Talia

Sebastian is sitting on the couch with Josi tucked against him when I step off the elevator into our penthouse apartment. The adorable sight knocks some of the frustrated wind out of me.

“Look who it is, Josi-bean!” He lifts the TV remote and lowers the sound on the sports recaps. “Aunt Talia’s home.”

Josi’s curly blonde ringlets bounce as she swivels her head in my direction. She instantly smiles around her bottle and waves her arms but doesn’t stop sucking.

When I move to sit down on the sofa and hold my finger out for her to clasp onto it, he says lightly, “What are you doing here? I thought you were having drinks with Cass?”

I rub my thumb over Josi’s tiny fingers curled around mine. “I can’t believe you used godparent babysitting duty to get me to come home,” I say in a light tone to keep Josi from sensing that I’m not super happy with him.

“You didn’t need to come home, Talia. We’ve already had dinner and are just chilling with an after dinner cordial.” Sebastian pauses and lifts the bottle up to see if his niece is done. Josi begins to wail and he immediately plops it right back into her mouth, murmuring, “Sorry, Bean. You stopped sucking. Yeah, I know your aunt can be very distracting.” When she smiles at his deep voice and makes contented gurgling sounds around her bottle, he flicks his gaze to me. “Josi and I have got it covered.”

She’s still clutching my finger tight as she begins to lightly pat her uncle’s big hand holding her bottle. Of course now I feel foolish for assuming he orchestrated this entire evening with an agenda in mind. Apparently, he’s better at this babysitting thing than I realized. Watching Sebastian and his niece together makes me feel like an intruder horning in on their blissful evening. Still, that tracking device is burning a hole in the bottom of my purse. When did he put it on my car?

Just as I smile down at Josi’s adorable face, he says, “Am I supposed to give her a bath? While we’re in there, I think I’m going to work on this potty training thing. Diapers are a pain. I’ll bet I can teach her to use the potty in a day.”

I snap my gaze to his in an “are you kidding me?” look. Uh yeah, I don’t buy that innocent act for a minute. He definitely engineered this. Just like he’s going to pretend he didn’t put a tracking device on my car. “You can’t give her a bath. We don’t have any baby soap or shampoo. I’m sure your sister will give her one in the morning.” I pull the diaper bag on the floor next to the sofa over and retrieve a diaper, the wipes, and the changing pad. “And you are not going to freak this child out by hovering her little butt over the toilet and commanding that she go potty.”

He frowns at me. “Of course I won’t hover her over the toilet. She can sit up on her own now. I’ll just set her on the seat.”

I arch an eyebrow. “She’ll fall in. Baby’s need a baby potty to learn to use the bathroom, which doesn’t happen until they’re at least eight months older than she is right now, by the way.” I lift the diaper stuff I pulled out. “Do this once she finishes that bottle.”

“Don’t diapers last all day? They need to make diapers like camel humps.”

Men. “She needs a change now,” I say, shaking my head.

“How can you tell—” A pause, then his nose wrinkles. “Never mind.”

Silently dying of laughter, I walk over to the bookshelves to retrieve a couple of books I bought for when Josi did come to visit.

“I set the portable crib up in the guest bedroom. Mina says Josi usually goes to bed around eight.” He pauses to look down at Josi and she stares up at him with adoring eyes. “Though she doesn’t look sleepy to me.”

“You should keep her on her routine as much as possible,” I suggest, handing him the books. “These should help.”

“Where are you going?” he calls after me once I start toward our bedroom.

“I’m changing clothes.”

“But—” He holds the diaper up, a hopeful look on his face.

“You said you’ve got it covered,” I say, before entering our bedroom.

Sebastian doesn’t know that I stayed just inside the doorway, listening to him. I have to cover my mouth to keep from snickering when he says, “Did you see how deftly your aunt avoided doody duty?” The rip of her diaper precedes Josi’s giggles of delight. “All right, all right. Quit squirming or I’ll have to call you Jumping Bean from now on.” Josi giggles again and a few seconds pass. “There, now you’re ready for the next explosion. How about we go get our jammies on? I think your mom set them on the guest bed…”

As his voice fades into the guest bedroom, my amusement turns into surprised appreciation and my heart swells. For all his tough guy exterior, I had no idea how patient my SEAL-trained husband could be with kids. What if I’m a terrible mother and freak out with a new baby? Thoughts about my mom’s indifference after I was born, and then her suicide, creep into my mind, spreading like a disease. Sebastian said he wants a family one day, but watching over a toddler like I did with Amelia is nothing compared to the exhausting, never-ending vigilance of taking care of a newborn.

