Bound by Vengeance (SKALS)

by Adriana Noir

  Fear illuminated her bright green eyes. Wetting her lips, she dashed the tears off her face and stood. She reached for him, but he stepped out of range, his head tilting slightly in warning. His sister faltered and wrung her hands again.

  “He’s not going to like this. He’s not going to like you going behind his back, Sebastian. He’ll hurt you.”

  He shrugged and adjusted the lush fern spilling across the mantle. “Perhaps, but he may see the wisdom in it as well. It doesn’t matter. I take care of my family. Not him.”

  Monique dried her cheeks. Smoothing her hands over her shirt, she regarded him with a baffling mixture of love and pity. Not caring much for the second, his eyes narrowed. Sniffling, she lowered her gaze. Sebastian stepped around her and opened the door, showing his sister out. She faltered in the doorway, her fingers curling around his forearm in a gentle squeeze. Closing his eyes, he allowed her that much. Despite his efforts to distance himself, she was still his family. Sometimes, a small bit of comfort and reassurance was needed. Not just for her sake, but for his.

  “Thank you, Sebastian…for everything. You’ve always gone out of your way for me. I know this wasn’t easy,” she whispered. Leaning up, she kissed his cheek. “You’re a wonderful brother.”

  Frowning, he patted her head and nudged his way past. He wished more than anything he could believe those words were true.

  Chapter 5 ~

  Taylor tugged the blue silk wrap of her robe tighter. Glancing over the railing into the open sprawl of the great room, she smiled. Sebastian was stretched out on one of the leather couches looking relaxed in a pair of light grey sweats and nothing else. She licked her lips, watching the light from the fireplace play across his abs. He had such an incredible body—sleek, powerful, and well defined. She could admire him for hours and, sometimes, when she couldn’t sleep, she did. The sweet, subtle smell of the candles he’d bought wafted through the house and added to the soft golden glow spilling through the room. Two glasses of deep red wine sat on the coffee table, and he idly traced a fragile stem with his finger as he waited.

  “Are you going to stand up there all night?” he asked without turning.

  Blinking, Taylor wondered how he did that. He always seemed to sense whenever she was around, no matter how still or quiet she was. It was as if he had special senses. Sebby senses. The thought made her giggle.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted coyly. “I have the most amazing view.”

  Sebastian’s shoulders shook with a quiet laugh. Swinging his legs over the edge of the couch, he sat up and turned to regard her in one fluid sweep. “Come down here and enjoy it in person.”

  She bounded down the steps off the kitchen and dropped onto the couch beside him. Sebastian shook his head and dragged her onto his lap, turning her so she straddled him. His lips sought hers, and Taylor moaned, running her fingers through the thick curls at his nape.

  “Mm,” he protested, pulling back. “Baby, not yet. I want to talk to you for a minute and we need to get the new coffee maker figured out before morning.”

  She bit her lip and peered up at him from beneath the thick sweep of her lashes. “Am I in trouble?”

  Sebastian shook his head, his expression tender and sincere. “No, sweetheart, not at all.” He tried to smile as he took her hands in his and held them both against his chest. “You know that I love you, right?”

  Taylor nodded. Her forehead tightened, knitting with worry. She searched his eyes, but he kept his emotions shielded. The lean muscles beneath her were tensing, and he seemed troubled, worried. Holding her breath, she waited. He tugged one hand free and plowed it through his curls. Patting the outside of her thigh, Sebastian urged her off him.

  “I can’t do this now. Let’s just figure the coffee out and head to bed.”

  Her mouth fell open in a brief bid of confusion and hurt. Taylor stared at him as he pushed off the couch and headed for the kitchen leaving her to wonder what she’d done wrong. He switched on the recessed lights under the cabinets and leaned a hip against the counter, waiting. Lowering her head, she joined him and grabbed the box. Sebastian stepped in and helped her tug the heavy appliance free when the Styrofoam packing proved to be a tight fit. They looked it over for a few minutes, using the instructions as reference. It seemed a bit complicated to her, but he assured her she’d get the hang of it in no time. Stepping over to the butler’s pantry, he told her to open it up while he grabbed the coffee.

