Talia

“What the hell is he doing here?”

“It’s good to see you too, brother.” Ben shakes his dark head and rises from our sofa as Sebastian, Calder, Cass, and I exit the elevator to our penthouse apartment.

“I called him.” I shoot Calder a look, then smile at Ben. “Thank you for waiting inside. The less attention we draw, the better.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Ben says to all of us before he glances at the taped gauze on Sebastian’s hand that’s already showing signs of new blood. “Let’s head into the kitchen and stop that bleeding.”

Sebastian doesn’t comment that I called Ben or asked him to wait inside. He’d seen my look of concern when he had to change the bandage twice at the church while he talked to our family. On the way home, my husband told me about his confrontation on the street with Banks, and then I told him about my pizza box attempt to warn Banks after Stan got the police involved.

While Ben and Sebastian move over to the kitchen table for him to stitch my husband up, Calder rounds on me, his green eyes flashing with anger. “You gave him the code to your apartment?”

“Yes, I did. I know you have issues trusting your half-brother, but he has proven that he can be trusted. The pool of people our family can truly depend on just got a lot smaller tonight, so dial it back.”

Calder starts to speak, but Cass puts a hand on his arm. “We’re all tense, but I’m too exhausted for the extra twenty minute drive home, so don’t get us kicked out.”

He grumbles an apology and folds her into his arms. Cass hugs his trim waist and gives me a secret smile around his shoulder.

Nodding my appreciation for her intervention, I sigh my exhaustion. “So no one had any skeletons in their closet but Sebastian and me with Banks?”

“Isabel could’ve had some, but we’ll never know,” Cass says as she turns in her fiancé’s arms and leans back against his chest.

“Since the license plate turned out to belong to a completely different car, we can scratch that lead off our list,” Calder says, folding his arms around Cass’s stomach. “Once I get a shower to wash away the sweat and soot from the fire, I’m good for another hour of brainstorming.”

I blink through my exhaustion. The police questions were grueling enough, but then Sebastian and Calder drilled everyone, including Cass’s parents and my father, with equal intensity for another hour. The stress of that on top of worrying I might’ve been responsible for Banks’s retaliation is making me feel sick to my stomach.

Before I can speak, Cass puts her hand on my arm. “You look like you’re about to fall over, Talia. I vote we go to bed and see what the investigators’ reports say tomorrow.” She looks at Calder. “I know the BLACK team will be all over this in the AM anyway. Whatever Talia and I can contribute once our brains aren’t fried, we will.”

Returning her gaze to me, she squeezes my arm. “There’s at least one silver lining. Now your aunt has more time to get herself in your good graces.”

“Did your aunt contact you?” Sebastian says, a frown creasing his brow as he flexes his hand with the new bandage wrapped fully around his palm.

“Be sure to keep that dry for a few days and get that antibiotic prescription filled.” Ben approaches, snapping his doctor’s kit closed.

Sebastian nods. “Will do. Thank you for coming, Ben.”

“You’re welcome.” Ben smiles at Cass as he continues speaking, “You’ve got my number, so if you ever need me—”

“It’s late. Good night, Ben,” Calder says in a tight tone.

Ben shakes his head. “Difficult patients will cost double my usual fee.”

“That’s fair.” Sebastian smirks. “It’ll just come out of his check.”

Calder glances between the two men. “Did you just hire him?”

Sebastian shrugs. “Rick retired and we need someone who’s discrete.”

“Don’t I get any say-so in this personnel decision?” Calder asks.

“No,” Sebastian and I answer at the same, our gazes locking in agreement.

“You could always stop doing things that require my expertise.” Ben adopts a lighthearted tone as he walks over and enters the elevator.

When Calder just drills the back of his head with a hard stare, his brother turns in the elevator to face us. “That’s what I thought. Until next time...”

The moment the elevators close, Sebastian faces me.

“Did she?” He frowns. “Is that why you were feeling guilty at the church?”

“No, that had nothing to do with it. She approached me earlier today and I was focused on taking care of the Banks thing. She said she wanted to hire BLACK Security after I didn’t really respond to her attempt to chat. That’s when my worry for her motives ramped and I turned her down for any help from your company before I left.”

His blue eyes darken. “As far as she knew, Vanessa didn’t think she was going to be invited to our wedding?”

I nod. “I only asked my father to give her the invitation tonight at the rehearsal.”

Sebastian pulls out his phone and dials. “Hey, Elijah. I know it’s late, but I want to add one more name to the list of potential threats: Vanessa Granger.”

I shake my head the whole time he’s on the phone. The moment he hangs up, I stare at him with wide eyes. “You don’t think she’s capable of this, do you?”

“We have to eliminate her as a potential threat.”

I reach for my Lias necklace—the feel of the raised hearts and the reminder of pure love they represent—is comforting, especially when I’m tense. I sigh and lower my hand once I remember I don’t have it on. “It’s late. I’m going to bed. Cass and Calder, you know where the towels and extra blankets are if you need them. See you guys in the morning.”

