Scarlett Red: A Billionaire SEAL Story, Part 2 (In the Shadows) (19 page)

I smile, my respect for him growing. “And now you’re going to be an uncle yourself. I’m so happy for Mina. When did she get married?”

“Last year. I’m not sold on the guy she married, but I hope she remains happy or he and I will have a strong heart-to-heart.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “Marriages aren’t always smooth sailing. Obviously she loves the guy since she’s having his baby.”

Sebastian shrugs and wipes his mouth with the cloth napkin, done with his meal. “We’ll see.” Running his hand along his jaw, he looks at me intently. “Mina was your source for that article you wrote in college, wasn’t she?”

I nod. “She and her roommate were blackmailed into being drug dealers by their professor.”

His hand clenches in a tight fist. “What happened to the bastard?”

I sigh my frustration and turn my fork over a couple of times. “He committed suicide while in jail awaiting trial, but at least his whole operation got shut down in the process.”

“Thank you for protecting Mina’s name,” he says in a quiet tone.

I nod. “It all worked out in the best way it could’ve.” Finishing my last bite, I tilt my head. “I know you’re close with Calder and Mina, but are you with her older brothers?”

Sebastian exhales a harsh breath. “Damien and Gavin are more difficult to read than Mina.”

He said it like an annoyed oldest brother would. I wonder if he realizes that fact.

The young waiter returns as I finish my glass of wine. “Would you like another glass, Miss?”

“She’ll have a glass of water, Sam. Thank you.”

Once Sam fills my water glass and then leaves, I stare at Sebastian. “Actually, I wanted another glass of wine.”

He holds my gaze, not at all apologetic. “Alcohol dulls the senses. The last thing I want are your senses toned down tonight.” Rubbing his thumb across his bottom lip, his sensual words capture my full attention. “I prefer you
highly
sensitized, Miss Lone.”

His comment makes my insides jump. I’m damn sure another glass of wine wouldn’t muffle any sensations he lays on me. The man is like a blowtorch to my senses. I would pretty much have to be knocked out cold before I wouldn’t feel him burning through anything standing in his way, including alcohol flowing through my blood.

While I gnaw on my bottom lip, trying to decide if I’m still put out with him, the engine rumbles to life. As the boat slowly begins to turn back toward the shore, Sebastian asks, “Would you like some dessert?”

“I’d rather have a glass of wine,” I say in a dry tone.

He releases a dark laugh and stands. “I think I can come up with other ways to give you that euphoric feeling you seem to be craving.” Coming around to my side of the table, he lifts my hand and pulls me to my feet. “Dance with me.”

It’s easy to forget about wine, dessert, or the reason I might’ve wanted either the moment he steps into my personal space. As much as I don’t want to admit he’s right about that, I can’t deny the attraction between us.

I smile at the song pumping softly through the speakers. Even though it’s an older one that I heard when I was a teen, the song
I’ve Had The Time of My Life
feels so appropriate as Sebastian pulls me against his hard frame and begins to sway us to the music. It reminds me of summer homes and first sexual experiences. Memories I’ll always associate with him.

“Are you thinking about us right now, about that night we spent together?” he whispers in my ear as he slowly spins me around.

My breath catches and I look up at him. “How did you know?”

His hand slides to the base of my spine, pulling me even closer until my hips fully align with his. He smiles, that appealing dimple barely showing, but still there nonetheless. “It’s the song.”

I nod and rest my head against his shoulder, staring out at the ocean we’re leaving behind. “Some memories will last a lifetime.”

His hand holding mine tightens just a bit. Pressing a kiss to my hair, he says, “Some memories are so unforgettable, they’re worth building on. Look at me.”

When I lift my head and stare at him in the darkness, his deep voice vibrates against my chest, resonating all the way to my toes. “And there’s nothing I want more than to do that with you.”

S
ebastian hasn’t said a word since we danced on the boat. And other than using a guiding hand on my lower back before I settled into his car, he hasn’t touched me either. The moment we’re alone in Hawthorne’s main elevator, he turns to face me, but he doesn’t step close. Instead, he slides his hands in his pockets and skims his gaze over me in a slow, deliberate perusal.

It’s unnerving and intense, but I refuse to look away. I watch his attention linger on the pearl necklace he gave me before trailing to my cleavage. I exhale slowly when his attention moves up to my throat and jawline, then to my hair before returning to my eyes.

He’s so focused, nothing I say is going to bleed through, so I remain perfectly still, accepting his concentrated study.

When his steady regard lowers to my mouth, it’s hard not to lick my lips. Somehow I manage, but as the elevator pings for his floor, I can’t keep one side of my mouth from turning up in a half-smile.

“What are you thinking, Miss Lone?”

My smile broadens. “That ‘Miss Lone’ is a little formal at this point, don’t you think?”

The elevator door slides open, and as I start to walk out, he puts his hand on the open door, deliberately blocking my exit. “Anytime you’re ready to share…”

When I seek his gaze, he surprises me by lowering his hand to his side instead of pushing me for an answer. I take advantage of the reprieve and lead the way to his room.