Mina said Sebastian really helped her when she first got home from the hospital as a single mother. At the time, I assumed she meant for moral support, but after watching how comfortable he is with Josi, he truly was the best big brother ever to her. I consider myself beyond lucky to have married someone who’s not afraid of raising kids, while at the same time his easy confidence makes me question if I’ll ever be as naturally relaxed as he seems to be.

Sighing over my unease, I kick off my heels, then slip out of my dress. I start to open my dresser drawer and my gaze snags on the picture that I had drawn for Amelia of our names inside two hearts. Even though the same “Two Lias” picture, along with a photo of our goddaughter is inside the locket I’m wearing, Sebastian also had the artwork printed and framed for our bedroom. I kiss two fingers and press them to the glass, my heart twisting for her loss. “He would’ve charmed you too, sweet Amelia.”

I couldn’t prevent her tragic death, but I was a good big sister. The fact we weren’t blood related never mattered. The memory of her little body squirming close in a hug might be bittersweet, but it helps ease my worry a little as I pull out my favorite pajama set. Once I’m dressed, hopefully I’ll get a chance to cuddle with Josi before she falls asleep.

Sebastian’s deep voice floats from the guest bedroom as he reads “Guess How Much I Love You” to his niece. He’s leaning against the headboard, Josi tucked into the crook of his arm. It’s such a sweet moment, I turn and retrieve my purse. Setting it on the island, I quickly dig through it, pulling things out of the way to retrieve my phone, then quietly grab a shot and send his sister a text with the image.

Uncle Seb has her completely enthralled!

Mina’s quick Awwww, he’s the best reply pings on my phone, drawing Sebastian’s attention.

“Aunt Talia’s come to read too. Then it’s off to sleep for you.”

When he tickles her belly, Josi’s peals of laughter make me smile. I step into the room and pull her blanket from inside the crib, then lift the other book from the end of the bed and lean against the headboard bedside my husband. “Are you ready for Goodnight Moon?

Josi’s eyes widen and she smacks her hands together. “Oon, Ahhya.”

Sebastian glances my way, then back to Josi. “Did you just say Talia?”

Crawling into my lap, Josi grabs her blanket in a tight hold, then settles her back against my chest and smacks at the book in my hand. “Oon! Oon, Ahhya!”

When I don’t start reading right away, she puckers her little lips and looks right at her uncle. “Bye-bye.”

I can’t help but burst out laughing when Sebastian shakes his head and says, “Guess I’ve been dismissed.” Leaning over, he kisses Josi on top of her head, then slides off the bed. “Night, Josi-bean.”

The moment he pulls the door partway closed behind him, Josi turns her big light green eyes up to me and pats my cheek. “Oon.”

I kiss the inside of her hand and snuggle her tiny body close. Pushing my nose into her soft curls, I inhale her baby powder smell before reading the opening lines of the book.

Josi asks me to read Goodnight Moon again as soon as I’m done. The little tyke finally dozes off right at the very end of the second round. Lifting her, I lay her down in her crib and smile that even in sleep, she never lets go of the blanket.

Turning down the nightstand lamp all the way to dim, I walk over to the door and lean around it, watching her as I begin to pull it closed. I freeze when the hinge creaks and Josi stirs and whimpers. After a couple of sighs, she falls back to sleep. I exhale and pull the door the rest of the way until it’s shut.

The living room lights are out and Sebastian has changed into lounge pants and a dark t-shirt. He’s standing next to the wall of windows, his wrists folded at his back. New York’s cityscape creates an impressive backdrop in the distance. He’d poured me a glass of red wine and set it on the table near the windows. What is he thinking about?

“The view is always impressive,” I say as I move to stand beside him.