Sebastian follows me into our room and shuts the door. His tone is subdued as he approaches me. “She has blown up an apartment before, Talia.”

“I understand,” I say as I reach for his tie and pull apart the knot for him. The smell of smoke on him brings the horror of the evening back, so I keep my suddenly misty gaze focused on my hands. “But one thing I’m absolutely sure of is that she would never try to hurt me.”

“It could’ve been you, Little Red,” he says, folding his warm hands on my wrists. “That scared the ever-loving shit out of me.”

“I’m fine, Sebastian.”

“Well, I’m not. Not one fucking bit.”

Cupping my face, he makes me meet his gaze. “Tomorrow you’re coming to the office with me.”

I stiffen. “I don’t need a constant babysitter.”

“What are you talking about?” he says, frowning. “My men are good investigators, but you’re the best one I know. Certainly the most tenacious with the details.” He releases me and pulls his tie off. “Calder called me out on missing a couple of those tonight.”

I frown. “That was shitty. Everyone’s emotions were running high.”

“He was right.” His mouth turns down as he tosses his tie onto the bed. “They were color-related misses. As of tonight, my whole BLACK Security team knows about my color-blindness. I won’t risk another issue related to my inability to see color.”

“I’m sorry tonight forced you to reveal that.” He’s such a proud man; that had to have been hard for him to admit to his men, but I’m also relieved. Now they can watch his back too.

“I should’ve done it before now.” Shaking his head, my husband slides his fingers into my hair. “I need them to back me up where I’m not at my best. Just like I need your keen eye on this case to help me sift through the details so we can uncover who’s behind this before someone else gets hurt. No more arguing…you’re coming.”

My heart jumps at his compliment. He’s right. I need to help him resolve this quickly. Nodding, I press a kiss below the gauze on his palm. “Take a shower so we can get some sleep. I want to head into the office early.”

Resting my hand on his chest for a moment, I start to pull away, but Sebastian’s hand folds over mine. I glance down to see him sliding my wedding ring back on my finger. “I don’t want it off you for even a day, Little Red. Never take it off again.”

“But the wedding—”

He shakes his head. “You’re my wife.”

The tension in his hold twists my heart. As I fold my fingers closed and nod my agreement, he kisses the ring on my finger and heads for the shower.

With the steady patter of the shower in the background, I slide on a thin tank top after washing my face. Isabel’s death is devastating and I’m concerned about the danger the rest of the family might be in. I was so relieved Sebastian suggested that Gavin, Damien, Mina and Josi stay with their father for the next few days for better security and all the Blake siblings agreed. I knew it was to support their father, but they’re stronger together and they need each other right now. Mina’s heartbroken expression flickers through my head. I won’t admit to Sebastian that I’m worried about her, but I plan to stay in closer touch to make sure she’s doing okay.

Each time my eyes drift close, the image of the fire billowing out of the limo replays over and over in my head. That could’ve been Sebastian and me. Worse, it could’ve been Sebastian. I don’t think I could handle being left behind, not now that he’s become so important in my life. He’s not just my other half, he’s the reason I smile every day when I wake up. My eyes pop back open and I shove the upsetting thoughts away, forcing myself to think about the investigation instead.

Sebastian’s reminder of my aunt’s part in blowing up our apartment bounces around in my head. Could she really hurt me if she felt rejected? Am I wrong in thinking she would never try to inflict physical harm? I shake my head, refusing to go down that dark rabbit hole.

Sebastian lifts the covers and slides into bed behind me. I don’t resist when he wraps his arm around my waist and tucks my back against his naked body. Instead, I snuggle closer, appreciating his warmth and the masculine smell of sandalwood soap.

“I’m surprised you’re still awake,” he murmurs, lifting me so my head rests on his folded bicep.

“My mind is spinning too much.”

“Thinking about tomorrow?”

“So many things, but yes, after you told us about Banks’s run-in with you earlier today, and the fact he never called me back, it makes me wonder if he ever got my other message through the pizza delivery.”

“Even though the asshole didn’t deserve your heads up, that was very creative.”

“Thanks, but since Banks wasn’t arrested, I have to assume the painting wasn’t there by the time the police arrived.”

“Which means he got your message but chose to believe the worst anyway, hence him confronting me in the street. I’m going to make Stan and Nathan pay for fucking with your safety. I’ll—”

“You’re going to stay out of my business and let me fight my own battles,” I say firmly. If he confronts Stan or Nathan, he’ll learn that I’m not working there anymore. I’m going to use this time to become an invaluable member of the BLACK Security team. That way maybe whatever hang-ups Sebastian has as to why he hasn’t asked me to join him before now hopefully won’t matter. “I’ve taken time off for work for the honeymoon. I don’t need to go back for a bit yet, which gives me time to help the investigation. I’ll deal with them later.”

Sebastian grunts his annoyance, but kisses the side of my neck. “I’m glad you agreed to help.”

“Our family was struck hard tonight. I’ll do whatever it takes to find the people responsible.”