  Taylor opened the top compartment and gasped. Sitting in the basket was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. Three rounded diamonds glinted back at her from a shimmering platinum band. Her eyes darted to Sebastian as he popped his head around the corner of the door. For one agonizing moment, she was certain there’d been some kind of mistake until she was the sparkle in his green eyes as he stared back at her. Forcing a hard swallow, she lifted the ring with trembling fingers.

  She cried out when she dropped it. Irish grace be damned. Sebastian’s laughter flooded through the kitchen, washing over her as her cheeks flamed and she fought against the burn of tears. Shaking his head, he retrieved it off the floor.

  “Careful, darling,” he said softly. “Give me some hope here. Tell me that wasn’t an indication of what your answer is going to be.”

  Covering her mouth, she tried to hold the tears at bay. Sebastian approached. Giving a soft smile, he brushed the damp trails from her cheeks and threaded his fingers through her hair as he kissed the top of her head. His swallow echoed between them and he drew a deep breath.

  “I know I’m not an easy man to love. I can be heartless and cruel, and my life is a virtual hurricane, but you are everything to me. You are my anchor, Taylor. My heart, my haven—my home. None of this means anything without you. Life means nothing without you.”

  She bit back a sob as he held her hands and sank onto his knees.

  “Shh, darling, it’s all right. Stop crying and look at me….please. I swear to you, I will always love you and protect you with everything I have. You’re my entire world. I could never imagine living without you. I want to start building the rest of my life around you. You make me want to do better, Taylor. You make me want to be a better person, and not many people inspire that in me.” His dimples deepened as he peered up at her with beseeching eyes. “Marry me, baby. Please?”

  “Who could say no to that?” she choked.

  “Hopefully, not you.”

  Laughing through her tears, she nodded. “Yes, Sebastian. Yes.”

  He nodded, a bright smile lighting his features. “Yeah?”

  “Yes!”

  Joy lit his face, highlighting his dimples. Lowering his head, he slid the ring on her finger and surged to his feet. Taylor clung to him as his hands roamed over her face and he kissed her so deeply her head spun.

  “You have no idea how happy you just made me,” he murmured, still smiling against her lips.

  “You could try to show me,” she suggested.

  She shivered at the low, sinister groan vibrating through his chest.

  “Oh, darling, believe me when I say I will. I’m going to blow the candles out. Get upstairs and wait for me. I expect you on our bed with nothing but that ring on.” His eyes locked with hers and a slow grin spread across his face as he leaned over to whisper in her ear: “Just this once…run.”

  The husky rasp of his voice combined with his orders ignited a fuse in her core. Desire swept through her body. Eager to resume their play, Taylor bounded up the steps leaving a trail of discarded clothing in her wake. She barely hit the hall before Sebastian’s footfalls thundered behind her. His speed was startling, and she felt her heartbeat hitch in anticipation. Squealing, she tried to get the doors to the master suite open before he caught her. Strong arms locked around her waist, and she laughed at the silky garments dangling from his fingers. His erection felt like unyielding steel as he ground against her, kissing the side of her neck with a slow shake of his head. His deep groan lit her insides on fire.
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  “I gave you a head start,” he mused in a low murmur. “And you still couldn’t beat me through the door. That doesn’t bode well for you, does it?”

  She shivered, squirming in his grasp. His breath fell hot against her neck, and Taylor moaned in the base of her throat as his stubble scraped against her sensitive skin. Her back arched, bowing against his chest as Sebastian slid his hands upwards to knead her breasts. A low rumble of appreciation rolled through him as he pinched her nipples and twisted them between his fingers. Panting with a combination of pain and desire, Taylor ground against him.

  “Such a good girl,” he breathed. “My good girl.”

  He slid one hand between her thighs. The air left her in a pleading whimper as his fingers rubbed her damp slit. She almost came right there. Her nails scraped against the bedroom door when he thrust a digit deep inside her. The world spun, and the space around them swirled in a delicious array of colors.

  “Go for it, baby,” Sebastian whispered. “I’ll bring you there again. I promise.”

