Inferno

Chapter 6

  Red and blue strobes flickered through the night, bouncing off the reflective glass storefronts lining the street. They mingled with the slow swirl of red, white, and orange cast by the ambulances and fire trucks. Still stunned, people shuffled from one station to the other, their tear-streaked faces dazed and blank. Most of the restaurant’s patrons had escaped with a few minor cuts and scratches, but the horror of what happened would last a lifetime. Keeping one arm draped around Taylor’s shoulders, Sebastian finished telling the police what he knew. The frustration stamping their faces mirrored his own. Both sides knew the trivial amount of information they had to go on was as good as it was going to get. At least for now.     A glint of metal caught his eye and he tensed. A hoard of new arrivals were descending on the scene, flashing badges and false smiles along the way. Anxiety crept into his spine, making the space between his shoulders ache. It hadn’t taken the suits long to muscle their way in.   The little bit he did know about Marx and Blue crashed to the forefront of his mind. Rage forced his hands to clench into tight fists. He needed to get out of here before the accusations started to fly. Turning, he winced at the tightness of the bandages circling his forearms and searched for Josh and Monique among the fray. His partner’s expression was drawn and haggard as he finished giving his side of the story to a set of officers a good twenty feet away. Monique clung to the support of his arm while doing her best to keep Aiden secured against her side.   Rubbing circles against the outside of Taylor’s arm, he pulled her closer and kissed the softness of her temple. “Let me check on Josh and Monique and we’ll head home, okay?”   “Okay. ”   He frowned. Dodging bullets wasn’t exactly an everyday occurrence in his line of work, but it was nothing new. Taylor was different. She’d only been through something like this once before, and the nightmare of that experience had to be fresh in her mind. Despite her efforts to keep it together, she was hanging on by a thread. Shivers continually wracked her slender body and the muscles trembling beneath his hand were unbearably tight. The paramedics had said she was okay, but he wasn’t so sure. He needed to get her home, fed, and in bed. The sooner, the better.   “Sebastian?”   He whirled at the unfamiliar voice. His eyes narrowed upon realizing the face he confronted was not as unknown. Flipping through the pages of his memory, he searched to place the grey hair, thick build, and classically handsome features standing before him.   “Jack Gill, FBI,” the man explained, offering his hand. He flushed a little when Sebastian merely stared back at him, refusing to accept the shake. “We’ve met before, but I’m afraid it was several years back and time hasn’t exactly been kind,” he explained.   Then it clicked. Forcing a smile, he gripped the man’s hand. “Jack,” Sebastian repeated. “Right. You were the one who recruited me. ”   The other man laughed with a dry shake of his head. “I tried. Tried my damnedest, too, but I still lost your talents to someone else. Sad to admit, but that defeat still stings. ”   Sebastian gave a dry snort in response. “At this point, I’m almost inclined to agree. ”   “Listen, I know you already gave your side of the story to the locals, but I’d really appreciate it if you could take a minute or two to fill me in as well. ”   “There’s not much to tell,” Sebastian admitted. “A dark, late model van opened fire and took off. I didn’t catch the plates. ”   “Do you think this was gang related?”   Sebastian cast the upscale establishment a skeptical look before pinning the agent with one that was equally as pointed. “What do you think?”   “Yeah. I didn’t think so either. ” Jack shifted his weight, his face donning a wince of discomfort. “They’re saying most of the gunfire was aimed toward the back corner where you and your partner were seated. This may be another absurd question, but can you think of any enemies you might have? Anyone who would want you dead?”   Sebastian’s cheeks hollowed. Sucking in a deep breath, he held it, tipped his head, and pinned the man with a cold stare. “Take your pick,” he stated. “I can rattle off a list of a hundred people on any given day, including your agency as of late. ”   “Mine?”   Sebastian forced a pitiless smile. “Do yourself a favor, and don’t play coy, Jack. It doesn’t suit you. ”   The agent gave a stiff nod. “So you know. ”   “I know enough. Let me give you a heads up. You are a nice guy. I like you, but your agency is treading a very fine line. Jeopardizing my family is a problem you don’t want to cause. ”    The man’s brown eyes flickered in Taylor’s direction and flooded with empathy. “I’m afraid it’s a bit more complicated than that. Innocent people are already starting to get hurt, Sebastian. How far does this really need to go?”   He gave a humorless laugh and spread his hands. “Things are only as complicated as you make them. I’ll get my answers soon. If I were you, I would hit my knees and pray none of this lands in your lap. ”   “What the hell does that mean?”   Stepping closer, he bore a terse smile. “You’re a smart man, Jack. You figure it out. ”   “I didn’t do this, Sebastian. I want you on our side. I’ve wanted that all along though, I admit, not everyone is feeling so nostalgic or kind. ”   “I suggest you tell your friends to consider who is holding the cards here before they decide how hard they really want to push. ”    “Lives are at stake, Sebastian. Talk to me. Give me some sort of sign here, some indication you’re the man I thought you to be. ”   A hulking shadow loomed in the distance and Sebastian’s line of vision shifted to meet Marx’s discerning eye. Suspicion loomed in those brooding depths along with a litany of unspoken accusations. Fear coiled and slithered along his spine, inching like a snake across a vine. Taking a step back, he pulled Taylor closer against his side.   “I am aware of exactly how much is at stake here, Agent Gill. Call your team off and don’t come near me or my family again,” he warned in a low growl.   