Scarlett Red: A Billionaire SEAL Story, Part 2 (In the Shadows) (27 page)

“There’s so much about you I don’t know,” I say, trying to get him to open up more.

“All I can do is stare and imagine your tasty flavor and how good it feels to thrust my tongue deep inside, making you wetter. And how much I enjoy it when your juices are sliding down my throat, all sweet and musky, ripe with want. For
me
,” he finishes on a desperate growl. When his eyes lock with mine, the look of unadulterated hunger in them is my undoing.

“You win—” I start to say, but Sebastian’s mouth is already on me, his thumbs spreading me wide, his tongue thrusting, then lapping greedily. Swallowing, he goes in deeper, taking me. All of me. I’m so primed he doesn’t even have to slide a finger in my channel. The second his hot mouth lands on my clit, my orgasm roars through my whole body in powerful, near painful contractions. The experience is so surreal I see colorful flashes of light behind my tightly closed eyes. Every color of the rainbow, damn his talented mouth. I grip the bindings holding me in place and push hard against his mouth, demanding more and loving every second of what he masterfully gives.

When I stop moving and lay there panting through the explosive experience, Sebastian moves up and unties my wrists. Sliding my mask off, he clasps my waist and rolls onto his back, tugging me with him. He presses his lips to my jaw, then pulls me fully on top of him, his voice hoarse with need. “Fuck me, Talia.”

We both moan in unison as I slide down his erection. Sebastian’s hands grip my hips tight. I can tell he wants to direct me, so I lean forward and press my breasts to his chest. “Show me how you like it.”

His gaze flares with heat as I sit back and let him fill me up, taking me fully. “God, you feel so damn good. Just move, sweetheart.” As I rock my hips, then gyrate them in a circle, Sebastian’s neck muscles strain, his hands locking on my hips. “Fuck! Everything you do feels amazing.”

When he surges upward, I gasp at how deep he goes, but then I move to repeat the pleasurable motion as my channel starts to tighten. “Everything
we
do feels amazing,” I breathe out just as another orgasm takes over my body.

Sebastian pistons into me hard and deep twice more, then roars his pleasure as his orgasm washes over him.

I collapse onto his chest and rub my nose along his skin, soaking in his wonderful smell. I’ll never get enough of it.

Sebastian rolls us onto our sides, his hand gripping my hip to keep our bodies connected. His breathing still heavy, he runs his nose up my throat, satisfaction in his tone. “I’m fine staying like this all night.”

When our breathing settles, he rubs his thumb along my cheekbone. “Tell me about that night I drove you home. Were you running away because of Hayes?”

I start to turn away, but he cups my head and holds me in place. “Tell me.”

I slowly exhale a calming breath, my heart thudding. “That’s the night Amelia died.”

His hold on me tightens. “What happened?”

I keep my gaze on his, because I know if I close my eyes I’ll see the whole scene in my head all over again. Just like I have hundreds of times before. “Walt killed her.” At the look of shock on his face, I continue, “He didn’t mean to kill Amelia, but he could’ve prevented it. That sweet little girl meant everything to me.”

“How did he
accidently
kill his own child?” he asks in disbelief.

I can’t say any more. I just…can’t. I shake my head and a tear escapes.

Sighing, he rubs the moisture off the bridge of my nose. “No more talk about the past tonight.”

I nod and press my face into his chest as he slides his fingers into my hair.

When I hear his breathing even out after a few minutes, I remember how little sleep we’d gotten the night before. Pushing back a little, I lay there, fighting sleep as I stare at his long black lashes resting against his gorgeous face. I can’t believe how, even something as simple as that about him, draws me in. He looks so approachable while he’s sleeping.

Why is it that the only time you ever try to open up to me is when we’re in bed, Sebastian? And even then, you only share so much, choosing to mostly remain in the shadows. I know why I hold back, but what’s your story? Once again, I’ve been shadow fucked. But damn, you sure are excellent at it.

I reach over and touch his jaw, studying his appealing features, memorizing them.
I respect and appreciate so much about you, but most of all your blunt honesty, even when it hurts. I wish things between us were as simple and easy as snuggling in bed all night, but knowing that one day you’ll just be gone isn’t something I’ll be able to handle.

I
roll over and blindly slide my hand to capture Talia, intending to pull her into my sleep-warmed embrace, but my fingers meet cool sheets. Jerking fully awake, I lift my head and call out toward the bathroom. “Talia?”

When she doesn’t answer, I jump out of bed and poke my head in the door. Empty. That’s when I notice her clothes and purse are gone too. “What the fuck?” Jamming a hand through my hair, I dial her room, but she doesn’t answer.

Frustration mounts as I step into my clothes, but then I finally notice the note she left for me on the desk.

I can’t thank you enough for having my back these past few days. I wouldn’t be here without you. I appreciate everything you’ve done, from helping me face past issues to building some new memories to last beyond a lifetime. And now you’re off the hook. I took the early ferry back so you could sleep in. Take care of yourself, Mister Black.