He glances my way, his gaze sweeping over me. “I absolutely agree.”

My face heats when I realize he’s referring to me, but just when I turn to say something, he shifts his attention back to the city. “As payback for something I did that pissed him off when I was young, Banks told Hayes where to find me. And because Banks led Hayes straight to me, that’s the night I lost my mother.”

“I’m so…sorry, Sebastian.” My stomach pitches and I know my face must suddenly be very pale. “I wish you had told me. I had no idea.”

“I honestly never thought the two worlds would collide.”

Glancing my way, he slides his hand under my hair and cups my neck, running his thumb down the side of my throat. “Once I learned of Bank’s part in my mother’s death, I called a police buddy of mine and told him where to find an entire warehouse of goods. Banks had been stashing stuff there since I was a teen. I knew they couldn’t tie it to him, because he was always a careful bastard, but the loss would leave a dent. As far as I was concerned, we were even.”

“Except you didn’t expect me to interview him.”

He frowns, his thumb pausing on my skin. “Now that he knows I have someone I care about, that’s dangerous leverage.”

I lift my eyebrows. “Today’s engagement announcement would’ve clued him into that anyway.”

His fingers tighten slightly on my neck. “I haven’t had a chance to rip into Isabel for that yet.”

“My understanding is that your father requested the announcement be sent out.” I try to gauge his thoughts, wondering what he’s thinking. “Adam is trying, Sebastian. Let your father be proud of his son.”

When he just grunts in response, I circle back to his concern about the interview. “Banks honestly didn’t seem angry or vengeful when he mentioned you. Annoyed yes. He even said we’re alike…” I pause and smirk. “But I believe it’ll be okay.”

“I hope you’re right and I’m just being overprotective.”

“You are.” Turning, I lift the glass of wine from the table. “You should drink this tonight. “You never relax…and well, you should.”

“Only if you sit with me,” he says, taking the glass from me. I nod and he gestures to the table. “Have a seat.”

Happy he’s willing, I perch on the edge of the table and lean back on my hands, slowly kicking my feet back and forth. “Take a sip and try to pick out the peppery notes and other flavors. Enjoy the experience. Show me that you know how to relax.”

“There’s only one thing that relaxes me.” Giving me a pointed look, he takes a sip of the wine.

“You’ve already had your relaxation for the day. Now try the liquid version.”

“I will.”

When he sets the glass on the table between my legs, then grips my thighs in a firm hold, my heart rate jumps. “What are you doing?”

“The wine lacks a key ingredient.”

“What’s that?” I ask, my breath catching at the heated way he’s staring at my mouth.

“Talia notes are missing from this liquid relaxation experience.”

My stomach tightens and desire floods my core. Every part of me tingles when he pushes my thighs apart and steps between them. “That isn’t on the wine’s list of ingredients, Mister Black.” I quickly put my hands over his before he can touch places that’ll send my heart soaring. If I let this continue, I’ll be begging him to take me to bed.

“Do you want me to drink the wine?”

I hold his steady gaze. This isn’t about the wine. It’s about my husband trusting in life’s journey and allowing himself to just be without feeling the need to be constantly on guard. I know being reminded of his mother’s death has a lot to do with his tension, but it must be exhausting walking around like that all the time. “I want you to be able to enjoy a glass of wine every so often, Sebastian.”

“Then the only way that’s happening…” His voice drops to a deeper timbre as he moves the glass of wine to my right on the table. “Is if I have it with you. Now lift that sweet ass, Little Red.”

Desire burns in his eyes as I bite my lip. The moment I lift my hips, he instantly slides my silk pajama pants and underwear off, dropping them onto the floor.

The table is cool and my skin prickles, a shiver rushing through me.

“Cold?”

Boldness thrums through my veins, warming my blood and I shake my head. “Just wondering if the marriage of the two will meet your palate’s approval.”

His eyebrow hikes and lust flashes in his gaze. “I’m certain this blend will only grow better with age.” Warm hands cover my thighs, gliding along them. “Slide back a little.”

Curious what he’s up to, I do as he commands, keeping my attention focused on his hands.

