Destined

by Dorothy Ewels

  “I left the gala and went straight to the airfield for the company plane to take me back to Italy to be with my father. I almost didn’t make it home in time, but being the stubborn old man that he was, my father hung on long enough for me to get there. He passed a short couple of hours after I got home.”

  Just saying the words aloud still cut deep. He couldn’t believe that the larger-than-life father he’d loved was gone. Swallowing at the lump that had formed in his throat, he continued.

  “The reading of the will and wrapping up what I could of his estate has taken all this time. I left when it reached a point that my presence was no longer required.”

  Serena seemed to digest what he’d said for a moment before asking, “Why didn’t you ever call?” She sounded so cold. He’d never heard that tone in her voice before.

  “Ah, cuore mio, I picked up the phone so many times, but in the end, I didn’t know what to say. After a few weeks had passed, it felt wrong to just simply pick up the phone as if no time had passed. I kept telling myself I would explain it all when I saw you in person. But I never foresaw this thing would drag on for so long.”

  For the longest time, Serena just looked at him, as if she were searching for something on his face, in his eyes. Eventually, she simply said, “I’m sorry about your father, Sebastian.”

  “He was a difficult man, but we always knew he loved us. It left my family somewhat adrift for a time, but we’re finding our way.”

  His gaze dropped to Serena’s stomach. It held there for a long moment until the silence became awkward. Serena opened her mouth to say something when he spoke again.

  “Perhaps there is something you wish to share with me too, dolcezza?”

  26

  Serena

  Serena’s mind reeled. Sebastian rarely apologised, unless he felt himself to be in the wrong. It was one of the qualities that she most admired about him. Despite being a strong, confident man, he was man enough to apologise when he felt it was required. She found it endearing and rather sexy at the same time. But, not about to be distracted from the matter at hand, she gazed up at him.

  Serena quirked an eyebrow. “That’s it? You’re sorry?” She waited for him to continue. When he said nothing more, she spoke again. “I see. And that’s meant to make it all better? For heaven’s sake, Sebastian. I need more than just ‘I’m sorry.’ What happened? I don’t understand. I thought we were building a connection, that something was growing between us. Then you simply disappeared. What am I supposed to do with that?”

  “I know. It’s that very connection that we were building that had me running scared, Serena. That’s what I’m apologising for. I’m sorry for walking away at the wrong moment. I’m sorry for never contacting you. I’m sorry for being too much of a coward!”

  Sebastian’s comment gave Serena pause. She’d never considered him to be a coward. Lately, a jackass maybe, but certainly never a coward. He was, in fact, one of the bravest men she knew. He never backed down from unpleasantness or responsibility. Which is why she had found it so hard to understand how he could just walk away from her without a word.

  Taken aback by the statement, all she could say was, “Explain?”

  Sebastian sighed deeply before he took a seat on the sofa, pulling her down beside him. As he explained what had been going on in his life since she’d last seen him, Serena felt the ice around her heart begin to thaw.

  What he’d done had been thoughtless and hurtful, but she felt for him. The pain he felt at the loss of his father was evident as he spoke. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for what he’d been through. Then he looked at her and spoke the words she had been dreading since he’d arrived.

  She knew he deserved an explanation but was still at a loss for what to say.

  She had finally made peace with the fact that she would be bringing their child up alone, but suddenly he was back, and she had no idea how all of this was going to play out. It was her turn to sigh deeply.

  “About three weeks after your disappearing act, I woke up feeling ill one morning. At first, I simply thought I had caught a bug. But after nearly two weeks of waking up ill, I could no longer pretend to myself. I went to the doctor and discovered I was pregnant.”

  “I don’t understand, Serena. Why did you not let me know? Did you not think I had the right to know?”

  Serena didn’t bother to hold back a sarcastic snort.

  “I tried contacting your cell number, Sebastian, but it went straight to voicemail each time. Then I phoned your office, and your secretary told me you were out of the country. She said you’d be calling in to the office every few days or so, I could leave it with her, and she would pass it on to you.”

  “Why did you not ever leave a message?”

  “I did. I would phone her two or three times a week for the first few weeks. But in the end, it became too humiliating to bear, and I stopped calling. You never called, and I gave up hope. I thought you were finished with me.”

  27

  Sebastian

  Sebastian closed his eyes against the pain on her beautiful face. He didn’t know what to say to make what he’d done better. He didn’t think there were words. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. Serena stiffened in his embrace. Placing a soft kiss on the top of her head, he took a moment to savour the feeling of having her back in his arms.

  “I’m so, so sorry, cuore mio. I never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me. What can I do to make this right?”

  “The better question is, Sebastian, what do you want to do to make it right? Until now, it hasn’t exactly seemed as if you wanted to be with me. There’s no denying the sex is great between us, but when things started getting a little more serious, you ran first opportunity you got.”

  “Serena ...”

  “No! You know it’s true, Sebastian. I get that you needed to go home, but with modern technology, there were plenty of options for you to use to contact me, yet you chose to withdraw instead of facing this thing between us head on.”

