Page 101 of Sterling Heat

Buried to the hilt, he halts. Then abruptly he pulls out, leaving me empty from the loss of him.

“No,” I whimper, but he keeps his fingers rubbing my clit. Circling, vibrating, driving me to the edge. I make a fist against the tile wall as I hear skin jerking skin. His tip is at the top of my backside. He jolts and pumps, releasing against my skin, signing his name on my flesh.

And I shatter as well.

“Jesus,” he whispers, lifting my upper half and flattening me against the cool tile. Lowering his forehead to my shoulder, he exhales. “That was incredible.”

I shiver while a giggle ripples up my throat. He’s incredible. “Thank you.”

Sebastian chuckles against my neck. “Now what are you thanking me for?”

“You. Just being you.” With my cheek to the wall, he seeks my mouth and I spin in his arms, kissing him with everything I have. Everything I am. I never want to lose him.

+ + +

I wake with a sudden jolt and turn my head to find Sebastian still asleep beside me. When we went to bed last night, he apologized for being a stomach sleeper and then situated me.

“Your right leg over my left,” he’d said. I did as I was told. “Now, your arm over my back.” Once my arm wrapped over his lower back, he wiggled as if settling into the position of me holding him. This was his form of cuddling, and I didn’t mind. Not one bit.

When I wake, though, I’m disoriented and catalogue everything.

I’m in Sebastian’s apartment.

Based on the brighter light seeping into his bedroom, it’s morning.

Then, last night hits me.

The rooftop. The break-in. The shower. What a roller-coaster ride.

Swiping a hand through my hair, I hold back the mess. We showered after everything, and I went to bed with my hair wet which I never do. Rolling my head on the pillow, I seek Adara in her bassinet. Sebastian must have given her the three a.m. bottle and then crawled back into bed.

When I turn my head to face him, he’s watching me.

“Good morning,” he groggily states.

“Good morning.” A weak smile forms.

He’s still in bed. While he works early, and that’s a reasonable excuse to leave my place in the dark hours of morning, it often feels like he’s sneaking out of my house. Like if he doesn’t stay the whole night, he isn’t really spending the night.

“You’re still here.” My surprise cannot be contained.

Sebastian rolls and runs both hands over his face. He blinks up at the ceiling. “I texted Rena last night. Told her I needed her to open for me. I can’t work on three hours of sleep.” He looks at me, wincing.

I only sleep three hours at a time, if that. “I get it.” I pat his forearm, but he catches my hand and rolls toward me.

“What time is it?”

My phone is underneath my pillow and I check clock app. “Eight o’clock.”

Did Adara sleep and we missed a feeding? How grateful I’ll be when we can skip a nightly feed.

I slip from bed, change Adara’s diaper and lift her. Her sleepy body twists and curls, but when I sit back on Sebastian’s bed, she settles in to nurse. Most times, Sebastian turns away or he’s asleep when I do this so close to him. This morning, he watches.

“She’s so incredible.” His voice is rough. “I meant what I said last night. I’d never let anyone get near either of you. Hurt either of you.” His brows pinch. A deep crease forms. “I’m worried that break in has to do with me.”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“I don’t know. Everything just feels off. That house is haunted in so many ways.” He tilts his head to look up at me. “What if money is still there, somewhere?”