When my husband pulls two long swaths of red silk from his pants’ pockets, my gaze jerks to my purse on the island. “Did you take my—Sebastian, that was for something else.”

“I’m sure whatever it was…you’ll feel this was more than worth it, Little Red,” he says with toe-curling confidence as he expertly ties the two ends of the four-inch wide strips together into a bow. With a dark, sexy smile, he lays the bow against my belly, then leans close to cross the trailing ends behind my back and then back around the front of my body. “Bend your knees, beautiful.”

The huskiness in his voice intrigues me. “No hands this time?” I tease as he loops the silky material from the outside of my thighs around to the insides.

He glances up after doing the same to my knees, a smirk on his face. “I have a feeling you’ll want to hold onto something more substantial, like the table.”

“Good to know,” I say lightheartedly to cover my nervousness as he drops the trailing ends of the sashes down either side of the table. “Are you done decorating the bottle?”

He releases a low chuckle as he bends over to tuck the sashes’ ends under the table, pulling them to the table’s end. When he lifts one sash up, then begins to loop it around my ankle, his focus methodical and intense, my lighthearted amusement shifts to nervous anticipation. Sebastian never does anything without purpose. What is his goal tonight?

He holds my gaze as he wraps the end around the table leg, then gives the material a firm tug. The wrapped silk zips over my skin in a quick burn, the instant tightening forcing my knee outward while also anchoring my foot to the table’s corner. “This is not a bottle decoration,” he rumbles after he secures the end around my ankle, then wraps my other leg in the same fashion.

Pressing a kiss on a spot where the silk isn’t covering my skin on my inner thigh, he glances up at me and clasps my thighs in a possessive hold. The silk under my hips gives him a slick surface to play with and with a quick jerk he pulls me closer. I gasp as the wrapped material pulls my knees impossibly wide, while the silky pulley system he’s created clasps my ankles in a firm lover’s hold.

“No, sweet Talia…” he continues as he lifts the glass of wine in salute. “You’re the main course. The wine will only be used to complement your delicious flavor.”

Leaning forward, he runs the cool stem along my inner thigh, then slides it in between my lower lips, pressing it against my clit. “Unbutton your top.”

I feel exposed and vulnerable already. My shirt is my last line of defense against his penetrating gaze. “Do you really need—”

“Do you want to be able to button it back?”

His tone is clipped, arrogant. Dominant. He won’t think twice about shredding it. My hands shake a little as I unbutton the top and let it fall open. Cool air hits my exposed breasts, making the peaks harden and stand up at attention. Sebastian sets the glass down and dips two fingers into the dark liquid, then traces them across my nipples and down to my navel.

My belly tenses with his touch and my heart thumps at a rapid pace as he slowly pulls me even closer and leans to hover his lips over my nipple. Warm breath bathes my breast before he runs his tongue slowly over my prickled skin.

Loving the intimacy, I slide my hands into his hair and try to tug him close, but my husband won’t let me change his pace. He sucks my nipple into his mouth and just when I think he’s going to tug hard and make me shiver more, he shifts to the other breast and starts the same torturous process all over again. “This is my idea of a full-bodied wine,” he rumbles appreciatively against my body as he clasps my waist in a firm hold and runs his tongue slowly down to my bellybutton.

I begin to pant when he rubs his nose in the tiny triangle of hair between my legs, then moan as he clasps my ass and bites down on the left side of my mons and then the right. Each nip dominant and aggressive. “I love that this pussy is all mine to completely possess.”

He glances up at me, flashing a smile of sheer arrogance. “And I do plan to reacquaint myself with every lovely bit of it until you’re writhing with the need to come.”

The look of determination on his face worries me. Does that mean he’s not going to finish? Will he leave me hanging until I’m a blubbering mess? I’m throbbing already and the way he’s gripping me doesn’t bode well for me being able to walk myself to the bedroom later. Sebastian carrying me will not be a good scenario for abstaining. If that man gets me anywhere near a bed, it’ll be my undoing.

I fist my hand in his hair. “If you leave me hanging so help me, Sebastia—”

I cut myself off when he thrusts his tongue deep into my channel. Pressing a chaste kiss there, he smiles. “I love the way you taste too much to do that, Little Red. If anything…you’re going to lose count of the number of orgasms you have tonight.”