  Opening his mouth to try again, Serena overrode him.

  “One of the things that I’ve admired about you from the very beginning is that you face difficult situations head on. When your emotions got difficult to deal with, you chose to shut them off instead of dealing with them. Where does that leave me, Sebastian? Where does it leave this baby of ours?”

  Serena’s statement slammed into Sebastian. It was the first time she’d said the words out loud, and he was unprepared for it. But as he took stock of his reaction, he realised it didn’t make him want to run for the door. Again. By accepting his feelings, he realised it actually made him want to see this through. He’d come to the realisation that he loved Serena during the months he’d had to think while he’d been in Italy. He just had to share his feelings with her.

  “Sebastian, I think it would be best if—”

  Cutting her off when he realised what Serena was about to say, he framed her face with both his hands and leaned in to kiss her with all the love and frustration he was feeling.

  Breaking the kiss, Sebastian gently leaned his forehead against hers and pulled in a deep breath.

  “Ti amo, cuore mio. Sei la mia vita.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Serena’s soft entreaty made Sebastian realise he’d lapsed into his native language. Lifting his head, he tilted her head back so he was looking into her eyes.

  “Sorry, piccola, when my emotions are deep, I revert to my Italian. I express myself best in my mother tongue.”

  “I noticed. You often call me things in Italian. I don’t know what they mean either. What did you say this time?”

  Wanting her to believe him, with everything in him, he softly stated, “Simply translated I said: I love you, my heart. You are my life.”

  Serena blinked.

  “You– I ... You ...”

  His Serena, who always seemed to know what to say, for once seemed incapable of stringing a sentence t
ogether.

  “Serena?”

  “Hmm?” It was the best she could manage.

  Laughing softly at the somewhat confused look on her face, Sebastian rubbed a gentle thumb across that bottom lip he loved so much.

  “Cat got your tongue, angelo?”

  With a deep sigh, Serena admitted, “It’s the last thing I expected to hear you say, to be honest.”

  “I know. I can’t say it enough, Serena. I really am sorry for all the hurt that I’ve caused you, but will you at least give me an opportunity to show you that I really do mean it? Let me be there for you and the baby, a part of your lives?”

  For a long, uncomfortable moment, Serena just looked deeply into his eyes, not saying a word. Just as it became too much to bear, she finally seemed to come to some conclusion and spoke again.

  “Do you truly mean it, Sebastian? Or is it something you think I want to hear?”

  “Yes, mio amore, I truly mean it. In the time I was away from you, I had a lot of time to think things through, and I realised that I had fallen in love with you. I was just too cowardly to admit it to myself.”

  Lifting a shaky hand to touch his beloved face, Serena placed gentle lips on his for a short, sweet kiss.

  “Oh Sebastian, I honestly thought I was the only one who fell. You broke my heart with your silence. Say it again. Please?”

  “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

  Seeing the soft expression on Serena’s face did something to his heart. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. His heart full, he wondered why he’d fought this feeling for so long.

  28

  Serena

  Hope rushed through Serena, making her giddy. Laughing with sheer joy, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

  “I never thought I’d ever hear those words from you or get the chance to tell you this, but I love you too, Sebastian.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. More than I can express in words.”

  “Then why don’t you show me instead. Kiss me, cara.”

  Shifting to straddle his lap, Serena ran the tip of her tongue across Sebastian’s bottom lip, much as she usually did, knowing it drove him crazy. When his lips parted, she slid her tongue between them to stroke his. As their tongues duelled, Sebastian took control of the kiss. Gently wrapping her hair in his fist, he tilted her head to take the kiss deeper. Turning his body towards her, Sebastian laid his forehead against hers.

  “I want to be with you Serena, so badly, you have no idea. Please let me be with you tonight?”

  Emotions flashed across her beautiful face ... surprise, fear, uncertainty, desire. Finally, she nodded. Reaching for his hand again, she led him down the passage to her room.

  Turning the lights on, she turned the dimmer switch so the room was bathed in a soft light. Her body was changing as their baby grew, and she was uncertain how Sebastian would react to the changes.

  She couldn’t believe he was with her after all this time. Serena’s heart beat wildly in her chest knowing what would come next. Nervous but excited, she turned to Sebastian with a shy smile. He reached out, wrapping a hand around her nape and drew her in to his kiss.

  Gentle and seeking, Sebastian seduced her with his soft lips as they moved over hers. Running his tongue across her bottom lip, he silently asked her to open to him. When she did, he swept in, staking his claim and leaving her breathless. With a soft moan, Serena gave herself over to their kiss and wrapped her arms around Sebastian’s neck. Pressing closer to her, he notched his erection in the cradle of her thighs, leaving her with no doubt as to how much he desired her. Looking into her beautiful green eyes, glassy with need, he murmured, “Just like our first time together, mio amore, undress for me, slowly.”