As soon as we enter, Sebastian turns on the light by the door and steps farther into the darkness to slide his coat off. Now that we’re alone, thoughts of our conversation on the boat make my nerves coil tight in my stomach. Have we built our memories up to be more than it was? But then I remember the sauna, and my bones melt just thinking of how he makes me feel. My mind is so jumbled I stay in the glow of light by the door, busying myself by setting my purse on the table.

I jump when Sebastian’s hands settle on the table on either side of me, muscular arms and shirtless heat enveloping my shoulders and back. “You’re very quiet,” he husks in my ear.

I chuckle. “You didn’t say a word the entire car trip back or the elevator ride up, and you’re saying I’m quiet?”

Sliding my hair over one shoulder, he presses his mouth to my exposed throat in a slow, deliberate kiss. “Just because I didn’t speak doesn’t mean my thoughts weren’t loud and clear,” he says at the same time I feel a tug on the bow at my waist.

When I start to help him remove my belt, he quickly captures my hands and lowers them to my side, his voice a rough rasp. “Keep them here for now.”

Heart racing, I exhale to keep my breathing even and leave my hands where he put them as he slowly unwinds the belt from my waist.

“You have no idea the things I want to do to you,” he says just before he loosens the tie inside my dress holding the last bit of cloth against my chest.

“I can imagine,” I whisper.

Releasing a low, wicked laugh, he peels my dress completely off before pressing his bare chest against my back. “You can try.”

I shiver when he moves away, taking his warmth with him. Even though I’m still wearing underwear and heels, I feel completely naked.

My skin prickles when I hear the silky slide of my belt’s material moving against itself. “I’ve had three years to think of all the things I didn’t get to do with you,” he continues before his lips barely brush against my ear. “Give me your hands.”

Pulse thrumming, I raise them up and then bend my elbows, crossing my wrists behind my head.

He kisses my wrist, his voice husky and amused. “Behind your back. Right above those sweet dimples I can’t wait to taste.”

My breathing jacks and I close my eyes tight, trying not to panic.
You can do this. You can do this. He’s not going to hurt you. He’d never hurt you. You know this, damnit. You know he won’t.

“T,” he says, his tone turning commanding.

I take a calming breath and lower my hands behind my back.

The silk belt touches my wrists and I breathe through my nose in forced gusts, but when he moves it higher to just past my elbows, my breathing stops completely.

“Then again, I’ve had three more years to come up with new ways to make you mine all over again,” he says as he pulls the belt and ties it so my arms are hitched back and my breasts are thrust forward.

I hear his words and as much as I want to focus only on his voice—on him and how he makes me feel—my mind is stepping back in time, spiraling. No matter what I tell myself, I can’t stop the mental free fall that jolts my breathing to an erratic, frantic pace.

“Three years. Can you feel it?” Sebastian says just before he steps close and clasps my hand. The second he wraps my fingers around his erection, it doesn’t matter that he’s still wearing pants. His hand folding mine around his hard cock sets me off. I can’t control the tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow,” I babble the word over and over.

“Shit!” Sebastian quickly follows that up by a long stream of other colorful curses as he yanks the binding down past my hands. The second my arms are freed, I’m lifted in his arms so fast I almost wonder if it was all a horrible dream.

Cradling me to his chest, he walks over to his bed and sits down with me in his lap, whispering in my hair. “I’m so sorry.”

When I nod as the tears streak down my face, he slides my shoes off and lays us both down. Pulling the covers over us, he won’t let me slide away. He hooks a strong arm around my belly and hauls me against his hard chest at the same time he slides a muscular leg between mine. Once he completely folds his massive body around me, his voice is low and concerned in my ear. “A safe word should never have to be used between us. Fucking ever, T.”

“It’s Talia,” I manage to get out. “Talia Murphy.” I want to hear him say my real name just once. I’ve dreamed about it so long. Only, in my perfect dream world, this wasn’t how I pictured finally telling him.

He stills behind me for a second, then exhales and presses a tender kiss to my temple, his voice hoarse. “Whatever it is, Talia, you’re not leaving this bed until you tell me.”

I don’t know how long I lay there silently letting the tears fall. His strong arms around me feel so safe and comforting. I think I’m finally crying for the young girl who couldn’t let herself show any weakness back then.

Once my eyes dry up, Sebastian unfolds my clenched hand. Sliding his fingers between mine, his warm breath rushes across my neck. “If you have triggers, I need to know. It’s the only way we’ll be able to work through them.”

I take a deep breath and fold our hands to my chest. Closing my eyes, I let myself go back to that day so he can understand.

I’m so focused on my math homework that I don’t hear Hayes step through the door connecting our apartments until his hot breath rushes across my neck.

“What are you working on, Talia?”

Amelia’s favorite TV show is on in the living room, completely enthralling her. That’s why I’m in here. I can’t think with the TV blaring, and I have a major test coming up in two days. I don’t have time for Hayes’ creeper crap. And why did Walt leave the freaking door unlocked again?