The Return (The Edge of Forever Book 3)

by D. C. Gambel

  “So, what’s the plan tonight?” I asked trying to distract myself.

  “Well, I thought I’d go the traditional dinner and a movie, but since we’re in New York and it’s been years since I’ve seen a live performance…”

  “You want to go to the theatre?” It had been a while for me as well. It was something Grayson and I had been saying we would do, but we lived in the city so we had put it off, knowing that it would always be there and some of the shows could go on for years.

  He saw my hesitation. “You don’t like it?”

  I quickly replaced my expression with a smile. “That sounds amazing. What are we seeing?” There always seemed to be dozens of shows going, both on and off Broadway.

  “Finding Neverland.”

  I smirked. He was definitely after my heart. Peter Pan was one of my favorite characters, just not the Disney cartoon.

  We chose to eat somewhere close to the theatre since we didn’t want to be late and miss the show. Sebastian had picked out a nice Italian restaurant, but I knew he was doing it to impress me and I wanted to be on a date with him, not the person he thought I wanted, so I insisted on the Hard Rock Café. It was a little crowded, but we had some time to spare.

  We joked and laughed as we waited for our food. It was a completely different experience from when he took me to A Taste of Diamonds. This was more him, easy going and relaxed. I heard my phone buzz. I pulled it from my clutch. When I saw the name that appeared on the screen my body filled with dread, like cold water drenching me. It was Mrs. Alexander. I thought about not answering. I was worried she’d seen the article about me kissing Sebastian, but I knew that if I didn’t answer then I was being cowardly.

  “Hello?”

  “Gabriella, sweetheart, how are you holding up?” Her words sounded genuine, but it could be a set up for the accusation to come.

  “It’s tough.”

  “I know it is darling. Just continue trying to keep yourself occupied and pray the police find him soon.”

  “I am.” It was still hard pretending that I didn’t know what happened to him or the fact that I also knew that he was never coming home.

  “Listen sweetheart the reason I’m calling,” here it comes. “The Fundraiser called today.” Fundraiser? What fundraiser? Then I remembered about her wanting to surprise Grayson. “They still would like to give Grayson the award, but seeing as how he might not be able to accept it, I was hoping that you would for him.”

  I looked up at Sebastian. He was watching me closely. I was pretty sure that even with all the noise in the restaurant he could still hear both sides of the conversation. I looked away at anything else that wasn’t him. It felt wrong to be discussing Grayson while I was on a date with another man, not that Mrs. Alexander knew that.

  “Of course.” I couldn’t tell her “no” and I wasn’t sure I wanted too.

  “It’s just a precautionary measure. I’m sure he’ll be back in time to accept it,” I heard the crack in her voice. She was struggling to believe her own words.

  “I’m sure he will too,” I lied.

  “Alright, well it sounds like you’re out, so I’ll let you get back to it. I’ll email you the information.”

  We said our goodbye. It was a few minutes before I could bring myself to look at Sebastian. I felt like I had just made a date with another man in front of him.

  “Why do you do that?” he asked. His tone wasn’t angry. He seemed curious.

  “Do what?” I wasn’t sure what he meant and wasn’t going to explain myself unless I did.

  “Let his parents continue to believe that he’s just missing. You’re a vampire, Gaby. You could take away their pain.”

  I won’t lie that the idea hadn’t crossed my mind, but it wasn’t my place.

  “You’re saying that I should just make them forget their pain? Who am I to take that away? To not allow them the right to grieve their son?”

  “You could let them know he’s dead, but use your influence on them to not tell the police.”

  “All they have is their hope and they’re his parents. He’d never forgive me if I got in their heads and I don’t think I’d forgive myself for it either.”

  Sebastian wrapped up our check with thirty minutes until the show started. It was only a few blocks away so we walked it. People were already hanging around the lobby. Once we were able, we ushered ourselves inside and took our seats waiting for the curtain to go up. I was floored with what great seats Sebastian had got for us.

  “How did you pull this off?”