Always fondly,

Scarlett Red

Crumpling the paper into a tight ball, I toss it across the room, grating out, “Why the hell did she leave?” She said she didn’t have to be back until late tonight. We could’ve had the whole day together. What did I say or do that upset her? I dig my fingers into my scalp and pace, trying to think back. I could tell she didn’t want to talk any more about her past, so I didn’t push her last night. The only time she appeared upset with me and walked away was when I talked about the watch. But why?

One person might have a clue. I stop pacing and open up my laptop. Clicking to open the video conferencing software, I dial Mina’s email.

“So this is what you look like when not in a suit or uniform,” Mina teases as soon as her face pops up on the screen. “I kind of like the scruffy you.”

Scrubbing my hand against my overnight beard, I stare at the gold floating heart on her necklace. “I knew I’d seen it before.”

Her brow furrows and she pushes a hank of blonde hair behind her ear. “Seen what?”

I nod toward her. “The heart on the necklace you’re wearing. Talia gave it to you, didn’t she?”

My sister’s brown eyes widen. “She told you her name?”

“You knew it all along?” I ask, scowling.

Mina touches the heart. “We made promises to each other that night, Sebastian. The heart was supposed to be given to her sister who died. She said my coloring reminded her of Amelia and that it was nice to see what it would’ve looked like on her had she grown up. Talia made me promise not to reveal her name and in return she’d keep my name out of the article she wrote.” Pausing, she smiles. “Did you get the package I sent? Talia brought the box by for you the next morning.”

The fact that Talia didn’t show at the coffee shop but went by the house really pisses me off. I grind my back teeth and try to stay focused. “It would’ve been better if I’d gotten it before three years had passed, Mina.”

Mina’s face turns red. “I’m sorry, Seb. You know how messy my room can get. I put the box away so it wouldn’t get thrown in the trash by accident. Then I completely forgot about it until I had to clean my room out for Mom.” She doesn’t miss a beat before asking excitedly, “Well, what was in the box?”

“You don’t know?”

She shakes her head. “‘It’s a rainbow’ is all Talia said about it when I asked.”

I hold up my wrist. “It’s the watch I lost when I was seventeen. The one your mom accused me of hocking.”

Mina winces. “Mom can be such a bitch when it comes to you. How did Talia happen to have your watch?”

I shake my head. “It’s a long story. Is that all Talia said when she gave you the box?”

Mina nods, her blonde brows pulling together. “Was there a note or anything inside?”

I nod and lift the note from the desk. “Yeah.”

“Well?” Mina spins her hand in a fast circle. “What did the note say?”

I’ll never forget Isabel’s surprised look when my father yelled at me about losing the watch. It was as if she didn’t know he’d bought it, but she sure jumped on the fact I’d lost something so expensive. I’ll bet she didn’t know he’d had it engraved on the back either. If I show this to Mina, she’ll give her mom hell. Sure wish I could be there to see Isabel’s face. I turn the note around so Mina can read it herself.

“Hold it steady,” Mina orders before she reads it out loud.

I think you might’ve forgotten what rainbows look like, so it’s my turn to show you exactly where to look. I have a feeling you never saw the inscription on the back of this. Read it and know that he loves you. He’s proud of you. Remember, family always forgives.

Take care, Blackie.

Red

When I start to set the note down, Mina fusses. “I’m not done reading it. Put that back up!”

I snort and drop the paper. “That’s it. That’s all the note said.”

Mina snaps her fingers. “Sebastian Quinn Blake, put that note back up so I can read it. There was a P.S. I want to see the rest of what she wrote.”

Shaking my head, I lift the letter and read exactly what she just read to me. “That’s it. The only P.S. going on is your pregnancy syndrome.”

Mina rolls her eyes. “If you don’t put that note back up right now, I’m going to crawl through this screen and choke you.”

“Those hormones are really kicking in, aren’t they?” I chuckle and hold the letter up for Mina once more.

P.S. You have no idea how much having this meant to me. Once I saw the message on the back, I couldn’t sell it, but knowing the watch was there, the comfort and security it provided was all I needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Thank you for the rainbow.

I rip the letter back around and stare at the page, then crumple the paper in my hand, muttering, “Fucking hell!” No wonder Talia got so upset. I told her that giving the watch to her was a reckless mistake, one I couldn’t take back. And yet that watch had meant
everything
to her.

“You gave it to her that night, didn’t you, Seb?” Mina asks. “You gave it away thinking that she might need it. That’s exactly something you would do.”

When I nod and exhale a harsh breath, my sister’s blonde eyebrows pull together and she quietly asks, “You looked right at the paper and were adamant nothing else was there. Did you not want to acknowledge that last part for some reason?”

I un-crumple the note and stare at it as I jam my hands into my hair.
How can I make this right with Talia?
“I just can’t read it.”

“Don’t tell me you’re one of those anal-retentive guys who only believes in black ink,” Mina’s says, her tone turning snippy. “So she wrote that last part in green. Big deal. It’s the message that counts.”

Grabbing a fistful of my hair, my gaze snaps to hers, frustration and anger exploding inside me. “No, I literally can’t fucking read it, Mina!”