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“Irene, is it? Is she more important than me, Taylor?”
His face darkened beneath a wave of fury. Without warning, he hurled the cellphone across the room. She smothered a terrified cry as it hit the fireplace and shattered. Broken pieces of plastic and electronics skittered across the floor. Her heart thundered in her chest. Shaking, she swung her wide-eyed gaze back to him.
“Answer me.”
She shrank against the back of the couch when he leaned over her. “N-no, Sebastian. Nobody’s more important than you.”
“No?” he asked, pressing closer. “Is that why you couldn’t be bothered to greet me when I come home? Is this how we’re going to start our new life off together, Taylor?”
“No, Sebastian…please. I was trying to get her off the phone. She just wouldn’t stop talking. I didn’t want to be rude.”
His shoulders shook with silent laughter. The terse smirk spreading across his lips was anything but amused. She shivered. Her stomach clenched.
“You didn’t want to be rude, so you decided to offend me instead. That’s a wonderful way to plead your case, sunshine.”
Taylor whimpered as he ran a gentle hand over the top of her head, smoothing her hair. The affection belied the rage burning in his eyes and the harsh displeasure stamping his face.
“How many times have I told you the only person you need to worry about pleasing is me?” he asked in a silken whisper.
“I—I know. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
His smile was condescending and skeptical. Her heart sank when he gave a slow shake of his head.
“No, Taylor. It won’t. You don’t bother greeting me. You haven’t started anything for dinner, and the dryer is still running, meaning you haven’t even finished the laundry yet. It seems your priorities around here are starting to slip. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I will get them back to where they need to be.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Fear locked her vocal chords. It seemed safer to stay silent at this point than to admit she’d spent most of the day daydreaming about their wedding. Sebastian straightened. He stared down at her for a long moment before motioning to the foyer with a curt inclination of his head.
“Get upstairs.”
A dry desert branched across her tongue. Taylor’s legs threatened to buckle when she stood. She lifted a pleading hand in entreaty, silently begging Sebastian to have mercy. A sob escaped her lips as she tried to force words past the knot in her throat.
“If I have to tell you again, you’re going to get it twice as bad,” he warned, pressing closer.
"Please don’t be mad at me. You’re right. I was just so excited about our engagement that I couldn't focus. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I let my silly daydreams keep me from the things I needed to do, but it won't happen again. I swear. Please, Sebastian. I'm sorry," she whispered, inching backward toward the stairs so she didn’t disobey him any further.
He shook his head, prowling after her. "I’m not interested in your excuses, Taylor. You need help focusing, and I am going to give it to you. Now move.”
She startled and tripped when her heel connected with the bottom step. Her hand shook as she fumbled for her balance and gripped the railing. Turning, she made her way up the stairs. Her heart pounded a million miles a minute. She swore she could feel Sebastian’s breath fan across the back of her neck and fought the urge to run. Everything in her wanted to scramble to appease. Instead, she was forced to make a slow and arduous journey. A muffled sob bubbled in her throat when they reached the doors to the master suite. Shuddering, she curled in on herself as he brushed past her and flung them open, gesturing her inside with a sweep of his hand. A desperate plea threatened when they reached the bed and his pale sage eyes locked with hers.
Wresting his gaze away, he unfastened the belt to his overcoat and slowly pulled it free. Her legs shook as she stared, her horror mounting. The heavy leather strap was easily twice the size of the one he’d used last time. Clamping a hand over her mouth did nothing to smother the low whine breaking in her chest. She shook her head, backing away as he doubled the length in his fist.
“Don’t make things worse,” he warned softly. “You know this is for your own good.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed when she took another step back, and she felt the blood drain from her face.
“Do I have to assist you, Taylor?” he rasped, prowling closer.
She thrashed her head from side to side, whimpering when her legs bumped against the edge of the bed. “N-no. I can’t help it. Please…I’m scared.”
“You’re scared,” he repeated. He studied her for a long moment before nodding and gesturing to the end of the bed. “Quit dragging things out. Take your clothes off and bend over.”
The room spun. Somehow, she managed to force her trembling hands to comply, but the movements were automated. Her mind was disjointed and already focused on the imminent threat of pain. Kicking free of the last of her clothes, she started to bend over, but Sebastian’s free hand wound in her hair, bringing her up short. Confusion swirled through her as he hauled her upright and his mouth slashed against hers in a bruising claim. His strong fingers unfurled from her hair and caressed the side of her face as he lightened the pressure and plied her with a passionate kiss. Desire overrode the fear and she moaned, pressing against him as a desperate ache swirled through her core. His hand trailed off her cheek and parted her thighs. A low rumble rose in his chest upon finding her wet. Anxious to please him, she rocked against the gentle probe of his fingers.
“So eager,” he murmured against her lips. “Is this what you want, Taylor? Do you want me inside you?”
She whimpered, nodding. Her eyes drifted shut and she concentrated on the firm glide of his fingers. Release danced just out of reach.
“Your body knows how to respond, even when the rest of you fails.” He kissed the side of her neck and eased a thick digit inside her. Her knees started to buckle as he added another finger and moved them in a forceful swirl. “You could have had all this and more,” he whispered against her ear. “All you had to do was greet me at the door. One kiss, one touch, and I would’ve gladly taken you anywhere—in any way that you wanted. You think about that and remember it next time,” he growled.
Taylor cried out as he released her. She fully expected to be shoved face down over the edge of the bed. Instead, she hit her knees and the belt hit the floor beside her. Confusion washed over her as she watched Sebastian prowl the length of their bedroom, his fingers raking through his hair in a visible show of agitation. He looked caged, and at the moment, on the verge of breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she curled in on herself, cringing as Sebastian whirled with a curse and crouched down in front of her. She jumped at the cool brush of fingers against her fevered skin. His eyes studied hers as he swept the damp hair away from her brow. Wrapping his hand around her chin, he lifted her gaze to his.
“I am your one and only priority in this world, Taylor. I suggest you get that right.”
“I’m s-sorry,” she cried, reaching for him. “Please…”
"It's up to you, Taylor. You claim to love me, but I didn't feel that today. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to start our first day as an engaged couple off like this, but your actions hurt. Maybe I’m making a mistake here, but I am going to hope this warning will be enough to get through to you and help you refocus. I won’t be as lenient next time, and I don’t think reminders of my expectations are something you want to be a nightly occurrence."
Taylor blanched and shook her head as adamantly as the hold on her chin allowed. Trembling, she pressed a shaky kiss to his thumb. "No. Please. I'm sorry. I love you. I’ll do better, Sebastian. I promise."