  “It’s good to have friends.” I knew he meant that he used a vampire to get them, probably Jade. I didn’t like that he kept doing that. What if these were tickets someone else paid for and they were manipulated into giving them up.

  I tried to enjoy the show, but that idea of Sebastian not caring how he got what he wanted was eating at me. When the players took their final bow and we got up to leave I knew Sebastian was sensing my mood.

  “Did you not like the show?” he asked trying to figure out the cause of my icy demeanor.

  “It was great. I’m glad I saw it.”

  We walked for a little while even though we could find somewhere empty and dissipate, but Sebastian didn’t even offer. After a few blocks he broke the silence.

  “What’s wrong, Gaby?”

  I halted my feet and let out a deep breath before moving out of the way of the people that were still trying to walk. We stepped to the side of the building.

  “How is it so easy for you to just use vampire influence to get whatever you want? You telling me I should use it on Grayson’s parents then you use it to get the tickets. What about A Taste of Diamond? I know you used it there. You’re not even a vampire and you’re using influence more than I do. It’s a survival tool, Sebastian, not a get anything you want card.”

  “Do you think I like using vampires to get these things done? I have never asked so many damn favors, until you.”

  “Me?” What did I have to do with it? So I asked.

  “I’m trying to impress you, Gaby. I don’t want to blow my chance.”

  “You’re blowing it by using supernatural crap to do these things.”

  Sebastian huffed and walked away from me running his hand through his hair, and then he spun back around. “Do you understand how crazy I feel? I tried to get your attention for months. The only reason I have a chance now is because…” Grayson died. He left his words hanging. “I know that he had connections and could have gotten you in there tonight by just dropping his name or asking a favor and I bet you wouldn’t have gotten pissed about it.”

  “It’s not the same and I don’t want you to try and be him.” I stepped closer to Sebastian until there was barely a sliver of space between us. “I asked you to date me.”

  “I wasn’t good enough before,” his voice lowered into a hushed whisper.

  “That’s not fair.”

  He shook his head. “No it’s not, but if he were alive, would you be here with me now?” I didn’t answer. Sebastian nodded to himself and tried to step away. I placed my hand on his face and turned him to face me. I pressed myself against his body leaving no space between us.

  “He’s not and I’m here with you. I want to be here with you.” I let my hand trail down his chin. I could see the struggle raging in him. His green eyes locked with mine and I knew he made a decision. His mouth fell on mine hard and fast causing me to moan into his. He took it as an opportunity and slipped his tongue past my lips. I felt him lead me backwards until the side of the building was pressed against my back. He grabbed my thighs lifting me. I instinctively wrapped my legs around him. I could feel his erection pressing against my center. I wiggled against it and heard him groan. One moment I could feel the roughness of the wall scraping against my back, next thing I’m falling, landing against something soft and the lighting had changed. I look around and notice that we were no longer in the alley, but in Sebastian’s room.

  I cupped his face an
d continue kissing him as I felt his weight on me. He shifted until he settled back between my thighs. He rolled his hips pressing himself against me and I gasped.

  “You like that?”

  “Yes,” I moaned as he does it again.

  I felt his fingers busy themselves with the buttons on my shirt. I reached for his and tugged until I touched his skin. Sebastian pulled back and helped me remove his shirt before tossing it. Our lips moved together and his fingers worked their way down my shirt tugging it to untuck it from my pants. I felt his palm on my stomach and knew he’s completed his task. His hand slowly grazed up until he cupped and kneaded my breast. Suddenly I wanted my shirt gone. It felt like a restriction. Sebastian helped me and tossed it too. Now the only thing between our chests was the thin lacey material of my bra.

  I felt his fingers on my throat and his lips followed the same path. My back arched off the bed and I didn’t realize I was pushing my breasts into his face until I felt the warmth of his mouth claim one of the hardened peaks. I gasped, but it just made me press them further into his face. The material of my bra is wet when he released and quickly repeated the same thing to the other. I could feel the wetness pooling between my thighs and I knew I wanted him more than I ever had.

