“I don’t want to talk about him. He’ll never be able to hurt me again.” Ashley winced as the admission slipped out.
Sebastian inhaled a breath, struggling to control his anger. “If he ever comes near you or tries to hurt you again, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
She touched his chest, calming the beast within him with her gentle caress. “He can’t hurt me anymore.” She nestled against him. “Can we please stop talking about him?” Ashley didn’t say anything else.
They made love into the early morning hours. She gave herself completely as he gave himself in return.
“I love you, baby,” he said breathlessly, after their last round.
Silence met his tender gaze. Sebastian knew the road ahead wouldn’t be smooth or easy. Rough and hard would be the road they traveled. His determination was strong enough to carry them along the journey.
Sun peeked through the windows the next morning. Ashley rose first, tip-toeing from the bedroom into the living room. Only when his stomach growled did Sebastian remember that they hadn’t eaten the night before. He watched as Ashley headed to the kitchen.
A sound that he recognized stopped her where she stood. Giving a sidelong glance, she spotted the red-feathered friend fluttering and pecking at the sliding glass door. Ashley strolled gingerly toward the door and placed an open palm on the glass. The little bird didn’t frighten.
Sebastian leaned against the doorframe, stroking his chin as he silently watched her. He enjoyed the way her dark hair cascaded over the curve of her shoulder. The outline of her shapely frame shone through the thin sheet wrapped around her.
And then, as if slashing his heart the night before hadn’t been enough to ensure his death, she minced it with her next words.
“Little red robin, I can’t love Sebastian. Chris still holds my heart.”
Hurt swelled inside him, forcing his retreat and he ducked into the bedroom. He had confessed his love, and Ashley rejected him. Pain unlike any feeling he had experienced struck his chest. His heart exploded. A flood of emotion brought the giant to his lowest point and he wilted to the bed.
Wiping away the evidence of his brokenness, a new man emerged. Sebastian wouldn’t be yo-yoed. Wouldn’t suffer at her whimsy. Wouldn’t be wound up to be let go. She chained him and then unshackled the desire within him. An idea began to form in the darkest part of him. As wrong as Ashley pegged him, she had been right about one thing. He would take her down.
Coming Soon
The story of Ashley and Sebastian
continues in Down With You,
the fourth book in the Suits in Pursuit series.
About Lauren H. Kelley
Lauren H. Kelley is the bestselling author of sizzling hot contemporary romance across the color lines. She aspires to bridge the racial divide with provocative storylines that arouse the senses and transcend race, focusing on issues that unite us all through our shared experiences in love.
Lauren began writing short stories in high school, but abandoned her first love to pursue a business degree and career in corporate America. A late bloomer to her true calling and craft, she finally figured out what she wanted to do with her life—write! Growing up in a multicultural family, she was exposed to diversity from an early age. She has always had an appreciation and respect for multicultural romance.
She currently resides in the Southeast where she is an active member of Romance Writers of America.
Visit laurenhkelley.com for other titles in the Suits in Pursuit series.
Pull Me Closer
Closer To You
Take Me Down
Down With You (coming soon)
Find Lauren H. Kelley:
laurenhkelley.com
Facebook.com/authorlaurenhkelley
Twitter: @laurenhkelley
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Take Me Down (Suits in Pursuit) Page 22