“What happened to her?” I ask, leaning my forearms against the table, my dinner long forgotten.
“She was hanged.”
“What?” I gasp. “Why?”
“McAllister and his brothers weren’t satisfied with her punishment and took the law into their own hands. They dragged her out of her home in the middle of the night and strung her up, most likely so Thomas’ wife wouldn’t learn of his infidelity. All four brothers died that year, and ever since, a black cloud has loomed over the family.”
“I’d say it’s a little more than a black cloud, Valeen,” Krista mumbles bitterly into her glass of whiskey. She won’t even look at Sebastian, and I wonder to myself if it hurts too much. I also wonder why she stuck around if it was too much to bear.
“Well, this was fun,” Sebastian says dryly, tossing his crumpled-up napkin down onto his plate. I follow suit.
“Thank you for dinner,” I tell Valeen, looking down at my plate of chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a home-cooked meal.”
She smiles at me and reaches for Sebastian’s hand as he passes her. I see her give him three intentional squeezes, then he gives her four in return.
“What was that?” I ask when we’re on our way back to the bunkhouse.
“What?” Sebastian asks.
“The hand thing with Valeen.”
“Oh.” He scratches at the back of his neck. “Three squeezes for I love you. Four for I love you, too.”
That might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. We’re silent the rest of the way back. I reach for Sebastian’s hand, and surprisingly, he takes it. When we get to the bunkhouse, we don’t waste any time jumping into our bubble, also known as Sebastian’s bunk, not even bothering to take our clothes off.
Sebastian faces me, wrapping a palm around the back of my neck before fusing his lips to mine. The kiss is long and slow and full of emotion. My hand finds his face, cupping his scruffy jaw. When he pulls back, there’s a look in his eyes that I haven’t seen before.
“I don’t get to choose, Evan. But you do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, my stomach flipping with nerves.
“It means, now you know why I’ve been holding back. But I won’t do it anymore. If you don’t want this, you have to be the one to walk away.”
“What if I can’t?” I whisper into the dark.
“Then we’re both masochists.”
I wake up hot in Sebastian’s arms, both of us still fully clothed. Sebastian snores softly, looking like a young boy in his sleep, not yet hardened by reality. Today’s slough day, so technically, I don’t have any place to be. Dropping a kiss to the scar on his lip, I climb out of the bunk, tiptoeing to the bathroom. After I’ve emptied my bladder and brushed my teeth, I quietly creep to my suitcase to change into something more comfortable. Sleeping in jeans should be illegal. As I’m digging through my stuff, I realize I don’t see my music box anywhere.
“That’s weird,” I whisper to myself. I know it was in here. I dump the contents out, looking through every article of clothing and inside every pocket. Nothing. Trying not to worry, I tell myself that Sebastian probably stashed it somewhere safe again. I quickly shrug off my jeans out in the open, knowing none of the guys would be up this early, before throwing on a pair of yoga pants and crawling back into Sebastian’s arms.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER CITY. I thought after certain revelations that things would be different with Sebastian and me. And they have, in some ways, I guess. He’s not as guarded. We still sleep together every night, but he’s subdued. Distant and distracted. On edge and lost in his own thoughts. It feels like something is coming, but I don’t know what.
I think a lot about his family curse, and while it scares me to think of anything happening to him, it only makes me want to make the most of our time together. Time is something no one should take for granted. A bus could hit me tomorrow, for all I know. And that’s how I choose to look at this so-called curse. It might happen. It probably won’t. But I don’t want to have any regrets when it’s all said and done.
The fact that he hasn’t tried to have sex with me tells me he’s still holding back for some reason. I tell myself that it has nothing to do with me, but my pride has taken a hit. Especially now, as I stand hidden inside the Vixens’ tent, watching Selina trying her best to get Sebastian’s attention. He’s at a table with Eros, Lathan, and Tres. I asked him to meet me here, but I didn’t know he’d bring the whole gang. Selina’s in the middle of her act. A slow and seductive version of “I Put a Spell on You” wafts from the speakers as she dances in nothing but a red thong, two, giant feather fans the only things covering her breasts.
