Bound by Vengeance (16 page)

Her mouth fell open. Reaching out, she draped her hand over his forearm. “Oh my God, Sebastian. I never thought that about you.
Ever
. You’re the strongest person I know.”

He dumped the eggs off his fork and pushed them across his plate, still refusing to
meet her stare. “I only came home to be with you. I wanted to see you, to know you were safe. Otherwise, I would have just stayed in the infirmary.” His mouth whitened with a grim press and his expression hardened. “I just wanted you to know it was the medication laying me up for the last week, not some shortcoming on my end.”

“I know, Seb,” she said, squeezing his arm. “They wanted you to rest as much as possible so you could get better. Marx called to check up on you.”

He set his fork down and sat back, his eyes flying to hers. His brow crept lower with his frown. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him the truth—that you were sleeping. He told me the meds would do that and to let you rest.”

His jaw knotted and he shook his head. “I don’t want you talking to him, Taylor.”

“I didn’t recognize the number. It’s not like I knew who it was,” she said, trying not to pout at the hard edge in his voice.

“Now you do,” he bit back, tossing his napkin on his plate. “Don’t do it again.”

Blinking against a wave of confus
ion, she watched as he crossed the room and stomped on the pedal for the stainless steel trashcan, popping the lid. He emptied his plate and rinsed it. As he made his way to the dishwasher, his eyes locked with hers.

“He has the number for my cell, Taylor.
If Marx wants to talk to me, he can call that. He has no business calling the house phone.”

“I know. I just…I don’t think he wanted to bother you.”

He stared at her for a long moment. Shaking his head, he opened the dishwasher and loaded his plate. “Is this going to be an issue?” he asked without looking up.

“No, Sebastian. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. You’re supposed to call him back when you’re feeling better.”

“It can wait a few days. If you’re done eating, come clear your plate.”

Taylor shivered a
t the forced civility in his voice. It made his husky rasp even more pronounced, and not in a good way. The sudden tension made her nervous and her hands trembled slightly as she carried her plate into the kitchen. Sebastian leaned against the counter, his hands braced against the black granite ledge on either side of him as he watched her. Swallowing against the knot in her throat, she dumped her plate and rinsed it. After adding the skillets to the dishwasher and wiping the kitchen down, she took a deep breath and walked over to where he still stood waiting. Lifting her eyes to his, she ran her palms over his chest. Sebastian cocked his head in question, but his body relaxed, some of the tension ebbing from his frame at her touch. Pressing closer, she rested her cheek against his shoulder and gently massaged his nape.

“I’m sorry if I upset you,” she murmured. “I love you. Please smile. You have no idea how much I’ve missed seeing those gorgeous dimples.”

Sebastian gave a dry chuckle. His hands cradled her hips as he peered down at her. “Did you, now?” he asked, lifting a brow.

“Mmhmm.”

His shoulders shook with amusement. His hand moved to her throat, kicking up a fearful drumroll in her chest until he tipped her chin up and kissed her.

“Mm, I don’t know,
darling. If you want my dimples, you’re going to have to work for them,” he murmured, keeping his lips pressed to hers with a taunting smirk.

“That’s okay. I’ll always have your curls,” she whispered, reaching up to plow her fingers through the thick tumbl
es. Joy flooded her when he made no move to stop her.

He settled his forehead against hers. “You’re such a cheeky little minx. I should punish you for your sass.”

She batted her eyes and offered her most adorable smile. “But I’m cute and you love me.”

This
time his laughter was deep and true. He winced briefly, but his eyes sparkled as he tugged her closer and ground her hips against his in a suggestive roll. “That you are, and that I do, but that won’t save you, sweetheart. I’d start bartering if I were you.”

“I thought you weren’t one to barter, Special Agent Baas,” she teased, fixing him with a mock pointed look. “Your words, not mine.”

His eyebrows shot up in a brief bid of surprise, and for a moment, Taylor feared she might have crossed the line with her play. His head tilted in thought and Sebastian responded with a slow nod. She shivered slightly as he stared down at her, his expression unreadable.

