The place of comfort he’d found in her arms had vanished. Repeated nightmares and flashbacks had plagued him for most of the night and sent him reeling back to square one. He was tense, hateful, and bitter, his body still taut with pain and fury. Reconditioning was akin to having rabies. Everything triggered an overwhelming desire to hurt and destroy. The need burned beneath his skin where it festered like an unfed hunger. It took effort to pull himself back from his craving for murder and bloodlust, and every time it got harder and harder to lose.
By the time he’d decided that seeking their head of security probably wasn’t the best of ideas, it was too late. He spied the giant Cajun looming near the rear of the house, colorful Oakleys wrapped around his head, and prized assault rifle slung faithfully over his arm. For a moment, he pondered testing just how fast the man’s reflexes were but then quickly shook the idea. Replacing him would be more hassle than it was worth.
Frowning, Sebastian skimmed the perimeter. His body crawled with the unnamable discomfort someone felt when they were being watched and the sensation didn’t sit well with him. At all.
A wide grin stretched across Rupert’s face when he approached. The jagged scar stretching from his cheek to his chin whitened in its wake. “Good morning, Agent Baas. It’s good to have you home again, sir.”
Sebastian studied him for a moment. Despite himself, he couldn’t muster the willpower to return the man’s smile. He did manage a nod and a semi-polite twitch of his lips. “Thank you.”
“Pleasure’s mine, sir. Did you venture out here to enjoy the day?”
“Actually, there were a few matters I wanted to discuss.”
Adjusting his rifle strap, the head of security gave an agreeable bob of his head. “Sure thing, boss.” A worried frown flickered across his sturdy features. “I hope I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“That remains to be seen,” Sebastian said, turning to scan the tree line. “Did Taylor receive any visitors while I was away?”
“Just Ms. Monique and her children, sir.”
“Children. Plural?”
“Yes, sir. A little girl and a boy a bit older, maybe eight or nine. The age is hard to say seeing as I don’t have much experience with kids.”
Sebastian’s fingers bit deep into his wrists as he kept his hands locked behind his back. He tried to stem the tide of pain that rolled through him at the mention of his niece. Monique had brought her over knowing he wasn’t there. Anger threatened until he reminded himself that he was the one who’d made that decision. He’d made that sacrifice to protect his sister. Somehow, it didn’t make the news of her visit any easier to bear.
Losing Christian and then Mia, in her own way, had snuffed a little more light from his life. Light that he didn’t have to spare. The darkness of the reconditioning cell threatened to close in on him again. He gave his head a hard shake, trying to hold the shadows at bay. It was just one more in a long list of things SKALS had ripped away from him while his humanity hung on by a thread.
Rupert cleared his throat. “If that is a problem, sir, I will change the order immediately.”
It took effort to force his gaze back to the worried security guard. “No. My sister and her…children are always welcome. There were no other visitors, admitted or otherwise?” At the man’s negative answer, Sebastian studied the strip of fence he could see from his location. “Was there anything else out of the ordinary? Anything at all? Any people lurking outside the premises or milling outside the gates?”
“Everything was quiet, sir.”
“Too quiet?”
He could see Rupert’s brows draw together above his shades but he didn’t care if the big Cajun thought he was stark raving mad as long as he did his job. The man surprised him.
“Nothing confirmable, sir, but sometimes a prickle of unease is more reliable to a man than what his eyes can see.”
“What did you do about this prickle, Rupert?”
“I increased the frequency of the patrols and intensified mine. Nothing turned up.”
Sebastian’s jaw knotted. It wasn’t just him. The confirmation hit him like a punch to the solar plexus and the muscles beneath his eyes tightened in a suspicious twitch. Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he scanned the woods flanking the backyard and gave a terse nod.
“If you see anyone out of place, you take them out. I don’t care if it’s the damn UPS man. No one outside of that list is to step one foot in this yard unless accompanied by me. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir. Very.”