Sebastian isn’t paying her attention. His head is bowed, looking at his phone—probably texting me to ask where I am. Ever since that night Selina locked me in the trailer, he’s had his phone on him a lot more. I haven’t seen Selina since, and looking at her now makes me want to stab her with the heels I borrowed from Kat.
“You couldn’t have picked a better night,” Kat says from beside me. “He’s not going to know what hit him.”
Selina saunters down off the platform, heading right for Sebastian.
“What is she doing?” Kat asks, her voice raising an octave. “That’s not part of her routine.” Before I can respond, she’s sprinting off toward the stage.
My face heats with anger. I was all nerves, especially seeing all four of the guys in the front row, but now, all I feel is determined. Determined to show Selina who Sebastian belongs to and determined to make Sebastian’s self-control snap.
Selina sits on Sebastian’s lap, waving her fans around before she drops them to the ground. The crowd roars and she smiles seductively, reaching for Sebastian’s face, but he snatches her wrist in his hand before she makes contact. Even from all the way back here, I can tell by his body language that he doesn’t want her near him, but it doesn’t stop her from thrusting her chest in his face.
Just when I’m about to explode with jealousy, the music cuts short. Selina stands, looking around, confused, and then Kat’s taking the stage, microphone in hand. I look over toward the sound booth in the corner. The usual guy is nowhere to be seen and in his place is Miles, tossing me a wink.
“Let’s hear it for Selina,” Kat’s saccharine sweet voice drifts from the stage, like she didn’t just sabotage her set. The audience applauds, and I can tell Selina wants to throw a tantrum of epic proportions, but she simply gives a tight smile before taking a bow.
“You’re in for a real treat tonight. Please welcome, the beautiful, never-before-seen, Evangeline!”
I see Sebastian stiffen upon hearing my name, and my stomach flips with both apprehension and anticipation. Swallowing my nerves, I make my way toward the stage. Sebastian catches my gaze, jaw clenched tight as he takes in my black bra, thong, and garter belt, eyes promising retribution for what I’m about to do.
“Pure” by Hey Violet starts playing, and I slowly sway my hips to the beat. Bringing my hands up to the sides of my bra, I flatten them against my chest, down my stomach before sliding them down my thighs, bending my knees, thighs spread wide. Sebastian glares at me through cold eyes as I pop my ass out before bringing myself upright. The girl sings about washing away all of her pure until she’s cured, and that’s exactly what I want Sebastian to do. I want him to stop holding back and give me everything.
Turning away from the audience, I bend at the waist, giving them a prime view of my ass as I move it back and forth. I flip my hair, looking over my shoulder, and Sebastian looks absolutely murderous. He hasn’t seen anything yet. Turning back around, I walk off the platform, sidling up to him. Running my index finger across his chest, I circle his chair, keeping my hand on him all the while. My back to his front, I fit myself between his spread legs, leaning back into his chest. My hands braced on his knees, I push my ass into his crotch, and he grips the side of my hip so hard I know it’ll bruise.
; “Watch it,” he warns. “You don’t want to fuck with me tonight.”
Challenge accepted.
Using him as a chair, I sit back on his tense thighs. Stretching one leg out in front of me, I let Kat’s high heel slip off my foot before peeling down my fishnet stocking, then follow suit with the other one.
“I mean it, Evan. Don’t push me.”
I swivel around on his lap to straddle him, steadying myself with the tips of my bare toes on the floor. Rolling my hips, I run my fingers through his hair, pushing his head backward. I lick a path up his neck, and when I get to his ear, I whisper, “Can you feel how wet I am?”
His jaw looks as if it might crack under the pressure, and one hand squeezes the top of my thigh as the other one comes up to fist my hair at the nape of my neck. He jerks my head backward, pulling me close. “That’s enough.” His voice is thick, along with the bulge in his pants.
Knowing this part is going to cost me, I sit back, reaching behind me to slowly undo the clasps of my bra as my hips keep grinding on his lap. During the climax of the song, I rip it off, exposing the elaborate, dainty rose gold chain that looks like a necklace at first glance, crisscrossing over my chest. Two ornate discs attached to the chain are the only things covering my nipples. The crowd cheers and whistles, and finally, Sebastian snaps. He stands, and I slide off his lap, barely catching my balance before he’s shucking off his leather jacket and throwing it over my shoulders.
