Reinvention of Chastity (14 page)

Eve Vaughn

you don’t care about your own reputation, you should think about Chastity’s.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “You’re right. This is none of your business.” He left Jeremy standing in the hallway. He knew his friend meant well, but making what was going on between him and Chastity seem sordid bugged the shit out of Sebastian.

He collected Chastity and led her to his car, under the watchful eyes of Pearl. He couldn’t stand that woman. How anyone dealt with her was beyond him.

Chastity huddled close to the window, her head resting against the glass. “It’s freezing in here,” she whispered.

“Freezing? I don’t have the air conditioner on.” He reached over to touch her skin. She was still hot. Sebastian frowned. Chastity definitely needed to get some rest. “Do you have a lot of liquids at your house?

You’re going to need them, so you don’t dehydrate.”

“I haven’t gone grocery shopping in a couple weeks. I meant to yesterday, but didn’t feel up to it.”

“That’s it. We’re going to my place.”

She raised her head. “No, just take me home.”

“Try to get some sleep.”

“Sebastian, I’m serious. I’d like to go home to my own bed. Besides, I don’t think I filled the cat dish for Monty and Fluffy this morning. They’ll get hungry.”

“I’m not going to take you home to an empty house and your cats don’t count. Stop arguing and rest.”

“But—”

“Chastity, I’m not going to continue this conversation. We’re going to my house and that’s that.”

She gave him a resentful glare before leaning her head against the window again. “You always get what you want, don’t you?”

“No. I don’t actually.”

She snorted with obvious disbelief, but didn’t say anything else.

Soon, her breathing became even as he drove to his Northeast Philly 100

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home. Not wanting to wake her when he pulled into his driveway, Sebastian carefully opened her door and lifted her out of the car.

His body tightened with awareness, the flowery scent of Chastity’s perfume greeting his nostrils. It took some maneuvering for him to unlock his door and disarm the security system all while holding Chastity in his arms. To her credit, she didn’t stir. When he laid her on the bed, his hands trembled, because he knew he’d need to undress her.

Rubbing his cock to ease the tormenting ache, he tried to get a hold of himself. There would be other times when he’d partake in her delectably lush body, but for now he needed to take care of her.

The last time he’d taken care of someone like this was when he still lived at home. His little sister, who’d been two at the time, had chicken pox, and his mother worked nights.

Forcing himself to keep his mind on the task at hand, he undressed her until she wore only panties. Sebastian tried not to let his gaze linger overly long on her large breasts that he enjoyed suckling while he fucked her. Unable to help himself, he gently ran his fingertip over one soft nipple, which instantly hardened.

Chastity moaned. He jerked his hand back, feeling like a pervert for touching her that way when she was too sick to do anything about it. He quickly tucked her underneath the covers. Just then, her eyes flickered open. “Sebastian,” she whispered.

Sitting down next to her, he took her hand. “Yes, Chastity?”

“So cold.”

“I know. Just snuggle under the blanket and get some rest. When you wake up, maybe you can try a little chicken broth.”

“Not hungry.”

“You’re probably not hungry now, but maybe you will be when you wake up. How about trying to get some sleep?” He stroked her cheek, offering comfort the best way he knew how.

Her eyelids slowly drooped until she fell into a deep slumber. As he sat there watching her sleep, his heart thundered within his chest. The need to take care of her and just to be near her was stronger than he’d felt with anyone. When did this become more than just a wild affair to him? When did he start caring? How had she crept into his heart?

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Was it when she revealed just how desirable she could be, or had it been before that, and he hadn’t realized it? Whenever it was didn’t matter. What did was finding out the extent of his feelings, and more importantly, Chastity’s. Was this love? If he told her what was on his mind, would that push her away? Before her transformation, he would have been certain of her feelings for him, but sometimes she acted as though she didn’t like him.

Chastity had him so confused. Sebastian didn’t know how much longer his sanity would remain intact if things continued on as they were.