“That’s good to hear. My fiancée’s well-being is deeply tied to your own. Any harm that comes to her will come to you a hundredfold, and that is not a threat, Rupert. It is a promise.”
Words fled the normally vocal guard. His bronzed skin paled and he shifted his six-foot-four frame.
“Fair enough, sir. I won’t let you down.”
Sebastian nodded. “See that you don’t,” he warned before turning away.
He found Taylor dressed and waiting in the kitchen when he returned. She’d been lingering by the sliding glass doors, no doubt watching the entire exchange. His eyes narrowed for a brief second as he noted the worried look on her face. Did she feel the need to observe his every movement now as well? Or was it something Rupert might say that had her so afraid? Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose and pushed the thoughts away. Taylor could be innocent and, at times, a bit naïve, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew if he didn’t kill her for cheating, he would make her damn well wish he had.
His eyes snapped to hers when the light brush of her fingers grazed his arm. The tenderness and sincerity in her expression lent him pause. Unable to help himself, he threaded his hand through the soft silk of her hair.
“Are you just about ready?”
She nodded, her beautiful grey eyes searching his. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. I was just checking on things.” A tight swallow strained his throat. “I heard you had a little visitor while I was away.”
Taylor’s face fell with a combination of pity and guilt. “I’m so sorry, Sebastian.”
“It’s okay. How is she?”
She tried to force a small smile for his benefit. “She’s good.” A long pause stretched between them as she weighed the benefits of elaborating. “She asked about you—a lot. Every five minutes, she wanted to know where you were and when you were coming home. We tried to distract her, but all Mia talked about was how much she wanted to play with her ‘Unco Sebby.’”
He bit the insides of his cheeks until it hurt. Even that didn’t dull the pain. The poor baby didn’t understand. Tears stung his eyes. Blinking them back, Sebastian reined his emotions in with a small sniff. His head cocked as Taylor pulled her cellphone from the back pocket of her jeans and swiped her finger across the screen a few times, before handing over.
The images staring back at him were as precious of a gift as they were shattering. Thumbing through the gallery, he took in various pictures of his niece, her face always bright and smiling. When he came across the last one, an image of Monique and Mia together, their cheeks touching and their faces full of love, he understood. She was healthy and, more importantly, she was happy. Despite his own emotional anguish, whatever sacrifices he’d made for her and his sister were worth it.
Unable to speak, he returned the phone to Taylor’s back pocket. It took a long moment, but the lump obstructing his vocal chords eventually subsided. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You have no idea how much seeing those means.”
“I would do anything for you, Sebby,” she said, peering up into his face. “I love you. I just want to see you happy.”
“Do you have your list?”
She tugged a slip of paper from the front pocket of her jeans. It angered him seeing how loose the low riding denim hung on her hips. Tearing his gaze away, he read the items over before jerking his head toward the stairs.
“Go grab a belt before your pants fall off.”
Hurt registered across her face. “I didn’t lose that much weight.”
“No?” he asked. “Your clothes don’t fit and my hips are bruised. Neither of these things proves your point. Nor do they make me happy.”
“You’re not exactly where you were before you left either,” she murmured, lowering her head.
Grabbing a thick fistful of hair, he wrenched. Taylor cried out. In shock at first, then in pain, as he forced her focus back up to him. She reached for his hand in an attempt to free herself but the look he gave her stopped her dead.
“I am not going to stand here and argue with you. Go put on a belt or I will reacquaint you with mine,” he snapped.
She stumbled away when he released her. Without a word, Taylor spun on her heel and headed for the stairs. The firm purse of her lips said she was far from pleased with the exchange. His body coiled, and for a moment, he considered branding her ass until she couldn’t sit. She was pushing her luck today in more ways than one, and his temper was already perilously thin. It took a vast amount of effort to stay put and relax.
