Talia

I mull my father’s suggestion about Aunt Vanessa the whole way back to my apartment. It’s not that I’m not a forgiving soul, but she has already ruined one relationship. I might be thankful that I didn’t marry Nathan, but I don’t want anything to mess with what Sebastian and I have. I love that man so much my heart twists whenever I think of him. I was lonely sleeping without him last night, but he’s so strong and domineering, if I don’t keep him on his toes and match him wit for wit, a tiny part of me worries that after such a turbulent relationship, now that we’re married, he might grow bored.

Once I settle in for the evening, I’ll call and talk to him about today’s misunderstanding. I’m just glad that Cass has taken on handling all the wedding arrangements. My best friend is going above and beyond with her maid-of-honor duties. She says she considers it training for her upcoming wedding, but between today’s unexpected surprises with Banks and then my aunt, I don’t think I can handle wedding mishaps on top of everything else. I’m relieved I let her take the reins.

As I reach into my purse for the apartment key, I pause and slide my fingers over the red silk I purchased for a wedding gift for Sebastian on my lunch hour today. The moment my gaze landed on the silk, the striking color sold me. I had to buy more than I needed since he only sold it in small bolts, but I’ve been searching for just the right color to have a tie made for my husband and I wasn’t passing it up. Sebastian already has a bluish-red tie, but this one will be much brighter.

It’s bold…just like my husband.

My phone beeps with an incoming message from Cass and I grab my cell from my purse, wishing my best friend was actually sitting in our old apartment right now instead of living at Calder’s house. We could curl up on the couch and eat an entire carton of ice cream while chatting about the irresistible but sometimes infuriating men in our lives.

Smiling at the appealing thought, I click to read her message.

Great pic on-line, but between that surprise wedding announcement, then you ditching your detail today…GIRL, what were you thinking? You know your husband won’t be thrilled.

I quickly text her back.

I didn’t put that picture out there. I guess that means I can scratch YOU off my “you’re so dead list”! Mina’s next. And yeah, I really screwed my security up! Sebastian thinks I smoke-screened him, and that even this pre-wedding time we’re spending apart is just a ruse to keep him in the dark about an assignment.

She immediately responds.

Ugh, that sucks! Let’s get together and chat over drinks. I need to go over wedding stuff with you. Calder and I have a quick errand to run, but I can meet you at six-thirty at Fine Tapas.

Please don’t let there be any hiccups with wedding stuff. I bite my lip and tap out a response.

Sounds good. Thank you for keeping me sane. See you in a little bit.

Sending that message, I dash off a quick text to Sebastian.

No smoke screen. I had to go to an area of town that Den was familiar with. My client couldn’t come to me and I didn’t have time to debate with Theo. Everything went fine. I’ll call you in five minutes.

My phone rings just as I start to drop it into my purse. Assuming it’s my husband, I quickly answer. “Hey.”

But when no one says anything and then a hang-up click echoes in my ear, I glance at the Caller ID. Blocked call. That’s the second time in two days. It’s probably my aunt. I’ll call her tomorrow. I just can’t deal with trying to talk to her right now.

Sighing, I drop my phone into my purse, then grab my key and walk into the apartment. I’ve got forty minutes to change into jeans before I have to meet Cass. The moment I shut the door, instant darkness surrounds me. Ugh, I guess the streetlight outside finally blew. It was flickering last night.

With a sigh, I carefully take the couple of steps toward the couch table. Setting my purse on it, I dig blindly into its cavernous depths, pushing past my sunglasses case, hairbrush, checkbook, and notepad while groping for my phone so I can light my way to the lamp next to the side chair.

The barest sound of movement hits me just before masculine cologne assails my senses.

“Sebastian…” I exhale his name in a gasping, breathy whisper as he pulls my hips back. My dress’ thin material may as well be tissue against his hard erection imprinting on my ass.