* * *

Chastity slowly opened her eyes with her head pounding, throat raw, and the need to throw up. A warm swish of fur brushed against the side of her face, and she turned her head to see Fluffy resting by her side. It had all been a dream, yet it seemed so real.

Sebastian hadn’t brought her to his house after all. But how did she get home? Her last coherent thought was of being at work, listening to Pearl harp on the fact that she’d brought germs into the office. Chastity groaned, trying to move her body.

“Ah, so you’re finally awake. How are you feeling?” The smooth sound of Sebastian’s voice filled the room. What was he doing in her bedroom?

The bed depressed under his weight.

“What are you doing here?” she croaked, flinching when he placed a palm on her forehead.

“I live here.”

Chastity licked painfully dry lips, focusing on her surroundings more clearly. What the hell? This wasn’t her bed, nor was it her room. But what was Fluffy doing here? “I don’t understand.”

“You’re sick, so I brought you home with me. While you’ve been sleeping, I went to your place and got some of your stuff. I even brought the wretched little fleabags you were so worried about.”

“You brought Fluffy and Monty?” She knew he didn’t care for her cats, so to hear that he’d done this for her was touching.

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“Yes.”

“But you hate them.”

“And you love them. I didn’t want to cause you unnecessary worry.

And for my troubles, that damned Monty scratched me again.”

Chastity would have laughed if she didn’t ache. “It was nice of you to bring them here, but I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t have gone to work in your current condition. And you’d have more in your refrigerator than a carton of Chinese food, milk and something in a container that’s either spinach or the victim of an unfortunate experiment. Yeah, I’ve seen how well you take care of yourself.”

“Why are you doing this, Sebastian?”

He gave her a long blank stare, but didn’t answer. Instead, he switched the subject. “You’re still really hot. Does your head hurt?”

Chastity wanted him to answer her question but was just too weak to pursue the topic. Maybe later. “Yes, it aches. I ache all over.”

“I’ll take you to the doctor in the morning to see if you can get some antibiotics. Are you up to eating a little something? I stopped by the grocery store and got a few things for you.”

Just the thought of food made her stomach flip. “Ugh. No thanks. I’m just really tired. Maybe if I got a couple of aspirin for my head, I’ll be fine.

I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Lady, you have no idea what a bother you’ve been, but I’ve recently learned there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.”

If she didn’t feel so miserable, Chastity would have asked him what he meant by that. She closed her eyes against the intensity of his green gaze.

“I’ll get you those aspirins,” he said softly, almost sounding disappointed. But why? And how in the world would she be able to walk away from him now, when he was showing yet another side of himself that was actually caring and sweet?

Sebastian was only gone for a short period of time before he returned with some tablets and a cup. “Come on, sit up a little.” He helped her up.

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When the covers shifted Chastity realized she was naked except for her underwear. “Did…did you undress me?”

“Your cats most certainly didn’t. Stop trying to play the vestal virgin. I know your body intimately.”

He put one pill against her lips before she could reply. She found it difficult to swallow with a sore throat. “Here, take a sip of this. It’s ginger ale and should soothe your stomach a bit.”

Once the arduous task of taking the pills, which felt like razors going down her throat, was done, Sebastian lowered her back down on the bed gently. She felt exhausted.

“Would you rather wear a nightshirt?” he asked.

“I’m dizzy enough from sitting up the first time. Besides, I think if I move again, I’m going to hurl.”

“You poor baby,” he murmured, sliding beside her, his arm resting lightly over her waist.

“Sebastian, what are you doing?” She tried to squirm away, risking nausea. He held her firm.

“Shh, just relax, and go to sleep.”

But how can I, when you’re holding me like this? And despite the fact
that I’m sick, you’re wreaking havoc on all my senses?
As tired as Chastity was, she just wouldn’t allow herself to relax. “Sebastian?”

“Hmm?”

“I appreciate you doing this for me, but…”

“But?”