Sitting up, he lifts the glass and just when I think he’s going to take another sip, he tilts it and dribbles the dark liquid from my bellybutton to my mons. It’s cold and erotic and I bite my lip to hold back the shocking gasp. Shivering in anxious anticipation, I force my hands that intuitively want to wipe the wine off me to stay relaxed by my sides on the table. Setting the glass down, my husband’s gaze holds mine with the look of a starving man as he flattens his hands on the table, caging me in.

“You might want to hold on, Little Red. I promise this is one wine tasting you’re never going to forget. There is, of course…only one rule.”

“What’s that?” I whisper, so ready to feel his mouth on my body once more.

“Don’t spill the wine.”

I stare down at the liquid pooling in my navel and quivering on my lower belly. “What happens if it spills?”

Sebastian gives me a wolfish smile. “I get to take you to bed.”

Oh God, the man always makes me squirm. I can’t do this. No, I have to do this. I narrow my gaze, then tilt my chin, accepting his challenge. Slowly lifting my arms above my head, I grab onto the table’s edge and slightly arch my back so my boobs draw his attention too. “That red marring my skin must be driving you mad. You’d better take care of that for me, Mister Black.”

But instead of going for the goods, my husband surprises the hell out of me by pressing his lips to the skin above my ankle. I wiggle my toes and try to keep my breathing even as he moves up to my calf and nips at the muscle. Then he slides to the uncovered area just above my knee. I’m quivering by the time he makes his way to the sensitive juncture where my leg meets my body.

“Taste me, Sebastian!” I demand, then growl my frustration when he leans over and sucks the wine from my navel. “That’s not what I meant.”

He ignores my grumble and bites down on the inside of my other thigh. I jump, then shift my hip to keep the red liquid from rolling off my belly. “Inflicting pain isn’t playing fair, husband!”

He jerks his gaze up from kissing the same spot. “Leaving my bed isn’t fair either, wife.”

“You got your dessert,” I say, my breathing shallow.

Sebastian slides his hands under my thighs, gripping them in a firm hold. “Desserts never provide the necessary nutrients a full course can. I’m a steak, potatoes, salad and bread kind of guy.”

“Are you comparing me to your favorite meal?” I ask, mock-offended.

Sebastian runs his tongue along my sensitive folds and groans his approval. “Damn straight. You’re definitely my favorite hot meal,” he says as he devours my body with such brutal intensity that I barely keep myself from arching off the table as my vision begins to blur.

Thoughts of wine spilling, weddings, and friend’s bets evaporate from my mind. My husband plays my body like the seasoned dominant he is. He takes me to the brink, then pulls me back over and over, leaving me delirious with the need to climax and beyond frustrated with the desire to move.

“Please, Sebastian, just let me come. I’ll do whatever you want. Stop torturing me.”

“I never want to wake up without you again.”

I close my eyes, so filled with building tension I can no longer feel my hands holding onto the table. “Fine,” I hiss, my sex throbbing from being denied release.

As he slides two fingers deep inside my core, I moan and tears spill with the slight rush of relief.

“That’s not an answer, sweetheart. I want to hear you say it.”

Sebastian’s expression is ruthless, his touch purposeful as he turns his fingers and hits my G-spot with slow, deliberate strokes.

My whole body jerks to my rising heart rate and my thighs quiver. I can’t edge away. Instead, the tug of the silk forcing me to stay open to his every whim only adds to the maddening eroticism. “You’ll never have to wake up without me again. God, Sebastian…just give me release!”

A moment suspends between us, his gaze locking with mine. Hooking his fingers inside me, Sebastian lets out a feral grunt and yanks me forward, the glide of silk enhancing his primal move. Lapping up the last of the wine, he latches onto my clit with unparalleled fierceness and I arch, my vision blurring. I bite back the wail of animalistic approval that shoots to my throat and release my hold on the table to jam my aching fingers into his hair.

