Sinister Kisses (SKALS #1) (30 page)

Sebastian rolled his neck in an attempt to shake some of the tension knotted below the surface. Straining his ears, he listened to the chatter filtering up from downstairs and gave a soft snort of disgust. He winced as their houseguest’s high-pitched laughter wafted up the steps and down the hall. Company was the last thing he’d wanted or needed. After the day he’d had, all he’d wanted to do was shower, change, and lose himself in Taylor’s embrace. He flexed his fist in experimentation. The battered knuckles sent a low throb of pain through his hand, and he shook his head. If what he’d seen and heard so far were any indication, the woman downstairs would benefit from a little corrective discipline of her own. He wasn’t sure what her angle was, and even less so that he wanted that type of crass demeanor rubbing off on Taylor. What kind of person threw food in someone else’s house? Then there were the comments and the way her eyes kept roaming over him, just little things that wormed their way under his skin. She was trouble waiting to happen.

He sighed and made his way into the bathroom.
It was time to unwind. Let go. The tension and anger still thrumming through his system had him on edge. It was times like this when he needed Taylor the most. Her touch, her love, served as a soothing balm. It helped erase the ugliness, the parts of him he needed to be outside the sanctity of their home. Their home that was currently being defiled by over perfumed trailer trash. It was going to take hours to get rid of that smell.

Turning on the water, he then stripped down and stepped beneath the massaging spray. Sebastian braced his hands against the wall and leaned forward, tilting his head down as he savored the hot needles pelting his back. It was
as close to a massage as he was going to get. Annoyance burned like a smoldering ember in his gut. The scent of violence and blood still clung to his skin. Then there was the added issue of Todd. Target S—the sudden thorn in his side. Was he still out there? Was his relationship with his brother really estranged? Did this sudden amassing of weapons have to do with what had happened to him, or was this ex Special Forces agent up to something else?

He growled, shaking the water from his head. In the end, it really didn’t matter. Rabid dogs needed put down, and that’s what he got paid to do.
By the time he’d finished washing and slipping into a pair of jeans and faded cotton tee, Sebastian’s mind was still whirling. It had shifted gears, centering on what he needed to do to protect his family and keep them safe. Taylor wasn’t going to like some of those decisions, but they were for the best.

He padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. The women were still s
itting at the table, conversing over their cans of tea. Sensing him, Taylor turned and offered an uncertain smile. His stare travelled to her friend before shifting back to her. He didn’t miss the flicker of appraisal in the redhead’s eyes or the way her attention seemed to keep gravitating below his waist. Sebastian felt his own gaze narrow in response.

“
Taylor.” He motioned her to his side with a slight inclination of his head. Glancing back at Irene, he forced a smile. “Excuse us for a moment.”

Confusion stamped Taylor’s face as he pulled the laundry room door shut behind them. She backed against the washer, her eyes darting to his.
The way her gaze flickered to his waist in search of his belt was not lost on him.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I didn’t think you would be home so early, and I had no clue you were standing there. I’m sorry if my comments embarrassed you.”

He regarded her for a long moment and nodded. Inching forward, he pinned Taylor against the washer with his body and braced his hands on either side of her. “It’s not like you to be so brazen,” he said, reaching up to trail a finger down the side of her neck. “Is that the kind of behavior her company elicits?”

She shook her head. “No, Sebastian. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t,” he warned. She shivered as he cupped her chin. He traced her mouth with the pad of his thumb as he stared down at her. “On the other hand, I’m glad you take such enjoyment from the things I do to you.”

Taylor opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with a shake of his head.

“Drop your pants and turn around.”

She shook with an uncertain tremor. Her hands trembled as she slowly peeled her
jeans down. She glanced at the door, pleading branding her face, but she turned around. The grate of his zipper sounded unnaturally loud in the hushed confines of the room. It took a little coaxing, but she soon dampened against his hand. Lining himself up, he grabbed her hips and pushed into the tight heat of her body. Sebastian growled and stilled with a shudder. Sliding a hand around front, he ground deep and strummed his fingers across her pulsing nub. He felt her stiffen and brace herself against the threat of pain.

“
Relax, darling,” he murmured against her ear. “You didn’t do anything. I just want to feel you and enjoy that pleasure you claim I give. Though you may want to hurry. Your friend
is
out there waiting.”

He
moaned feeling the play of her body around his. Each quiver, each tightening, grew more powerful, adding to his torment as he fought to remain still. Taylor arched against him. Her hips rocked against his fingers. She panted, and her imploring whimpers threatened to push him over the edge. Grinding his teeth, he doubled his efforts and growled a raspy encouragement against her ear. Her snug tunnel clenched without warning. Sebastian groaned, clamping a firm hand over her mouth to smother her lusty cries. He kept strumming despite the frantic buck of her hips, carrying her through each battering wave of bliss until she slumped in his grasp. Holding her up, he drove into her with a few forceful thrusts and bit back a cry as he shuddered with the intensity of his release.

The blood roared in his ears as he
leaned against her back and kissed a slow path up the side of her neck.

“Get rid of her,” he ordered, still trying to catch his breath.

Easing out of her, he pulled his pants back up and refastened them. His gaze hardened at Taylor’s look of pleading. Lowering her head, she retrieved her jeans from around her ankles and shimmied them over the curve of her hips. He swallowed as desire threatened to stir again. Gently snaring her elbow, he steered her toward the door. A smile played on his lips as he took note of the uncertain wobble in her steps. Tugging her back to him, he stole a lingering kiss.

“I love you,” he said, smoothing the hair back from her face.

She blinked still trying to regain her senses as she peered up at him. “I love you, too, Sebastian.”

