While she noticed him using her nickname, she tried to appear nonchalant about it. They ate in silence. Sebastian offered her a can of soda, which he had already opened.
“That was a great meal, Katie. Thank you. I’ll take care of the dishes.” Sebastian volunteered as he collected the plates and went the kitchen to wash them.
Caitlin looked around; trying to observe the details of the house she somehow missed out the last time she was here. A framed photograph of twin boys caught her attention. The resemblance was stunning, like two peas in a pod. She got up to take a close look at the picture, fascinated at the newfound knowledge that Sebastian had a twin brother.
“That’s Shawne.” Sebastian said as he came up to her, also looking at the picture. She could feel the tension in him as he mentioned his brother’s name.
Unaware of the tragic accident, Caitlin asked, “Does he also go to Princeton?” Looking up right into Sebastian’s dark eyes.
“Did. He passed away last September.” Sebastian replied, his eyes suddenly devoid of any emotion and his voice flat.
Caitlin gasped softly. She could feel his sadness and grief, despite his efforts to hide it. Reaching out to touch his forearm, “I’m so sorry to hear that, Sebastian,” her eyes showing her concern. She could not imagine losing Caleb. Sebastian must have been devastated at the death of his twin brother and it was just a few months ago. She longed to give him a comforting hug and take the pain away.
Sebastian gave her a searching look, trying to gauge her sincerity. It came as a surprise to him that she was did not know about his twin brother or his untimely death. That could only mean Caitlin had no prior knowledge of him or his family.
Sebastian thought of himself as a fairly good judge of character. Shawne used to joke and tease him about being too guarded and a bit paranoid, which Sebastian secretly thought was partly true. Despite his good looks, he found out that money was always the primary motivating factor women go after him.
But no Hollywood actress could have feigned Caitlin’s look of surprise when he told her Shawne was dead. The news of Shawne’s death had been splashed all over the newspapers for days. It was only natural for him to assume everybody knew about it.
“I miss him. Even at this age, we did everything together, along with Nick.” Sebastian shared, feeling more comfortable now to open up.
“What was the cause of his death?” Caitlin asked softly.
“I killed him.” Sebastian replied tonelessly. He backed away from Caitlin and started to pace, as if some inner demon was hounding him.
“Oh Sebastian, you can’t mean that…” Caitlin could feel his anguish. In an effort to comfort him, she came up to him and hugged his waist, laying her head on his sturdy chest.
“I was driving the car that smashed into a tree, instantly killing Shawne. My parents had to pay some people to stop them from linking his death to me. They wouldn’t want their other son to be implicated in a case of reckless driving resulting to homicide. But we all know the truth.” Sebastian said in a dead voice. It was the first time he’d spoken about the incident to anyone, even his own family. He had been replaying it in his mind over and over. It was only after his birthday that he was able to sleep better, often dreaming of a golden girl whose blue eyes haunted him.
“I don’t know the details but you need to stop punishing yourself, Sebastian. It was an accident. I’m sure Shawne would not want you to waste your life away wallowing in guilt.” Caitlin said, her voice earnest.
“I wish it were that easy. When Shawne died…it’s like a part of me died with him. I was so used to always having him around, you know. He had so much life in him, people were naturally drawn to him.” Like poison coming out from his system, Sebastian somehow felt a little better talking about Shawne’s death to someone.
He had been punishing himself mentally reliving the accident over and over, blaming himself for Shawne’s death and wishing he had insisted to Shawne had put on his seatbelt. They were young and reckless, acting as if they were invincible. Shawne had been supposed to drive that day but Sebastian had insisted, knowing he was in better shape to drive than Shawne who was still dealing with a royal hangover.
“Shhh…it’s okay. Stop torturing yourself. Shawne would not want to see you like this.” Caitlin said, hugging him closer.
He smiled at her attempt to soothe him. He had been with so many women before, but never like this. Most of his encounters with females usually had to do with sex, money or something else they wanted from him.
Inhaling deeply, he filled his senses with her presence—her smell, the feel of her body close to his, her voice… Sebastian gathered her close to him, running his hand through her hair. The air was again suddenly thick with tension, making Caitlin pull back a little.
Their eyes met. Sebastian’s were dark with longing and something else… He could feel Caitlin’s heart beating fast against him. He longed to ravish her dewy lips and unleash his passion but he knew better. It took an unusual amount of willpower not to close the gap between them and allow his instincts to take control.
Caitlin slowly looked up through her lashes,, her eyes wide with expectation. She wanted him to kiss her so badly. But for some reason Sebastian was not making any move to do so.
Breaking their eye contact, Caitlin’s eyes travelled down to focus on his lips. He had nice full lips and a strong chin that revealed so much of his character.
As if mesmerized, Caitlin continued to stare at his lips and without thinking stood up onto her tiptoes for a kiss. Sebastian waited for their lips to meet, his breath suspended. The moment was so special, he did not want to ruin it with his ardor.
Even on tiptoes, Caitlin could not reach his lips. A bit impatiently, she reached up to tug his head down. With a groan, Sebastian leaned down to kiss her, trying hard to control his passion.
