Page 73 of Sebastian's Secret

Knowing she was bound electrified the entire process. There was no way for her to either halt or accelerate his ministrations. Rebecca was his in the most literal way.

“And this time, little girl.” His voice was a deep carnal purr. “This time, you can come.”

Something seismic shifted in her head with his permission, her body ceding as his tongue resumed its work. It wasn’t long before fireworks erupted in the sky, her breaths short and fast as she tensed at the overwhelming hedonism. This was what she wanted, what she’d yearned for all of this time, and as Sebastian’s name echoed around the bedroom, she was sure that her dragon had been sent to her from whatever power resided in the heavens. He might transform into a beast, but Sebastian was an angel, incandescent in the shadows and shrouded in celestial light.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sebastian

Less than an hour later, Sebastian was back at the lodge. It had killed him to leave Rebecca, especially in the intimate aftermath of her mesmerizing climax, but a promise was a promise. All three of them had vowed to Balthazar that they’d convene after his meeting with Oliver Monroe, and even though he’d already got the general gist from their brief time at Berrunti’s, he wanted to be there when Balthazar reported the message to Draco and Cole.

Now, more than ever, his brother’s perceptions of the Monroe family mattered. Sebastian was already well aware of his elder brother’s view, but he wanted to ensure Balthazar didn’t have the opportunity to poison the others against Rebecca’s family. It was true that her father and brother were assholes—Rebecca had more or less conveyed that much herself—but Sebastian didn’t want the woman he adored to be tarred with the same dark brush. Not every Monroe was a callous swine. At least one of them was absolutely fucking delectable.

“I can’t believe this,” Draco complained. “Balthazar berates us for being late and then can’t get his ass here on time!”

Sebastian chuckled at the irony. Draco wasn’t wrong.

“He seemed distracted,” Sebastian told Draco, recalling how odd Balthazar’s behavior had been over coffee. Sebastian had been all set to talk to him about Rebecca, but his older brother had been sidetracked by a woman of his own.

“Oh?” Draco’s blue eyes drilled into Sebastian.

“Yeah.” Sebastian grinned. “A brunette I didn’t know, but who appeared to be linked to Oliver Monroe, seemed to have captured his attention.”

“What?” Draco’s gaze narrowed. “He’s supposed to be negotiating with Monroe, not thinking between his legs.”

“I’m sure he can multitask,” Sebastian assured Draco as Cole wandered into the lodge.

“Afternoon.” Cole feigned a salute. “Where’s Balthazar?”

“Off fucking some brunette, apparently.” Draco rolled his eyes.

“I never said that.” Sebastian laughed, thinking of his own red-hot woman.

If Balthazar had found someone of his own, Sebastian was happy for him. A happier Balthazar would only increase Sebastian’s chances of winning his brother over where Rebecca was concerned. She was his regardless of his brother’s potential objections, but Sebastian would much prefer harmony.

“You took your time.” Draco’s wry tone broke Sebastian’s train of thought, and glancing up, he saw Balthazar enter the salon.

“I owed a lady a drink.” Balthazar looked down the line of his brothers, his stare pausing over Sebastian’s face, though Sebastian couldn’t tell what his expression revealed.

“You’re here now.” Sebastian ushered them from the doorway before he settled onto the leather couch. “Debrief us.”

“Monroe is a no-go.” Balthazar confirmed.

“Oh, come on.” Draco shook his head. “You’d decided that much before you even went.”

“How much did he offer?” Cole asked from his place by the window.

“Not enough,” Balthazar’s tone was resolved. “He’s not serious. In fact, he seems to think he’d be doing us a favor by taking it off our hands and, as I told him, we have no reason to sell.”

“If there’s no profit, then there’s no point,” Cole concurred.

“Sure you don’t just hate the guy?” Draco’s knowing eyes bored into Balthazar and trepidation knotted into Sebastian’s stomach. Draco’s inference highlighted Sebastian’s real anxiety, that however perfect Rebecca was for him, Balthazar would never give her a chance because he had such hatred for her bother.

“I do loathe him, yes,” Balthazar admitted. “But this is business.”

“And the woman?” Draco went on, his gaze flitting to Sebastian. “Seb told us about the pretty brunette you saved. Wasn’t she his?”

“She used to work for him.”