Strolling out into the kitchen, he offered their houseguest a curt nod before snagging a bottle of water from the fridge and heading to his study. A smug grin rode his lips as he felt her knowing stare trail after him.
As he’d said before, he had more than one way to prove his point.

Taylor frowned, pushing the sautéed vegetables across her plate. She could feel Sebastian’s eyes boring into her and the tension radiating between them. He was waiting for an answer. One that she wasn’t sure she knew how to give. The afternoon had been stressful enough between dealing with Ralph’s comments at the diner and Irene’s quizzical expression when she’d exited the laundry room and politely used dinner as an excuse to get her friend to leave. The look of pity and concern in the redhead’s eyes had assured her she was fooling no one. Now Sebastian was telling her not to leave the house because some psychopath could be on the loose. Not just any psychopath either, but the one that he had cut from ear to ear right there in their own dining room. What was she supposed to say?

Her stomach cramped and rolled for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Panic seized her as she realized this time was the real deal. Shoving away from the table, she bolted. A wince crossed her face and dread locked around her heart as she heard him slam his fist on the table. Breaking into a run, she scrambled for the half bath off the kitchen, cursing the sheer size of
their house. The uneasy prickle on the back of her neck told her Sebastian followed close behind.

She fell short of her goal. Desperation seized her and she gripped the edge of the island with a miserable heave. Her entire body shook as she spilled the contents of her stomach into the sink.
Time after time, it emptied with a forceful spasm until she was too weak to stand. Sobbing, she sank to her knees and held out a staying hand. She curled in on herself as Sebastian unfroze and crouched down beside her.

“I’m sorry,” she choked. “
I wasn’t running from you. I c-couldn’t make it. I tried.”

His fingers curled around her chin, forcing her gaze to his. She sagged. The displeasure
lining his face had given way to gentle concern. His sage eyes were soft and probing as they searched hers.

“Shh, baby. I don’t
care about the sink. Are you alright?”

She offered a feeble nod and wiped the back of her mouth with her hand. He frowned and rocked to his feet. Uncertainty rattled through her as he crossed the room. Pulling open the fridge, he grabbed a bottle of water. He twisted off the cap before kneeling next to her. His free hand
felt her forehead and brushed the sweaty locks of hair away from her face.

“Drink this,” he said softly. He waited until she’d taken a few hesitant sips.
His shoulders lifted with a quiet sigh. “Is this about what I said?”

“No,” she whispered. “I felt sick all day. I think I picked something up at the hotel. I’m so sorry.”

His eyes lifted to hers. The look of worry on his face deepened, as did his frown. “Don’t be. I will take care of it. Can you walk?”

Working her bottom lip between her teeth, she nodded. He leaned over and kissed her head. His fingers stroked her hair as he studied her.

“I want you to go clean up and get ready for bed. I’ll be up in a few.”

Her gaze darted uncertainly toward the dining room before flittering to the sink behind them. She winced with a combination of pleading and shame.

“Don’t argue with me, Taylor. I am more than capable of cleaning up down here,” he stated gently. “Go.”

Holding onto her arms, he helped ease her off the floor. His palms rubbed against her offering comfort and
warmth while he made sure she was steady on her feet. She offered a weak smile at his wink and, after being prodded along with a pat on her ass, she shuffled toward the stairs. Tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t remember ever being more embarrassed or ashamed. She’d thrown up in the sink of all places, and now he was staying behind to deal with it. It wasn’t exactly a prelude to romance.

After brushing her teeth and gargling, she took the quickest shower possible. Her stomach still churned, rebelling with a mind of its own. Tamping down several miserable swallows, she struggled to get the nausea under control
and wandered back into the bedroom. Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed waiting. He’d already turned the plush covers down. A long soft tee shirt lay draped across the foot of the mattress, and the soft glow of the fireplace spilled through the room. She grimaced at the faint odor of bleach wafting up from downstairs.

He stood and unraveled the fluffy towel she’d wrapped around her. His touch was light and reverent as he helped tug the shirt over her head and urged her into bed. She stared at him, watching as he slowly peeled out of his clothes and slid into bed beside her. Pulling her against him, he eased her head onto his shoulder and stroked reassuring circles against her back.

“Do you need anything?” he asked.

“Just you,” she murmured, snuggling closer into the heat and comfort of his skin.

“You will always have me, darling,” he murmured, pressing his lips against her damp hair. “Death is the only thing that could ever tear us apart, and even that would fail. Somehow, some way, I would find you.” He lifted her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. Settling them both against his chest, he smiled. “It’s just you and me, Taylor. Nothing else matters.”

“
You make it sound so easy,” she whispered. “So true.”

“
It is. No matter where you go, I will follow. You are everything to me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, tilting her head to peer up at his face. She loved the deep
chasms that spread across his cheeks as he grinned. “I love you, those dimples, and those crazy curls way too much. The devil himself couldn’t drag me away.”

Sebastian responded with a soft chuckle. “That’s very good to hear.”
His smile slowly ebbed as silence fell between them. He stroked her fingers in an idle caress. Lifting them, he planted a kiss on each one before returning her hand to his chest. “We never did finish our conversation,” he mused.

Taylor blew out a deep breath as some of the tension returned. Fear coiled around her gut, making her stomach clench. She felt him turn his head and the weight of his stare fell across her as he studied her face. Drawing her bottom lip between her teeth, she nibbled the plush swell.

“Talk to me,” he urged. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Her vocal cords felt swollen and coated in rust. Burying her nose into his shoulder, she hid her face. “I’m scared,” she admitted.

“Of what?”