“Sebastian…”
Finally, she looked at him, and the moment she did, he knew something was wrong. Something beyond her usual cantankerous attitude. Something beyond the way she teased and tested him. Something beyond a mere desire to deny him because she thought that she should.
“I do not think that is such a good idea.”
He blinked. “You… you don’t?”
She shook her head. “I am busy tomorrow. It is best that you go alone.”
“What of the next day?” he asked.
“Still busy.”
“And the next?”
“I do not think I will be joining you for a while. It is for the best, I think.” She offered an apologetic smile and then turned to walk away.
And he very nearly let her go. Whatever was going on, it was clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. That she was doing everything in her power to turn him down.
But the drink was still flowing through Sebastian’s veins. His stubbornness refused to let him see reason and drop it. And that simmering desire that was a fire burning within him grew hotter, so it consumed his conscience and did away with his good sense. For the first time ever, he was not only willing to acknowledge the changes that were happening to him, but to accept them.
“Wait.” He hurried after her, grabbing her by the arm. “Helena, what is wrong? What happened?”
She did not turn around but snapped her head back and looked at the hand on her arm. “Please, Sebastian, let me go.”
“Not until you tell me what is wrong.”
She was looking at his hand, her chin wobbling, her body trembling. But then her expression hardened, a fire burning behind her eyes, and she clenched her jaw and glared at him.
“Is that how it is? I tell you that I do not wish to do something, so you start making demands?”
“Helena, that is not at all?—”
“I do not want to go with you,” she said sharply. “And I should not have to explain myself. Not to you. Not to anyone.” Eyes wide, she dared him to argue with her. “Now, let me go.”
He very nearly ignored her demand. This was not the Helena he knew. This was not their relationship as he understood it. Sure, they argued sometimes. And yes, there was the constant push and pull that had come to define them. But this…
She knows I would never make demands of her or tell her what to do. And she must know that I am not doing it now.
Something had changed with his wife. And Sebastian… he had to find out what it was. He needed to know.
“Not until you tell me what is wrong,” he insisted, refusing to let her go.
“And why must something be wrong?” she scoffed. “Why can it not be just that I do not want to spend time with you? Did you think of that? It is not so complex, Sebastian. It is not some great question. I wish to be left alone, I have asked to be left alone, and I would like it if, for once, you did as I asked. Leave me be!”
He winced as if she had slapped him.
Slowly, feeling her pull her arm, he let her go.
She yanked it back, glaring at him still, only for her expression to soften with regret. Her words stung; that was true. But it was the look on her face that hurt the most.
Despite her reprimand, Sebastian could see so clearly that something was going on inside his wife’s head. A fight was raging, warring with her conscience, and she was losing.
“Helena…” he spoke softly and took a step toward her. “You know I would never… If you wish to be left alone, I will do just that. But you should know, this evening I have been doing some thinking. About us.” He made sure to look right at her, his expression as earnest and open as he could make it. “And I have realized that this marriage, despite what we might have wanted… You said it yourself, things change. I have changed. And I know you have too.”
“You do not know me,” she whispered, still holding her arm to her body, back to looking away. “You do not know anything.”
“I know…” He hesitated, not sure if he should say it. “I know that I cannot stop thinking about you. Your face, the smile that shines from it. Those lips…” His eyes flicked to her lips. “That laugh. This is not what I expected, and I know it is not what you expected either. But…”