  His knuckle grazed her clit and the universe shattered. Bucking against the drive of his fingers, Taylor bit back a scream. Her legs threatened to fold with the force of her pleasure. Holding her up, Sebastian continued to ply her body as she writhed helplessly in his grasp. She pressed her face against the cool wooden door, moaning as he eked every bit of bliss from her boneless form. Without a word, he scooped her up, opened the doors, and carried her to the bed. Dazed, she watched him through the shadows as he stripped out of his sweats and pounced on the end of the mattress. His lean body swayed, desire blazing in his eyes as he prowled up the bed after her.

  His lips claimed hers in a feather light kiss. Moaning, she strained against him, her arms winding around his neck in a desperate attempt to deepen the contact. The pressure of his mouth grew hungry, demanding, as he splayed on top of her. She was beyond ready. Her body ached, and her cheeks flamed as she felt evidence of her arousal pool beneath her on the comforter. Groaning, Sebastian hooked her knees over his shoulders. She jerked helplessly as he dragged the hot spear of his tongue over her sex. Fisting the thick blankets, she tried to ignore the painful throb of desire, but the quiet noises of enjoyment he made drove her to the brink of madness.

  “Seb…I need you now. Please.”

  Reluctance stamped his handsome face as he rocked back onto his heels. He gripped her hips and tugged them toward his. His eyes locked with hers. Taylor cried out as he impaled her slowly, his gaze never leaving her face. The fingers spanning her hipbones tightened and she held her breath as he stilled with a tremble. Sebastian pulled back and eased into her again. Longing and need etched his handsome features while he drove into her and watched her body sway with each hard, slow thrust. His efforts proved tireless. A fine sheen covered them both, slicking the hard swell of his chest and the rippled valleys of his abdomen as he slowly staked his claim. Urgency strained the husky notes of his voice as he whispered words of forever and coaxed her over the edge. Taylor cried out, sobbing, as the world imploded and a powerful surge of pleasure wrested her sanity away. Feeling her body lock and spasm around his, Sebastian picked up the pace and threw his head back with a breathless roar.

  A few seconds later, he collapsed beside her. Drawing her against his side, he stroked her face, gently bringing her back down. Taylor blinked, trying to find her way back home. She felt weightless, as if she were floating along aimlessly through some warm, grey haze. Beads of sweat still shimmered along his brow as he peered over at her. His expression was pensive as he slowly twisted the ring on her finger.

  “Tell me what this means,” he whispered.

  Craning her head, Taylor studied the sculpted angles of his face. “It means I’m going to be your wife someday.”

  “What else?”

  Her forehead knitted. She was too tired to think and unsure what sort of answers he was looking for. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed a gentle circle over her back as the heat from their lovemaking started to wear off and goose bumps threatened.

  “It’s not just a pretty trinket, Taylor,” he said softly. “It’s a promise that you will always be mine and you’ll always be with me. You belong to me completely, just as I am and will always be yours. It’s a symbol of love and faithfulness between us—a promise we made for our future.”

  She sighed contentedly and snuggled closer. “I’m already yours.”

  “I know, baby. But now it’s official.” His eyes sparkled as he smiled and lifted her hand to his lips to kiss her ring finger. “My beautiful fiancée.”

  She shielded her blush by pressing her face against his chest. “I love the way that sounds.”

  “Me too,” he said. Brushing the damp hair off her face, he stifled a yawn and winked. “But not nearly as much as I love you.” He yawned again and tugged her head closer to kiss her rapidly drying brow. “As much as I hate to, we need to get some sleep, darling. I have to work in the morning and you have a future to plan.”

  Even the dimly lit corridors couldn’t dampen his spirits. Ignoring the false cheer of the florescent lights overhead, Sebastian clung to the memories of the night before and the promise of a future with the woman he loved. For once, all was right in the world. At least in his and that was truly all that mattered. Pushing open the doors to the waiting room that led to Marx’s office, he was hard pressed to contain his smile. His grin deepened upon seeing his partner. Crossing the room, he enveloped Josh in a brotherly hug. He clung to the other man, his eyes drifting shut briefly as a strange mix of emotions washed over him. Things like happiness and contentment were so rare anymore they felt foreign. He realized this more than ever as Josh stiffened in his grip.