Sebastian picks me up, flips me over his shoulder, and storms toward the entrance. “Hey!” I protest to no avail, slapping at his back. I hear Eros chuckling and catch a glimpse of Selina’s enraged expression. Then Kat takes the stage, introducing the next act as Sebastian prowls away from the stage, not slowing until we’re to the trailer.
The door slams behind us, bouncing off the metal frame, as Sebastian sets me on my feet. His nostrils flare as he takes me in, his eyes falling across the black underwear, the garter belt with the strings dangling, his leather jacket over the body chain. The way he’s looking at me makes me feel powerful.
“What the fuck was that?” he finally says, his voice low and deadly.
“It’s called dancing,” I snap back. “You should try it sometime.”
Sebastian paces back and forth, his hand raking through his hair. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“I’m the one playing games?” I laugh, incredulous. “I have whiplash from all your games. You want me one minute, and you’re a stranger the next. It’s always one step forward and two steps back with you.” He doesn’t say a word, just stands there stoically. “You know what I think? I think you’re scared of me.”
His eyes narrow into slits, his jaw working back and forth. I move toward him.
“I think you caught feelings for me. Actual feelings. And you don’t know what the fuck to do with that.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he grinds out.
“Then tell me,” I yell. “Tell me why you won’t fuck me.”
“Is that what this is about?” His fingers curl into my garter belt, pulling me toward him. “Is someone feeling a little hard-up?” His hand moves down, cupping me hard, and I can feel the heat of it through the thin lace. “I have been neglecting you, haven’t I? You need me to play with your pussy?”
Every nerve ending buzzes with electricity at his touch. I feel moisture starting to pool between my legs as his fingers graze my lips, back and forth. My eyes fall shut, and it’s all I can do to stay upright.
“No,” I say firmly.
His fingers stop their ministrations immediately. “No?” he asks, like he can hardly believe what he’s hearing.
“No,” I repeat, closing in on him. I bite my lip, flattening my hand to his thigh, sliding upward until I grip him through his jeans. He’s rock hard, straining against the fabric. Dropping his leather jacket and pushing onto my tiptoes, I whisper, “I want this.”
Sebastian takes in my near-naked frame and makes a sound not unlike a growl as I fumble with the button of his pants, but this time, he doesn’t stop me. I drop to my knees, folding my fingers in his waistband and tugging them down past the V-shaped muscles. My mouth goes dry being this close to something so perfect. “Sexy” Sebastian McAllister, who hates damn near everyone, is allowing me to touch him. Not only that—he’s affected by my touch.
I pull down his boxers, and his cock bobs, smooth and hard with a drop of moisture on the tip. I lean forward, my tongue peeking over to lick his slit.
“Fuck,” Sebastian curses, his hips jerking forward. “Touch me,” he urges. I wrap my hand around the base of him, slowly pumping as I lick the underside of his shaft up to his tip.
“Wrap your lips around my cock.”
Turned on by his words, I do, sliding my tongue along the underside as I take him into my mouth. I pull back, sucking, and his hips jerk again. I grab the back of his thigh with one hand to steady myself as my mouth and hand work in tandem, sucking and stroking, paying extra attention to the wide head.
His hands come down on each side of my face, staring down at me with his eyebrows pinched together, the crease between them more defined than usual. I peer up at him from under my lashes, sitting back on my heels, placing my hands flat on my thighs as he directs my movements. His mouth parts, the veins in his neck becoming more prominent as his breathing grows harsh. Suddenly, he’s pulling my face away, causing me to release him with a pop.
“Jesus Christ,” he says hoarsely before reaching over to grab a pillow from his bunk and tossing it to the floor behind me. Then he’s pushing me backward, pulling off my underwear and garter, throwing it behind him. “This stays on,” he says, fingering the body chain. Pushing my thighs open, he dives between them, hungry and aggressive. There’s nothing sweet about it. He pushes my knees back and eats me like an animal attacking his prey, and I fist his hair, arching my back.