Tugging hard, I press against him, my heart racing too fast for my chest to contain it. Once my climax rolls over my body in shuddering waves of pure bliss, Sebastian doesn’t relent. One orgasm after another tears through me. After the fourth one hits, then starts to build into another, I tear at his hair until he grunts in pain. “No more, Sebastian,” I pant. “I can’t…too much...”

Straightening, my husband tugs at the bow on my waist while he downs the last of the wine. Once the ribbon unravels, he does the same to the bows at my ankles before lifting me as if I weigh nothing. “Never leave me again,” he says roughly, running his nose along my temple. “No matter where you lay your head, Little Red, mine will always be next to yours.”

My arms and legs feel like jelly. I’m breathing too hard to comment, my heart still pounding from Sebastian’s orgasm bullet train. All I can do is bob my head against his chest as he carries me to our bedroom.

Our room is comforting in its quiet stillness as he lays me in our bed. The pillows and smooth sheets smell of Sebastian’s appealing masculine scent. I take advantage of the darkness to lean into the pillow and inhale deeply as he strips out of his clothes. I can no more resist him pulling me into the circle of his arms than breathe. And at this moment, I don’t want to.

He kisses my forehead, his voice a low, promising rumble. “Close your eyes for a few, Talia. I’m nowhere near done.”

“Be sure to go check on Josi,” I say sleepily. His sister won’t be here for three hours. With a promise like that, I should be anxious that he’ll have more time to work his magic on me, but my brain is still in fog mode. Rubbing my nose against his warm chest, I close my eyes and drift into an exhausted sleep.

Sebastian getting out of bed wakes me. I groggily follow and slip on a silk robe while he steps into lounge pants and a t-shirt.

I have just enough time to stuff my PJs and the red silk sashes into my purse before Mina steps off the elevator. Sebastian greets his little sister, arms crossed.

“He’d better have been a gentleman.”

Mina rolls her eyes. “He was fine, Seb. More a friend than true date material. It was just nice to get out for a little while.” She includes me in the conversation as I approach. “Did Josi give you any trouble?”

“No. She was an angel,” I say smiling.

“After she kicked her uncle out so Talia could read to her.”

Mina snickers at Sebastian’s disgruntled tone. “My daughter definitely has a mind of her own. I’ll just grab her so you two can go back to bed. Why you’re both working tomorrow I have no idea,” she says, shaking her head. “I took a week off before my wedding.”

As she starts to walk away, Sebastian’s tone turns serious. “Speaking of our wedding, please don’t give any more pictures to Isabel.”

“I know my mom’s not your favorite person.” Mina turns to face us once more. “But she just wanted to please our father.”

“There’s a reason you and Calder are the only ones in our family who know about this place. My privacy is important to me. That extends to personal photos.”

“Maybe if you tried more…” Mina starts to say, but seeing her brother’s closed expression, she sighs and pushes her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Okay, I get it, Seb.”

As she walks into the guest bedroom to pick up her sleeping daughter, I whisper to Sebastian, “Are you ever going to tell her just how devious her mother can be? I’m a little concerned about Isabel’s influence over Josi.”

“You don’t have to worry. Isabel is too self-centered to spend more than a few minutes with her granddaughter, let alone babysit. She’ll expect Josi to always be dressed appropriately in public and to not act out, but that’s about it. My sister knows Isabel’s less-than-stellar tendencies, but I refuse to destroy Mina’s illusion that her mother is basically a good person beneath all that superficiality. It would crush her.”

I watch his half-sister cooing to her sleepy baby who’s fussing from being roused. “Mina’s stronger than you think.”

“Maybe,” he says, looking contemplative. “But my father would never forgive himself if he ever found out Isabel paid someone to take me out once she learned of my existence.”

I lift my eyebrows, surprised to hear him protecting Adam’s feelings. “Are you starting to like your father, Sebastian?”

“Let’s not get carried away. I always put family first.” Hooking his arm around my shoulder, he pulls me close and presses his lips to my temple, then husks in my ear, “Go warm the bed for me, sexy. I’ll lock up.”

I grab my purse off the table and head back to our room, so nervous my hands are shaking. How will I keep that man at bay for one more day?

When I glance down at my purse, I exhale my nervous tension as an idea forms.