“So you remembered. What an astounding memory you must have,” he mused in a slow, soft tone. “Just this o
nce, I might be willing to make an exception in your case. That’s going to depend on you. The clock is ticking, Miss McAvay. Make your move.”

She tamped down a tremble and swallowed, no longer certain of where they stood.
Sebastian’s piercing stare and stoic features lent no clue either way. Taylor bit her lip and pondered the effect her lover must have on the people he interrogated. They didn’t have the comfort or reassurance of his love to hide behind or help get them through. She did, and there were still times Sebastian managed to scare her senseless. A chill ran through her, and she realized just being in their shoes and seeing him glare would be enough to make her break. Maybe the better question would be how the hell anyone managed to hold out long enough to die from anything other than fright. Especially with Josh or someone like Marx teamed at his side. She shuddered.

Forcing her thoughts back to the present, she pulled his hand off her hip and tugged him toward the
living room. The look he gave her told her he still wasn’t convinced. His chin jutted with stubborn pride, and his lips puckered into a skeptical purse. Leading him to the front of the couch, she lifted the hem of his black tee and popped the clasp on his khaki cargos. He lifted a brow as she urged his low-slung hip briefs down with his pants. Planting a hand against his delicious abs, she coaxed him to sit. The crisp leather creaked, dispelling a soft hiss of air beneath his weight as Sebastian eased onto the cushions. His head fell back and he stared at her in silent expectation.

“Comfy?” she asked, kneeling between his thighs. She ran her palms over the lean, hard muscles. The man didn’t have an ounce of softness anywhere.

“I’m getting there,” Sebastian stated quietly. “Yet I’m also growing very uncomfortable.”

“Let me fix that,” she whispered.

He stiffened as she released her breath against his skin and worked her way up his thighs in a slow crawl. His hand locked in her hair, and he hauled her closer with a gasping inhale. She chanced a peek at his face. Impatience and need stamped his rugged features. His eyes locked with hers in warning, and Taylor offered a smile before lowering her gaze with a demure sweep of her dark lashes. The gesture wrung a ragged groan from Sebastian and his shaft jumped.

Wrapping her hand around the thick base, she plunged her mouth down around him. Sebastian hissed a sharp breath through his teeth, his hips jerking off the couch. She moaned around him, loving the way the vibrat
ions travelled through the entire length of warm, soft steel sheathed in her mouth. His grip tightened in her hair with urgent pleading. Taylor hummed with pleasure, drawing him deeper. Hollowing her cheeks, she sucked the velvety rod, swirling her tongue and twisting her hand around the rigid base.

Sebastian’s hold on her hair set the tempo. His raspy moans bounced unchecked and provided the song to which she danced. He tasted of sweetness and salt. Danger and decadence rolled through her senses, heighten
ing her desire. Her fingers sank into the corded muscles of his thighs as he picked up the pace. Her head swam and a drunken dizziness threatened to carry her away. His breath came harder and faster until his hips rose up to meet her and he pushed into her throat with a hoarse cry.

His chest rose and fell in tandem with her rapid heaves as she swallowed his offering and lavished his skin with breathless kisses. Sebastian stroked her head, his strong fingers massaging the roots he’d yanked only seconds befor
e. Licking her lips, she glanced up at him and almost melted onto the floor. He was staring at her through half-hooded lids and a wide, dimpled smile lit his entire face. She grinned back. He’d never looked more boyish or handsome, and his bliss made her heart soar.

“So…do I win this negotiation?” she asked, kissing his leg. The light smattering of coarse hair covering them tickled her chin and she rubbed her cheeks against them with a contented purr.

“That you do, darling,” he murmured. “Now get up here.”

“What if I say no?”

His voice was low and sinister as he cocked a tawny brow. “Do you really want to find out, Taylor?”

“No,” she whispered, leaning up to kiss the hard swell of his abs. “But I wanted this to be about you and your enjoyment, not me.”

His smile deepened as he studied her and shook his head. “After all this time together, you still don’t understand do you, darling? Giving you pleasure brings a vast amount of enjoyment to me.
You are my enjoyment
.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and gave it a gentle tug. “Now lose the pants and get up here. Don’t make me ask you again.”

