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4
Ten minutes later, my cheeks dry, rocky emotions on lockdown, I exit the bedroom and find the cottage empty, save for Sebastian. He turns to face me, and one glance into his sea-colored eyes brings me to a halt.
Taking a page from Liam’s book, Sebastian paces an invisible rut into the sandstone floor, though instead of quietly expending excess energy, he stomps like the lion he is.
Caged and furious and sexier than sin in his disheveled state.
“Where did everyone go?” I ask, my voice a little higher than usual.
“They left.” A heavy beat passes. “Right after Liam gave his vote.”
“He voted in favor?”
Fury thunders across his face. “You already know the answer to that, don’t you, princess?”
I suck in a breath. “Why are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you. I’m furious with him.” His teeth clench. “What was his condition?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Yes, you can.”
“He swore me to secrecy.”
“I won’t say a word.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “You won’t be able to keep this to yourself. You’ll have him by the throat in a heartbeat.”
His eyes narrow. “What the hell was his condition, Novalee?”
“I can’t tell you!”
“Did he threaten you?” He takes a step toward me, his question trampling right over my protest.
“It doesn’t matter what he did or didn’t do. It’s done, okay?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize I’ve already accepted Liam’s terms, because the alternative is unthinkable. “We can be together now.” My voice cracks, and I curse my inability to exude calm.
He’s across the room and pulling me against him before I take my next breath. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you shoulder this on your own.”
“Then I’m crazy, because I don’t have a choice.”
“Life is all about choices, baby. You can choose to tell me.”
“You’re right. I could ignore Liam’s threat…and then I’ll lose everything important to me. I’ll lose you.”
“Novalee,” he warns, pinning me with an insistent gaze. “We can’t have secrets between us.”
“Well, I can’t tell you this, no matter how much I want to, so please stop pushing.”
With a frustrated growl, he pivots, both hands raking through his hair. “I can’t believe this. He’s always going to be in the way, isn’t he? Just because he put his fucking hands on you first. He’s never going to go the fuck away.”
I reach out to touch him, but at the last second, I yank my hand back. The ground beneath my feet is fragile as it is, and his rejection would only punch a hole through it.
“I’m sorry.” Biting my lip, I fold my arms around myself. “It’s just…I’d do anything to be with you.”
With a sigh, he lowers his head before turning to face me again. “Jesus, Novalee. You’re my home. Don’t you know that? Don’t you know how miserable I am without you? All I can fucking think about is you—worrying about you, craving you, loving you. It’s gutting me, and I just can’t…” As his face blanches, he makes his way to a chair and sinks into it, looking spent.
“What are you saying?”