“What about your workload? You have a life of your own to worry about, without me slowing you down.”

“And what if I want to be slowed down?”

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “You almost sound like you mean it.”

“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.”

“You’ll get sick.”

“I’m never sick.”

A weak chuckle erupted from Chastity’s throat. “Famous last words.”

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“It’s true. I think I got all the sickness out of my system during my childhood. When I was a baby, my parents didn’t think I’d make it. My immune system wasn’t very strong, and I was constantly getting colds, ear infections and any floating virus there was. Name it and I had it.”

“You must have worried your mother to death.”

“Probably, but I think I broke her in for my brother and sister. They didn’t give her half as many gray hairs.”

“So, just like that you stopped getting sick?”

“I think it was one of those freak things. When I was ten, I had the measles and I can honestly say that’s probably the last time I’ve been sick. I haven’t had so much as a cold.”

“How is that possible?” she asked disbelievingly.

“Fast living?”

Chastity giggled, then winced. “Stop it. I’m not feeling up to laughing.”

“So, go to sleep.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re holding me too tight,” she lied. The truth was, he wasn’t holding her tight enough, but she’d be damned if she admitted it.

Chastity was finding it exceedingly difficult to not care about him.

Sebastian released her, but he remained by her side. “I’m sorry. I just like holding you.”

This was just too much. “Why, Sebastian?”

“Why what?”

“Why are you being so nice? I would have thought that by now you’d be tired of me. What’s the record for you, anyway?”

He sat up abruptly, looking down at her with stormy eyes. “Where is this coming from?”

“It’s coming from a place called common sense. You have to admit that you don’t have the best track record with women.”

“And how would you know about my love life?”

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“I’ve seen the women come to the office and none of them lasted very long.”

“None of those women were you.”

She gasped. “Sebastian?”

“Forget I said that. You need the rest.”

“Yes, I think I am rather tired,” she said, wanting to change the subject as fast as he apparently did. Sebastian’s heat of the moment confession was just the ammunition she needed to finally get her revenge, yet it gave her no joy.

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For the next four days, Sebastian waited on Chastity hand and foot, taking her to the doctor, picking up her prescriptions and forcing her to eat a little something. He also made sure she had clean linens every day.

He even took good care of her cats.

Sebastian brought his work home so she wouldn’t be alone. On Friday morning, Chastity felt refreshed except for a cough she couldn’t quite shake. Otherwise, she was as good as new. She rolled over, seeking Sebastian’s warmth. He wasn’t there. Feeling bereft, she sat up. Even though she’d been sick, he’d slept with her every night, cradling her against his body. She’d found it comforting.

“Sebastian?” No answer.

She slid out of bed and nearly tripped over Monty. He growled at her before racing off. Chastity made her way downstairs. It was a large house for one man, but tastefully decorated. Yesterday was the first day he’d allowed her out of bed and he’d showed her around. The funny thing was, she could see herself in this place, permanently.

That’s when Chastity knew she’d have to go home, and fast. If she stayed here any longer, she’d never want to leave. The smell of bacon and fresh coffee permeated the air and led to the kitchen. She found Sebastian in front of the stove, wearing an apron and a pair of snug jeans that hugged his tight ass.

A pool of moisture formed in her panties.
Get a hold of yourself, girl
.

She should have been at the point where the sight of him didn’t make her pulse race the way it did.

“Good morning, Chastity,” he greeted, without turning around. He’d obviously spotted her in the mirror above the stove.

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“Good morning,” she said, tentatively stepping into the kitchen and taking a seat.

“I’m glad you’re up. You’re just in time for breakfast. How do you like your eggs?”

“I don’t really have much of an appetite right now.”

“But you have to eat something. You haven’t eaten a lot all week, and if you want your strength back, you need to get something substantial in your belly.”

She knew better than to argue with him. “Fine. If I have to eat, how about a slice of toast and some coffee?”