Taylor stiffened against him the second she spotted Marx. Tension snapped though the muscles beneath his fingers and the tremors wracking her stress-adled body intensified. At least that much was good. As shocked and scared as she was, her senses were still sharp and working on overdrive. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. It wasn’t good. Not for her, and not for the baby. Too much more of this and he was going to lose them both beneath the strain. Sighing, he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.   “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered, steering her away from Gill and Marx alike. “You shouldn’t have to hear any of this. Let’s just go home. ”   “BAAS!”   He froze upon hearing the commander’s sharp bark. Taylor stilled beside him as well, her weary body all but slumping in defeat.   “Please, no,” she pleaded beneath her breath. “No more. Please no more tonight. I can’t. I just can’t, Seb. I can’t. ”   “Shhh, baby. Stop. It’s okay,” he soothed, pulling her into his arms.   She shook her head, despite his efforts to still it. “It’s not, Sebastian. It’s not okay. You could have died. Monique…Aiden…” Her teeth clattered. “Blood…there was so much blood…”   He held her tighter as panic started to set in. “Taylor, listen to me. You have to pull yourself together. Stay strong for me, sweetheart. I know you can. You can fall apart when we get home. I promise. Just not now. Please not now. ”   He hated himself for it. He shouldn’t ask those things of her when she needed to be comforted and held, but it was the only choice he had. Marx was already barreling his way through the crowd, his broad face dark and contorted with anger.   “What the hell happened here?” the director snapped.     Rounding on them both, he jostled past Taylor, the edge of his hefty shoulder catching hers and knocking her off balance. She stumbled in her efforts to veer out of the way. Wincing, Sebastian reached for her elbow and steadied her.   “I’m sure you had surveillance on us. You tell me,” he retorted.   Marx exhaled sharply through his nose. “I know as much as you do at this point which, apparently, isn’t much. ”   “Maybe that’s why someone popped off a couple of rounds at me. Perhaps they thought my intelligence was lacking as well,” Sebastian snapped. “Either way it was a bad call to make. Now if you’ll excuse me, I would appreciate it if this could wait until tomorrow. I’ve had a shit night, I’m hungry, and I want to go home. ”   Marx’s eyes narrowed.
Not getting the response he wanted, he shook his head with a reproachful laugh. “Stop sulking, Sebastian. I will see that you are fed and properly cared for. Agent Lane will take your sister and your…lover home. You and your partner come with me. ”   “Like hell he will,” Sebastian bit back. “If you want me to come in, fine, but no one is taking Taylor anywhere but me. ”   Deep lines settled across the commander’s forehead. Folding his powerful arms, he arched a heavy brow. “You seem to have forgotten one thing. I’m in the one in charge here, Sebastian. Not you. Send the girl home or she will ride to headquarters with me. Those are the only choices you’re going to get. I suggest you pick fast. ”   There were no words for the resentment fulminating in his chest. Thick, black, and smothering, it was too much. It spread like caustic acid, eroding his insides and sanity. His hand twitched and he reached for the wide grip of his gun.   “Seb. ”    Taylor’s fingers curled around his wrist, bringing him up short. He peered down at her, taken aback by the mixture of empathy and pleading mirrored in her eyes.   “It’s okay,” she said softly. “I’ll be okay. ”   “Smart girl,” Marx stated. “You would do well to listen to her. ”   His upper lip curled around a sneer. Stalking forward, Sebastian planted his body between them and aimed a finger at the big man’s chest. “If you hurt her—if they so much as breathe on her, I swear to God, I will burn you and your entire fucking empire to the ground. There will be nothing left but ashes. Do you understand me?”   “Indeed,” Marx said, flashing an uncharacteristically wide smile. “I do. ”       ~*~*~*~           Taylor stared out the window, seeking distraction and distance from the man seated beside her. Jackson glanced her way, but said nothing. He did, however, switch the temperature to a low heat that helped to ease the biting chill that had settled into her bones. The ride had been quiet and uncomfortable, even with Monique and Aiden in the backseat. Now that they were gone, it was damn near excruciating. Clenching her fists, she bit the inside of her cheeks and tried to focus. Twenty more minutes and she would be home. A long, hot soak and something to eat sounded like heaven.   “I’m not going to hurt you, you know,” the young man said, glancing at her again out of the corner of his eye.   She shifted in her seat, her expression questioning. “Were you supposed to?”   “No,” he admitted with a quiet laugh. “But even if I was, I doubt I could. I respect Agent Baas too much to do anything to jeopardize my position. Not to mention the fact that I have no desire whatsoever to be on that man’s bad side. ”   “Understandable. ” She hesitated. “What about Marx?”   “What about him?” The young man asked, aiming another peek her way.   Taylor shrugged. “You said you have a lot of respect for Sebastian. What about Marx?” she asked.   His reluctant sigh drifted between them. He flexed his fingers around the steering wheel as he kept his gaze trained straight ahead.   “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. “I don’t know the man that well. Most of my involvement has been limited to Sebastian and his partner so far. I’ll be perfectly honest, though. I’d prefer to keep it that way. ”   She offered a doleful nod. “I can’t blame you there. ”   He steered the car to the left and shrugged the comment off. “Since we’re playing twenty questions here, let me ask you something. How did you and Agent Baas meet?”   “I sort of stumbled across him and Josh one day in the woods. I’d wandered too far playing paintball with my cousin and somehow ended up on private property. I also ended up running right into one of their operations. When I heard gunshots, I thought Bryce might have been hit by a hunter or something. I was just trying to check on him, but Josh was convinced I was a threat that needed put down. Sebastian wasn’t so sure. He ended up saving my life that day. ”   “Did he?” Jackson asked, aiming a curious look her way.   