Why did such a simple request have to turn into a big ordeal? Did she want people to think he didn’t provide for her properly or care enough to see that she had clothes that fit? Did she think he would enjoy having other men ogle her because her pants were riding too low? Was that what she wanted? Did she want to find someone else?
The thought flooded him with insurmountable heartache and rage. Drawing a deep breath, Sebastian shook his head. He had to stop reading so much into things. She was just tired and on edge. They would be okay. He would make sure of it. Casting an imploring glance toward the heavens, he dragged a weary hand over his face and prayed for the patience to make it through the day.
Taylor turned at the quiet click of the latch releasing in the door. Despite her frustration, she forced her lips into a tentative smile. Her heartbeat sped to a forceful thunder when Sebastian didn’t return the gesture. Biting the inside of her cheek, her eyebrows lowered and gathered with worry.
Prowling closer, Sebastian folded his arms. The hardened stance creeping across his face warned he was running low on patience. “I want you to think back on something,” he stated quietly. “What did I tell you the night of your party in my office?”
Frowning, she searched her memory then paled. Her eyes darted to his, hoping to find some small measure of understanding. She found none.
“Answer me.”
She shook her head, her fingers winding in the hem of her stretchy tee. “I don’t remember,” she whispered.
Sebastian’s shoulders jerked; his smile was cold and condescending. “Yes you do, Taylor. Don’t make things worse by lying to me.” Locking his hands behind his back, he nodded and pinned her beneath his stare. “A little refresher perhaps? What did I say would happen the next time I had to rein you in, Taylor?”
She lowered her gaze to the lush cream carpet under her feet. “I wouldn’t like it.”
Long fingers trailed along the underside of her chin in a deceptively gentle caress.
“Very good.”
“Sebastian, I--”
“Skip the formalities, Taylor. We both know why I’m here. Consider yourself lucky we already made plans to go to the store. Unfortunately, that is not enough to get you off the hook. You wanted a punishment, darling, here it is.”
“No…”
He sprung with lightning fast speed, forcing her face down over the bed. She winced, fighting not to struggle as one of his heavy hands pinned the back of her neck and pressed her against the mattress in an unforgiving hold. Using his free hand, he tugged her low riding stretch jeans down with a jarring yank.
“My point exactly,” he whispered against her ear. “Would you still like to argue about the way your clothes fit?”
“No, Seb. Please calm down. You’re right. I’m sorry…”
“I am calm. Consider this a warning, Taylor, because it is the only one you are going to get.”
She pondered his statement, tensing at the harsh grate of his zipper, the sound loud and menacing in the silent confines of their room. One arm snaked around her waist, angling her up to him. His fingers sank along the sloping curve of her hipbone. Reaching around, he slid his other hand between her thighs.
“Have you forgotten me?” he whispered, breathing against her ear. “Does your body still know how to respond to my scent? To my touch?”
She hated herself for it, but it did. Warmth flowed through her along with the silken rasp of his voice. Biting her lip, she rode a delicious throb of pleasure. Sebastian rubbed a forefinger over her clit and groaned as he pushed it into her tight heat. Taylor whimpered at the sudden fullness, her heart pounding when she realized where this game was heading. Letting her eyes drift shut, she focused on the hard, steady plunges. Her cheeks burned with shame as she felt her body grow slick and ready around him. Sebastian’s low, rumbling growl told her he noticed the same.
He pulled away, leaving her aching and bereft. The broad width of his hand came down without warning, the force and sting enough to rear Taylor up on her toes. Tears sprung to her eyes. The fire spreading across her ass was definitely not one of pleasure or play. Again, his palm came down in a deafening crack, branding the other side and wringing a hoarse cry from her lips. Blunt fingers gripped and squeezed her stinging cheeks, rubbing the burn in.
“Mmm. I have to admit, darling. That look suits you well,” Sebastian murmured.
Four more blows followed suit. By the third, she was choking back a sob. He was right, she didn’t like this—and she wasn’t so sure it was any less painful than his belt. His huge, powerful hands covered much more ground and left a lasting sting. Her mind spun as she tried to reason how something that brought her so much pleasure before now brought only pain.
