His nana’s words ring in my head.
What would it feel like to belong to this behemoth?It’s been years since I’ve initiated a hug, and Sebastian is the only one I can fathom wrapping my arms around.
He hugs me as though I’m the most precious person in the world.
“I’d be lost without you, sweet pea,” Sebastian whispers against the top of my head.
I give him an extra hearty squeeze before craning my neck to meet his eyes.
“I’m glad your nana is okay.She’s lovely.So is your mom,” I say.
“Are you sure lovely is the word you mean to say?They weren’t too much?”
“It was very intense, but so was the situation.Hospitals bring out the best and worst in people, so I won’t take their words to heart until—”
“You know what my nana said when I told them I was going to earn a full scholarship to Columbia University and start my own business?”
Despite the intensity in his gaze, unease creeps through me, and I fight the urge to search the shadows along the edge of the parking lot for prying eyes.
“No.What did she say?”
“Only a fool as stubborn and relentless as her grandson would make such lofty goals, but if anyone could make it happen, it would be me.”
His affectionate grin as he recounts his grandmother’s words squeezes my heart with yearning.He tightens an arm around my back and wraps his other hand around my nape.
“No matter how hard things became, I never thought about quitting because those two women supported me every step of the way.They fully believed in me even when it felt like the entire world was against me.”He shifts his hand to the side of my throat and ghosts the pad of his thumb along the underside of my jaw.“What I mean to say is my nana never says anything she doesn’t mean.”
The world fades away as he leans down and murmurs with his lips an inch away from mine.His rich brown eyes gleam larger than life.
“Welcome to the family, Penelope.”
Every thought drains from my head as joy erases the pain of my past.The sense of belonging feels so right, I hook my hands over Sebastian’s shoulders, rise onto tiptoe, and kiss him until every cell in my body buzzes with electricity.
A car honks.He rips his face away from mine, lifts me off my feet, and moves us closer to the lamppost.
Awareness prickles at my skin, but before I can turn my head to check the shadows, Sebastian bends and kisses my forehead before whispering in my ear.His breath sends shivers down my spine.
“There’s no escape for you now, sweet pea.No matter what happens between us, my mother and grandmother will consider you theirs to love and cherish.”
I can’t stop the hitch in my breath, but I blink back my tears, clear my throat, and push his shoulders until he sets me back on my feet.
When I shift away from him, unease crawls up my spine.I peel my eyes away from Sebastian’s handsome face and study the edge of the parking lot, but the lights are too bright to see if there’s movement within the darkness.
With my attention torn and my equilibrium wrecked, I open my mouth to tell Sebastian of my suspicion, but his smug smirk awakens the fight in me.
“Wait, no, I said I’d date you, not form a long-term commitment.This is way too fast.You can’t—”
“I didn’t.My nana did.Take your issues up with her…” He dips down and flicks the tip of his tongue over my lip ring.“If you dare,” he chuckles.
I tighten my grip on his shirt and scowl.
“You’re not playing fair,” I accuse.
He smirks.My stomach bottoms out.
When I release his shirt and shove at his forearm, he tightens the arm barred around my back, gently closes his goliath hand around my throat, and brushes his lips side to side over mine.
“I never promised to play by the rules, pipsqueak.I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you by my side, even if it means using my nana to win you over.”
