The pressure became unbearable
. She whimpered, digging her nails into his back in a silent plea for him to stop. A small twinge of relief flooded her as he deepened the kiss and pulled his hips back. Her brief respite turned to a keening scream of desperation when he drove forward and buried himself deep, splitting her open. Sebastian groaned and stilled above her. His hands stroked the sides of her face as he swallowed her cries and lavished her with kisses. Taylor strained against his chest, her body clamping around his. She was stretched and stuffed full. She shook her head, begging him to stop when Sebastian eased back and rocked into her again.
He broke the kiss
, and she drew a shuddering breath, a lone word falling past her lips unbidden: “
Pleeaasee.
”
“
Shh, Taylor, no,” Sebastian murmured against her ear. “Give it a minute, baby. The pain will stop.”
He claimed her mouth again, this time slowly and tenderly as he moved inside her. Her body
swayed beneath the deep but gentle drive of his hips and her head started to spin as the agony abated and slowly drifted toward pleasure. Wrapping her legs around him, she welcomed his forward thrusts. The gesture drew a low growl of approval from Sebastian and, slipping a hand beneath her, he cradled her ass and picked up the pace. Within minutes, the harsh slap of skin filled the room, bouncing off the walls. The blurry, breathtaking combination of pleasure and pain washed through her, spurred even higher by the furious passion. Seeking an anchor, her fingers wound in his hair, giving those adorable curls a tug.
Sebastian returned the favor, wringing a cry from her lips as his fist wound in her hair
. He hauled her head back with a sharp yank. An unspoken warning rose in his eyes, giving them a dangerous glint. Taylor reluctantly let go, but he maintained his hold. Her cries flooded the room as he pounded into her with wild abandon. Her back bowed as he stabbed deep, each plunge stroking her into madness. Taylor whimpered when his fingers tightened and a deep, husky growl vibrated against her ear. The sound worked its way through her, and without warning, she tumbled into the unknown. Twisting, she arched beneath him with a strangled scream as her body shattered and exploded into dizzying pleasure.
Sebastian stiffened with a groan. His mouth slanted against hers as he slowed the pace and carried her th
rough each crippling wave. Dazed and breathless, she clung to him as he eked every bit of bliss from her body. The hold in her hair heightened as he drove into her with renewed zeal. Words of encouragement and praise tumbled from his lips until the lean body above her shuddered and Sebastian threw his head back with a hoarse bellow.
Their ragged gasps filled the silence as they struggled to catch their breath and slow the frantic hammer of their hearts. Rolling onto his side, Sebastian pulled her with him, dragging her thigh up over his.
Spellbound, she traced lazy patterns on his chest until he captured her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. His eyes sparkled in the firelight as she peered up at him.
“What are you thinking?” he murmured with a tender smile.
Taylor sighed, relishing the feel of his warm hands as he rubbed small circles against her shoulders and thigh. “That was intense.”
His body shook with a soft chuckle. “Which part would that be?”
“All of it,” she admitted, blushing. Her color deepened as he pulled her on top of him and her body splayed against his. Hiding behind her hair, she buried her nose against his chest and breathed the familiar scent of his skin. His fingers trailed up the side of her cheeks and he gently coaxed her face to his.
“I want to
be the one to show you everything, Taylor.”
She giggled, pressing her nose against him again with a small shake of her head. Unable to resist, she planted a kiss against his sweat
-slicked chest. Sebastian’s head fell back against the pillows with a contented rumble.
“It’s an incredible feeling to
have something that no other man ever has, to know I’m the only one who will ever know how your body feels.”
A playful smile curved her lips as she kissed her way up to his chin. “Who says you’ll be the last?”
All traces of softness fled his face. The hard lines of Sebastian’s jaw steeled and a frightening glint replaced the sheen in his narrowing eyes. She gasped as his hand left her thigh and wrapped around her chin with startling speed. Unforgiving fingers dug into her cheeks. Her heart hammered as his gaze drilled into her.
“I do,” he stated in a deceptively soft whisper. Sebastian released her slowly, though his stare was not as merciful. “It’s been a long night. Go get cleaned up before I feel the need to reiterate that fact.”
Fear wound a treacherous path through her body. Shivering, she somehow managed to wrest her eyes away from his. Taylor inched off him and slid off the side of the bed with a wince. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her as she made her way into the master bath. There was no mistaking the weight of Sebastian’s stare as it tracked her every step. His words chilled her to the bone. She’d only asked to be playful, but his reaction had been anything but.
Biting her lip, she rubbed the side of her cheek and glanced around the massive
bathroom in search of a washcloth. Her gaze darted over the stone shower and jetted corner tub with decorative pillars before flitting over the sinks to the right. She shook her head. Even the bathroom was a humbling display of decadence with its rich travertine stone, lush plants, and deep Tuscan tones. Her eyes bulged when she scanned the counters and cupboards to the left and she spotted a small built-in wine cooler.
“Third drawer down.”
She whirled at the sound of Sebastian’s voice. Stepping past her, he moved to the sink and the bathroom echoed with the sound of running water. Taylor blew out a quiet breath and nabbed two clean washcloths from the drawer. After they’d finished, Sebastian took hers and tossed them both into a decorative hamper. The silence was killing her. She wrung her hands, wanting to speak, but not wanting to push her luck any further. Hope flooded her as Sebastian turned to her and beckoned her forward with a crook of his finger.
Without a word, he scooped her up off the cool stone floor. Grateful, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his warm
crook as he carried her back to bed. He’d already turned the covers and the fire down. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip as he eased her onto the soft mattress and drew the comforter up under her chin. She sighed as the bed dipped beneath his weight and Sebastian pulled her against his side.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I was just trying to be funny. I don’t want anyone else but you.”