“I can’t decide which to make you pay for first: convincing me you truly believed we shouldn’t see each other before the wedding rehearsal, or the fact I didn’t sleep at all last night,” his voice rumbles in my ear. “Either way…” Strong hands fold tighter around my hips in a firm grip. “This sweet ass of yours is toast. Hot lips sear against the side of my throat, his fingers gripping me tighter. “I expect to hear you saying my name like that several times tonight.”

I clutch my purse’s straps to keep from reaching back and digging my fingers into his hair and pulling him closer. “I planned to call you. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding earlier today, but you’re not supposed to see me until rehearsal. You promised.”

“Like you promised to let Theo watch over you until then?” he says in an edgy tone.

His deep voice and the sandalwood notes of his cologne are both comforting and arousing. I want to melt against him. I miss him too, which scares me how my happiness is directly tied to his strong presence in my life. I’ve become addicted to being challenged on so many levels with him. “I promised to let a detail shadow me, which I did.”

“Are you really playing the ‘fine print’ card?” His hands tighten on my body and his mouth moves to my ear, his tone unrelenting. “If you needed Den, then fuck promises and traditional bullshit. You should’ve called me.” He slides a hand to my stomach pushing me back against him, his tone softening. “You make it hard to keep my word, Little Red, but technically, I still am. I can’t see you.”

His voice is husky, yet tense. Even though he’s angry with me, he still wants me. God this is hard. I want him just as much. “Now who’s working the fine details?” I say, letting amusement bleed into my comment. “How did you find me?”

“When it comes to you, I’ll always be ruthless and unrelenting, taking every advantage.” He presses closer, his deep voice rumbling against my back.

As I realize that he deftly avoided answering my question, familiar voices just outside the apartment door send me into action. I grab my purse and tug Sebastian’s arm, whispering, “Hurry, follow me.”

The moment we stumble into the tiny bathroom and I quickly close the door, pressing my ear against it, my husband rests his hand at the base of my spine, his deep voice sliding along my skin like a lover’s caress. “This is new.”

“Hold on,” I quickly say as Cass and Calder enter the apartment talking. By their discussion, they’re apparently here to take the new coffee table she’d bought a few months ago. She’s asking Calder to carry it over to the house while she meets up with me for drinks.

A couple seconds pass before Sebastian speaks next to my ear, “Why the hell are we hiding in the bathroom from Cass and Calder?”

“Whisper,” I insist as I turn to face him, pressing my back against the door. “Cass is convinced that we can’t last three days apart.” It’s hard not to react when he slides his thumb enticingly down my cheekbone.

“She’s right. Come home, Little Red.”

The intimate nickname, said in his sexy deep timbre, liquefies my insides, but I force myself to remain strong. “Despite what you think, I actually do respect this tradition.” My voice shakes as his fingers trail down my throat, discover the buttons on my dress and pluck the first three open. “Sebastian…”

“Hmm.” He inhales against my hair as he cups my bra, his thumb sliding it aside to tease my nipple.

“This isn’t fair.”

Rolling the sensitive bud between his fingers, he kisses my temple. “All playing fair got me was: a foul mood, a raging hard-on and a dull ache in my gut that hasn’t gone away since last night. I don’t plan to repeat that for two more nights.”

“You’re going to have to,” I say, trying, but failing to remain unaffected. I’ve never throbbed so much. The man’s nearness and sexy smell alone is enough to put me in pre-orgasmic anticipation.

His hand stills, fingers pressing harder on my nipple. “Tell me you don’t miss me sliding inside you.”

I swallow and gasp at the sharp pleasure/pain. Even though I can’t see his face, I know his blue eyes are glittering with brutal sexual intent. The man knows exactly what he’s doing to my body. I twist my fingers around my purse’s leather strap to keep from touching him. “I—I can wait a couple of nights.”

“Liar.” He bites my earlobe, his hand brushing my purse aside to slide along my thigh, lifting the hem of my skirt. Before I can stop him, his fingers press against my underwear. “I fucking knew it. You’re soaked.”

I grab his wrist just as he touches the edge of my underwear, my tone desperate. “There’s a bet.”

“What bet?” he says, sounding suspicious.

