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“Don’t even look at her,” Sebastian warned through clenched teeth. “You are done. Taylor only sees the good in people. As ludicrous as it is, she feels sorry for you—even after everything you put her through. She’s damn lucky I was there to intervene or she’d be looking at doing hard time. Do you even care about that at all?” he pressed, his grip tightening.
All her uncle managed was a feeble nod.
“You’re lying,” Sebastian whispered. “I can see it in your eyes. She was just a means to an end with you. She would have gladly taken the fall for you both. Where would you be then, Roy? Setting up your moonshining still somewhere else and bitching about the inconvenience? Shrugging her off as just another business expense?”
“I didn’t mean…I never wanted her to get hurt,” Roy choked, sputtering for breath.
Sebastian’s knuckles whitened as he twisted her uncle’s coat until his face flushed a dangerous hue. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. Taylor may be nothing to you, but she is everything to me. If you ever try to contact her or come near her again, I won’t settle for seeing you locked up. I will give you and that degenerate offspring of yours an experience that will make you beg for death. Think about it carefully, and don’t test my patience again.”
Her uncle stumbled backwards on a shove. Taylor clamped a hand over her mouth as the once proud man landed in an awkward sprawl amongst concrete and snow. A low sob broke in the base of her throat. Her tear-filled eyes darted to Sebastian’s as he approached. Without a word, he pulled her against his side and steered her away. It took everything she had not to glance over her shoulder. One way or another, she knew she’d probably just seen her uncle for the last time. Yet, somehow, as final as the moment was, goodbye had never felt so incomplete.
Sebastian flexed his fingers around the steering wheel as he eased the Benz to a stop. The red glow of the stoplight bathed the inside of the car, illuminating Taylor’s tearstained face. He rolled his neck and winced when the bones gave a stiff pop. The movie hadn’t been too bad despite being a low-grade romantic flick. He’d expected silence then, but dinner had been tense and quiet as well. Taylor had spent more time pushing her food around her plate than she had eating, and the only time he’d heard her speak at all was when she gave one of her automated answers. Now, the silence in the car was smothering.
His grip on the wheel tightened in time with his jaw.
“Stop sulking.”
Her head snapped up. “I’m not.”
Her voice had that defensive edge he hated. His eyes narrowed just as the light turned green.
“You are, and I’m not going to spend the rest of the night dealing with your mood. We had a good day, Taylor. Stop letting that man screw it up.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to. I just feel bad.”
“You have nothing to feel bad about, baby,” he said, trying to smooth things over before he lost his temper. “Your uncle made his decisions. Those choices put him where he’s at, not you.”
“I know, but…” She sighed and shook her head.
“But what, Taylor? Those people lied to you and they used you. I told you your relationship with them was over months ago. Maybe now you can see why. Your uncle couldn’t even trouble himself enough to come begging for your help sober. Did he even bother to ask how you were doing or apologize for what he did?”
“No,” she whispered.
His chest ached as her chin trembled in a miserable quiver, but he refused to back down. She was too close to the situation to see the truth. She had to understand. Setting his shoulders, he turned the car onto the sweeping uphill street that wound to his estate.
“No, Taylor,” he agreed softly. “He tried to blame you for his actions. He’s nothing but a drunken train wreck who doesn’t give a damn about you or your best interest. I know how much losing family hurts, sweetheart. I’ve been there remember? I got through it and so will you. People like that don’t deserve you, let alone your time. You have me and Monique now, and I promise I will always be there for you.”
“You always are, Sebastian.”
He reached over and brushed her cheek. Some of her sorrow had eased as he pulled to a stop outside the wrought iron gates surrounding their home. He gave her a wink before rolling down the window. A blustering rush of snow and frigid air swept through the Benz as he tugged off his glove and pressed his finger against the scanner. Making a show of shivering, he drew a quiet giggle from Taylor. The sound made him smile. He liked making her happy. That’s what today had been all about. He’d been doing a fairly good job at it, too, until her booze-ridden uncle had shown up. He sincerely hoped this drunk wasn’t going to prove to be another case of misguided mercy like Todd. Sebastian shook his head. What the hell was it with people and their liquor anyway?
The thoughts forced his mind back to trouble and the issues at home. His gaze remained locked on the mirror as he eased up the drive, watching until the gates swung shut and latched behind them. A quick glance around accounted for some of the security team, but not all. The others were likely patrolling the flanks and rear stretch of the premises. His face tightened with a brief scowl. He’d needed them in place to give him some peace of mind when he was away. Knowing Taylor was safe was his main priority. For a moment, he’d had that reassurance, but now…now the trust was gone, and that was a serious concern.
