“Might as well make use of the tub while we're here.”
Chapter
Forty-Three
How the fuck was I supposed to focus on thisincredibly diremeeting afterthatconversation?
And after what we did to that poor tub.
The fact that Sebastian loved me as much as he claimed, made every cell in my body swell with undeniable devotion. And fuck, I loved him right back. If the shoes were on the other foot and he kissed my friend, I would have been filled to the brim with jealousy—I mean, hell, I was jealous of a girl he never even truly dated. But not him. He was calm and rational. He was understanding and trusting of me. Andgods
I love him.
“Almost ready?” Sebastian stepped out of the washroom, fiddling with the cufflinks of his black dress coat. He always gravitated towards dark clothing, and his attire for this evening was nothing different.
I worked through a knot in my still damp hair—tangled by his fist when he bent me over the wash basin. “Yeah. Can you button my dress for me please?” I had chosen a borrowed, deep green gown, form fitting and made of velvet.
“It would be my honor.”
I shivered when his fingertips teased the back of my neck, getting right to work. “I should warn you about King Franlow,” he began.
I lifted my hair up and out of the way. “Oh?”
“He can be a bit…steadfast. I’m hoping for the best, but it may take a bit of convincing and negotiating to get him to help us.” Sebastian fastened the last button, then placed his hands on my shoulders, spinning me to face him.
“But, you said it yourself, what we're informing him of should be more than enough to get him to cooperate,” I pointed out, sitting down on the bed to strap my heels.
He dropped to his knees before me to take over. His thumb grazed over my ankle to reach the clasp, the gesture not intentional, but still making me shiver. “It should be, but it may not be. We will just have to wait and see, but do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
He rose, grabbing one of my hands to pull me to my feet. “Don’t agree to anything he may offer until we all have a chance to discuss. And don’t suggest anything unless I’ve brought it up first.”
Easy enough.I nodded.
Keeping my hand clasped within his, Sebastian held the door and led me into the hallway. Our friends stood gathered outside of our door, all dressed in borrowed formalwear.
“About time,” Kade scoffed. “We’ve been waiting for you two.”
“You could have knocked, Lyrise,” Sebastian taunted.
A disgusted, borderline embarrassed, expression twisted onto Kade’s face.
“Is everyone ready to make a deal?” Sebastian clapped his hands, taking charge of the situation and starting off down the hall, my hand in his.
Pia found my side. “Are you okay?”
I knew why she was asking. My cheeks still felt warm and I had been unsuccessful in fully untangling my hair. If it weren’t for the dress, it would have looked like I just rolled out of bed. “Mhm,” I murmured.
Azain met us in the grand foyer to show us to the dining room. Much to my displeasure, Samara accompanied him, dressed in a vibrant red gown that somehow managed to accentuate her already cinched waistline. Her hooded eyes met mine, and her mouth settled into a tight line as she scanned me up and down before pivoting away with her nose upturned.
My fist clenched around Sebastian’s hand. I shouldn’t have been so envious of this woman, but damn did she make me feel lacking.
“Relax,” Sebastian breathed in my direction. “You’re going to break my hand if you squeeze any tighter. Remember what I said?”
Our pace was steady, matching the speed of Azain and his twin as we navigated the marble corridors, though keeping to the back of the group.
“Remember what you said about reminding me as often as needed? Yeah. I could use that reminder right about now,” I breathed back.
