With a sigh I finally spoke, “Fine. But if you try anything, I’ll kill you.”
Henodded, finallymoving towards the bed.“Remember your safeword is‘red'if you want me to stop. Now or in the future, if you ever use it I promise I’ll stop. And I won’t just stop touching you, I’ll also stop teasing you with my words.”
It was completely irrational, butpart of me yearned totrust him.Although, that was the whole reason I’d gotten into this mess in the first place. So I shoved that part of me away, and waited for him to inevitably screw me over.
Sebastianstood above me and reached towards the left sleeve of my sweatsuit. He made eye contact with me, and his hand hovered above the sleeve until I nodded at him.
Gently, he pulled down the sleeve, and revealed the mishmash of bruises and cuts. He cursed.
“It’s not that bad,” I offered. And it really wasn’t. It could have been a lot worse. Unlike last time, there were no broken ribs, and no cuts that desperately needed stitches.
His eyes darkened.“Did Ray do this to you?”
What was the point in hiding it at this point? SoI shrugged, or at least attempted to.“It’s not as bad as last time. It’s obvious that this timethey were moreconcerned with not damaging the merchandise.”
Avisualof a woman from my research into Ray’s loan sharkoperationappeared in my mind. She wasleaning against the wall of a decrepit alley with her bruised arms crossed over herlow cut crop top.There was a deadness in her eyes that sent a shiver down my spine.
Sebastian remained silent, but his jaw clenched when he dipped his fingers into some ointment. His index finger caressed a cut on my forearm. At first, a shiver of pain inched up the spot. But it was quickly replaced by a cold, soothing feeling spreading beneath his fingertip. His touch was confident. He was touching assuredly, but he was also careful not to apply any pressure.
“You should have come to me sooner,” he said, inching thesleevebackinto place.
“I shouldn’t have come to you at all. Look where it landed me.” I watched him work on my other arm.
Sebastianshook his head, but he didn’t say anything. How could he? As soon as his brother had found out how dire my circumstances were, he used it against me. Trying to force me to take peanuts, because I didn’t have any other choice. Sebastian twisted my wrist around gently, watching for my reaction. I nodded, it wasn’t an unbearable amount of pain. Just a general achiness. It was odd to think that he was related to Luca. The gentle look in Sebastian’s eyes was nothing like I’d ever seen from his brother. Internally I shook the thought away, refusing to allow any further visuals to come over meat thismoment.
Sebastian’swarm fingerstuggedmyshirt up my stomach. A fiery anger burned in his eyes, darkerthanI’d ever seen from him. I didn’t need to look down. I already knew what he was seeing.
Chapter 24
“It could be worse,” I said.“At least this time they didn’t have steel tipped boots.”
Last time my ribs had taken a long time to heal after thebeat down from Ray’s men.Sebastian’sfingerslidalongalong, narrowcut above mybelly button. The sliver of pain quickly shifted into the familiar soothing feeling. It was almost trancelike,ahint of pain thentheimmediate warmth of relief.
“Why did you do it?” he asked, caressing a large bump along myhip bone.
Do what? Take him hostage, leave my father’s safety behind, choose to bring him to a house with memories I would rather not think about?
“You’re going to have to be more specific,” I said. Then I bit back a gasp. His hand was pressing into a bump on my stomach.
His large hand lifted.“It’s just tender. Nothing serious.”
Sebastian’sfingers continued their inspectionas he spoke, “I was asking why you took the money from those loan sharks.”
“I don’t exactly have great impulse control.”
He laughed at that and pulled my shirt back down before moving towards my legs. I wasn’t sure why I was telling him any of this.
“How much money do you owe now?” he asked, his fingers working into a spot below my left knee.
I thought back to the shopping sprees at Chanel, the bottle service at Tao, and the months staying in the presidential suiteatthe Plaza. Logically, I knew I shouldn’t say anything. But an odd feeling of relaxation had settled over me. I shouldn’t be feeling this way while completely vulnerable under his touch. Yet somehow, I felt as relaxed as if we were sitting on a couch watching tv.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. They aren’t exactly like a typical bank who sends out monthly statements. And I don’t want to think about the interest I’ve accrued.”
Strong fingers massaged around the edges of a bump near my ankle. Despite the fact that I should try to kick at his touch, I felt myself melt into his hands.
“You enjoy being tied up,” he said, with a hint of a smile replacing his previously tightened jaw. I tried to kick at his hand, but my foot stayed firmly in place. Immediately, his warm fingersleftmy skin, and I felt my body straining to reach for histouch. Failing of course, since he had tied me up so firmly. I just missed having massages. That wasallthere was to it.
Sebastiansmirked, crossing hisarms.
