Page 45 of Brutal Heir

She blinked several times, trying to keep her eyes open.

I knew there would be no more resistance, so I slipped her pants over her hips and down her legs to toss them aside. With extreme discipline, I avoided caressing her exposed creamy skin or even allowing my gaze to linger on the tempting, lace-covered juncture between her thighs.

I might be playing the gentleman, but I was still a man.

A man who, until now, had never broken his word.

But there was a first time for everything, including under such tempting circumstances.

After I scooped her into my arms, I pulled the blanket back, laid her down, and tucked her in. After warming a cloth, I returned to the bedroom and wiped away the traces of her makeup, softening her edges for sleep.

As I finished, she opened her eyes again. Since I couldn't get all the makeup off, an alluring smoky shadow from the watery remnants of her mascara framed her eyes. Christ, even with smeared makeup, she was still the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

I poured some cool water into a cup from the crystal carafe left on the bedside table by the hotel staff. As I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, I lifted her until she leaned against my chest while I reclined against the headboard. From this position, I coaxed her to take a few sips of water.

“I’ve already told you. I’m not nice. I’m a cruel man. You’d be wise to remember that.”

She rubbed her cheek against my shirt as she giggled. “No, you’re not. You’re like a big, grumpy teddy bear.”

Unable to resist, I leaned down and kissed the top of her head while I ran my hand down her back, smoothing her hair. “Go to sleep.”

I held her until her breathing evened into sleep.

* * *

After pouring myself a drink, I was drawn back to the bedroom. With my shoulder against the doorframe, I watched her.

She had turned onto her side and curled up under the covers.

I tightened my grip around the glass to steel my resolve against the vulnerable sight before me. “Soon enough, you'll see the true depth of my cruelty.”

CHAPTER 13

SABRINA

Did I have sex last night?

Without opening my eyes, I ran a hand over my body.

Shirt. Check. Bra. Check. Panties. Check. Pants. Pants?

Damn it.

Three out of four wasn’t bad.

Still, if I’d had sex with Sebastian last night, I’d remember.

No amount of champagne could wipe that kind of experience from memory.

Deep down, I knew Sebastian didn’t have sex.

He didn’t make love.

He fucked.

If it had happened, I’d be sore in places I wasn’t ready to think about.