Taylor jumped as the shower door swung open without warning and let in a cold blast of air. The brief distraction cost her. Shampoo dribbled into her eyes. Trying her damnedest not to curse, she thrust her face back under the water and blinked against the sting. Sebastian stepped in behind her. She felt his lean body press close, its frame as hard and unyielding as the rest of him.
One of his hands settled against the small of her back and rubbed in lazy circles. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, she cupped several handfuls of water and splashed them into her eyes. “Yeah,” she muttered. “It just burns. Typical Irish grace.”
“Poor little leprechaun. Let me try and make it better.”
He kissed a slow path across her shoulder, skimming the delicate ridge of her bone, before tracing the hollow and working his way up the side of her neck. Despite herself, she sighed with pleasure as his lips settled against the sweet spot behind her ear and lingered. There was no mistaking the effect the contact had on him. The long, thick column of his erection pulsed against her as he surged closer, his body pressing against hers in urgent demand. He ground against her, the friction drawing a tortured groan from the base of his throat. The sound echoed off the shower walls and sent a raw jolt of need through her sex-starved system. It had been too long for both of them. Way too long.
Sebastian spun her in his arms. She gasped as he drove her back, pinning her against the cool stone slabs. His mouth clashed against hers with bruising claim, his fingers twisting her nipples into aching peaks. She moaned into their kiss as the familiar combination of pleasure and pain swirled through her core. Her hands roamed over his skin in eager search before plowing through his sodden curls. Spurred by the contact and her hungry tug, Sebastian growled, driving her deeper against the wall.
He slid a hand between her legs, parting her thighs to dip a thick digit inside her. Hungry for more, she rode the firm, steady glide of his fingers. A low rumble of appreciation rolled through him upon finding her more than ready. Still, he coaxed and teased, rubbing her clit until she bordered on the brink of a dizzying climax. Her breath left her in a shuddering exhale and Sebastian froze, his ragged breath falling against her ear.
“Not yet. Hold it for me, baby. I want to be inside you.”
The raspy whisper was almost her undoing. She whimpered, digging her nails into his shoulders as she waited for the torturous throb to pass. A painful eternity crept by before she sagged with relief.
“Good girl,” Sebastian breathed, kissing the shell of her ear.
In that moment, Taylor swore he was trying to kill her. Her entire being threatened to unravel with his praise.
The torment was as short lived as his patience. Sinking his fingers into her thighs, Sebastian lifted her up. Both of them trembled as he eased her down and impaled her inch by agonizing inch. Once fully sheathed, he pushed deeper, his eyes searching hers through the relentless rain. Winding her arms around his neck, Taylor rocked against him in encouragement. It was all the coaxing he needed.
Their lips fused beneath the warm cascade of water, drowning out her blissful cries as Sebastian drove into her. His slow, steady thrusts sent her spiraling higher until she couldn’t hold out any longer. Clinging to him, she surrendered. Body, heart, and soul were no longer hers, but his. Release hit hard, battering her with brutal pleasure, the force enough to rob her of breath. Wresting his mouth from hers, Sebastian’s hold tightened. Determination carved his handsome features as he stabbed hard and deep, reclaiming every inch of her body and branding it as his own. His pleasured growls grew to a hoarse bellow and he slumped against her with a violent shudder.
The sound of uneven panting filled the shower as they waited for sanity to return and their hearts to slow.
“I love you,” he murmured, his voice husky and strained. “So much.”
“I love you, too, Sebby.”
He kissed her before easing from her body with a reluctant grunt. Cupping her face, he drew it to his. “I’m sorry it didn’t last long.”
The shame and sincerity on his expression tugged at her heart. He was such a proud man, always so confident and in control. The last few weeks had taken their toll on him in more ways than one. Frowning, she traced the dark golden stubble dotting his chin, her fingers still shaky.
“Don’t be. It was amazing, Sebastian. You always give me everything I need, in bed or out.”