  I gripped the pillow behind my head. I watched the top of his head as he moved down. My pants sat above my belly button and they were blocking his path. He looked up at me as he undid the button then waited for a second, but I just stared back at him. I knew I should stop him, but I couldn’t. A moment later, he lowered the zipper and his head continued the path down until his lips land on the top on my panties. I groaned and wiggled my hips. I closed my eyes and when I opened them again Sebastian’s green gaze filled my vision.

  “I know you’re not ready, even though your body is screaming that you are.” I opened my mouth to protest but his lips against mine silenced me. “But just because sex is off the table doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy ourselves,” he whispered against my lips before his tongue plundered my mouth. I felt Sebastian shift between my thighs pressing his erection against my clit. I gasped as he rolled his hips into me. He repeated the motion over and over again rubbing himself against me. I could feel the pleasure building in me. It threatened to overflow at any moment, but I needed a little more. As if he was hearing my thoughts, Sebastian cupped my breast and rolled my sensitive nipples between his fingers. With his lips against mine, I gripped his hair between my fingers, needing something to tether me. I was on the brink.

  “Dude, is that Gaby?”

  Hearing those words cut through my lust fueled haze quashing my impending release. My body clench, almost painfully, from the sudden cease of pleasure when I’d been teetering on the cliff. Sebastian, using supernatural speed quickly covered me with a blanket the moment Jade’s words infiltrated his mind.

  “That’s fucked up.” I could almost hear her grin spreading. “Wait until Damien finds out you’ve been having sex with his daughter.”

  “Jade, wait,” Sebastian crawled off the bed, standing there completely exposed from the waist up, showing off his defined chest and arms. “We’re not having sex.” He seemed almost nervous over Jade’s words.

  “So you’re pretending to have sex with Gaby?” She quirked her brow. “I think that might be more fucked up. Wait is that what you think they mean when they say practice safe sex? ‘Cause if you do then you’re showing how long it really has been since you got laid.”

  “Why the hell did you open my door?”

  “I didn’t open it. It was open when I walked by. What kind of pervert do you think I am?” She turned away mumbling under her breath. “What kind of pervert leaves his door open? Lucky it was me and not Damien. Better be praying I don’t tell Damien you’re doing the horizontal tango with his daughter, or rather practicing it.”

  “Oh my god!” I groaned in embarrassment. I buried my head in the pillow while Sebastian closed the door and the lock snap in place.

  “I’m sorry, Gaby. I don’t know why she came in.”

  “Do you think the door was really opened and we didn’t notice?” I asked clutching the blanket to my chest. It seemed possible. We had both been intertwined with each other. I wonder who else might have walked by. It was night after all, which meant the vampires were awake and out roaming.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe she just said that so I wouldn’t be mad.” He crawled his way back onto the bed and gave the blanket a gentle tug, but I had a firm grip.

  “What are you doing?” I pulled back.

  “Trying to pick up where we left off?”

  My eyebrows shot up. I couldn’t believe he was serious. “After that? No way!” Jade’s interruption had killed my lust.

  “Gaby… The doors locked now. No one will disturb us.” His hand roamed up my torso. I felt my eyes flutter closed. It would be so easy to pick up where we had left off, but I knew that, now with a clear head, this wasn’t something we should be doing; not yet.

  “Sebastian,” I halted his hand while clenching the blanket tighter with the other. It was crazy. I was just being so intimate with the man and now I didn’t want him to accidently see me. “The mood is gone.”

  “I’m sure we can get it back,” he smiled. He really didn’t understand.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “But you were so close. I hate the idea of you not…”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m not feeling it anymore. Can you please hand me my shirt.”

  His eyes locked with my hand holding the blanket to me. I saw him frown a bit. I’m sure he was thinking the same thing I had just thought, he’d already seen me. He padded across the floor and brought my white top back, then turned his back to me. Either he was giving me my privacy or he was mad. Maybe even a little of both. I moved off the bed slipping my shirt back on, rebuttoning it and tucked my top back in. “Thank you for not taking things further. I wish I had the will power to have done the same thing,” I said stepping in front of him.