“Nothing about you is a joke to me. I will be your last.”
She wanted to believe that. Still, she found her brow knitting and a small frown plied her lips. Sebastian lifted his head off the pillows, his expression questioning in the shadows.
“What?” he asked.
“I want that to be true so bad, but what if things don’t work out? What if you get tired of me? People promise each other forever all the time, but that rarely happens anymore.”
A sigh lifted his chest, and his arms tightened around her in a reassuring squeeze. “I’m not going to get tired of you, Taylor. That’s them not us. We will make it work. Now stop questioning me and get some sleep.”
“Yes, Sebastian,” she murmured, stretching against him with a sleepy yawn. “Thank you for everything.”
“Taylor…”
She giggled at the slight hint of warning in his voice. Pressing closer, she snuggled against him and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. “
Sleeping.”
Morning came far too early. It had been hard to pry herself away from the comfortable haven of Sebastian’s bed, and harder still to resist the allure of a hot shower. Her body ached, the soreness branching through places of her she hadn’t even known existed until last night. Taylor’s cheeks warmed with the thought as she rummaged through the fridge. The feel of him, the smell of him still lingered on her body like a brand. She’d paused several times while making coffee just to savor the moment and breathe in his scent.
She
kept the door propped open with her hip and rummaged through the shelves and bins. The sudden glide of hands roaming up her shirt startled her, and she jerked back with a yelp. Sebastian’s soft chuckle washed over her, and she sagged with relief, almost melting as his warm lips brushed across her nape.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
“Good morning to you too,” she giggled. “You scared the crap out of me!”
He kissed the side of her neck, smiling against her skin. “
Years of training have taught me to move undetected and be light on my feet.”
“I’d say it’s a skill you’ve perfected.”
“You’re up early,” he stated, wrapping his arms around her and pressing against her back. Taylor blushed as he ground against her and his erection prodded her bottom. “I was disappointed when you weren’t in my bed.”
“I wanted to make you breakfast.” She gasped, closing her eyes as one hand moved to knead her breast and the other dipped between her thighs. Her breath left her in a shaky quiver and she rocked involuntarily against his hand.
Catching herself, Taylor cleared her throat and tugged out of his embrace. “The coffee is ready. Do you want me to make you some bacon and eggs?”
Sebastian
pulled her away from the fridge with a slow shake of his head. Grabbing her, he gathered her against him and lifted her up to set her on the edge of the counter. “All I want is you.”
Taylor giggled and r
an her hands through his dark golden curls, mussing them in a playful tousle. Scrunching up her nose, she leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. “As wonderful as that sounds, it’s only going to fill one of us up.”
His throaty laugh flooded the kitchen. “I’m okay with that.”
“Can I take a rain check?”
Confusion flickered across his
face, easing the boyish smile. “What’s wrong with now?”
She kissed the tip of his nose and smiled. “Nothing, I just don’t have much time and I really wanted to feed you before I left for work.”
Sebastian braced his hands on either side of her, his shoulders slumping with a sigh before he lifted his gaze to hers. “You’ve been through a lot in the past two days. I’m sure they will understand you taking a few days off.”
“I know, but it’s our busy season. I don’t want to leave anyone hanging. I feel bad enough not showing up yesterday as it is. Besides, I could really use the money.”
Nodding, he straightened. “They’ll make it. Give yourself a break, Taylor.”
She chewed her lip for a long moment and shrugged. “Okay. You’re right.
I could use some time to pack up the rest of my things.”
“I’m always right,” he said, tipping her chin and stealing a quick kiss. “We’ll swing by
together and grab the remainder of your clothes and whatever personal affects you want to keep. The rest can stay.”
“
I don’t know what else you have going on today, but I was hoping to look around and find a safer place in my price range. Maybe you could help. It’s sweet of you to let me stay here, but I don’t want to be a burden or overstay my welcome.”
Sebastian’s shoulders shook with a silent laugh. Lifting his head, he pinned her with an incredulous stare. “Let you? Taylor, I
want
you to stay. I didn’t bring you home to spend a night or two just so you could turn around and leave. Stay with me. I’ll give you whatever you want or need. I will take care of you.”
He sounded so sincere, so genuine
. His generosity was almost too much to bear. Shaking her head, she blinked against the burn building in her eyes. “I don’t need you to take care of me, Sebastian. I can take care of myself.”
“I know that and I respect it, but that’s not the point, Taylor. I want to.”
She lowered her gaze. “I’m not going to win this argument, am I?”
His fingers wrapped around her chin and she shivered as his intense green stare probed hers. “
No. Trust me and let it happen.”
Laying her hand over his, she turned and kissed his palm. There was no point in fighting just to prove a point. Truth was, she wanted to be with him, and if Sebastian was being honest and not just gracious, rebellion was pointless. He had a way, a
n unspoken manner that assured he was a man who got what he wanted. Besides, she had no desire to see the harsh lines of displeasure stamp his face again. Last night was still fresh in her mind, and her mother had always warned her to choose her battles with a man wisely. Standing her ground when he was attempting to offer her his world on a silver platter wouldn’t just be offensive; it would be akin to slapping him in the face.
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll give it a go.”
“Yeah?” he asked.
She nodded, grinning as he cupped her cheeks. “Yes, but on one condition.”
“I’m not one to negotiate, but let’s hear what you got.”
“
I want you to stop procrastinating and tell me what you want for breakfast.”