Some of the easiness and humor faded between them as she gave his question weight. Sinking lower in her seat, she turned her attention back to the darkened scenery as it rolled by. “I like to think so,” she admitted quietly, “but on nights like this, it’s hard to be sure. ”   “Doesn’t seem like any of it would be easy if you ask me,” he muttered.   Sitting up straight, she cocked her head. “What does that mean?” she asked, unable to keep her voice from taking on a defensive edge.   His rich caramel skin darkened in the shadowy confines of the car. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It’s just that Sebastian is…well…Sebastian. ”   Her eyebrows gathered above her tense frown. “You don’t know him, okay? You don’t know anything about him. All you know is the side he lets you see. You have no idea what his life is like or the choices he’s had to make to protect all of us, including you. ”   “Alright, alright!” Jackson exclaimed. “Calm down and relax. ”   “It’s not alright,” Taylor snapped. “He could have died tonight. We all could have, and he got hurt using his body to protect me. He shouldn’t have to make split-second decisions like that. No one should, but you guys all run around acting like people’s lives mean nothing. ”   Jackson leveled her with a look of disbelief. “Okay. I get it, alright?”   “No you don’t and I’ve had enough. Just pull the car over. ”   “What?”   “You heard me! Pull the car over and let me out. I’ll walk the rest of the way. ”   “Like hell you will!” Jackson argued.   Taylor jerked her arm away as he double-checked the locks. Her chin jutted and her glare became narrowed and accusing.   “Look. I’m sorry, but there is no way in hell I am doing anything but dropping you off at your door and making sure you enter that house safe and in one piece. You might not understand this, but it is my ass on the line. He risked his life to save you and if you aren’t there waiting for him when he gets there, I have no doubts whatsoever that Sebastian will end mine. Sorry, lady, but screw that. ”   Taylor bit back a hostile retort and stared out the side window when the young man beside her tromped on the gas. She considered telling him speeding with her in the car wouldn’t earn him any favors either, but decided to let it go. The poor guy was trying. As much as she hated to admit it, Jackson was right. Sebastian would kill him if he let her out of that car, and if she was stupid enough to get out and walk, there was no telling what he might do. One thing was certain. Her protective lover would be madder than a pissed off hornet doused in gasoline, and she’d have no one but herself to blame.     She shivered. Her nerves were still rattled and her body wound excruciatingly tight. She was tired and hungry and, more than anything, she just wanted the comfort of a man who wasn’t there.     Jackson maneuvered the car onto her street a few minutes later, and the familiar uphill slope leading home loomed in the distance. The soft, glowing solar lights and stately brick structure had never looked more beautiful and inviting. Unhooking her seatbelt, she turned to Sebastian’s teammate with an apologetic wince.   “I’m sorry,” she offered. “I don’t know what my problem is. You were just trying to make small talk and follow your orders. You didn’t deserve that kind of backlash. ”   “It’s nice of you to apologize, but I did,” Jackson corrected with a negating shake of his head. “Your personal life is none of my business, and Sebastian would have my ass if he knew I was prying. I’m more than willing to forget this ever happened if you are. ”   “Deal,” Taylor agreed.   A shadow fell over the passenger side window as they pulled up to the gates, and she glanced up in time to see Rupert approach. Confusion flickered across the Cajun’s scarred visage. It only intensified upon seeing Jackson seated next to her in the unfamiliar car. On any other night, she might’ve found the big man’s expression comical enough to laugh. Tonight, she just didn’t have the humor in her.       Sometime later, Taylor startled awake as the mattress shifted beside her. Adrenaline battled with the furious pulse thundering through her veins. She could still hear the horrific screams inside the restaurant. Still smell the metallic odor of blood mingling with sickening scent of death. Most of all, she could still feel Marx’s cold, fathomless eyes and the deep vibrations of his voice thundering through her. Warm, unexpected pressure settled against her mouth and she jerked away, recoiling with a frightened cry.   Sebastian loomed over her, his expression unreadable through the darkness curt
aining the room. Seeing him, her fear lessened and she sagged back against the mattress as his hands smoothed over her face, their gentleness and familiar comfort almost shattering after the night’s horrors.   “Shh, baby, it’s just me. ”   Gathering her in his arms, Sebastian lay down beside her and cradled her against his chest. The steady palpitations of his heart beat beneath her ear, and she closed her eyes, cherishing the smell of his freshly showered skin. He was still damp and so incredibly warm as he held her and smoothed away the last of her tremors.   “How are you feeling?”   Taylor shrugged against him. “I’m okay. I’m just tired and glad to be home. ”   “I know the feeling,” he murmured, his voice husky and thick. He kissed the top of her head before pulling back to look at her face. “Do you want to talk about it?”   “Not really,” she whispered, returning her forehead to his chest. “I’d much rather forget. ” Snuggling closer, she kissed the muscled ridge of his chest. “Besides, it doesn’t matter anymore. You’re here and I’m safe. ”   Sebastian cradled the back of her head, his hold tightening. For the first time, she noticed the tiny tremors rippling through him and fear gave way to concern. Panic welled when something wet and scalding seeped through her hair to settle against the top of her head. She tried to pull back but Sebastian’s arms constricted into a death grip. Unable to tug free, she held him and ran her hands over the hard planes of his back.   “Sebby, what is it? What happened? Talk to me. ”   He shook his head making his chin rub back and forth against the top of her head as the tense vibrations running through him intensified. Seconds passed with only his strained swallow to fill the silence.   “I can’t,” he finally managed. “It’s too much right now. It’s too…Jesus, Taylor. I’m sorry. I am so damn sorry I dragged you into this. I swear to you, if I had known…”   His husky timbre shook with uncertainty and shame. She wanted so much to look at him, but Sebastian’s grip wouldn’t allow it. Nor would his pride. The dampness still spreading through her hair told her why. She stroked her hands gingerly down his sides, searching for any signs of injury.   “Did they hurt you?” she asked, dropping another kiss on his chest.   Sebastian didn’t answer. He squeezed her tighter and his entire body seemed to shake from the inside out as he buried his face into her hair. His hesitation only amped up her fear.   “Sebby?”   “I…” His breath left him in a frustrated exhale. “I don’t know how to answer that, Taylor. Physically, no. Mentally, I’m starting to break. I can’t keep doing this. I don’t know where to turn or where to go. ”   “Sebastian, please. You’re scaring me. At least let me look at you,” she begged.   “I’m fine, Taylor. It’s not that. Marx didn’t touch me,” he insisted.   “Then what is it? What’s wrong?”   Pulling back, he captured her face between his hands. She felt the delicate shards of her heart splinter when she caught sight of his tears. They still fell and moonlight reflected off the dewy drops making them glisten like fractured jewels against his cheeks. Her eyes burned with her attempts to keep her own from falling. Reaching out, she gingerly brushed the dampness away. He was so beautiful, but so broken it killed her.   Sebastian shuddered lightly beneath her touch as he bowed his head to rest against hers. “I don’t know what to do, Taylor. I don’t know how to get us out of this. Every time I turn around, things just keep getting worse. I just want to be with you, to watch our baby grow up, to build a life with you and our child. Why can’t that happen? Why is that too much to ask?”   “It’s not, Sebby. You’ll have that. I promise. ”   His eyes clamped shut, his sculpted features contorting with concentration and pain as he attempted to harness his emotions. “Now, despite everything, I am sitting here wondering if this is going to be it. If this is finally going to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. I should send you away, Taylor. ”   “Sebastian, no…”   She reached for him, but he sat up and twisted away. Braced on the edge of the bed, he kept his back turned to her. Lowering his head, Sebastian dragged his hands through his hair.   “Has tonight made you realize nothing I say or do will make this worth the struggle? Do you want to leave me now, Taylor? Have you finally seen that I’m too fucked up and emotionally damaged to ever deserve your love?”   It would have hurt less if he’d hit her. No blow on earth could ever cut as deep as hearing him voice his uncertainty and pain—to know that, deep down, he questioned not if, but when she would walk away. Tears burned in her eyes as she reached for him. He tensed beneath her hand, but didn’t pull away.   “How could you say that?” she choked.   “One way or another, everyone I have ever loved has left me in the end. What makes you so different?” he whispered.   She swallowed against the painful lump wedged in her throat. This side of him, this rare glimpse into his mind and the heartache that fueled him, was devastating. Wrapping her arms around him from behind, she left a trail of tender kisses across his shoulder. He trembled slightly in her grasp. She could feel him fighting—fighting to hold everything in, fighting not to break free, fighting not to force her to let go.   “I could never do that to you, Sebastian. Tonight was horrible, but we got through it. We will get through this, just like everything else. We’ve been through hell together, but those tribulations haven’t lessened what I feel for you. They’ve made our bond unbreakable. I love you, Sebastian Javier Baas, and I always will. You and those crazy curls. ”   Sebastian twisted and sprung without warning. The hard lines of his body pressed her into the mattress, trapping her against the bed. His fingers locked around her wrists as his red-rimmed eyes drilled into her. His mouth sought hers through the shadows, his kiss as tremulous and shaky as the shallow exhale he breathed. Without warning, his fingers locked in her hair, his grip almost painful as he pressed his forehead to hers and held her in place.    “Promise me if something happens you will fight, Taylor. Promise me you will do whatever it takes to survive. I need you to swear to me that you will never give up,” he said, his voice breaking. “Promise me you won’t leave me. Don’t leave me behind. I wouldn’t be able to breathe without you. I wouldn’t even want to try. It would break my heart and shatter me. There would be nothing left. I would hate the world and everything in it. I would become a monster, Taylor. I would be everything you don’t want me to be. ”   “Shh, Sebby,” she soothed. “Everything is all right. I’m not going anywhere and I’m not running away. I promise. We’re in this for the long haul. It will always be you and me. ”   “Always,” he whispered, pressing his lips against the side of her neck where they lingered against her pulse and burned. Warm dampness fell against her skin and he shuddered above her. “You mean everything to me, baby. Everything. I couldn’t live without you. ”   “You don’t have to. Just calm down and hold me. I’m right here, Sebs. I’ll always be right here. ”   He mumbled something she couldn’t decipher. Taylor tried to stem the hot scald of tears threatening to flow. She didn’t know what else to say, how to reach him. He was stuck in some brutal nightmare his mind had conjured, and it wouldn’t let him go. She ached to run her fingers through his hair, to cradle the sides of his face, or trace the light golden stubble spanning his jaw, but he held her immobile. His expression remained shielded from her view, but she could feel the full weight of his emotion as it crashed down around her.   “You don’t deserve this,” he whispered. “You deserve so much better. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted somebody to hold. Just once, I wanted somebody to fight for me and love me. You’ve gave me that, but now I want nothing more than to save you from everything about me. ”   Dear God. She wanted to die. He’d never opened up to her on this sort of raw, emotional level. She doubted he’d ever let his guard down this much with anyone. He was lost, and his pain was visceral. It cut them both so deep they bled. He slumped against her, the muscles in his body tensing with another drawn out shudder. Pulling her wrists free of his slackening grasp, she wound her arms around him and smoothed her hands up and down the taut planes of his back.   “You don’t have to save me, Sebastian. I’m exactly where I want to be. ”   His laughter was dry and hoarse. “After all of the times I’ve let you down
? Come on. I held a gun to your head, Taylor. I hate myself for doing that every single day and, no matter how much I want to, I can never take that back. You could have been killed tonight. I’m a mere breath away from helping Marx unleash the worst kind of death and destruction our country has ever seen. Can you honestly look me in the eye and say you want to be with someone like me—that our relationship isn’t just a necessity? That you aren’t just too scared to leave?”   “Stop it. ”   She wanted to keep the anger and force out of her voice. She wanted to more than anything, but she couldn’t. Sebastian’s head snapped up and his striking sage eyes blazed as they drilled into her. They narrowed when she lifted her chin.   “What?” His voice was low now, his tone menacing.     “You heard me. Just stop it, Sebastian,” she repeated just as forcefully. Her heart sped up when the muscles in his cheek twitched. It was a dangerous tell of his anger, but she held her ground. “You don’t like it when I question your love, so stop doubting mine. I’m here. I’m wearing your ring and I’m carrying our baby. I will let you guide our life and our relationship all you want, but you have no right to tell me how I feel. You don’t get to decide that. I do. It’s my choice, and I decided a long time ago that I love you. Do you hear me, Sebastian? I fucking love you and all you’re doing right now is hurting me. ”   His eyebrow shot up at her language. Or maybe it was her tone. It was probably both, but she didn’t care. He said he’d wanted someone to fight for him. Well, here she was, geared up and ready for war if that’s what he needed. He could get mad. He could brand her ass until she couldn’t sit and her voice was so hoarse that she couldn’t scream. She would risk the full-blown wrath of Marx and SKALS. The world itself could fall to ruin and everything they had could turn to ashes, but as long as there was a single breath left inside him, she was not going to give up on this man. She was never going to give up.   Sebastian’s cheeks hollowed. Eyes still narrowed, his jaw tensed as he squinted down at her. His lips flattened and, still holding her stare, he nodded.   “I appreciate what you said, but don’t ever speak to me in that tone or use that language toward me again. Is that understood?”   Without warning, he wedged the hard ridge of his thigh between hers, forcing them apart. Her eyes darted to his, silently pleading with him to stay grounded and not to lash out.     “I’m so very glad to hear you say those things, Taylor, because I could never let you leave,” he whispered against her neck. “You are a part of me now and I would never let you take my child away. I love you more than life, but you seem to have forgotten where we stand. ”   She shivered as his hand moved off her wrist to close around her breast. The fingers sinking into the tender mound were hard and demanding. They squeezed, plucked, and kneaded without mercy. There was a hunger, a savagery to his touch she had not felt in a long time. It was dizzying, frightening. More than anything, she wished she could truly decipher where they stood.   “Seb, I…”   Pressing a forefinger to her mouth, he silenced her. “No more talking. I’ve said all I am going to about the matter. I don’t want words, Taylor. I want you to prove the things you claim. Is that clear?”   Her pulse became a violent crescendo that roared through her veins like a surging ocean tide. “Yes, Sebastian. ”   She felt, rather than saw, the terse smile he offered in response.     “Good girl,” he whispered. His fingers trailed over the bared curve of her hip as he inched down her body. The warm, woodsy smell of his skin washed over her but brought little comfort given the ferocity in his gaze.   “Open your legs,” he ordered, his voice bordering on a growl. “Wider. ”   Impatience marked his touch as he wrenched her thighs open. Taylor shivered despite the heat running rampant inside her. Meeting her eyes for the briefest of seconds, Sebastian gripped her legs. His mouth sealed hard against her sex. The demanding sweep of his tongue made her bow off the mattress. Growling against her, his hold tightened, trapping her in place. He plunged his tongue deep and, keeping her anchored, he speared into her aching body with a vengeance. There was nothing gentle about it. It was a full on assault. Fast, furious, and almost animalistic in its frenzy. He was a man on a mission, hell-bent on making her come as hard and as fast as possible.     Releasing the plush comforter, she sank her hands into his hair. An ominous rumble vibrated against her as she tugged at his thick curls in a fit of desperation, egging him on. Opening her wider Sebastian swirled the velvety spear probing her body, the glide of his taste buds a hundred tiny nubs stroking across her. Taylor cried out. The pleasurable hum coursing through her grew to a forceful throb. She bucked against him, too winded to scream as release crashed through her.   Sebastian moaned, his body tensing. She twisted, struggling to break free, but he held tight, the slow swirl and licking strokes of his tongue forcing her to ride out wave after wave until he’d milked her completely and she had nothing left to give.   