“We’ll uncover who’s responsible for Isabel’s death, but the potential danger to the rest of our family is my priority until the threat is neutralized,” he says as he slides his fingers down my arm.

“All lives matter, past and present,” I say on a sad sigh.

“You matter the most.” The rumble of his words vibrates against my back as his fingers slowly move down my arm, gently massaging my skin along the way.

“It could’ve been both of us.” I close my eyes to hold back the tears at the thought.

The tips of my fingers tingle when he takes extra time on the heel of my hand. My toes twitch with pleasure at the sensation of his thumb pressing along my palm. “The idea that I wouldn’t be able to touch you ever again—that it could’ve been you—ran through my head too many times to count since that bomb went off, Talia.”

The pain in his gravelly voice sends a shiver through me just as he rolls my fingers between his. “You’re stuck with me, for better or worse,” I say in a soft voice. He’s lulling me with his magical touch; my body is both relaxed and tingling with each stroke of his fingers.

Sebastian reaches for my chin and tilts my head back to run his fingers along my throat. “No matter how many times I try, my imagination can never recreate the pleasure I get from touching you. Your skin is so soft and I fucking can’t get enough of the way you smell.”

“Did you know that I bury my face in your pillow every morning before I get up?”

He pauses his massage. “No, I didn’t.” Sliding his hand to my collarbone, he presses me to his chest, his erection hard against my rear. “I need to be closer, Little Red.”

Sebastian’s tension echoes my own. The thought of losing him screamed in my head the whole time he and Calder were gone chasing that car. I didn’t let how upset I was show for Mina’s sake, but I also didn’t exhale deeply until my husband returned. Even now my heart races with worry that the crazy person who did this tonight will try again.

I run my hand along his bare ass and dig my fingers into the tight muscle. Pulling his hips fully against me, I silently agree with his sentiment.

As Sebastian lifts my thigh and slowly eases himself inside me, a couple tears escape, dripping onto his arm.

We don’t speak and he doesn’t move once he’s fully inside me. Flattening his hand on my chest, he says in my ear, “This is peace. No matter what goes on out there, being inside you and feeling your heat surrounding me…you always ground me.”

Another tear leaks out. I’m so choked up that my voice croaks a little. “I’ve never let another person get this close to me. And now, I’m not sure if I’m capable of existing without you.” I fold my arm around his under my head, wrapping my fingers around his forearm. “I can never lose you, Sebastian.”

“You won’t.” He kisses my neck, then whispers in my ear, “I’ll always be here to protect you.”

I shake my head and sniff back the tears, the sensation of his palm and wrist’s slight movement making my nipples jut forward for more. “I just want your love.”

He slides his hand under my breast and presses his palm against my heart, the act also pushing me to his chest. “Do you feel that, sweet Talia? That’s two hearts beating hard despite the fact neither of us is moving.” He slides his thumb forward and runs it slowly over my nipple, then stops and leaves it there. “Love, passion, respect. Close your eyes and breathe me in.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The sensory overload of the silk sheets and his hard body cocooning me while he’s filling me up is so arousing that my breath hitches as I exhale. I love this man so much. I start to speak, but I gasp instead. He’s thickening and hardening.

“Do you feel me loving you right now?”

His voice is hoarse, his body so tense, I realize that he’s holding back, forcing himself to remain still for me. “I feel you loving me in every move you make,” I whisper just before I flex my core muscles tight around him.

He exhales harshly and quickly moves his hand between my thighs. Folding his fingers around me in a tight grip, he nips at my ear, then rasps, “Don’t move.”

Several seconds tick past where we don’t speak. I feel his heart thrumming and that makes mine rev in kind. His hand cupping me in a possessive hold feels so good, I want to move but a part of me doesn’t. The intimacy of just feeling his body wrapped around mine from head to toe, his tense hold tightening with each breath we take is a kind of escalating bliss I’ve never felt before.

Maybe it’s the tragic circumstances, or maybe it’s our own emotions about the uncertainty of life heightening the moment, but even though my heart is racing and my body is aching for release, I mentally force myself not to move against his hand; I don’t want to let what’s happening go any more than he does. But when Sebastian clamps his teeth on my shoulder at the same time his tight hold flexes on my sex, I lose complete control as my orgasm takes over my body in hard, gasp-inducing spasms of pleasure.

Releasing my shoulder, Sebastian lets out a primal rumble of satisfaction and buries himself deeper while riding his own climax on the tail end of my euphoria.

That was so beautiful, silently emotional, and incredibly fulfilling, I blink in the darkness, speechless.

Sebastian runs his nose along my temple. “Little Red…”

He sounds contemplative, so I respond in kind. “Mister Black…”

“There are no words.” Stunned awe laces his deep voice as he kisses my knuckles.

I bury my fingers in his hair and pull his head close, nodding my agreement.

“I’m staying right here.” Nipping at my earlobe, he flattens his palm on my belly and fuses his hips to mine.

“I’m not letting you go,” I whisper and close my eyes, extremely thankful that we have each other.