Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
He stood with hands braced on either side of the doorway, white knuckling the woodwork. His expression was taut with some intense emotion as he inspected me and then peered over my shoulder as if searching for something.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Sebastian glowered at me, practically growling as he grunted and pushed past.
“Aye, sure, come in, Thorne.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “That was sarcasm, by the way.” Blood rushed in my ears, my skin turning hot as I watched Sebastian march around my flat, checking in doorways. “Looking for something?”
He whirled on me, nostrils flaring. “Zac said you left with some guy.”
What. The. Heck?
This was not happening.
Blazing indignation crawled up my legs, rapidly igniting my entire body. “I did,” I bit out between clenched teeth.
“Where is he?”
“Probably back at the party. What are you doing here? I thought you’d have Candice under you by now.”
“Did you fuck him?”
“I think you should leave before I kill you.”
Sebastian’s chest heaved as if he’d run a marathon. On closer inspection, I noted his skin was a little dewy, his cheeks flushed, like he’d run all the way here. Relief blazed in his eyes. “You didn’t fuck him. So you’re alone?”
“I was until my insane ex-friend just showed up.” I whirled around and grabbed the edge of the door. “You should go. You’re about to miss sticking your tongue down Candice’s throat again for the bells.”
His eyes narrowed. “That bothered you, huh?”
He did not.
“Sebastian, again, I’ll repeat: Get out before I’m arrested for murdering you.”
“No.”
I gaped at him. “No? When a woman asks you to leave her apartment, the answer is not no. Get out!”
Features etched with anger, he bridged the distance between us, and I backed up to let him exit. Instead, he grabbed the door out of my hold and slammed it shut, locking us inside together.
“W-what are you doing?” I spluttered.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” he breathed out raggedly. “I just … I heard you left with some guy and … and …”
My heart raced so hard, I was sure he could hear it. “And what?”
Pain crossed his expression. “I don’t know. I … I hated the idea. Like, fully wanted to punch my fist through a wall hated it.”
“But you were okay about eating Candice’s face in front of me.” I shoved past him. “What is this, Thorne? You don’t want me but no one else can have me? You need therapy!”
He wrapped a hand around my biceps, pulling me back. His face bent to mine. “I didn’t feel anything for Candice. For fuck’s sake, I abandoned her on a rooftop to come to you. What does that tell you?”
“It tells me this is fucked up!” I yanked my arm from his hold, and he flinched at my uncharacteristic cursing.
“I know.” Sebastian scrubbed a hand over his face. “Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think I want what’s best for you and know it’s not me? Don’t you think I know I’m a selfish bastard when it comes to you?”
“Then stop being selfish.”
“Then stop making me want you so much.”
I huffed, my cheeks turning hotter. “You did not just say that. You don’t blame a woman for your attraction.”
“I don’t blame you. But don’t you wish you weren’t attracted to me?”
“Aye!” I yelled. “I have never wanted something more!”
We stared at each other in sullen resentment, even as the air between us crackled with the most intense sexual tension I’d ever experienced.
My earlier thought returned.
What if it was only sexual attraction?
What if … what if we scratched the itch and discovered it was enough to put our feelings to bed?
“Fine,” I whispered, my knees shaking even as I kept my tone cool and confident. “Let’s just do it.”
His lips parted as he inhaled sharply. “Are you … what?”
“Let’s sleep together.” I shrugged with more casualness than I felt. “Let’s scratch the bloody itch and be done with it.”
Sebastian swallowed hard as his gaze dragged down my body slowly as if he was memorizing every inch of me. “You mean … I mean … you mean …”
“A one-night stand. No strings attached.”
He straightened, his eyes flaring hotly. “And you’d still be my friend afterward? It wouldn’t … wouldn’t it get weird?”
“No.” I shrugged. “It’s messing things up. So, let’s do it and be done with it.”
He stared at me so long, I thought he would deny it.
Instead, it was like some string holding him back snapped and suddenly I was in his arms.
Sebastian Thorne kissed me with a passion that rocked me back on my heels.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LILY
He kissed me like it was the last time we’d ever see each other—a sensual place caught between wild longing and desperate hunger.
It was lips, tongue, need.
Sebastian held my head to his, his fingers threaded through my hair. I could do nothing but hold on to his arms as his kiss ignited my body in a way I didn’t know existed outside of my romance novels.