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“So defiant,” Sebastian whispered. “Since you don’t want to listen, maybe these will remind you how to behave.”
Her short, staccato cries filled the room as he brought his hand down again and again. It hurt. It burned. The brand of his palm sank deep but, somehow, it was what she needed. There was comfort in the pain. It offered distraction from what felt like insurmountable stress and worry, but more importantly, it offered release. Letting go, she let the heat wind through her senses and sobbed against the mattress.
“Have you had enough, Taylor? Do we have an understanding now?”
“Yes,” she whimpered, trying to catch her breath between sniffles.
Sebastian leaned closer, his fingertips kneading and caressing her stinging skin. “Remember this, darling. No matter what, I will always give you what you need.”
Oblivious to her muffled whimpers, he angled her hips up with a sharp yank. The thick length of his cock probed between her thighs, slicking the way. She stiffened as he pulled back. Bracing herself, she waited for him to enter her in a brutal claim. Instead, he impaled her slowly. The sinewy muscles in his body trembled and strained against her and his groan filled her ears as Sebastian eased himself inside her. Taylor’s eyes drifted shut. The heat, the incredible feel of his body stretching hers and filling her beyond capacity was pure bliss. She tried to rock into him, but he stilled her efforts with growl and held tight. Another stinging blow from his hand brought her upright on her knees.
“You asked for me to take control, sunshine,” he rasped, winding a fist in her hair. “Now you’re trying to take it back. Which is it?”
He eased back then stabbed deep. The unyielding hold on her hair forced her body to arch even harder onto his. Once again, he pushed as far as he could go and held position. The pressure drew a low rumble from his throat. She whimpered as he buried himself to the hilt and ground forward. Her breath came in a ragged pant.
“Seb…please…”
“You’re still trying. Quit trying to manipulate the situation and let it go,” he warned. “Stop begging me.”
She squirmed, cursing his cruelty under her breath. Sebastian caressed the raised pink lines spanning her ass with a chiding tsk.
“You know how I feel about that kind of language, darling. Keep pushing me and I will show you just how cruel I can be.”
Any response she might have had died as he eased back and slid forward with a slow swirl of his hips. The room spun. Colors loomed, breaking in fragments before her eyes. All that mattered was the slow, deep rhythm of his thrusts. She danced on the precipice for what felt like hours. Each time she came too close, he changed pace and angle, leaving her bereft. Sebastian consumed every part of her. His body became a battering ram that brought the most delicious torment and chased all coherent thought away.
Then, the world broke. Release hit so hard and so fast, she couldn’t catch her breath. Winded, Taylor twisted beneath the onslaught, her body shuddering around him. Sebastian faltered for a moment, then resumed driving into her with a determined pace. Unable to escape, Taylor cried out and collapsed against the bed when another orgasm hit. Sweat slicked her skin and puddled beneath her on the sheets as he continued rocking into her, forcing her to take everything he had to give.
Sebastian’s grip tightened. Wresting her back up on her knees, he slammed into her with a possessive snarl. His hips pumped faster, driving his cock harder and deeper, until his lean body trembled against her and the savage growl building in his throat gave way to a strangled cry. Taylor blinked against the cloudy haze gathered before her eyes. The rest of the world still felt so inconsequential, so distant—far away. All she could focus on was the powerful twitch of his body and the fading throb of hers as he came deep inside her.
A few seconds later, Sebastian dropped down beside her with a contented sigh. Drawing her off the mound of pillows, he pulled her against his side into the crook of his shoulder. His skin glistened in the dying remnants of sunlight spilling through the windows and his curls were a golden, sweat-soaked mess. All traces of hardness evaporated with his lazy smile and a sparkle ignited in his striking green eyes. Kissing her temple, he rubbed slow circles against her back until the gentle tremors wracking her started to fade. Still searching her face, Sebastian ran a questioning finger over her ribs.
“Too much?” he asked.
“No,” Taylor whispered, nuzzling closer against his chest. “It was perfect.”
His husky laughter flooded the room as he scrubbed a still unsteady hand across the top of his head. “Good.”