He could feel his blood pumping with excitement. Vaguely, he wondered what power this woman had over him that she could arouse him with just a kiss.
She laced her arms around his neck, inching up closer. She felt his hardness through his trousers, giving her more confidence. She shyly traced his lower lip with her tongue, which earned her a soft guttural sound from him, and prompted him to deepen the kiss.
Their tongues met and played, imitating the age old dance between a man and a woman. Sebastian could not seem to get enough of her. Despite his resolve to control the pace, Caitlin was making it too damn difficult for him.
He pulled her up, guiding her leg around his hips, still kissing her fervently. Without thinking, Caitlin rubbed herself against his length. She had grown wet and too aroused to rationalize her actions.
“Oh Katie, you can tempt a saint to sin...” Sebastian said softly, his voice thick with arousal. He started kissing her neck, his tongue expertly igniting the fire within her.
Still carrying her, he walked towards the bedroom. His head is pounding; all he could think of was burying himself into her tight welcoming heat.
Stopping the kiss, Sebastian cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes. “Katie, listen to me. I want to make love to you, sweetheart. I need to know if you want the same thing…”
She knew Sebastian did not need to ask her permission. With how things were going, he could easily ask her to do anything. It meant a great deal to her that he asked her.
Chest heaving, Caitlin paused and closed her eyes. She could not believe she was in his bedroom—again. She’d never even known she was capable of such passion, of such wild abandon. So this is how it feels like… Despite her very limited experience, she knew deep in her heart that she would not feel the same way with any other man.
She was in love with Sebastian.
The realization came like a thunderbolt, like a sudden kick in the gut—unexpected, disconcerting and terrifying all at the same time. She never knew it was possible that she could feel all these emotions all at once, with such intensity.
Thoughts were racing through her head. Caitlin doesn’t wish t
o entertain thoughts of a future with him—the mere thought of it was plain preposterous. She knew she was in for heartbreak.
Sebastian doesn’t have to know about her feelings. Forcing herself to shove all thoughts aside, she wants to have this night with Sebastian. One last time.
Sebastian watched the play of emotions on her face. It has clear to him she is not the type to simply engage in casual sex, like what he initially assumed.
He badly wanted her but he wanted to be certain she would come to him willingly—with a clear head.
Meeting his gaze, Caitlin’s eyes were shimmering with tears. She loved this man, that she was certain of. “Oh, sweetie, don’t cry. We don’t have to do this. It’s okay.” Sebastian murmured soothingly, flicking a tear off her lashes.
“I want you, Sebastian. I want this. Please… make love to me.” Caitlin whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She reached up to pull him into a long, passionate kiss.
Without a word, Sebastian carried her to bed, the same bed they had made love on over a month ago. The memory of that night brought a new wave of anticipation for Sebastian. This time, he would make it more special for her.
* * * *
Sebastian deliberately slowed their pace. He gathered her close and kissed her deeply, showing her just how much he wanted her. To his surprise, Caitlin boldly matched his passion.
His hand moved to cup her breast through her bra, softly kneading the soft mound. In response, Caitlin moved closer to him, threading her hands through his thick hair. Her senses were heightened, every touch, movement and sound were intensified.
Sebastian slowly undressed her, peeling each layer of clothing off with a slow seductive pace, amplifying the anticipation. When she was finally naked, Sebastian took his fill of her beauty, taking his time admiring every inch of her body.
“So perfect…” Sebastian said reverently, tracing her nipple. His admiration made her feel bolder and more confident.
“I…I want to touch you.” Caitlin whispered in between kisses.
“Hmmm… I’m all yours, sweetheart. Do as you please.” Sebastian said seductively. He lay back as an invitation for her to explore.
This gave Caitlin the cue to sit astride him, giving him a wonderful view of her body. Placing his hands at the back of his head, he gamely gave her full control.
Caitlin started taking off his shirt, kissing every inch of skin as it became exposed. When her mouth latched on to his right nipple, Sebastian could not help but let out a groan.
Her enthusiasm and curiosity more than made up her lack of experience. Her mouth travelled down, skimming the taut stomach. When she reached his hipbone, her right hand freed his erect manhood from the confines of his briefs.
She took her time, examining him with just her eyes at first. Then she finally touched him, her face showed her amazement at the velvety softness of his skin despite his hardness. She might not have been with other men but she knows he is unusually big.
Touching the base of his penis, she looked at him as she kissed the tip, eliciting a deep moan and quiver across his magnificent body. Wanting to please him, she kissed him again swirling her tongue along his length before taking him fully into her mouth.
Sebastian had to bite back a moan. For someone new at this, Caitlin is proving to be a very curious and adventurous student. When he could not take any more, he decided to take back the control.
“Ahh…sweetheart…my turn.” Sebastian said with a crooked grin, eyes twinkling with mischief, holding so much promise.
Sebastian thought their lovemaking a month ago was the best he’d ever had. This time certainly outdid the last one by a mile. He took his time making love to every inch of her body, gently showing her the ways to pleasure a woman.
When he finally entered her, Sebastian insisted she look at him while they perform that age old dance. Caitlin never knew it could be this beautiful and profound. With her newfound realization of her love for him, she relished every single moment, trying to memorize everything for she knew this could very well be the last time she would be with him like this.
