been forced to relive.

He managed to keep himself in check while the maid helped Daisy pack her things by organizing his art supplies. Though after tonight, he’d never touch them again. Painting was something his mother had taught him to do when he’d been little. But now he suspected she had taught him to do it so he’d leave her alone.

While Christian had been the talkative actor, Sebastian had been the quiet one. The one who’d rather stay with his mum than venture out to meet new people. Even then she had pushed him away, preferring his brother over him.

The pencil he’d been holding snapped in two. He threw it away with the rubbish.

Daisy rushed in the room, bringing her vanilla and honey scent with her. One last kiss goodbye and she was gone. He waited until the gates closed, before he pulled out his phone.

Text me when you get to the Hall safely.-S

Which bedroom? ~D

A grim smile fit his lips. Mine.-S

Slipping his phone into the back pocket of his jeans, he strode to the lounger.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was almost ten by the time Sebastian showed up, hair mussed, scratches on his arms, and smelling of smoke.

Daisy sat up in bed, her heart beating like hummingbird wings. “What happened to you?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He stalked to the bed and picked her up. “I need a shower.”

“But you’re still dressed,” she pointed out. She wanted to talk to him. The entire time he’d been gone, she’d worried. And all that worrying had led to four fingernails bitten to the quick, a burnt pot of soup, and bleach on her favorite shirt.

“And you’re nude.”

She clung to him as he strode to the bathroom and turned on the lights. The shower here was even more impressive than the one at The Rectory. He smacked the wall. Water poured from the interior of the shower and steam filled the air.

“I need you.”

She gazed into his eyes. “You have me.”

Stepping inside the shower, clothes and all, he pressed her against the wall and covered her mouth with his, tongue forcing its way inside. “I want to do things to you.” He bit her lip hard, then soothed the sting with a little kiss and let her legs slid to the marble floor. “But I’m not sure you’d like it. Hell, I’m not sure if you’ve ever done what I have in mind.”

She trembled at the raw lust and darkness in his words. She couldn’t help it. “I trust you.”

He ran a hand over his face and groaned. “Dammit, Daisy. That’s not what you should say.”

“But I do,” she said. “I’ve only been with one man besides you and he only liked certain things, certain ways, so I’m all up for things I haven’t done.”

“Christ. I should’ve beaten your ex’s arse when I had the chance. Selfish bastard.” Water sluiced down his body, plastering his shirt to his skin. His gaze fixed on her. A gaze so full of despair that she simply hugged him.

“It’s okay, Bastian.”

For long minutes, he stood there, his body stiff and his arms at his sides. Slowly, his arms lifted, wrapping around her and holding her tight. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”

“It’s okay,” she repeated. “You’re not responsible for her.”

Unwrapping her arms from around his waist, she helped him peel off his clothes, and then she washed him. Gently scrubbing at the dirt, the smell of smoke on his skin, and the cuts.

He leaned against the wall and let her, making grunts of appreciation when she ran her hands over his thighs and calves. When she was done, she led him out of the shower and handed him a towel. Then she dried herself off, but he lifted her in his arms before she could dry the ends of her hair.

Without saying a word, he took her to the large couch by the bay window and laid her down on it, then left her, only to return a few seconds later with a box. “I’ve dreamed of doing this,” he said as he adorned her with jewelry. A diamond necklace with emeralds around her neck, a string of pearls around her stomach, and dark rubies for her wrists. “My countess.”

“I don’t need jewels,” she said and he raised a brow. “Okay, so jewelry makes this girl happy, but really all I want right now, at this very moment, is you.

He joined her, touching her reverently, like she was made of glass. Like she’d shatter at his touch, only she knew the truth. She’d shatter if he stopped.

Sebastian didn’t stop. He kissed her passionately, made her moan as he used his hands to bring her to heights she thought unattainable. There wasn’t a place on her body he didn’t leave untouched.

“I love you,” he whispered in her ear. Then he kissed his way down her body, pausing at her stomach. “And I love you, too. No matter what happens.” Another kiss and he fixed his gaze on her, a tender smile on his sexy mouth.

Tears fell onto her cheeks. He stretched out beside her, touching her face and he kissing the tears away. “Why are you so sad?”

“Because it feels like you’re trying to tell me good-bye,” she said.

Instead of relieving her fears or even addressing them, he turned her on her side and entered her slowly, cupping a breast and telling her how good she felt, how beautiful she was. “There will never be another woman for me.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m all yours forever.” She pushed her hips back and he lifted her leg up, going deeper. “No piercing tonight?”

“Can’t be too careful with you,” Sebastian said, kissing her neck as he let her words wash over him. All his forever. If only that were possible.

Pulling out of her, he rolled Daisy to her back and slowly pushed inside of her. She made a noise of pleasure in her throat. “I love looking at you, your body.” He gazed down at the jewelry he had given her, though she didn’t know it now belonged to her. “Your sweet smile.”

She smiled at him, and in that smile was the world he wanted.

It was a world he couldn’t have. But he could have this. He could have this last night with her.

He dipped his head, capturing a hard nipple in his mouth. He sucked, bit, and tongued her there as his hips moved, as he plunged in and out of her wet heat.

Tomorrow morning, everything would end between them. Tomorrow morning, he might not ever come back from what he had to do to her.

She gripped his back, her nails biting into him, and he thought of nothing but her. Nothing but right now, while he was inside of her, and while she loved him. She loved him. Yes, she’d seen the best of him, but she’d also seen the worst.

Yet she still loved him.

“Harder.” He had to be marked by her. He had to have some piece of her stay with him. “Mark me. Carve your name into my skin.” It was already permanently carved into his heart.

A slight hesitation and she flexed her fingers, raking her nails down his back. Just like that, he was ready to come. He slipped a hand between them and stroked her swollen clitoris. Her mouth formed a perfect O and she blinked up at him. “Oh my God.”

He surged inside of her, desperate for her, and came endlessly while she stroked his back and whispered how much she loved the feel of him, how good he made her feel. How he was perfect for her in every way.

His body shuddered and trembled. He was powerless in her arms.

“I love you,” she said softly, and his heart nearly beat out of his chest. “Tear up the stupid contract, because I want to be with you without it. Let’s get married and have lots of babies,”—A shy smile graced her lips. — “We’re already ahead of the curve.”

“Are you sure?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “All those emails and texts were love letters, before everything went bad, weren’t they?”

“They were. They are.” He leaned into her touch. “Every time I sent you a text or an email, it was another way of saying I love you.”

“I think I’ve loved you for a while now,” she whispered.

He exhaled, defeated and overjoyed all at once. “I’ll tear up the stupid contact tomorrow.”

Sighing happily, she snuggled against him, the remaining jewelry cold against his skin, almost as cold as he would have to be tomorrow. “Bastian?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you have so many unhappy tattoos, you know, after the one your dad gave you?”

Well, that was certainly one way of describing them. “Each one represents something horrible done to my brother, my mother, and my cousin.”

“Oh,” she replied, her expression thoughtful. “What about you?”

“No.” Sitting up, he got to his feet and held out his hand. “Let’s get into bed. The couch isn’t a proper place for you to sleep.”

“Will you sleep with me?” Her dark gaze searched his face.

“Of course.” Not until after he said those words did she take his hand and allow him to put her to bed. He crawled in beside her and pulled her close.

“Someday will you get a happy tattoo, for me?”

He’d do anything for her, but his someday was filled with endless nights without her. “What would you suggest?”