“Yes, Sebastian.”

His chest rumbled in approval. Sitting up, he slung his arms across the back of the couch. His eyes were studious and intent, watching her every move as she peeled out of her clothes and joined him. Turning to the side, he patted the top of the cushions. Her cheeks burned when she realized his intentions. Lowering her head to hide behind the dark curtain of her hair, Taylor perched on top of the couch, her blush deepening as he urged one leg over his shoulder. The initial touch of his tongue was shattering. Hot and moist, it sent a jolt of pleasure through her starved body so raw and powerful it almost sent her toppling over the edge of the couch. Sebastian’s strong hands snared her thighs, saving her, and the house rang with his laughter.

Clearing his throat, he regained his composure. Amusement shimmered in his eyes. “Do us both a favor here, sweetheart, and hold on to something.”

“If someone didn’t turn my world upside down, I wouldn’t have to.”

“Taylor…”

His voice carried a hint of warning, and she batted her eyes. “Yes, Sebby?”

His gaze locked with hers. Though he tried, he couldn’t hold his smirk at bay. “Nice try, baby, but that innocent act of yo
urs doesn’t fool me,” he murmured, trailing a finger up the inside of her thigh. “Not for one second.”

The slow deliberation in his last words sent a stab of heat straight through her core. Her fingers clamped around the ledge of the couch as his hot breat
h fell against her. The textured spear of his tongue parted her lips and she whimpered as it darted swift and true against her. Pleasure electrified her nerves. Colors danced behind her closed lids. Within seconds, her breathing hitched and her body tensed. Wave after wave of ecstasy battered her without mercy. Cool leather caved beneath her fierce grip, and she surrendered herself fully with a ragged cry.

Sebastian stared up at her face as he bit the soft swell of his bottom lip. A low growl rumbled throug
h him. She cried out as he hauled her off the edge of the couch into an awkward straddle. Her breath left her in a wavering gasp as his hips surged up and he filled her without warning. The feeling of him buried deep inside her had never felt more glorious. A lazy, contented grin played on Sebastian’s face as she gripped the back of the couch and posted in a slow, steady rhythm. She relished the strong grasp of his hands and the smooth press of his palms as they guided her. Already sated, neither one of them was in any hurry to finish. Late morning stretched into early afternoon before they finally gave in and catapulted over the edge together.

Taylor murmured incoherently as Sebastian eased her down and stretched out behind her. His arms circled her body, w
rapping her in warmth and safety as he drew her closer. She shivered as his lips brushed across her nape in a tender caress, his breath scalding against her cooling skin.

“Sleep, baby,” he whispered. “You’ve earned it.”

It took quite a bit of maneuvering,
but he managed to ease out from behind Taylor without waking her. Wincing at the pain still branching through his side, Sebastian rubbed the bleary fog of slumber from his eyes and reached for his pants. After tugging them up, he started to pad toward the half bath off the hall and froze. His gaze darted to the windows lining the rear wall of the house and a hushed curse left his lips. He’d forgotten about the security patrolling the premises. His eyes narrowed and annoyance tightened his chest as he watched the dark figures roam the grounds, their black fatigues standing out like targets in his mind’s eye. Anger rocked his system. He couldn’t even enjoy a midmorning romp in his own home without having to worry about his privacy being invaded. The anguish and shame of the past few days came crashing back in full force and he snarled beneath his breath. Fucking Laychee. Everything boiled down to him. Every last bit of it.

Frowning, he draped a blanket over Taylor to help keep her warm and shield her from
prying eyes. The thought of someone looking at her and watching them as they made love forced him to clench his teeth so hard they ached. Rubbing at the pain behind his temple, he made his way into the bathroom. After draining his bladder, he washed up, splashed his face with cold water, and downed a handful of aspirin. He studied his reflection, not liking the tired lines or hollows. He’d slept enough over the past week. What he needed now was to build his strength back up—and a haircut. Taylor might love his curls, but the damn things were getting too long and out of control.