“Cass bet me that I can’t abstain from having sex with you before the wedding. I told her I plan to remain traditional. If I win, she has to take care of selling all the furniture in this apartment and negotiate with the landlord to get out of the lease. If I lose, I have to do it.”

“I’ll pay the damn balance of the lease,” he says in a curt tone.

“If I lose, then you’ll barely see me until all the furniture is gone, the place is spotless, and yes, the lease is taken care of. That could take a lot longer than a couple of days, Sebastian.”

Rumbling his displeasure, he moves his mouth close to my ear. “Then you’d better be very quiet when you come, sweetheart,” right as he slides a finger deep inside me.

To say my toes literally curl inside my heels when he adds a second finger is an understatement. My head falls back against the wood and I have to clamp my lips together to keep from moaning my pleasure.

“See what you’re missing, gorgeous?” he says, pressing his lips against my jaw.

I can hear his smug confidence as he moves his fingers with arousing erotic intent. With each stroke, he goes deeper until he hits my g-spot and my knees start to wobble. In less than thirty seconds he has me in a panting, hip-moving frenzy. If I don’t counterstrike soon, in another minute, I’ll be begging him to take me against the door.

Releasing his wrist, I quickly clasp his rock hard erection through his dress pants. “Turn about is fair play.”

“That’s a hell of a grip,” he grunts, pulling his hand from my body to cover my hand with his.

Now that my brain can reengage, I let him go, only to trace two fingers from the base of his cock all the way to the tip. “Just checking your temperature.”

“Definitely boiling point.”

I love that his wit never diminishes even in moments like this. The hoarseness in his voice makes me bolder and I set my big purse on the floor, then face him and tug on his dress pants’ zipper, freeing his cock from his silk boxers. I clasp his warm erection fully, and a part of me wishes I could see his expression, but then another part loves that we’re exploring with only knowing touch to guide us. There’s something sensually intimate about knowing your partner’s body so well.

Sebastian slides his hand into my hair and yanks me against him. Groaning his pleasure against my lips, he thrusts his tongue deep, his hips pressing me against the door.

I bite his bottom lip, then accept the arousing twining of his tongue with mine. I’ll never get enough of his dominant intensity, not ever. It’s one of the things I love most about my husband.

“If you don’t stop kissing me, I can’t use my mouth on other parts of your body,” I say once he gives me a chance to breathe.

Strong hands clasp my jaw, his breath sawing. “Are you sure?”

“Can you stay quiet?”

“Can I make you scream?”

The sheer arrogance in his comment makes it hard not to smile. I love a challenge. “If you make even one sound, I’ll have to stop.”

His hands tighten on me, his tone gravel-rough. “Once you start, you’d better not fucking stop, Little Red.”

“Then you’d better remain silent, Mister Black.” I press a quick kiss to his jaw before I lower to my knees on the thick bath rug.

The moment my lips surround the tip of his cock, Sebastian’s fingers slide into my hair, his hands cradling my head. I smile at the sudden intake of his breath and deep exhale out of his nose, then let him move my mouth along his silky erection several times, setting the building pace.

When the tension in his hold tells me that he’s holding back his moans of pleasure, the devilish side of me decides to kick it up a notch. As he pulls his hips back, sliding me fully along his shaft, I suck and coil my tongue around him all the way to the tip.

“Goddamnit woman!” he rasps quietly, his hands fisting tight in my hair. When he grows impossibly hard and his knees bend slightly, I squeeze his muscular thighs and then move up and down his length twice more, before taking him fully down my throat.

A low, fierce rumble rushes past his lips as he goes over the edge.

When he’s fully spent, Sebastian clasps my hand and quickly pulls me to my feet, his tone less tense, but somehow more lethal. “Learning just how creative you can be when I’m not allowed to fuck you senseless for two more days doesn’t sit well with me.”

“I’ve got to save some surprises for the wedding day.” I shrug, smirking. “And you’re welcome.”