He pulls my hips up, my legs folding over his shoulders, bringing my pussy to his mouth. Only my shoulders touch the hard floor and the body chain slides out of place, exposing my nipples.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” he mumbles into me, taking a long swipe at my slit.
“Then fuck me,” I all but beg. Sebastian’s eyes flash with heat.
“You’re going to hate me for this later,” he warns. “But I’m done denying what you’ve been begging for.” He reaches behind him, ripping the T-shirt over his head.
“Thank God.”
He stands, fumbling around Eros’ bunk before coming back with a condom in hand. I watch him, bottom lip pinched between my teeth, as he rolls it onto his length. I’m feeling so many things at once, I can’t pick just one emotion to hold on to. My hearts slams in my chest, as I lie here naked on display for him, seconds away from finally having him inside me.
He lowers his body over mine, his elbow resting next to my head. His free hand directs himself toward me, sliding the length of him between my lips until I’m panting and writhing against him, frustrated and wanting more.
Without warning, Sebastian snaps his hips forward, filling me in one motion. My mouth drops open in a silent cry, and I tense up. “Holy fuck,” he breathes, wedging himself in farther. Sebastian sits back and spreads me with his thumbs, staring down at where we’re connected. “Look at your pussy wrapped around me so tight,” he grits out. It’s equal parts pleasure and pain, and I try to force myself to relax.
Sebastian picks up the pace, and I can hear how wet I am. I start to move, meeting his thrusts, and before long the pain is gone, leaving nothing but ecstasy. I arch my back, my head thrown back, and Sebastian grips the chain dangling from my chest, pulling it tight, using it as leverage to fuck me harder. Unable to hold it in, I scream as he fucks into me, my blood rushing in my ears. The chain breaks in his fist, and Sebastian leans down, flicking his tongue into my open mouth. I kiss him back, and then I’m shoving at his chest until he takes my subtle cue and rolls onto his back without breaking our connection.
My eyes w
iden, and I gasp at the angle at the same time Sebastian groans. It’s deep, almost too deep, but I revel in the feeling of being so full of him. I brace my palms on his chest, inadvertently pushing my breasts together, closing my eyes as I circle my hips. We’re both covered in a thin layer of sweat, and I feel like I’m in the Globe of Death again, dizzy and fascinated and hypnotized and mesmerized.
“Goddamn,” Sebastian says, gripping my hips. I open my eyes to see him watching me with wonder in his eyes. “Ride me.”
I feel it building, and I move faster, grinding harder. My clit rubs against his pelvis, and I bear down on him, chasing the friction. I knew it could be like this. The thought plays in my mind on a loop. This moment feels like it’s bigger than us. Or maybe that’s just the lust talking.
“I’m coming,” I announce, my movements becoming jerky. Sebastian takes over, squeezing my waist as he fucks me from the bottom. It’s all I can do to hold on as I clench and release around him. My breasts bounce, the broken chains rubbing against my nipples in the best way.
I slump onto Sebastian’s chest and abruptly, he flips me over, fucking my boneless body with reckless abandon. I’m jelly, barely conscious as he uses my spent body to find his release. He holds my legs open, punching his hips into me. Sweat rolls down the side of his face, and his teeth clamp down on his bottom lip. Needing to feel closer to him, I cup his face, urging him down to bring his lips to mine. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, kissing me deep. He gives three more hard thrusts before his abs tighten and he groans, “Fuck,” his movements turning slow and lazy.
His sweat-slicked body falls onto me, pressing sloppy, open-mouthed kisses across my jaw and down my neck before rolling onto his back, pulling me on top of him without pulling out. I moan at the feeling, shifting my hips. “Behave,” he says, swatting my naked ass.
“Fine.” I pout, already wanting more.
We lie in silence. Sebastian fiddles with the tattered chain still half-hanging around my chest, sending goosebumps up and down my torso. My nose stings, and I have the strangest urge to cry. I don’t know why I’m suddenly feeling emotional, but being here like this, having him touch me like he needs me, too…it’s overwhelming. If I could bottle this feeling up and keep it forever, I would.
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