  Sebastian released him with a pat to the shoulder. Still smiling, he crossed the room and lifted the decanter of whiskey Marx kept stashed on a table to pour a drink. Confusion haunted his partner’s blue gaze. Keeping one tumbler for himself, Sebastian handed over the other.

  “To new beginnings,” he said, lifting the glass in a salute.

  “Ah.” Josh downed his drink. His face contorted in a brief grimace when the whiskey hit. Swiping his mouth with the back of one hand, he set his glass down. “She must have said yes.”

  “She did.” Sebastian’s celebratory mood faltered as he eyed the heavy door leading into Marx’s office. “Maybe we should toss back another. Seeing as we are the only two people here, I’m guessing this is about my visit to the Duprees and not an update on Laychee.”

  His partner nodded, his expression turning grim. Tension lined the broad angles of his face.

  “Listen to me,” Sebastian stated quietly. His gaze dropped to the floor as he perched on the edge of the table. “Whatever happens in there, you let me take the fall. It was my idea—my doing.”

  “Baas, no. You did that for me and Monique.”

  “And I don’t regret it. I take care of my family, Josh. This was my arrangement. I will deal with the consequences.” His eyes flickered to his partner’s, and for a moment blue clashed with green. Standing, Sebastian walked over to the decorative globe adorning the corner and gave the antique sphere a spin. “Don’t go against me on this. If I don’t make it out today, check in on Taylor and tell her I will be home soon.”

  Scrubbing his palms over his dark hair, Josh nodded and hung his head. “I will, Baas. I swear.”

  They both turned as the door swung open behind them and a hulking shadow fell across the room. Marx stood in the doorway, his dark ebony eyes glittering beneath the lights. Giving the wide berth of his shoulders a roll, he gestured them into his office with a sweep of his brawny arm. Sebastian watched the buttons strain on the big man’s dress shirt and wondered if one of them would pop free. The thought amused him and he smirked as he pushed past their director. Josh sighed and followed close behind.

  “Gentlemen,” Marx greeted. The deep boom of his voice rolled through the smaller room like a peal of thunder. He indicated toward the metal chairs stationed in front of his desk.
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  Easing into one, Sebastian glanced up as Marx’s padded seat creaked beneath his girth. His chin lifted when he met their director’s stare. The eyes boring into him were as dark and unyielding as coal, and every bit as ruthless as a shark’s. Sensing both challenge and confrontation, he fought a smirk. It was the little things that helped keep life interesting.

  Marx scratched the back of his neck. His generous lips pursed with displeasure as he shifted his attention to Josh and back to Sebastian.

  “Are we having a misunderstanding about the chain of command, boys?”

  Sebastian shook his head. “A misunderstanding? No.”

  Marx grunted and leaned back in his chair. His bratwurst-sized fingers tented beneath his strong, square chin. “I see. So you understood you weren’t authorized to run off on some vigilante mission. You just didn’t care.”

  “I cared,” Sebastian, stated slowly. “It just wasn’t enough to stop me.”

  Josh groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose beside him. Marx quirked a bushy brow. His light chocolate skin shone with a combination of aftershave lotion and sweat. The crispness of expensive cologne lingered in the air between them. After several moments, Marx gave a slow nod of his head. The corners of his mouth twitched.

  “You do enjoy pushing the boundaries with me, don’t you, Sebastian?”

  Shrugging, he fought to keep the smile that threatened at bay. “There are days.”

  All traces of humor fled Marx’s wide face. “You’re sadly mistaken if you think today is one of them. Now, you spit out an explanation for your actions or you can kiss the outside world goodbye for a very, very long time.”

  “Don’t do that, sir. Baas was only acting to protect his partner and his family.”

  “Shut up, Josh,” Sebastian warned, fixating him with a murderous glare. His jaw corded before he swung his attention to their director. “Regardless of the chain of command, I was acting in the best interest of the organization and the men who serve it. That is my job both as a team leader and an employee.”