Shaking his head, he peered down at her with a rueful smile. “No, Taylor. Give me a few minutes. By the time we finish washing, I’ll be ready to go again. Only this time, I promise it will be better.”
Blinking against the shower spray, she planted her hands against his chest. “That was already a stellar performance, Agent Baas. Trust me, you have nothing to prove.”
“Mm. That may be true, darling, but I can’t think of a more inspiring mission. Besides, the operation can’t possibly be considered a success. Not when my target is still standing.”
Laughing, she rocked up onto her toes and rubbed the tip of her nose against his. “You’re such a brute.”
Without warning, he wrapped a heavy fist in her hair and tugged. A hard kiss smothered her gasp and his tongue swirled across hers, probing in a slow, hungry pantomime with his hips. Desire reignited, searing her veins as her knees grew weak and threatened to give. Wresting his lips from hers, Sebastian pulled back and regarded her with a knowing wink.
“Call it what you want, darling, but the one thing I intend to be is thorough.”
“Thorough, huh?”
Donning a sly grin, he growled and yanked her hips against his.
“Exhaustive…comprehensive…” His shadowy stubble abraded the side of her neck as he nipped a path across the slender column and groaned: “In-depth.”
He lifted her in his arms again. All too happy to oblige, Taylor wound her legs around his waist, her fingers toying with the thick locks plastered against his nape. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
CHAPTER 4~
Tugging down her sunglasses, Taylor squinted against the afternoon glare as Sebastian maneuvered the Benz up their winding, hilltop road. The first Saturday in April was turning out to be a gorgeous day, and the radio promised near record highs ranging in the seventies. She smothered a yawn and reached for the coffee cup nestled in the center console. The gesture drew a raised brow from the man sitting beside her.
“You better drink up, baby. It’s going to be a long day,” he warned.
She gave a playful roll of her eyes behind her shades. “I wouldn’t be tired already if someone hadn’t dragged me out of bed at the butt crack of dawn this morning. Not to mention the way a certain sex addict kept me up half the night.”
Sebastian laughed in earnest. “That sounds an awful lot like a complaint to me. Surely that wasn’t what you were doing.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” she said, donning her most innocent smile.
Shaking his head, he steered the CL600 off the main road and up their drive. Taylor sat up, her brow knitting at the wide array of cars already parked on the other side of the wrought iron gates. Much to her surprise, they swung open without him accessing the scanner or the codes. Rupert, their new head of security, offered a polite nod as they rolled past.
Confused, she surveyed the vehicles stretched around the semicircular driveway, the colors of the cars ranging as widely as the makes and models. Spotting Irene’s sporty blue Celica and a jacked-up truck that looked all too familiar, not to mention out of place among the more luxurious choices of his teammates, she pivoted in her seat and pinned Sebastian with a questioning stare. His mouth twitched in amusement.
“Okay. Fess up. What is going on?” she asked.
“Settle down. You’ll see soon enough.”
Taylor glanced around as Sebastian parked the car and got out. Her stomach churned. Whatever this was, it was a bad idea. It was too soon. He barely tolerated his partner and sister being around. How was he going to deal with an entire houseful of people? Her head snappe
d up as he opened the door for her. Dinner parties hadn’t exactly been kind to them in the past. They were just now starting to get over the backlash from the first one. Her heart sank and she searched his face as he held out his hand.
“Come on,” he urged.
His eyes held a hint of sparkle and excitement she hadn’t seen in a long time. The reservations she clung to faded when he flashed a boyish grin and wiggled his fingers in impatience. Laughing, she let him pull her from the car and tugged on his arm in an attempt to slow Sebastian’s long strides as he led her up the front steps. Anticipation made his face glow even brighter beneath the springtime sun.
After pulling the heavy wooden double doors open, he gestured her inside with a gallant sweep of his arm. Taylor grappled with uncertainty and reluctance as he shooed her deeper into the house and down the foyer leading into the kitchen.