Inching his way back up her body, he took his time running his hands over her skin and plying it with scorching kisses. There was an undeniable reverence and ownership in his touch, leaving her no doubt she was both worshiped and claimed by this man. She whimpered as he captured a dusky nipple between his teeth and tugged. Something unnamable lingered in his pale green eyes as they locked with hers. Danger and determination rolled off him, rippling along her fevered skin as he sucked and nipped at the stiffened peak until she was certain she was going to go mad.     “Sebastian…please…”   Drawing her nipple deeper into the hot recesses of his mouth, he sucked with zeal, his long fingers dipping between her legs to keep her thighs parted. Arching into his hand, her breath left her in a ragged groan as he teased the length of her slit. He teased her outer lips and circled the outline of her clit before resting his fingers against her. The pressure without friction was maddening. Taylor moaned beneath her breath and waited, praying he would move. Unable to bear the torment, her hips betrayed her, humping against him on their own accord.   A stinging slap to the outside of her thigh brought her out of her frenzied quest with a yelp. A quiet rumble of amusement rolled through Sebastian as he leaned back and yanked her down toward his hips.   “That’s part of your problem, darling. You’re always so eager for the rewards, but you give little thought to the repercussions in life. ”   Gripping the thick length of his cock, he rubbed the heavy tip against her, coating him in her juices. His gaze remained rooted on hers as he traced a slow path up and down her slit. He was killing her and he knew it. It took every ounce of self-restraint she had not to impale herself on that glorious shaft and fuck herself into oblivion. Fisting the blankets, she let her head fall back with a miserable groan. He was so cruel. So deliciously cruel.   A low rumble welled in Sebastian’s throat as he leaned over her, pressing her deeper into the mattress. His eyes locked with hers, his stare almost hypnotic, as he pushed his way inside. Filling her to the brink, he ground deep. Sebastian drove into her time and again, rocking her body with the hard, steady thrusts she had come to know and crave. The clash of their mouths grew fevered and violent as they searched for a way to hold on to themselves and each other. Her nails raked his back, her heels digging into the tight muscles of his ass. The rhythmic slap of skin echoed around them, mingling with the low growls of pleasure vibrating against her ear.     He made it so easy to let herself go and forget. Forget the rules, forget the danger and the risks, forget the rest of the world even existed. Alone, they were adrift, but together there was a stillness and a sense of peace. Their love was a twisted refuge. It was the shore where they rested, the only place where they could find comfort and belonging.     Sebastian’s arms wound around her shoulders, driving her down into his thrusts and assuring her body had little give. Sweat beaded along his brow and a heavy flush settled across his cheeks, accenting the determination on his face. Bowing his head, he kissed the shell of her ear.   “Come on, baby. Give it to me one more time. I can’t hold on. ”   His voice was hoarse and strained, a raspy pant falling against her ear. His torment and desperation was clear. A few more plunges was all the coaxing her body needed. She cried out as the pleasure mounted and release barreled through her full force. Sebastia
n followed close behind. Clinging to him, she listened to his breathless roar and reveled in the powerful throb of his body as he came.   He was both heaven and hell, the beginning and the end, but nothing was more beautifully broken than this man and the fragile bond they shared.         ~*~*~*~           Sebastian eyed the package in Rupert’s hands with no small measure of trepidation.   “This came for you yesterday, sir,” the head of security explained. “But with everything else going on, I figured it would be best to wait until…” he trailed off in uncertainty.   “Until what, Rupert?” he asked with a curious tilt of his head.   “Until you’d cooled down some, sir,” the big man admitted.   Snorting beneath his breath, Sebastian nodded. He had to give it to the guy. The guard had some balls. Few men would have dared to be so blunt. His amusement faded some as he took the small parcel and turned it in his hands. It sucked that things had gotten so bad that he would regard something so mundane with so much suspicion. Its lightness did nothing to alleviate his worries. He knew better than most that explosives could bear little to no weight. Frowning, he scanned the address once again. Whoever had sabotaged Taylor’s car had to know he’d demand to see the security footage from that day, and thanks to the storeowner demanding they provide a warrant, there’d been more than enough time for someone to waylay the package.   Giving them time to obtain the proper paperwork hadn’t been high on Marx’s list of priorities.   Lifting the package to his nose, Sebastian took a deep whiff. It might look ridiculous, but it was better to play it safe than sorry. Nothing but the heady scent of the heavy brown paper wrapping met his nose. It was a small comfort to say the least. Nodding, he tucked the parcel under the crook of his arm.   “Thank you. Is there anything else I should be aware of?” he asked, returning his steady gaze to Rupert.   “No, sir. I was a bit thrown off by the homecoming arrangements last night, but things have been quiet and calm today, per usual. ”   Raising a brow, he regarded the other man. “Don’t get used to it. I can’t afford to have you or your men let your guard down. Things are heating up for me at work, and they will only get worse before they get better. I’m willing to pay more, but I need you to stay focused. It’s absolutely vital that you keep Taylor safe. There’s no room for mistakes. ”   “Understood, sir. I’m up for the challenge. ”   “See that you are,” Sebastian warned. “I would not take kindly to it should you disappoint me. She is my life, Rupert. I lose mine, you lose yours. ”   The guard paled some, but offered a mute nod of understanding. He didn’t know what it was about the man but, deep down, Sebastian liked him. He was affable, laid-back, and above all else, loyal. In many ways, the big Cajun reminded him of Henderson. Though they hadn’t been close, he’d never forget the way the former head of security had laid down his life to save Taylor’s. That kind of sacrifice and dedication was hard to come by anymore. People usually choose the easy way out, but there was a fierceness beneath Rupert’s friendly exterior. Perhaps he’d lucked out twice. The jagged scar stretching from the man’s eye down his jaw suggested he was a fighter who survived.   