An hour later, Caitlin woke up. The clock says it’s past 2 AM. Sebastian looked so peaceful in his sleep. She took time to simply stare at his finely chiseled face. His right arm was possessively latched at her hips, keeping her at his side.
They fit well together. She’d never felt this secure and happy but she knew this is a fleeting thing. She could never fit in his world. Gently kissing his lips, Caitlin slowly extricated herself from his embrace and placed a pillow in her place. Tiptoeing, she silently gathered her strewn clothing and quietly left.
Chapter Thirteen
Sebastian woke up to a persistent knocking at his door. As if in trance, he reached out to pull Caitlin closer to him, seeking her warmth only to grab hold of a pillow.
Looking about, Sebastian searched his room, Caitlin was nowhere in sight. He crossed to check the bathroom in two strides and still came up empty. There was no note, nothing.
There was no trace of her presence in his bedroom the night before, but Sebastian was sure it was not a dream.
“Sebastian?” Nicholas called out. “Open up, man.”
Slightly irritated, Sebastian open up, growling “What? Isn’t it too early to come barging in here?” The familiarity between the two allowed them to cross the lines of propriety without the risk of offending the other.
Nicholas strolled right in and looked around the bedroom as if casually searching for something—or someone. “Too early? It’s two o’clock in the afternoon.”
A bit startled, Sebastian checked the bedside clock, confirming Nick’s claim. “And? What is so important that you have to come pounding my door on a Sunday?” he demanded.
“Well, given that you were not answering any of my calls, I thought I’d stop by and check on what was keeping you so busy.” Nick replied, his eyebrows wagging. He was insinuating Caitlin spent the night there.
“Hahaha… Why don’t you go get yourself a nice chick to keep you occupied so you don’t have to stick your nose in my business, Nicholas.” Sebastian said as he lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a silly smile on his face.
“Well, well, well…what do we have here… You should see yourself.” Nicholas said, chuckling.
“What? Why?” Sebastian countered, only half paying attention to their conversation.
“Well, you look like a besotted puppy, that’s why.” Nicholas said wryly, seemingly enjoying his friend’s current state.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nick.” Sebastian simply said.
“Whatever you say… But I bet you have a lot to say about this!” Nicholas said, holding up a newspaper.
“What is it? The real estate market crashed?” Sebastian continued to stare at the ceiling, his mind busy replaying the events that transpired last night. He realized he didn’t even have Caitlin’s number. He made a mental note to get her personal details from her friend or from Caitlin herself. He definitely planned on seeing her more regularly.
“Here, I’ll read it for you. ‘Sebastian Avery Rescues A Damsel In Distress’ Sebastian Avery, heir to the Avery conglomerate was seen last night whisking away a girl who appears to be unconscious into his black Audi. Gone are the days of knights on white horses. Avery is keeping it in style with his expensive black coupe.”
As soon as Nicholas read the headline, Sebastian crossed the distance and snatched the newspaper from him. Plastered in the society page was a picture of him carrying Caitlin, her face partly concealed.
His face grim, Sebastian silently cursed. He usually prided himself of having high awareness and was always on guard when in public. While he was not really a celebrity, there were people who thrive in catching people of interest in uncomfortable and private situations. And having graced the covers of the local magazines with his brother and been hailed as one of the most eligible bachelors in New Jersey, he was certainly a person of great interest.
He was
just thankful they had not identified Caitlin and her face was not fully exposed. Nick knew better than to joke about the entire thing. Sebastian had always been more intent on keeping his affairs private compared to Shawne and Nicholas.
This will certainly stir up a lot of interest and set some tongues a-wagging. They knew better than to disregard society gossips as it could easily be blown out of proportion.
“What happened? Did you kidnap her or something?” Nicholas asked, trying to divert Sebastian’s attention from the newspaper.
“I was telling her to get in the car then she just fainted.” Sebastian muttered.
“You certainly have that kind of effect on women, huh?” Nicholas teased.
“She’s not like any woman I know, Nick. There’s something about her—an innocence and sincerity I find really refreshing.” Sebastian finally opened up. Talking about women they’d dated was never a taboo topic between them but with Caitlin, he wanted to keep everything to himself—at least for now.
“Wow! You got it bad, dude.” Nicholas chuckled. “Anyway, I got a chance to talk to Shannon about her and I was able to pull some information about Caitlin you might be interested in.” Nicholas opened up.
The truth was, Shannon acted like a mother hen protecting her chick. The two shared a cup of coffee after her shift, she did not hesitate to speak her mind and tell him Caitlin was not like any other girl they could play around with. In her anger, she spilled out some very interesting information like the fact Caitlin did not sell her body for a living. She was only forced to do so because she was in desperate need of cash for her brother’s kidney transplant.
In fact, Nicholas learned from Shannon that Caitlin had never had a boyfriend at all, she was too focused on making ends meet and taking care of her brother who was constantly in and out of the hospital.
When Nicholas finished giving him all the details, Sebastian was not really surprised. She had, after all, been a virgin when he took her. However, the new information made all the pieces fit together.
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