“For as long as you want me,” Sebastian whispered in her ear as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter21
Gabrielle entered the bedroom from the outdoor shower, dripping puddles of water on the wooden floors, wrapped in nothing but a towel.
Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes off her.
The taste of her persisted on his tongue. The scent of her intoxicated him. Memories of her shattering against his lips as she orgasmed. The sweet low hum of her breaths as she slept had been musical bliss as he held her all night long.
He wanted more, but he’d resisted, wondering if that was how it had started with his father. The incessant thoughts and the burning need to be close to the object of his affection. Was he heading down a road that would turn from happy and hopeful to dark and depraved?
Sebastian leaned over on the bed to get a better view of Gabrielle. Her hair was piled into a frizzy, curly ponytail on top of her head. Her face was stunning, devoid of all makeup, showing her natural beauty.
He should be dead on his feet, but being this close to Gabrielle had him wired. Especially since the first thing she did after waking was kiss him. A kiss that told him she had no regrets about what happened last night. No regrets about the strings forming between them. But he had reservations. Strong ones that propelled him to slow things down between them.
“I can feel you watching me,” Gabrielle said, leaning over to open one of the bottom drawers. She grabbed a bra and thong, then let the towel slide to the floor.
Sebastian sucked in a sharp breath, clenching his thighs as his cock turned to stone. Her plump ass, tight waist, and voluptuous breasts were about to push him over the edge.
“Might as well give you something to look at,” Gabrielle teased. She stepped into the thong, then put on her bra too quickly for his liking. Before he could broker a protest, she’d covered up that delicious body with a sundress.
“That’s cruel,” Sebastian moaned. “Do you see what you do to me?” He pointed down at his cock, threatening to poke a hole in his jogging pants.
Gabrielle flushed as a big grin spread across her face. “I’ll make it up to you later tonight.” She crossed the room to grab her purse and rummaged inside. “I need you to take me to town to meet Serena at Sugarcanes for brunch. She texted while I was in the shower. She wants to know how my first night away from King Estate was.”
“What are you going to tell her?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow and eased off the bed. He knew better than to get any closer to Gabrielle. What he needed was an ice-cold shower.
“I don’t kiss and tell. But I will say I have no regrets about my decision.” Gabrielle winked at him. “Plus, I think she may have some news on the police investigation at the beach cottage. If I tell her about us, that will take over the whole conversation. She won’t want to talk about anything else.”
“Us?” Sebastian stopped, then looked at her. The mere mention of the word from Gabrielle’s lips settled within him and took root like he’d never expected.
Gabrielle raised her hands in the air. “I’m not trying to tie you down, so don’t worry about me becoming clingy or anything like that.”
Clingy didn’t scare him. The last thing he’d fight was being tied down to Gabrielle. Still, he didn’t want to move too fast. He didn’t know what he’d turn into if he gave in to his feelings for her. He would protect Gabrielle from anything and anyone, including himself if it came to that.
“I told you I’m the queen of the short hook-ups,” Gabrielle insisted, but her words didn’t ring true. Her flippant tone didn’t match the look in her eyes.
Sebastian forced himself to smile as he walked backward toward the outdoor shower. “Then I guess I have nothing to worry about. Give me fifteen minutes, and we can go.”
An hour later, Sebastian sat at the opulent bar in the back of Sugarcanes, one of two upscale restaurants on the island and the only one in Kingtown. Peering past the glass waterfall, he performed a visual check of the entrances and exits, noting no threats since they’d arrived ten minutes ago. Gabrielle was seated a few tables away, directly in his line of sight. If anyone tried to approach her, he could be by her side, subduing the threat.
Sebastian felt a strong hand clamp on his shoulder. He turned to see Lachlan and Everett standing behind him.
“Have a seat, fellas,” Sebastian said, motioning to the barstools flanking his. “What’re you drinking?”
“Depends,” Lachlan said. “You buying?”
Everett groaned as he walked around Lachlan and sat on the barstool to Sebastian’s left. “You’re not broke, Lachlan. You work for the King Family, making money hand over fist. Buy your own fucking drink.” The former DEA agent turned private investigator looked past Sebastian to Lachlan, with weary gray eyes. Since Ike had left, Everett had stepped up as the unofficial big brother for Sebastian, warding off the others’ attempts to haze him as the youngest of their crew.
Lachlan scoffed. “Have you forgotten about Paloma? Raising that lass is far from cheap. You of all people should understand why. Doesn’t leave much left over to splurge on expensive drinks at the best restaurant on the island.”
Sebastian chuckled. “I wouldn’t ask you for help and not pick up the tab.” He leaned forward to get the bartender’s attention. “Double Famous Grouse whisky neat for my friend over here.” He jerked a thumb toward Lachlan. “And for this guy.” Sebastian squeezed the back of Everett’s neck. “Let’s go with Bishop’s Reserve neat.”
The bartender nodded, reached for the bottles on the top shelf, and poured. He slid the glass tumblers in front of Everett and Lachlan.
“You still good with water?” The bartender asked.
Sebastian nodded, then gave him a look. The bartender took the hint and moved his activities to the opposite side of the bar, leaving the three men alone.
