III.
Taylor stretched her legs with a quiet grunt. Sleep blurred her vision, and she squinted, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with curiosity and wonder. The majestic rise of the mountains loomed larger than life, even against the jet-black sky. Smothering a yawn, she glanced around as Sebastian popped the trunk and shouldered their bags. The hustle and bustle of the city seemed so far away, as did its distinctive glow. She sucked in a deep inhale, drawing the fresh desert air into her lungs. An appreciative smile played on her lips as Sebastian rounded the back of the car and wrapped an arm around her waist. Snuggling close to his side, she savored the warm reassurance of his body and the boyish grin he boasted. The pressures and stress of the day seemed forgotten. Like their home, they were miles away and no longer took a toll on his handsome face. His excited expression and the deep cut of his dimples stole her breath away.
Together, they regarded the squat lobby. Forged from deep grey stone and arranged in a sweeping semicircle, it almost resembled an ancient coliseum. A warm golden glow spilled from the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. It was unlike anything she had ever imagined. Beyond the luxury of the hotel, seclusion and jagged mountaintops kissed the sky.
Sebastian’s lips brushed her temple in a reverent caress. “What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s incredible, but what is a place like this doing way out in the middle of nowhere?”
He laughed, squeezing her tight. “Making good money off of people like us, who want to get away.”
“Huh. Good plan,” she giggled. Her smile widened at his sexy wink.
“It is,” he agreed.
Keeping her close, he steered her inside. She looked around as he checked in and acquired their room key. The huge stone walls, fireplaces, floors, and posh leather furniture reminded her of home. Mesquite beams spanned the ceiling, giving the place a rustic Southwestern feel. Lush potted plants and ferns decorated the stone support beams and spilled from every corner. Though it was dark now, she imagined the view from the windows was breathtaking during the day. Turning at the sound of voices, she smiled at another couple as they strolled through the lobby.
“Come on, baby,” Sebastian urged.
Taylor shifted uncomfortably as she took in the first glimpse of their room. As much as she wanted to be happy, she couldn’t help feeling a small pang of guilt. He must have spent a small fortune. She wondered if he knew she would have been fine spending the weekend at some no-tell motel on the edge of town. Then she snorted. Sometimes she forgot Sebastian wasn’t accustomed to worrying about such things, much less enduring them. A getaway like that would have been about as relaxing for a man of his means as wading in a pit full of fire ants.
Even the suite was larger than her apartment had been. It was the size of a large house, and easily half the size of the one her and Sebastian shared at home. She eyed the gleaming hardwood foyer. The room opened up into an airy space with a double-sided fireplace that separated the living and dining areas. A large private balcony loomed on the other side with a breathtaking view of the desert. She eyed the opulent wood, leather, and suede furniture. Much like home, no expense had been spared. No comfort over looked.
She started to wander inside as Sebastian dropped their bags by the door, but he caught her arm, pulling her back to him. “Not so fast,” he warned in a husky murmur. “Where are you running off to?”
“Nowhere,” she said, offering up a shy smile.
“Good answer.” He chuckled and lifted her off her feet in an effortless sweep. She giggled into his shoulder as he carried her to the bedroom.
“I wasn’t aware this was our honeymoon, Agent Baas,” she teased.
He laughed and dropped her onto the king-sized bed. She sank into the plush down comforter as he sprung over her. His eyebrows danced and a wide smile split his face as he gave the mattress an experimental bounce.
“That’s Special Agent, darling,” he whispered, pinning her to the bed to kiss the side of her neck.
She gasped, arching against him when his teeth grazed her skin and a low growl rumbled from his throat.
“It might not be our honeymoon,” he murmured, nuzzling her ear. His hands gripped her thighs and dragged them up to his waist. “But I promise you one thing, baby. This is just the beginning.”
Bright light spilled through the windows, bathing her face. Squinting, Taylor stretched against the soft Egyptian cotton sheets with a groan. Her body still ached with the force of their passion, and morning had come far too early. She popped her eyes open to find Sebastian lying on his side beside her. He’d propped his head up on one hand and his green gaze shimmered with amusement and affection. Her cheeks flushed as she realized he’d been watching her sleep.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
Taylor grinned at his lazy smile and ran her fingers through his messy curls. “It is now.”
“You always say that,” he said, giving her a curious look.
“That’s because morning is never a good thing until I see you. That smile alone makes waking up worth the while.”
He fell back against the pillows, shaking his head with a quiet laugh. “Okay,” he said, his shoulders still shaking. “You’ve been sleeping all night, so it can’t be anything you did. What do you want?”
She snorted and rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Such a high opinion of me. Besides, what could I possibly want? I have the perfect life.”
“Do you now?” he asked, turning back over to face her. His finger traced a slow path over the naked swell of her breast. “Do you know what would make it even better?”
“What’s that?”
“Breakfast in bed. Twenty-four hour room service is just one of the many perks of this fine establishment.”
Taylor couldn’t suppress a teasing smile. “Someone’s hungry.”
He rubbed a hand over his rippled abs with a smirk. “I have to keep up my stamina. So what sounds good to you?”
A short time later, they remained spr
awled in the comfortable expanse of the bed. Sebastian had shooed housekeeping away with a harsh bark that made Taylor wince and giggle at the same time. Plucking a chocolate covered strawberry off the platter, she traced the end across his lips. She jerked back with a squeal when he lunged up with his usual fluid speed and chomped the fruit off clear up to her fingers. His eyes sparkled, but his expression shifted as he chewed. She couldn’t hold the laughter in as his face contorted into a tart grimace. Forcing a swallow, he seized a crisp piece of honeydew and dropped back against the pillows. He bit off one end before popping the other in her mouth.
“What do you want to do today?” he asked after swallowing. His gaze lifted to hers in question.
Taylor regarded him for a minute. So many men would have asked that while still chewing. Not him. He had impeccably good table manners. It seemed such a silly thing to ponder, but in many ways, Sebastian was so reserved and refined. In others, he was wild, intense, and often savage. He was full of so many contradictions and complexities that it made her head spin. Cutting off a piece of stuffed French toast, she fed it to him and shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
He studied her for a long moment. “What’s going on?” he asked quietly.
Her lips flattened into a grim press as she grappled with the wisdom of keeping her mouth shut and releasing the burdens that had been weighing on her mind. He’d been so happy, and in such a good mood. She didn’t want to risk changing any of that. Lowering her eyes, she focused on slicing off another piece of bread.
“It’s nothing.”
He covered her hand with one of his, stopping her cutting motion. The other curled around her chin forcing her gaze to his. “It’s not nothing, Taylor. I can tell something is bothering you. What’s on your mind?”
“I just…I keep thinking about yesterday.”