A loud chorus of “surprise” greeted her upon entering the room and sent her reeling back a step. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Sebastian steadied her and drew her against his side with an amused chortle.
Pressing closer to him, she scanned the central area of the house. Deep purple and silver balloons decorated the corners and archways of the great room, along with matching streamers. A large happy birthday banner hung above both the fireplace and sliding glass doors. She couldn’t contain her amusement upon seeing the word ‘belated’ scrawled across each one in Sebastian’s bold handwriting. Joy flooded her when she spotted Irene, Daryl, and a few other familiar faces scattered among his teammates.
“See,” he whispered against her ear, “we really aren’t as mean as you think.”
Taylor opened her mouth to protest, but caught herself as she sought his sister’s location through the crowd. The truth was she had thought it. Grimacing, she offered Monique an apologetic wince.
“I had no idea. I’m so sorry for taking things wrong. Thank you.”
Understanding shone in the blonde’s bright green eyes. “No worries, Tay. I wanted to take you shopping with me. I really did, but that would have ruined the whole surprise. I hope you like it.”
“Oh I do!” She turned to bury her nose in Sebastian’s shoulder. “How did you pull all of this off?”
“Monique did most of it,” he admitted. “I just bankrolled things.”
“And I told her who to invite. Happy birthday, sugar,” Irene said, stepping from the crowd to wrap her in a warm embrace.
“Thank you,” she murmured, returning the hug.
“Go,” Sebastian urged, shooing her toward the back deck. “Go enjoy your party.”
Happy to oblige, she looped one arm through Irene’s and snagged Monique with her other on the way past. Various trays of cold cuts, cheeses, crackers, vegetables, and hors d'oeuvres spilled across the granite counters and island. Outside, thick smoke already wafted from two industrial-sized grills. Beyond them, a makeshift wooden dance floor glimmered in the middle of the yard. She eyed the colored light tracks surrounding it and the waiting DJ with no small measure of amazement.
Pausing, she turned to give Sebastian an incredulous look. The gesture earned her an unrepentant grin that highlighted the dimples in his cheeks. His affectionate wink made her heart flutter and she longed to be back in his arms.
“Come on,” Irene urged, dragging her out on to the back deck. “You can ogle Prince Charming later. It’s time to get our groove on.”
“I don’t know if I can trust him to be alone right now,” Taylor admitted. Her gaze darted to Monique. “He looks awful guilty. What else does your brother have up his sleeve?”
“Uhm…his arms would be my guess?”
“Quit being a smartass!” she exclaimed, reprimanding her with a playful nudge. “I think you’re forgetting I’ve been around long enough to know innocence doesn’t exactly run in your family.”
“Hell, honey, even I’ve been around long enough to gather that much,” Irene agreed.
Monique laughed as she tugged free and spun around to face them. “I have no clue what either of you are talking about.”
“Hold up,” Irene said, stopping short.
Taylor tripped over her own feet in her efforts not to slam into her friend’s back. Grace never was her strong suit. Embarrassed, she glanced around and was relieved to see no one had witnessed her stumble.
“I say we hit the minibar, then the dance floor. Little sister is legal now. It’s time to break her in properly.”
Monique arched an eyebrow, her rounded features taking on a skeptical twist. “Drinks do sound great, but I promise you making the birthday girl sick won’t go over well. It’s best we return her to my brother healthy and in one piece.”
Taylor couldn’t argue with that, but the vivacious redhead had no such qualms.
The waitress waved them off with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “He’ll get over it. It’s a twenty-first birthday tradition. Besides, your precious brother gets her to himself every day. Today it’s our turn.”
Monique’s vivid green stare narrowed. She opened her mouth with a shake of her head, but Taylor interrupted.
“I think I can find a way to enjoy the best of both worlds. Besides, I would much rather curl up with Seb at the end of the night than spend it on my knees praying to the porcelain gods,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
The comment made the other two women laugh.
