“That’s not fair,
Baas.”
“Fair?” Sebastian whispered. He s
tepped forward. “No. You don’t get to tell me what’s fair. I got away and you hunted me down. I begged you for help. I
begged
, Josh. I told you I had enough and you turned your back on me.”
“I had to. You know that,” his partner stated, his eyes darting to Monique and Taylor. “Just like you knew you had to go back. Why’d you do it, huh,
Baas? You took out three guards. Did you honestly think you weren’t going to have to answer for that? Who did you think they were going to send after you?”
Sebastian’s shoulders jerked a
s he splayed his palms. His swallow echoed in the room. The tears in his eyes brimmed and threatened to fall. “Don’t blame me. I was just being what they wanted, right? That’s what this is about. How am I doing with that? Am I where they need me to be?”
All fight fled Josh. His body sagged with visible defeat. “Yeah,
Baas, you’re there.” He hung his head with a sorrowful shake. “I’m going to take your sister home.”
“Good. Do what you should have done to begin with
and straighten her out. I don’t care how. I don’t ever want to have this conversation with her again.”
“Sebastian…”
He turned and confronted Monique with a cold glare. His chest ached with the force of his anger and shame. An involuntary shudder wound through his lean frame. He clasped his hands behind his back in an effort to hide the tremble.
“I’m sorry…I didn’t know.
I didn’t blame you. I was just hurting so much and needed your strength. You’ve always been my rock and you…” Her voice broke with a heartbroken waver. “You’re the only family I have left.”
He bit the insides of his cheeks and nodded, studying the floor. Tense silence hung between them. After a long moment, his shoulders lifted with a
conflicted sigh. He understood that feeling all too well. Still, her initial reaction had cut him like a knife. It crushed him to know she could even entertain the thought of him killing his own nephew. Guilt washed through him, and he closed his eyes. Even if he hadn’t played a part in the accident that took Christian’s life, he was partially to blame. Part of him wanted to cling to her, grant forgiveness, and beg for the same. He shook his head. Those days were long gone. He was all too aware of Josh’s presence and weighted stare. The staggering effects of his reconditioning still rang loud and clear. Weakness and mercy were not an option—especially around the other members of his team.
Lifting his head, his gaze locked with his sister’s holding it until a slight shiver wracked her willowy frame. “Listen to me carefully, Monique.
Cross me again and you will regret it in ways you cannot possibly imagine. I will show you the monster you think me to be. That is not a threat. It’s a promise,” he said prowling closer. “Is that clear?”
“Y-yes, Sebastian.”
His eyes bore into her. Nodding, he tilted his head toward the hall.
“Go home.”
She smothered a sob with her hand, but bobbed her head in understanding. Snagging her elbow, Josh steered her toward the hall. Sebastian watched as his sister turned around to peer at him over the slope of one slender shoulder. Her eyes told him she loved him even if her mouth could not. He softened his expression just a bit before turning away. It was all the reassurance she was going to get. Leaning against the counter, he folded his arms and waited until the front door had shut before turning his attention to Taylor.
She stood frozen by the stairs, her expression bewildered and scared. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he cursed
. When had she come down? His mind scrambled, trying to remember. One thing was for certain, she’d been standing there for most of the heated exchange. His heart sank. First, Christmas Eve and now this—she’d already seen and heard far more than he ever wanted. When would it end? Forcing out a heavy breath, he called her forward with a crook of his finger. The uncertainty riding her pouty lips was enough to break what was left of his heart.
He reached for her. Her eyes closed, and her body stiffened with fear, but she didn’t flinch. He supposed he couldn’t blame her. The confrontation with Monique had been ugly at best
, and his temples still pounded with the lingering tension. Some of that was bound to be branded across his face. Threading his fingers through Taylor’s dark hair, he pulled her head closer and eased his mouth over hers. He clung to her in a fit of desperation. The feel of her arms around him pulled him back down. Ravaging her lips, he held on tight until they were both breathless and she was all that remained.
He pulled ba
ck and traced his thumb over the slope of her cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Her brows
lowered, hitching in confusion. “For what?”
“For being my anchor—for loving me despite my flaws.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with his forefinger and a tired smile. “No more words right now, baby, just actions. Go pack.”
She bit her lip and shifted her weight. The pained look on her face told him she was dying to ask questions. His shoulders
jerked with a silent snort.
“I still owe you a vacation,” he explained, smoothing the hair
away from her eyes. “It’s nothing like what I had in mind, but I have the next three days off and I want to make the most of them. I don’t care where we go. It can be the next town over for all I care. I just want to get away from it all and be somewhere—something else for a while—just you and me.” He cupped her cheeks and leaned over to rest his head against hers. “Maybe some room service and a bed.”
Taylor’s eyes sparkled as she peered back into his. Reaching up over his arms, she
returned the gesture and cradled his face tenderly in her hands. “Definitely a bed,” she murmured.
It was a small transgression, but one that was so easily forgiven. Pulling her closer, he kissed her deeply before sending her off to pack with a pat of warning. The smile she gave him was full of unspoken promise and delight. Leaning against the counter, Sebastian let his head fall back and sent up a silent prayer of thanks. His body shook with a rueful laugh when he caught himself. It was doubtful God or any other powers that might be were listening anymore. In truth, he didn’t blame them.
III.