  “It’s not so much will power. It’s the fact that I don’t want you to hate me. I don’t think I could live with myself.”

  “Then do me a favor?” I waited for him to nod. “Stop using supernatural powers to get things done. You’ll get further with me on your own merit.” He nodded in agreement. I stood on my tip toes and placed a quick peck on his chin. “Thank you,” then headed to the door.

  “I’ll take you home.”

  “No,” I spoke a little too sharply. “I wanna walk. It’ll do me good.” Truth was I needed a chance to cool down and since a cold shower wasn’t an option at the moment, a walk would do. I couldn’t be near Sebastian if I didn’t want things to continue. I wasn’t in the best control at the moment and if the angel bond took over I didn’t think we’d be able to stop it.

  Sebastian gave me a gentle smile. I was glad he didn’t press the issue or insist that he escort me. I was pretty sure he was going to follow me anyways just to make sure I was safe.

  If he did follow, he kept his distance. I never even felt a twinge of the bond. I stripped down as soon as I was in my room. I jumped in the shower and took a cool one. My nerves were a little better tamed as I dressed in a t-shirt and panties before crawling in bed, and drifting off to sleep.

  I don’t know how long it was before I opened my eyes, but when I did, I saw a figure resting at the foot of my bed. My first instinct was to scream until I felt the familiar pull.

  “Sebastian?” the figure lifted his head. “What are you doing here?” He didn’t respond. I turned on the lamp then, throwing back the blankets, I made my way in front of him. He was dressed in the same clothes he had worn earlier. “Sebastian?” I tried again. I gasped when I felt Sebastian’s hands on the back of my thighs pulling me closer. I had forgotten how I was dressed until that moment. He lifted me, maneuvering me to straddle him. I was so shocked by his aggressiveness. I was even more impressed that it was turning me on.

  “I’m here to finish what we started.”

&
nbsp; I sighed then opened my mouth to protest, but the words didn’t pass my lips. I was startled by the feel of Sebastian’s lips on my neck. I swallowed and tried again to speak. Almost like he knew I was about to say something, Sebastian, with remarkably little effort flipped me on to my back. My legs gripped tightly around him.

  “I’m not going to have sex with you, but I know you want this, Gaby. Stop trying to deny it. Just let me worship you,” he whispered as his fingers glided up my shirt. I felt his hand trace up my rib cage. I couldn’t help but squirm. His eyes locked on mine.

  “It tickles,” I breathed.

  He gave me a knowing smile then kissed me. It was tentative at first, but it quickly grew. He kissed me like he was a starving man and I was the food.

  “What about this?” he whispered against my lips as his fingers rolled my nipple causing pleasure to shot straight to my sex. I gasped and closed my eyes. “Does that tickle? Should I keep going?”

  “No,” I cried.

  “No?” his voice held a hint of humor as he stopped.

  “Don’t stop.”

  “Oh, I don’t plan on it.” He kissed me firmly.

  I felt his hand grip the hem of my shirt. Instinctively, I held my hands up above my head. Sebastian pulled the fabric from my body. I never saw his gaze fall from my face. Once his task was completed, his lips were back on mine. I moaned as his fingers continued their erotic torture while his erection pressed against my heat, but I wasn’t building as quickly as I had earlier. I wanted more. I needed more.

  He broke away for a moment, pulling his shirt over his head. I felt my breathing increase as I watched him. His body was certainly unearthly. He was far more muscular than any male model I’d seen, but still held a sort of beautiful quality. He only broke away from my lips long enough to allow the fabric to pass between us.

  He laid back on me and I inhaled sharply when I felt his bare skin on mine. It was strange how erotic it felt. My nipples were so hard and sensitive that just the feel of his bared skin against them caused me to moan. Sebastian kissed his way to my neck. He nipped and suckled his way down then moved across my collar bone. He let both his hands claim my breasts. I groaned and writhed when I felt the warmth of his mouth just above one of the hardened peaks. He blew a gentle whisper across it then teased it with the tip of his tongue.