Sinister Kisses (The SKALS Series)

by Noir, Adriana

  Sebastian released her and nodded. Reluctance swept across his face, tightening his features. His jaw twitched as he sighed and leaned against the headboard. “What about it?”

  She shivered and set the tray aside. Her head spun as she searched for the right words to say. All she managed was a weak fragment. “Monique,” she whispered. “Why did you choke her like that? Wasn’t it a bit…much?”

  “No,” he said, his eyes locking on her. “She’s still alive, isn’t she?”

  Taylor forced a swallow at his cold expression. His words and somber tone struck an icy chord of terror in her heart. He was serious. Her cheeks tingled with the numbing wake of his displeasure. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. Sebastian released a heavy exhale.

  “Listen carefully, because I am going to explain this to you once. Monique is lucky that was all she got. She knows better than to bait my anger, Taylor. I warned her to shut her mouth, and with me, one warning is all you get. Given the fact that she kept pushing, she should consider herself fortunate that I didn’t beat her from one end of the house to the other.”

  She paled, not missing the double implications in his statement. Her hands shook, and she knotted them into the thick goose down comforter in an attempt to still their tremble. More than once, she’d wondered what she’d gotten herself into with this man. Now was definitely one of those times.

  “Are we done with this conversation? Is there anything else you would like to ask?”

  “Yes, Sebastian. I mean no. We’re done. There’s nothing else.”

  His eyes bore into her for a long moment. Unable to bear their oppressive weight, she squirmed.

  “Good. I don’t want to have this talk with you again.”

  “Yes, sir.” Her bottom lip trembled. She really wished he would stop staring, even if just for a moment.

  “I have zero tolerance for disrespect. I expect more from my family, and I definitely expect more from you. Don’t keep pushing me, Taylor. I will run things as I see fit, especially in my own home. Do you understand me?”

  “I wasn’t trying to push. I just…” She trailed off at his narrowing stare. Breakfast threatened to resurface with her hard swallow. Sebastian shook his head in caution.

  “Don’t talk back. Don’t argue. Just listen and take those warnings to heart because I won’t give them again. This wasn’t how I wanted our morning to go, but these things obviously needed said. I’m going to take a shower now. I suggest you get your head in the right place while I’m in there and figure out what it is you want to do.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  She tensed, her heart leaping into her throat when he reached for her. He speared his fingers through her hair and tugged her close. Not hard, like she was expecting, but slowly, gently. It was more of a coaxing, and she felt her body sag with relief.

  “Good girl,” he soothed.

  His lips brushed hers in a sensual kiss. Heat flooded her as his fingers tightened ever so slightly and he deepened the pressure against her lips. He pulled back and stood, offering her a parting wink. The fading remnants of fear were still coiled around her heart as she stared after Sebastian, watching him head for the bathroom. Her head spun with a dizzying combination of thoughts. With just a simple kiss, he left her dazed and longing for more. Yet deep down, some small part of her sensed she was in over her head. Taylor bit her lip. Whom was she kidding? She’d always known. It was part of why she’d agreed to go out with him in the first place. Even then, she’d sensed the danger and power he exuded. There was no getting away with telling a man like him no. Her gaze darted to the door and the sick churning in her stomach intensified.

  She pried herself out of bed. Her bangs fluttered upward in an uneven ripple as she blew out a deep breath and wrapped herself in the plush folds of one of the hotel’s robes. Grabbing one of the activity brochures, she then pulled open the sliding glass doors and stepped out onto the balcony. The air was much warmer in Marana than it had been in Flagstaff. She hadn’t thought four hours in the car would have made that much difference, but here, there wasn’t even a dusting of snow, let alone a crisp layer. The sun glinted off the peaks of the Tortolita Mountains and bathed the sprawling desert basin. Thick brush and cactus dotted the surface, infusing the rich reds and browns with bursts of green. Closing her eyes for a second, Taylor relished the warm breeze and the sense of serenity radiating from the land.

