Sebastian released her and nodded. Reluctance swept across his face, tightening his features. His jaw twitched as he sighed and leaned against the headboard. “What about it?”
She shivered and set the tray aside. Her head spun as she searched for the right words to say. All she managed was a weak fragment. “Monique,” she whispered. “Why did you choke her like that? Wasn’t it a bit…much?”
“No,” he said, his eyes locking on her. “She’s still alive, isn’t she?”
Taylor forced a swallow at his cold expression. His words and somber tone struck an icy chord of terror in her heart. He was serious. Her cheeks tingled with the numbing wake of his displeasure. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. Sebastian released a heavy exhale.
“Listen carefully, because I am going to explain this to you once. Monique is lucky that was all she got. She knows better than to bait my anger, Taylor. I warned her to shut her mouth, and with me, one warning is all you get. Given the fact that she kept pushing, she should consider herself fortunate that I didn’t beat her from one end of the house to the other.”
She paled, not missing the double implications in his statement. Her hands shook, and she knotted them into the thick goose down comforter in an attempt to still their tremble. More than once, she’d wondered what she’d gotten herself into with this man. Now was definitely one of those times.
“Are we done with this conversation? Is there anything else you would like to ask?”
“Yes, Sebastian. I mean no. We’re done. There’s nothing else.”
His eyes bore into her for a long moment. Unable to bear their oppressive weight, she squirmed.
“Good. I don’t want to have this talk with you again.”
“Yes, sir.” Her bottom lip trembled. She really wished he would stop staring, even if just for a moment.
“I have zero tolerance for disrespect. I expect more from my family, and I definitely expect more from you. Don’t keep pushing me, Taylor. I will run things as I see fit, especially in my own home. Do you understand me?”
“I wasn’t trying to push. I just…” She trailed off at his narrowing stare. Breakfast threatened to resurface with her hard swallow. Sebastian shook his head in caution.
“Don’t talk back. Don’t argue. Just listen and take those warnings to heart because I won’t give them again. This wasn’t how I wanted our morning to go, but these things obviously needed said. I’m going to take a shower now. I suggest you get your head in the right place while I’m in there and figure out what it is you want to do.”
“Yes, sir.”
She tensed, her heart leaping into her throat when he reached for her. He speared his fingers through her hair and tugged her close. Not hard, like she was expecting, but slowly, gently. It was more of a coaxing, and she felt her body sag with relief.
“Good girl,” he soothed.
His lips brushed hers in a sensual kiss. Heat flooded her as his fingers tightened ever so slightly and he deepened the pressure against her lips. He pulled back and stood, offering her a parting wink. The fading remnants of fear were still coiled around her heart as she stared after Sebastian, watching him head for the bathroom. Her head spun with a dizzying combination of thoughts. With just a simple kiss, he left her dazed and longing for more. Yet deep down, some small part of her sensed she was in over her head. Taylor bit her lip. Whom was she kidding? She’d always known. It was part of why she’d agreed to go out with him in the first place. Even then, she’d sensed the danger and power he exuded. There was no getting away with telling a man like him no. Her gaze darted to the door and the sick churning in her stomach intensified.
She pried herself out of bed. Her bangs fluttered upward in an uneven ripple as she blew out a deep breath and wrapped herself in the plush folds of one of the hotel’s robes. Grabbing one of the activity brochures, she then pulled open the sliding glass doors and stepped out onto the balcony. The air was much warmer in Marana than it had been in Flagstaff. She hadn’t thought four hours in the car would have made that much difference, but here, there wasn’t even a dusting of snow, let alone a crisp layer. The sun glinted off the peaks of the Tortolita Mountains and bathed the sprawling desert basin. Thick brush and cactus dotted the surface, infusing the rich reds and browns with bursts of green. Closing her eyes for a second, Taylor relished the warm breeze and the sense of serenity radiating from the land.
She shook her head. Now was not the time to daydream. It was the time to focus. Thumbing through the brochure, she frowned. As relaxing as an afternoon at the spa would be, the marks still branding her back and thighs were as visible as they were sore. She cringed remembering the feel of the sharp leather belt biting into her flesh. Massages and swimming were definitely out of the question. Besides, she wasn’t too sure she wanted to risk the possibility of getting a male masseuse. Just the notion of another man touching her had been enough to send Sebastian over the edge, and she had been fully clothed that time. She didn’t even want to think about what letting one rub her bare skin would do to his already precarious temper. Not to mention the fact that she definitely wouldn’t enjoy another woman running her hands over that gloriously lean body of his.
