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“Do you realize how animated you get when you’re excited about something?”

Now I really feel the blush. “I’m just glad you’re finally listening,” I retort.

That gets another laugh from him, the sound sending tingles up and down my spine.

“Isabella?”

I startle at Sebastian’s voice and realize I’ve been staring. “Sorry,” I whisper.

“You look like you need a reboot.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “Ha, ha, very funny. I’m just thinking.”

“You’d better stop, because I’m afraid you’re in danger of shorting yourself out.” Sebastian’s grin is crooked and adorable. He looks oddly at ease. “I think it’s time we both go home.”

“Oh, I’m fine,” I say a little too quickly. “I just have a lot of work to get done before the long weekend, and I want to take advantage of this momentum.”

“Nope.” Sebastian pushes himself to his feet, and before I can say anything, grabs my hand to pull me up beside him. “The office is closed for the day. I will drag you out of here if I have to. Rest that brilliant brain of yours.”

He grabs my purse and starts leading me toward the door.

“All my stuff—” I protest.

“It will be here in the morning. I’ll lock the door; no one will touch it.”

I don’t have any argument left in me. It’s late and I do need a break. I also probably need to be away from Sebastian for a few hours.

I accept his offer of a drive home because the last thing I want to do at 2 a.m. is stand on the sidewalk, waiting for a ride.

“I might need a brain break, but I’m not exactly tired.” The words come out of my mouth before I can stop them.

Sebastian glances over at me. One corner of his mouth turns up into a smirk. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing, and my place is close.”

We don’t talk much the rest of the way. Sebastian’s hand finds my knee and the touch is electric. Warmth radiates where his skin touches mine.

The street is dark and quiet. Sebastian pulls into a spot, turns on the hazards, and gets out.

“Uh, are you just going to leave this here?” I ask.

He ducks his head back into the car. “Someone will take it to the garage for me. They know I’m home.”

Sebastian walks around the car and opens my door. He holds out his hand and pulls me out, as if I weigh nothing. He doesn’t let go as he leads me toward the front door. Just as he puts in the code, I hear footsteps and the sound of a car door closing. The powerful car takes off, headed for whatever private garage he keeps it in.

As we step into the foyer, I take in the large fireplace and the sitting room off to one side. It’s my first time in his home. We take the elevator up, and much like the desire-induced madness at the Sovereign, Sebastian is on me the moment the door opens. He’s behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, planting kisses down the back of my neck and shoulders. My eyes drift closed, so I can take in every sensation—his warmth, his mouth, the solidness of his body pressed against mine.

“Time to take your mind off work, Ms. Medina.” His breath tickles my skin before he sinks his teeth gently into my earlobe. I hiss from the bolt of pleasure.

When my phone buzzes, I reach for my purse, but Sebastian stops me, locking my arm against my side. “Leave it,” he says, his voice raspy as he pulls down my blazer and camisole strap. “Work will be there in the morning.”

But the rising haze of lust has vanished. “It’s not work,” I say, pulling my arm free. “Nobody calls me for work at two in the morning.”

Sebastian lets me go, and I dig through my purse frantically.

“Mom?” I jam the phone to my ear. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

For a moment, all I can hear is frantic, high-pitched sobbing.

“Mom, is everyone okay? What happened?”