  She shook her head. Now was not the time to daydream. It was the time to focus. Thumbing through the brochure, she frowned. As relaxing as an afternoon at the spa would be, the marks still branding her back and thighs were as visible as they were sore. She cringed remembering the feel of the sharp leather belt biting into her flesh. Massages and swimming were definitely out of the question. Besides, she wasn’t too sure she wanted to risk the possibility of getting a male masseuse. Just the notion of another man touching her had been enough to send Sebastian over the edge, and she had been fully clothed that time. She didn’t even want to think about what letting one rub her bare skin would do to his already precarious temper. Not to mention the fact that she definitely wouldn’t enjoy another woman running her hands over that gloriously lean body of his.

  There was so much to do, but hiking sounded exhausting and what he needed most was rest. Sebastian never struck her as the golfing type, and she’d never touched a club in her life. The mere thought of riding a horse right now made her wince. She mulled over the other choices, chewing the inside of her lip as she scrambled for something to do that might make him happy.

  Taylor turned at the soft whisper of the door sliding open. Her eyes lifted to Sebastian’s, searching for some clue as to where his mood lie. The shower appeared to have eased his previous tension. Staring down at her, he offered a soft smile and pulled the door shut. Without a word, he crossed the balcony and dropped onto the padded bench. Pressed against her side, he glanced down at the pamphlets in question. The delicious smell of soap and aftershave clung to his skin and radiated off him in warm waves. She leaned against him, unable to help admiring the way his dark jeans and formfitting white tee clung to all the right places.

  “What did we decide?” he asked.

  “They have guided Jeep tours through the Sonoran Desert. It sounds kind of like a nature hike through the wilderness, but without all the hiking. It even has a stop at an ancient Hohokam site. It says here they were some of the very first inhabitants of the area.”

  “A Jeep tour, huh?” he asked.

  “I can pick something else.”

  “You’re suggesting I spend the day riding around in a vehicle taking in the scenery and learning history?”

  “I just thought…” She fell silent at the gentle press of his forefinger.

  “I wasn’t finished, doll. I would get to relax and spend a few hours sightseeing with the woman I love.” His lips twitched, and his piercing gaze swung up to meet hers. “It sounds like a perfect day to me, baby.”

  Sebastian polished off the last bit of braised short ribs from his plate and leaned back in his chair. Rubbing a hand across his overstuffed stomach, he resisted the urge to grin. Taylor was still struggling to reach the halfway point with her dinner. The restaurant was nothing if not generous with their portions. He studied her for a long moment, watching the candlelight flicker across her delicate features. She was so damn beautiful, so perfect. He really didn’t know what he had done to deserve her. He was proud of her. She’d handled their conversation this morning extremely well. It was a good sign. Things were progressing between them, and it was time he started laying the ground rules and building the foundation for their relationship. For the first time in a long time, he was looking forward to seeing what the future might hold. He enjoyed her immensely, but the time for handling Taylor with kid gloves was coming to an end. She was naive, innocent in many ways, but not stupid. After their talk, she’d proven her understanding by making sure he’d enjoyed the remainder of the day and had the most relaxing time possible. Whi
le he wasn’t one for unnecessary small talk or praise, those efforts hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  She felt his gaze and glanced up with an uncertain smile. He returned the gesture, his grin assuring her he was in no rush. It was the truth. He savored times like these when work and the pressures of the world seemed a million miles away. Monday loomed like a dark blemish on the horizon, but for now, he was content to exist in the moment.

  Their waiter came by again, and Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as the young man’s attention lingered on Taylor a little too long. He was a looker. Solid muscles strained against his uniform, and his chiseled face looked like it belonged on a full-sized Abercrombie and Fitch ad. Taylor remained oblivious and focused on her food proving she was a very smart girl. Steeling his jaw, he sat up, bracing his arms on the table as he fixed the dark-haired attendant with a murderous glare. Their eyes locked briefly. Muttering an awkward apology, the young man lowered his head and scuttled away.

  Sebastian frowned as the would-be suitor retreated to the other side of the restaurant. It wasn’t the first time he’d chased off an admiring stare cast in Taylor’s direction, and he was certain it wouldn’t be the last. Nevertheless, it wasn’t something he enjoyed. Some men were of the mindset that it was okay for people to look as long as they didn’t touch. A few even found the perusal flattering. He wasn’t one of them. He didn’t need someone else’s approval to mark the importance and value of what was his, and he sure as hell didn’t appreciate it. Tossing his napkin on his plate, he returned his attention to the woman seated across from him.