There was so much to do, but hiking sounded exhausting and what he needed most was rest. Sebastian never struck her as the golfing type, and she’d never touched a club in her life. The mere thought of riding a horse right now made her wince. She mulled over the other choices, chewing the inside of her lip as she scrambled for something to do that might make him happy.
Taylor turned at the soft whisper of the door sliding open. Her eyes lifted to Sebastian’s, searching for some clue as to where his mood lie. The shower appeared to have eased his previous tension. Staring down at her, he offered a soft smile and pulled the door shut. Without a word, he crossed the balcony and dropped onto the padded bench. Pressed against her side, he glanced down at the pamphlets in question. The delicious smell of soap and aftershave clung to his skin and radiated off him in warm waves. She leaned against him, unable to help admiring the way his dark jeans and formfitting white tee clung to all the right places.
“What did we decide?” he asked.
“They have guided Jeep tours through the Sonoran Desert. It sounds kind of like a nature hike through the wilderness, but without all the hiking. It even has a stop at an ancient Hohokam site. It says here they were some of the very first inhabitants of the area.”
“A Jeep tour, huh?” he asked.
“I can pick something else.”
“You’re suggesting I spend the day riding around in a vehicle taking in the scenery and learning history?”
“I just thought…” She fell silent at the gentle press of his forefinger.
“I wasn’t finished, doll. I would get to relax and spend a few hours sightseeing with the woman I love.” His lips twitched, and his piercing gaze swung up to meet hers. “It sounds like a perfect day to me, baby.”
Sebastian polished off the last bit of braised short ribs from his plate and leaned back in his chair. Rubbing a hand across his overstuffed stomach, he resisted the urge to grin. Taylor was still struggling to reach the halfway point with her dinner. The restaurant was nothing if not generous with their portions. He studied her for a long moment, watching the candlelight flicker across her delicate features. She was so damn beautiful, so perfect. He really didn’t know what he had done to deserve her. He was proud of her. She’d handled their conversation this morning extremely well. It was a good sign. Things were progressing between them, and it was time he started laying the ground rules and building the foundation for their relationship. For the first time in a long time, he was looking forward to seeing what the future might hold. He enjoyed her immensely, but the time for handling Taylor with kid gloves was coming to an end. She was naive, innocent in many ways, but not stupid. After their talk, she’d proven her understanding by making sure he’d enjoyed the remainder of the day and had the most relaxing time possible. Whi
le he wasn’t one for unnecessary small talk or praise, those efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed.
She felt his gaze and glanced up with an uncertain smile. He returned the gesture, his grin assuring her he was in no rush. It was the truth. He savored times like these when work and the pressures of the world seemed a million miles away. Monday loomed like a dark blemish on the horizon, but for now, he was content to exist in the moment.
Their waiter came by again, and Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as the young man’s attention lingered on Taylor a little too long. He was a looker. Solid muscles strained against his uniform, and his chiseled face looked like it belonged on a full-sized Abercrombie and Fitch ad. Taylor remained oblivious and focused on her food proving she was a very smart girl. Steeling his jaw, he sat up, bracing his arms on the table as he fixed the dark-haired attendant with a murderous glare. Their eyes locked briefly. Muttering an awkward apology, the young man lowered his head and scuttled away.
Sebastian frowned as the would-be suitor retreated to the other side of the restaurant. It wasn’t the first time he’d chased off an admiring stare cast in Taylor’s direction, and he was certain it wouldn’t be the last. Nevertheless, it wasn’t something he enjoyed. Some men were of the mindset that it was okay for people to look as long as they didn’t touch. A few even found the perusal flattering. He wasn’t one of them. He didn’t need someone else’s approval to mark the importance and value of what was his, and he sure as hell didn’t appreciate it. Tossing his napkin on his plate, he returned his attention to the woman seated across from him.
“Darling,” he murmured, drawing her attention. “Don’t force yourself if you’re finished.”
She blushed. A thankful smile inched across her face, adding to her breathtaking glow. “I didn’t want to be wasteful.”
“I know, sweetheart, but there’s no point in making yourself miserable.”
“I think I reached that point about ten bites ago,” she admitted with a giggle.