My husband clasps my face, big hands spreading along my jawline. Tilting my chin up, his warm lips hover close to mine. “Be glad we’re already married or I’d kidnap you and make you marry me today.” He kisses my lips, then my forehead before tugging me into his warm embrace, exhaling in a low voice, “I fucking love every part of you: body, mind and soul, Mrs. Blake.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and bask in the sensation of his strong arms around me. “I love you too. And now that you’re a bit less um…tense, I want to tell you about the article I worked on that should be releasing soon.”

Just when I finish revealing who I interviewed for my article, the sound of the apartment door closing and a key turning in the lock only highlights the tense silence hanging between us.

The bathroom light suddenly snaps on. Releasing the switch, my husband zips his pants up while scowling at me from his towering height. “What the hell, Talia.”

“I had no idea about your connection to Banks,” I say, holding my hands up. “Not until I got there. I promise that I wasn’t digging into your background.”

“I don’t give a shit about that—” He cuts himself off, his displeasure evident. “First, that neighborhood is not safe for you to be in—”

“Hence Den,” I remind him, but he just talks over me, going full steam ahead.

“Second, Banks and I not only have past history, but we have some recent history as well. Stay away from him.”

“And whose fault is it that I didn’t know any of this?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips.

“It was related to my mom’s case.” Grunting, he runs a hand through his thick, black hair, leaving the short strands looking disheveled but even sexier. “As far as I’m concerned it’s over.”

“Ah, at least now I know why he was curious to know which Blake I’m married to.”

“You told him?” His blue eyes hold mine until I nod, then they narrow to determined slits. “Pack what little you’ve brought here. You’re coming home.”

“Whoa, hold on. Is Banks truly a danger? He didn’t come across as threatening. He was just forthright and curious.”

“He’s not a threat per se,” he begins, lowering his arms.

“Then no, I won’t be going home with you.” When I grab my purse and open the bathroom door, my husband stalks after me into the living room.

“This isn’t up for discussion, Talia.”

“You’re right, it’s not.” I open the apartment door and wait until he joins me in the hall so I can lock the door. “I love that you’re protective, Sebastian, but this time it’s unwarranted. I have to meet Cass for drinks in ten minutes. I suggest you go home and catch up on your sleep. Now that you can.”

Sebastian opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. He stays broodingly silent while he follows me to my car. Once I’m seated in the driver’s seat, he holds the door as I start the engine. “This discussion isn’t over.”

I sigh. “Send Theo if you wish. I’ll be at Fine Tapas for an hour, then I’ll be coming back here to sleep.” Before he can say anything else, I close the door and drive off.

“Can you believe him?” I grumble at Cass as I set the small tracking device on the table.

“Where’d you find it?” she asks, picking it up to look at it.

I sigh. “I found it in my wheel well after my husband showed up at the apartment.” When her eyebrow hikes, I smirk. “He promised never to put a tracker on my phone, so how else would he know how to find me?” Knowing my husband’s penchant for redundancy, I checked the other wheel wells too, and sure enough I found a similar looking device in the back right one. Sneaky man thought he could hide it from me. I tossed the second one in the gurgling water fountain as I walked through the restaurant’s back patio on my way inside.

“Why didn’t he have his guy hack your GPS?” Cass asks as she sets the device back on the table.

“Whose side are you on?” I mutter, shaking my head. “He knows that I know how to turn it off, but at least I know how he found me at the apartment.”

Cass’s eyes widen. “I was just there.”

“Oh, I know.” Once I finish relaying what just happened in the bathroom, she sets her gin and tonic down, then flips her long dark hair over her shoulder and gives me the side-eye. “Wait…so you’re just expecting me to skip over the part where you went down on your man, completely breaking your deal that you wouldn’t have sex with him until the wedding, and go straight to the girl sympathy part?”

“Yep, it’s been a hell of a day.” I lift my glass of sparkling water and take a sip. “And for the record, no sex occurred, certainly not on my part.”

Cass purses her lips doubtfully, then nods toward my glass. “You sure you don’t want something stronger?”