After parking the car, he led Taylor into the house. The darkened laundry room off the garage offered a welcome blast of heat and the familiar scent of home. He never had been able to peg the smell. It was an odd blend of wood, leather, carpet, and clean. Taking her hand, he tugged her through the short hall into the kitchen. He cut between the island and the counters without any trouble, knowing every inch of the layout by heart. The only time that had ever posed a problem was when his niece or nephew stayed the night. A faint smile threatened at the memory, even if it did involve the pain of stepping on a toy or two.
He’d loved Christian so much. His heart twisted with guilt. The words “your fault” bubbled to his mind before he quickly tamped them down. He couldn’t do that to himself anymore. It was time to let go. Hell, he hadn’t even seen Mia since Christmas. In some ways, it was easier to believe that was for the best. Brushing the past aside, he focused on the present.
He stopped at the bottom of the stairs off the kitchen and hauled Taylor against his chest. She squealed, squirming as he trapped her in his arms and chomped at the side of her neck with a playful growl.
“Go get ready for bed. I’ll be right up,” he murmured, tracing the shell of her ear with his lips.
He couldn’t help but smile as his little minx grinned up at him. Desire illuminated those beautiful grey eyes, flooding them with promise. Peeling her away from him, he sent her upstairs with a firm swat that hurried her along. Walking back into the garage, he carried in the books she’d selected. At least it would give her something to do until the situation with Laychee was corrected. That was a problem that needed rectified, and soon. Stayed cooped up inside the house had to be driving her crazy.
Blowing out a deep breath, he shrugged out of his coat and scarf. Tucking his gloves into the pocket, he hung the items up in the closet and snagged a bottle of water. After taking a long drink, he pulled his cell phone out and dialed the head of security. Henderson’s deep voice answered on the other end.
“We’re back. Were there any problems while we were gone?”
“I saw you pull in. Welcome home, sir. There’s nothing to report. All is quiet as usual.”
He bit back a sarcastic remark. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed and nodded into the darkness. “Thank you.”
“Have a good evening, sir.”
Sebastian ended the call without responding. He checked the clock. It was just after nine. Josh and Monique would be heading
to bed soon, if they weren’t there already. The thought made him grimace. That was definitely a mental image he could do without. Rather than drag things out and interrupt his partner’s time off with a call, he shot off a quick text.
Dominic and Vince picked up our houseguest this morning. How’s my sister?
His phone chimed a few seconds later.
I hope the bastard enjoys the hospitality. Good, Baas. Everything’s good. You?
I’m turning in for the evening. Goodnight.
After double-checking the locks and the alarm, he prowled up the stairs. Anticipation and the onset of desire were starting to flame his system. He pushed open the doors to the master suite and shut them quietly behind him. Taylor was already in bed with the covers modestly pulled up to her chin. He regarded her with a soft tsk of disapproval.
“Silly girl,” he whispered.
She’d turned on the fireplace that served as a quarter divider between the bedroom and sitting quarters. Warmth and an inviting golden glow engulfed the room and spilled across their four-poster bed. He stripped down quickly and crawled toward her, tugging the blankets down in his wake. Sebastian sucked in a sharp breath upon seeing the delicate scraps of lace encasing her curves. He rocked back on his heels to get a better view, a small smile of understanding curving his lips. This is why she’d been hiding. He wasn’t a fan of clothing in bed. All it did was get in the way, but there was no denying how much he appreciated this surprise. Reaching up he trailed a finger over the black garter hugging her thigh. A low groan rumbled in his throat as he ran his hands over toned muscles and silky flesh. Inching up her legs, his eyes locked with hers.
Taylor fisted the sheets with a pleading whimper as he rubbed his thumb against the lacy scrap between her thighs and his breath fell across her skin. Her hips jerked when he ground the rough material over her dampening slit. Capturing the frilly garter between his teeth, he slowly tugged it down while watching her face. Cheeks flushed a rosy shade of pink and nibbling the delectable swell of her bottom lip, she was an astounding sight. He ached to rip every last inch of clothing away, sink his fists into that gleaming sable hair, and drive himself deep. His body trembled and he fought to rein it in and go slow. If she wanted to play, he would play.