Taylor stretched her legs with a quiet grunt. Sleep blurred her vision, and she squinted, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with curiosity and wonder. The majestic rise of the mountains loomed larger than life, even against the jet-black sky. Smothering a yawn, she glanced around as Sebastian popped the trunk and shouldered their bags. The hustle and bustle of the city seemed so far away, as did its distinctive glow. She sucked in a deep inhale, drawing the fresh desert air into her lungs. An appreciative smile played on her lips as Sebastian rounded the back of the car and wrapped an arm around her waist. Snuggling close to his side, she savored the warm reassurance of his body and the boyish grin he boasted. The pressures and stress of the day seemed forgotten. Like their home, they were miles away and no longer took a toll on his handsome face. His excited expression and the deep cut of his dimples stole her breath away.
Together, they regarded the squat lobby. Forged from
deep grey stone and arranged in a sweeping semicircle, it almost resembled an ancient coliseum. A warm golden glow spilled from the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. It was unlike anything she had ever imagined. Beyond the luxury of the hotel, seclusion and jagged mountaintops kissed the sky.
Sebastian’s
lips brushed her temple in a reverent caress. “What do you think?” he asked.
“
It’s incredible, but what is a place like this doing way out in the middle of nowhere?”
He laughed, squeezing her tight. “
Making good money off of people like us, who want to get away.”
“Huh. Good plan,” she giggled. Her smile widened at his sexy wink.
“It is,” he agreed.
Keeping her close, he steered her inside. She
looked around as he checked in and acquired their room key. The huge stone walls, fireplaces, floors, and posh leather furniture reminded her of home. Mesquite beams spanned the ceiling, giving the place a rustic Southwestern feel. Lush potted plants and ferns decorated the stone support beams and spilled from every corner. Though it was dark now, she imagined the view from the windows was breathtaking during the day. Turning at the sound of voices, she smiled at another couple as they strolled through the lobby.
“Come on, baby,”
Sebastian urged.
Taylor shifted uncomfortably as she took in the first glimpse of their room. As much as she wanted to be happy, she couldn’t help feeling a small pang of guilt. He must have spent a small fortune. She wondered if he knew she would have been fine spending the
weekend at some no-tell motel on the edge of town. Then she snorted. Sometimes she forgot Sebastian wasn’t accustomed to worrying about such things, much less enduring them. A getaway like that would have been about as relaxing for a man of his means as wading in a pit full of fire ants.
Even the suite was larger than her apartment had been. It was the size of a large house, and easily half the size of the one her and Sebastian shared at home.
She eyed the gleaming hardwood foyer. The room opened up into an airy space with a double-sided fireplace that separated the living and dining areas. A large private balcony loomed on the other side with a breathtaking view of the desert. She eyed the opulent wood, leather, and suede furniture. Much like home, no expense had been spared. No comfort over looked.
She started to wander inside as Sebastian dropped their bags by the door, but he caught her arm, pulling her back to him. “Not so fast,” he
warned in a husky murmur. “Where are you running off to?”
“Nowhere,” she
said, offering up a shy smile.
“Good answer
.” He chuckled and lifted her off her feet in an effortless sweep. She giggled into his shoulder as he carried her to the bedroom.
“I wasn’t aware this was our honeymoon, Agent
Baas,” she teased.
He laughe
d and dropped her onto the king-sized bed. She sank into the plush down comforter as he sprung over her. His eyebrows danced and a wide smile split his face as he gave the mattress an experimental bounce.
“That’s Special Agent, darling,” he whispered, pinning her to the bed to kiss the side of her neck.
She gasped, arching against him when his teeth grazed her skin and a low growl rumbled from his throat.
“It might not be our honeymoon,” he murmured, nuzzling her ear.
His hands gripped her thighs and dragged them up to his waist. “But I promise you one thing, baby. This is just the beginning.”
Bright light spilled through the windows, bathing her face. Squinting, Taylor stretched against the soft Egyptian cotton sheets with a groan. Her body still ached with the force of their passion, and morning had come far too early. She popped her eyes open to find Sebastian lying on his side beside her. He’d propped his head up on one hand and his green gaze shimmered with amusement and affection. Her cheeks flushed as she realized he’d been watching her sleep.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
Taylor grinned at his lazy smile and ran her fingers through his messy curls. “It is now.”
“You always say that,” he said, giving her a curious look.
“That’s because morning is never a good thing until I see you. That smile alone makes waking up worth the while.”
He fell back against the pillows, shaking his head with a quiet laugh. “Okay,” he said, his shoulders still shaking. “You’ve been sleeping all night, so it can’t be anything you did. What do you want?”
She snorted and rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Such a high opinion of me. Besides, what could I possibly want? I have the perfect life.”
“Do you now?” he asked, turning back over to face her. His finger traced a slow path over the naked swell of her breast. “Do you know what
would make it even better?”
“What’s that?”
“Breakfast in bed. Twenty-four hour room service is just one of the many perks of this fine establishment.”
Taylor couldn’t suppress a teasing smile. “Someone’s hungry.
”
He rubbed a hand over his rippled abs with a smirk. “I have to keep up my stamina. So what sounds good to you?”
A short time later, they remained sprawled in the comfortable expanse of the bed. Sebastian had shooed housekeeping away with a harsh bark that made Taylor wince and giggle at the same time. Plucking a chocolate covered strawberry off the platter, she traced the end across his lips. She jerked back with a squeal when he lunged up with his usual fluid speed and chomped the fruit off clear up to her fingers. His eyes sparkled, but his expression shifted as he chewed. She couldn’t hold the laughter in as his face contorted into a tart grimace. Forcing a swallow, he seized a crisp piece of honeydew and dropped back against the pillows. He bit off one end before popping the other in her mouth.
“What do you want to do today?” he asked after swallowing. His gaze lifted to hers in question.