The silence between them was comforting. Taking her hand, he kissed each one of her fingertips.
“I should punish you again,” he murmured. “This time in earnest.”
Confused, Taylor propped herself up on her elbow and searched his eyes. “Why?”
“Because. Now I have to take another shower.”
“No one asked you to perform like a marathon runner in bed,” she retorted.
Sebastian’s throaty laughter filled the room. Rolling on top of her, he captured her face between his hands. “That definitely sounded like a complaint.”
“I’m a little sore,” she admitted.
“Mm. Poor baby. I just wanted to make sure you were satisfied.” A languid smile dangled from his lips while he circled the outline of her breast, leaving a wave of gooseflesh in his wake. “Was I successful in those endeavors, or should I try again?”
“My God, Sebastian. I swear I might cry if you touch me again.”
His prideful smirk offered no apologies. “Yes you will, darling,” he whispered before nibbling softly on her bottom lip. “You’ll cry with pleasure and scream my name. Both of which I love to hear.”
“You are such a brute,” she accused, fighting to hide her smile.
“That I am, Taylor. You would do well to remember that.”
“If it’s any consolation, I don’t think I will be forgetting anytime soon.”
Laughing, he rolled off her. “Quit flattering me. You already got what you wanted. Now get up and come grab a shower with me. I told Josh and Monique we’d join them for dinner at six.”
Just like that, her heart sank. She tried not to let her reluctance show. Dinner parties had never been kind to them. Peeling herself off the damp mattress, she avoided Sebastian’s inquisitive stare and brushed past him. She tried to remind herself that it was just Josh and Monique. They’d shared meals together numerous times in the past and somehow managed to escape the encounters happy and unscathed. Maybe, with any luck at all, tonight would be the same. Still, that reassurance did nothing to silence the fearful voice whispering in her head. History had a nasty tendency of repeating itself.
CHAPTER 5 ~
Taylor’s hold on his arm tightened the minute they walked through the restaurant doors. Stealing a quick glance in her direction, Sebastian watched the wonder and amazement play across her beautiful face. He couldn’t help but feel a small sense of accomplishment and pride. He’d grown up poor, but he’d been enjoying the finer things in life for so long that he’d almost forgotten what it was like to experience them for the
first time. Taylor was far from jaded or immune, and he truly relished the perspective she offered. It was like seeing the world all over again through her eyes. The view was so much more innocent and pure.
Her wide gaze trailed over the rich burnished wood and brass rails before flickering to the overhead canopy of white lights that spanned the ceiling and graced the lush potted trees. True to form, he felt her hesitate beside him. Her free hand instinctually smoothed over her sleek silver dress, seeking to erase any imperfections, and deep lines of worry creased her face. Leaning over, Sebastian brushed a thumb across the swell of her bottom lip.
“Relax, baby. You look amazing,” he murmured. “There isn’t a restaurant or woman alive that could compete with you. Especially not in that dress.”
A flush settled over the high ridges of her cheeks, staining them with rosy hues. Bowing her head, she lowered her eyes with a demure sweep. “You don’t have to flatter me, Sebastian.”
Wrapping a hand around her chin, he forced her gaze to his. “It’s not flattery, Taylor. Suck it up and learn to accept a compliment.”
Her face scrunched with her efforts not to laugh. Unable to help it, her slender shoulders started to shake and her worry lines started to fade. Winking, he wrapped his arm around her waist and steered her toward the back of the restaurant.
Josh and Monique were already seated and waiting. Candlelight flickered across their faces, accenting the coziness of the setting and the intimate padded booth. He paused as his sister glanced up and turned her radiant smile their way. The shimmering cream gown she’d chosen accented her pale beauty and she’d gathered her sleek honey on top of her head in an elegant sweep, like the movie stars of late. It struck him in that moment just how much she looked like their mother.
The notion brought an unwelcome stab of pain and longing to his chest. Doing his best to ignore it, Sebastian forced a smile of his own. Whatever sorrow he felt faded as Aiden sprung to his feet, his face lighting with excitement as he threw his arms around him in a bone-crushing hug.