  Serena licked lips suddenly dry with desire and reached for the buttons on her blouse. Sebastian groaned at the hint of nipple over the top of her lacy bra’s demi cups. That moan arrowed straight to her already wet core. Slipping her blouse off, she reached around her to unzip the flowing skirt she wore and let it drop to the floor. Standing only in her bra and panties, Serena lifted her eyes to Sebastian’s, unsure what she would see in them. Nothing but love and desire shone from them.

  Reaching around, she undid the snaps on her bra with one hand, holding it over her breast with the other. Slowly, she lowered the straps, first down one arm, then the other before allowing it to fall. The panties were next. And finally, she stood gloriously naked before him. If the scorching look Sebastian cast over her now-rounded figure was anything to go by, she certainly had nothing to worry about. He seemed to desire her no less now that she was pregnant than before he left.

  29

  Sebastian

  Sebastian felt himself drowning in her. The smell, the taste, the feel of her in his arms again after all this time combined to make him ache to be with her. To sink himself into her tight, wet heat and get lost in her. Easing her back, he looked into her beautiful green eyes, glassy with need.

  “Just like our first time together, mio amore, undress for me, slowly,” came his husky murmur.

  Serena did as he asked, teasing him as she slowly undressed for him. First her blouse, then her skirt. When she stood in nothing but her underwear, she faltered. Suddenly looking unsure, she lifted her gaze to his.

  There was no hiding the desire he felt for her. Her body was fuller, more curvaceous now that his baby was growing inside her. He loved the look on her. The expression on his face must have reassured her because she reached around to the back clasp of her bra. Once it came off, she started on her panties. Then she stood, naked and glorious.

  Sebastian raked a scorching gaze over her before reaching for her. He was lost in a haze of desire so intense he had to take a deep breath and reel his emotions in.

  He had to touch her or risk losing his mind. With a shaking hand, he reached out to her, running his hand reverently over a nipple. The little pink nub hardened instantly under his fingertips, always eager for his touch. Serena let out a soft moan, and his restraint snapped. Hauling her up against his hard body, Sebastian claimed her mouth. Unlike their first kiss, he possessed her, branded her, unleashing all the emotion that simmered just under his skin.

  30

  Sebastian

  Still unsure where he’d found the control, Sebastian made slow, sweet love to Serena. He worshipped her with touch and kisses. He thrilled in her sighs and moans, the little sounds she emitted telling him she was right there with him.

  Tighter and tighter, desire coiled. Running reverent hands all over her body, he fell further. He felt Serena’s body tighten, a sure sign she was about to splinter.

  Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “Open your eyes, dolcezza. Let me see you. I want to watch you come undone for me.”

  Slowly, she opened her eyes, glassy in the throes of her passion. Locking his gaze to hers, Sebastian brought them both to fulfilment. Serena cried out as she came for him, her inner muscles squeezing him. So close to the edge himself, her orgasm sparked his own. Groaning against her neck, he felt himself shatter into a million pieces, following her into ecstasy.

  He rolled to his side to keep his weight off her, tucking her up against his side. They lay like that for long moments, catching their breath. Curving his larger frame around Serena’s smaller one, he pulled the covers up over them both.

  She gave a deep sigh of contentment and snuggled closer to him, Sebastian’s gentle kiss likely the last she remembered as he felt her body go slack in his arms. Smiling, he settled down to join her, thinking of how wonderful it would feel to wake to her in the morning. In that moment, Sebastian realised he was exactly where he was meant to be, wanted to be.

  Finally, he was home.

  Acknowledgments

  As always, I could not have told Sebastian and Serena’s story without the love and support of my amazing tribe! I will be forever in their debt - my thanks to:

  To my mom, my husband and my so, as always. My first line of def
ence when life closed in and I feel like I’m drowning. You keep me sane and on the right track. Thank you to all of you for keeping me accountable to my dreams, goals and deadlines. I love you.

  To Dani René, for all your help putting Destined in the hands of readers. Your unstinting support is appreciated more than I will ever be able to express fully.

  To Candy Royer for being the kickass editor you are and Marilize Roos for the wonderful job you did proofreading it. It is always a pleasure working with you. I look forward to our next project together. Thank you!

  Thank you to my beta readers – Nikki, Marilize and Kadi. Your feedback was invaluable and much appreciated. I look forward to working with you lovely ladies again soon.

  And finally, to you the reader, a deep and heartfelt thank you. Your support means more than I can ever express. Without your unstinting support, I wouldn’t get to do what I love to do. I hope you love Sebastian and Serena as much as I do.

  Much love,

  Dorothy xx

  Sneak Peek into Burn for Me

  Have you met Gray and Kitty yet? If not, here’s a sneak peek into their story: Burn for Me

  31

  A thick cloud of smoke hung low in the early morning light, a backdrop to the sparks dancing in the gentle breeze. The acrid stench of burning masked the vibrant summer scents. The sound of firemen calling to each other jarring in the quiet. Yet another iconic building, harking back to an era gone by, was lost. Nothing more than a pile of ash and dying embers.