“No, Sebastian has me too wound up. If I drink anything, the sugar will make me toss and turn all night. I didn’t sleep well last night and need to catch up.”

“You can always have one of these,” she suggests, lifting her cocktail.

“You know I hate gin,” I say, wrinkling my nose. Sighing, I lift my shoulders and let them fall. “Please tell me everything’s going to run like clockwork for tomorrow’s rehearsal. I need to hear some good news right now.”

Cass pulls a folder and pen out of her big purse and quickly flips it open on the table. “Mina and I have our dresses—seriously, thank you for choosing classic black—and of course the Blake men already own their tuxes. The flowers are ordered, your favorite caterer is confirmed with all the foods you requested. Delivery times and locations are confirmed with each of the vendors.”

I smile as she meticulously checks off the list while talking. “Thank you for saving me, Cass. This will be like riding a bike by the time your wedding rolls around.”

“My pleasure. You know I love creating fairytales. Though it’s so much more fun when it’s real life instead of in photos.” She grins, then continues down the list. “I’ve coordinated with the church about the rehearsal. Pastor Meyer expects you, Sebastian and the rest of the wedding party to be at the church at four-thirty tomorrow.” Pausing, she glances up from the paper, dark eyebrows raised over light brown eyes. “By the way, the pastor’s only letting you two slide from counseling because of his longstanding relationship with the Blake family.”

“So it has nothing to do with the fact we’re already married?”

She snickers at my sarcasm, then returns to her list. “The RSVPs are flooding in. Though, I’m surprised I haven’t seen one from your aunt.”

The knowledge the invitation is still sitting in my purse burns through my mind, but Cass knows nothing about my aunt’s past actions, so I just wave and mutter, “Don’t worry about it.”

“If you say so,” she says, then lifts her eyebrows. “Speaking of family…when I pressed Mina, she confessed that her mother was the one who asked her for a photo to put the engagement announcement in the paper at Adam Blake’s insistence.”

My immediate irritation that Sebastian’s nasty stepmother, Isabel, was the one who submitted the announcement to the paper completely slips away. The fact she did it for Sebastian’s father means that Adam is trying to rectify all the years he didn’t acknowledge his illegitimate son by making a big deal over a Blake’s upcoming wedding. That makes my heart melt.

Cass pauses when her phone beeps with a text. She smiles and taps out a response, then sets her phone down and starts to go over the itinerary once more.

I raise my eyebrow. “Who was that?”

“Oh, that was Mina asking if I was truly taking care of your entire schedule for the wedding so you had nothing to worry about.”

I lift my glass to her in salute. “Did you tell her that you are?”

As Cass nods, I get a text from Mina.

I just checked with Cass to make sure you’re not overloaded with wedding stuff. Thank you so much for watching Josi tonight, Talia. You have no idea how relieved I am. It’ll be my first time leaving her and who better than with her godparents. Can you believe it…this will be my first night out since she was born! On a date, no less. I’m so excited! Thank you again! I told Sebastian I’ll pick her up around eleven.

Tapping out a “you’re welcome and have a good time” text to Mina, I mutter, “He has no shame” as I put my phone in my purse and lay a few dollars on the table.

“Wait? Where are you going?”

“My husband just found a way to force me to come home.”

“Really?” She laughs, intrigued. “How?”

“Godparent duty. Any other time I would look forward to babysitting little Josi for an evening, but the timing of this visit has Sebastian’s fingerprints all over it.”

“You’ve got to give the man props for being inventive,” she says, eyes dancing with amusement.

“I don’t have to give him anything. And get that smug look off your face. You’re NOT winning this bet.”

Her eyebrows shoot up innocently. “I didn’t say anything.”

“The only thing missing is you rubbing your hands together in glee.

Snickering, Cass lifts a pinky finger to the corner of her pursed lips in a Dr. Evil impression.

“Ugh. I’m out of here. Night, Cass.”

“Don’t forget…tomorrow at four-thirty at the church for rehearsal!” Cass calls after me.

I turn and blow her a kiss before I walk out the door.