“Perhaps, while you’re riding me, those will help you think,” he stated, tracing the lines of his handiwork.
Pulling back, Sebastian slowly peeled out of his clothes, his acute gaze never leaving her. Not wanting to test him any further, Taylor followed suit. Once finished, he hooked a finger under her chin and steered her toward the sitting room without a word. She eyed the beige micro suede furniture with no small measure of trepidation as he dropped onto the loveseat and branched his arms across the back.
“Have a seat, darling. I believe you remember this routine.”
Closing her eyes, Taylor nodded and turned, perching above him with a knowing shudder. Sebastian eased her down, guiding her body as it lowered over his. She impaled herself slowly, jerking with resistance when the pressure got too deep. Reaching around, Sebastian clamped one hand over her throat in warning. The other anchored on her hip as he drove into her and pulled down, burying himself to the hilt. Her strangled cry rang through the room.
Sebastian’s hold tightened. “Stop fighting me,” he growled. “You were warned. Now sit still and hook your feet.”
Straightening some, he rocked up into her, drawing a muffled cry. Her body shook with her efforts to stay seated as his cock stabbed deep. Taylor moaned in understanding as his middle finger pressed against the small nub above her slit and rubbed in hard, fast strokes. A rumble of pleasure rolled through him as his head fell back. Their eyes met in the mirror hanging across the room, and she watched him study her face.
“Take away what you will, darling. Your heart and mind might fight me, but your body will always be mine.”
He ground into her again. She whimpered at the increase in pressure, her fingers scrabbling along his forearms in pleading.
“You’re going to come,” he growled against her ear. “I don’t care if it takes all night. You’re going to remember your place.”
“I-I do, Sebby. It’s here…with you…”
“Mmm. So you claim. Prove it to me, Taylor. Give me what I want.”
He rubbed her clit harder. A low rumble built inside his chest as her body started to throb and contract. Slick moisture coated his shaft and her breathing hitched, signaling she was getting clos
e. The pressure and need for release was growing unbearable. She squirmed, trying to fight it, but he picked up his efforts. Soon, despite the pain, she rocked against the skillful strum of his fingers, grinding herself down until his moans joined her whimpering gasps.
She tumbled over the edge with a scream, her body locking and crashing down deeper against the unyielding steel of his shaft. The contractions made him stab straight to her core. Riding out the blissful throes had never been more painful or more sweet. Sobbing, she tried to elude the endless torment his fingers brought. The movements drew a snarl from Sebastian and his hold tightened. Surging to his feet, he spun her and shoved her face down over the couch. His fist wound in her hair as he pounded into her, bringing himself to a quick, brutal release. Her legs threatened to give as he came, his deafening roar echoing in her ears.
Gasping, Sebastian collapsed against her. After a few seconds, he pulled out of her body with a reluctant tremble. She remained motionless, watching as he slid back into his clothes and zipped his pants. His fingers danced over her back in mild assessment before brushing the damp hair away from her cheek.
“You will always be mine,” he whispered. “Remember that and what it means.”
Bright florescent lights and gleaming linoleum offered a false sense of cheer. Taylor clung to the slight measure of relief the store offered. There was a safety in public she didn’t quite feel at home. Not today. She browsed the shelves while Sebastian strolled in silence beside her. Every few steps, she would toss another item in the cart and then glance his way, her expression troubled and uncertain. He hadn’t spoken a word since they left the house. There were no smiles or light touches to the small of her back or her arm like there usually was while they shopped. He was stoic and distant, his attention constantly rooted on their surroundings. The store was crowded and anytime someone pressed too close, Sebastian’s fists would curl and his lean frame would poise for strike. More than once she’d held her breath in fear for the safety of the people passing by.
Edge of Obsession (SKALS #3) Page 13