Reaching over, he clapped the strapping Cajun’s shoulder. “I am a difficult man to get along with, Rupert, but you’ve served my family well. I’m glad to have you here. ”   “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. Enjoy your day. ”   He wished the man the same and headed toward the small guard shack stationed near the front of the property at the gate. Unlike the garage, it wasn’t attached to the house and far enough away that if he got blown to smithereens Taylor wouldn’t be impacted. At least not physically.   The last thought made him wince and a heavy sorrow blanketed his heart. He didn’t know how—or why—but that woman loved him. There was no denying that. As submissive as she was in other areas, when it came to loving him, she was as devoted as she was fierce. No one had ever shown that to him. Ever. But great responsibility came with that love. He didn’t just have his own happiness and well-being to consider anymore. He had hers and their child’s.   Knowing they would be parents soon was a strange and almost magical feeling.     As if sensing his thoughts, Sebastian glanced up to see Taylor crossing the yard. The soft, white fabric of her sundress clung to her slender curves and accentuated the gentle sway of her body. He loved that thing. He couldn’t help the wistful smile that crept across his face as he watched her approach. The sunlight bounced off her hair, lighting her chestnut locks with golden, fiery highlights. He was hard-pressed not to admire the swell of her breasts, already fuller now and more round, but it was her smile and the devotion in her silvery eyes that sent a stab of desire straight to his groin.   “Hey ya, handsome,” she murmured, leaning up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.   He closed his eyes with a quiet rumble of appreciation as she pressed a mug of fresh coffee into his hand.   “You’ve been out here for a while now. Is everything okay?”   Peering down at her, he felt his lips twitch with a knowing smirk. “If you are asking how your beloved bodyguard is, he’s still alive and quite well. ”   She rolled her eyes at his barb. “Good because you have absolutely no reason to be jealous. You and I both know you’ve completely ruined me for other men. ”   His smile was unrepentant as he carefully snaked his arm around her waist and drew her against the front of him. “Mm. Then my greatest mission in life has been accomplished. I can die a happy man. ”   Much to his surprise, she batted his chest, though the blow was light and suggested play. Unsure what to make of it, he cocked a brow, frowning as he stared down at her.   “You’ll do no such thing. There’s no dying for you, mister. ”   “I don’t intend to, darling,” he assured. “But you don’t get to tell me what to do. ”   “When it comes to that I do,” Taylor stated firmly.   He couldn’t help but laugh. It was kind of cute when she stood her ground. That type of behavior wouldn’t always fly, but this time around, it was for a good cause. At least in her eyes. Wrapping his arm tighter, he kissed her before releasing her again.   “Your hormones are making you lippy,” he warned with a wink.   “They’re also making my breasts ache. ”   Wiggling a brow, he tucked the package back under his arm and groped one of the tender swells. Taylor flushed, her eyes darting around the yard as he kneaded the plump mound without shame.   “Is that so?” he asked, rolling his palm across the hardening bud of her nipple.   “Sebastian!”    Exasperation laced her voice as she tried nudging his hand away. Surging forward, he caught her waist again, careful not to spill his coffee. Pulling her tight, he trapped her body against his and drew her earlobe between his teeth.   “Mine,” he reminded her in a husky growl. Her shiver didn’t go unnoticed. Relinquishing her, he raised a questioning brow. “Understood?”   “It was never forgotten,” she replied softly.   “Mm. Good answer. ”   Her attention shifted from his eyes to the parcel trapped under his arm. “What do you have there?”   “The surveillance tapes from the grocery store. It won’t take me long to go over them, but it needs done. I told you whoever did this to you was going to pay and I meant that. ”   Some of the happiness fled her rounded features, but Taylor nodded in grim understanding. “Just promise me you won’t do anything rash. Whatever you decide to do, be careful and think things through. ”   A small surge of annoyance swept through him. His first instinct was to shoot her request down. Then came the urge to fight back with rebuttal and denial, but the truth was he didn’t always think things through. Not when it came to her. Unfortunately, as much as Taylor inspired the best in him, she also provoked the worst. One wrong word, one wrong look cast in her direction and he was ready for attack. She knew this as well as he did. Sighing, he raked a hand over his head and looked away.   Maybe it would be best if he waited for Josh.       ~*~*~*~               Sebastian tapped the end of his pen against his desk, his mind a million miles away. The sun filtered through the lone window gracing his office, speaking of another day done and gone. Heart heavy, he scanned the bleak desert landscape and tried to ignore his longing to go home. Shifting his attention back to the computer, he bit his cheeks and studied the face staring back at him. There was something familiar about the man, something vague that he