  “Darling,” he murmured, drawing her attention. “Don’t force yourself if you’re finished.”

  She blushed. A thankful smile inched across her face, adding to her breathtaking glow. “I didn’t want to be wasteful.”

  “I know, sweetheart, but there’s no point in making yourself miserable.”

  “I think I reached that point about ten bites ago,” she admitted with a giggle.

  He shook his head with a chuckle. Grabbing his wallet, he fished out a crisp one hundred and dropped it on the table. It would be enough to cover the bill and leave an ample tip. Frowning, he decided to leave the kid a little something extra—something more valuable than money. After borrowing a pen from Taylor, he pulled out one of his bureau cards and jotted down a quick message on the back: Do yourself a favor. The next time you see her, look the other way. He smiled and tossed the card on the table with the money. Standing, he circled the table and pulled out Taylor’s chair. She glanced up at him as he helped her up and wound his arm around her waist, her gaze flickering to the table.

  “What’s with the business card?”

  A slow smirk edged across his face.

  “That? It was nothing, darling. I was just leaving the kid some valuable pointers for his future.”

  “With the FBI?”

  Sebastian shrugged. “That’s the funny thing about life. You never know who is watching and where it might lead. Look at us. One minute I’m involved in a heavy operation. The next I’m staring into your eyes, wondering where this beautiful woman came from.”

  She blushed, turning her head to bury her nose in his shoulder for a brief moment as he steered her outside. “You saved me that day,” she whispered. “I’ll never forget that.”

  Humbled by the sincerity, he released her and gripped the railing of the observation deck. A blanket of stars stretched overhead, twinkling as far as the eye could see. It was one of the things he loved most about the desert. Out here, the world and everything in it seemed so wide open. Anything was possible. In the cities things felt too constricted, too crowded. It was hard to connect with anything, let alone yourself. Words like fate—kismet danced unbidden through his mind. He studied the shadowed outlines of the cacti before turning to Taylor. He drew her against him, tucking her between his body and the railing to share in the view. Bracing his arms on either side of her, he leaned forward and nuzzled her neck.

  “Talk to me, darling. Tell me about your life before us—your family.”

  Her shoulders lifted in a sorrowful shrug. “There isn’t much to tell. My dad bailed when I was six. I don’t remember much about him, other than the fact that he had the most beautiful blue eyes and he always smelled like licorice and Old Spice. My mom did her best to hold things together when he left, but eventually the stress became too much. She sent me to live with my Uncle Roy and Bryce when I was twelve. I’d get an occasional letter or phone call from her, usually around the holidays, but that was it.”

  Sebastian frowned and planted a lingering kiss against her pulse. Closing his eyes, he savored the warm, steady beat of her flesh. “Was he good to you?”

  “I think so. He tried. Things were hard for him, too. He never had much money to begin with, and here he was saddled with another kid and an extra mouth to feed. We made it work though, and Bryce and I always came up with fun stuff to do.”

  “He never hit you or…”

  “No! God, no. He was a gruff man, and he could have one nasty bark, but he never did anything to hurt me.”

  “The point of punishment isn’t just to cause pain, Taylor. It’s meant to serve as a correction—a reminder,” he murmured, trailing a hand over the back of her thigh. “My intentions the other night were not to hurt you, but to better your actions and serve as a reminder that you are mine.”

  She shivered against him and lowered her head. “I know.”

  “Do you?” he asked quietly. “What is it that you know?”

  “I know that I’m yours, Sebastian. Completely yours.”

  “Good girl,” he whispered, kissing her ear. Winding a fist in her hair, he drew her head back and wrung a soft whimper from her lips. “You have no idea how much I love hearing you say those words.”

  His other hand lifted the short hem of her white dress. He ran his palm over one globe of her ass, watching her tremble with a combination of anticipation and fear. Hooking one finger under the thin lace scrap of her panties, he rubbed it along her moistening slit. Her hips rocked instinctually against him and his cock swelled as he watched her battle the conflicting waves of desire and shame battering her body.

  “Stop worrying about what other people might think and focus on pleasing me.”

  “I—I can’t,” she whispered. “Please, Sebastian. Let’s just go back to our room.”

  “Do I need to give you another reminder? Was I not clear enough the first time, