"Maybe not," I retort.
"Maybe you will, once you get full custody of your daughter?"
I hold his gaze for a second, then another. "Maybe," I finally whisper.
"I'll hold you to it." He reaches around and lowers the St. Andrews Cross until my feet touch the floor. Then he sinks down to his knees, unties one ankle, making sure I have my balance before he unties my other ankle. I begin to shuffle my feet together, but he stops me.
"Easy, let your blood circulation restore itself." He rubs at my ankles, and the warmth of his hands on my skin sends pinpricks of pleasure racing up my legs. When he’s sure that I’ve reacclimated, he rises to his feet. Then he reaches up and unties my hands. He brings my wrists together in front of me and rubs them between his large, warm fingers. The calluses on his thumbs scrape over my skin and goosebumps pop out. My belly trembles, then flip-flops, and as if he’s aware of the effect, he releases me. Then shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders.
"I have a jacket," I protest.
"You'll wear mine," he commands in a tone that's so fierce that my insides clench. I thrust my arms into the sleeves, and he proceeds to fasten the buttons.
That masculine, spicy scent of his envelops me. The residual heat of his body trapped in the jacket lining loops about my shoulders, tying me to him further.
Finally, he folds up the sleeves before he steps back and surveys me. "You’ll do."
"For what?" I scowl.
"You’ll see."
He clasps my wrist and turns just as there is a banging on the door. "Open up! You, in there," a man hollers.
"Why the hell is the door locked?" asks another male voice.
The banging intensifies. We reach the door, and Seb flings it open. A man with his hand raised to knock on the door pauses mid-motion.
"Move," Seb growls.
The man pales. He stumbles back and crashes into his friend, who loses his footing. The two slam into the wall as Seb brushes past them.
"Hey, where are you taking me?" I huff as he hauls me in his wake.
"I’ve told you already."
"City Hall?" I stumble and try to keep up with his much larger strides. "Why are we going to City Hall?"
"One guess."
My heart begins to thud in my chest and my eyes widen.It can’t be, can it?"You wouldn’t." I gulp.
"Try me," he replies.
He yanks me down the stairs, into a corridor that bypasses the main dance floor, then up a short flight of steps, where he shoulders open the door. The night air hits me as we step out. I shiver. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me into him. His bulk cuts off the breeze and the heat of his body surrounds me. I’m tempted to think he’s trying to keep me warm, but I’m pretty sure he’s only making sure I don’t escape him.
Glancing back at the main door to the nightclub, I notice a queue stretching around the building.
"Won’t City Hall be shut at this time of the night?"
"I asked them to keep it open."
"Of course you did." I toss my hair over my shoulder. "What if I don’t want to come with you?"
"Too bad." He raises a shoulder.
"I believe I will record my objections on the matter." I set my jaw.
"Noted, and overruled."