couldn’t quite place. Tapping his lip, Sebastian brushed the nagging sensation aside and committed every detail to memory.     Whether he knew it or not, Gavin Bradshaw had fucked with the wrong family, and the distinguished silver hair, ice-blue eyes, high cheekbones, and slight cleft marking his chin made his an easy face to remember now that he was a marked man.   The angles on the security footage hadn’t revealed much. Gavin had approached Taylor’s vehicle, briefcase in hand, and disappeared from view. Though his actions remained shielded, it was hard to dispute the facts when he was the only one who’d drawn close to her car. It also raised suspicions Sebastian wasn’t prepared to contend with.     Whoever this man was, he knew what to look for and what to avoid when it came to cameras.   Digging deeper had been of little use. The man was a smokescreen with no past which meant that wasn’t even his real name. With no visible ties to any government agencies, his reasons behind rigging the accident were unclear. Much like that gaunt fuck, Frank Burrel, Gavin was a ghost who’d appeared out of nowhere. One who seemed intent on haunting his ass at every turn.   Frowning, Sebastian wondered what had happened to his previous stalker as he cleared his history and shut the laptop screen. As always, he had too many questions and not enough answers. It was possible the man was retaliating for some operation SKALS had run in the past, but with everything going on, it seemed more likely the accident was a warning, a far from subtle message to avoid proceeding with their future agenda. That was where Marx had him bent over a barrel and twisted sideways.     The man was smart. He stayed behind the scenes. He pulled the puppet strings and called the shots, but Sebastian and his team were the ones who were out there day to day. Marx was the wizard, but they were the projection.     His was the face people saw and, ultimately, the scapegoat they blamed. Last night had proven that much. Scrubbing a hand over his eyes, he snorted. Maybe he should needle the bastard for a raise.     Annoyed, he glanced up when his office door swung open without warning. His glare locked with Marx’s briefly before he turned his attention back to tucking away the last of the files off his desk.   “Can I help you?” he asked flatly.   “As a matter of fact, you can. It’s been a while since I had a home cooked meal. I was hoping you and your fiancée would be generous enough to fix that. ”   He gaped at the man. After what they’d been through the night before? Was he serious? Regaining his composure, Sebastian shook his head.   “No. Tonight’s not a good night,” he said, turning his attention back to the stack of paperwork.   “Nonsense. Tonight is a good of a night as any. I need to see how she is holding up under the strain and assure she isn’t going to crack. I’m not taking no for an answer. It’s time I see for myself just how beneficial this living arrangement of yours really is. ”   “Marx…” He started to object, only to be cut off by a sharp slice of the commander’s hand.   “Not another word. Get your things together and let’s go. ”   He closed his eyes with a miserable snort. That settled it. Any remaining doubts he might have had were gone. God, or any other powers that might be, truly hated him.   Sebastian’s stomach continued its relentless churning as the desert started to give way to the familiar streets of Flagstaff. The worry and fatigue he’d heard in Taylor’s voice continued to plague him. She’d been through enough lately. The pressure and strain of dealing with Marx was the last thing she needed.   His eyes searched the rearview mirror. The commander was hot on his tail, the gleaming silver Jaguar’s bumper mere inches away from his own. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel so hard his knuckles whitened. The bastard better pray he didn’t hit his car. Scrubbing a hand through his curls, he refocused on the road, trying to find a way to buy Taylor more time.   The answer came in the form of a quick mart on the edge of town. He whipped into the parking lot without warning, wincing as the Benz’s tires gave a sharp squeal of protest. A thick cloud of dust obscured the road as the Jaguar lost traction and Marx skidded in sideways behind him. Giving an exasperated roll of his eyes, he threw the car into park and yanked the keys from the ignition.   “What the hell are you doing, Baas?” the SKALS director barked. The canyons on his craggy face deepened in a show of annoyance, and the heavy line of his eyebrows inched even lower.   Sebastian’s cheeks flamed at the excuse that came to mind, but determination kept his pride at bay. “She needs some fucking feminine hygiene products or she’s going to bleed all over my furniture. Do you want to buy them for her?”   Marx’s mouth slammed shut with an audible snap. His broad face contorted into a disgusted grimace, and he shooed Sebastian away from the side of his car with a gruff wave of his hand.   A short while later, he rolled through the gates with Marx right behind him. Biting the inside of his cheeks, Sebastian parked in the drive, exited his car, and slammed the door shut. This was not the evening he had planned. He glanced over as Rupert approached.   “Is there a problem here, sir?” The head of security looked between the two of them and shifted his rifle. Concern lined his scarred visage making the pale lines stand out even brighter against his skin.   Marx’s eyes blazed with unspoken fury as Sebastian let the question hang between them. Lifting his chin, he regarded the SKALS commander, well aware of the cold gleam fueling his own gaze. The corners of his mouth twitched. It would be so easy right now. So damn easy.     “Sir?” the guard asked again.   For a brief moment, he considered it. If Marx hadn’t announced his plans for the evening on the way out, he would have followed through. There were too many witnesses, too many innocent people. Marx had his own guards planted in a car outside the house. Now wasn’t the time, but the man’s crimes were far from forgotten. Taking a slow step back, Sebastian spread his palms and forced a tight smile.   “Not yet, Rupert. My boss decided to join us for dinner this evening. We will see how long that invitation lasts. ”   “And just what the hell is that supposed to mean, Agent Baas?”   Ignoring the director’s question, he clapped Rupert on the shoulder on his way past and signaled for Marx to follow with a sharp jerk of his head.