“If I was a betting woman, I’d place my money on you spending it on your knees anyway,” Irene said, casting a knowing look Sebastian’s way. “I can’t say that I blame you for choosing to worship at his feet though, sugar. Not one bit. That’s a mighty fine alter to pray at.”
Monique muttered something beneath her breath before hooking an arm through hers and steering Taylor toward the dance floor. A short while later, bodies packed the gleaming wood from end to end. Irene made her rounds, moving from one man to the next in a steady procession, testing the waters with each. Content to let the lusty coppertop enjoy herself, Taylor stayed stationed near the front with Monique. They bumped hips and butts, laughing while music blared round them and pounded through the sprawling grounds. The forceful bass vibrated through her body making her nerve endings tingle, while the whiskey sour in her cup added to the pleasant warmth of the sun.
Unlike the parties she’d attended in the city, they had no neighbors for miles and were free to cut loose and do as they pleased without fear of disturbing anyone. That, and Sebastian had spared no expense. Shielding her eyes, she slowed to scan the deck for him until a light touch at her elbow drew her attention. She spun to find Daryl grinning down at her. Her heart soared at the sight of her childhood best friend. Now a strapping college linebacker, he was a far cry from the scrawny, knobby-kneed boy she’d met on her first day of kindergarten. He still had the same unassuming smile though.
“Happy belated, Tay.”
“Thank you! I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Yeah, well, I have to admit I was a little surprised to get an invite after the way things went down the last time we ran into each other, but I’m glad I did.”
“So am I. It’s so good to see you again. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” An awkward moment passed as they both resisted the urge to hug. Daryl broke the tension by giving her a pointed nudge. “This is a hell of a place you have here,” he said, grinning. “I feel like I’m in one of those crazy music videos.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s not normally this wild. I swear.”
He winked. “I’ll take your word for it. If you think we can pull it off without some psycho jamming a gun in my face again, I’d love to give the dance floor a go. Just for old time’s sake.”
Her shoulders shook with the memories of all the awkward school dances they’d shared, and she turned to search the deck again for Sebastian. He stood leaning against the wooden railing with Josh at his side. The tattered rim of his baseball cap shielded his eyes, but she could see the reluctant smile plying her lover’s lips. Josh’s expression was
n’t nearly as forgiving. His steely blue stare remained rooted on Daryl, tracking him intently.
“Your fiancé seems like an all right guy, Tay. I talked to him inside for a while. I still think the other one is slightly certifiable though. Just between me and you.”
The drink she’d just taken sprayed past her lips as she fought to hold in her laughter. “I used to think so, too, but Josh really isn’t so bad once you get to know him. He’s just super protective of Sebastian.”
“I admit I don’t know the guy all that well, but I definitely get the impression your fiancé can take care of himself. As for his partner…well…again, I’m going to have to take your word for it. I still think the guy is nuts.”
Taylor rolled her eyes and elbowed her friend. It was best to change the subject before one of Sebastian’s teammates overheard something they would both regret. “Shut up and dance with me, silly.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed in concentration beneath the bent rim of his baseball cap as he kept a close eye on Taylor and the dance floor. His gaze moved in a constant shift between her and his sister, making sure no one overstepped their bounds and touched the things they shouldn’t. He didn’t care much for the music, and most of the people grinding to it even less, but he reminded himself that today was about her and her enjoyment, not his. He owed her that much. Tipping his rum and Coke, he took a long swig. Just a few more hours and this unique brand of self-inflicted torture would come to a merciful end.
“You hanging in there okay, buddy?” Josh asked, clapping him on the back.
He shrugged. “I will be glad when this is over.”
“It must be killer being away from Taylor for so long. So close, yet so far away.”
He confronted his partner with a glare capable of stripping paint.
Edge of Obsession (SKALS #3) Page 4
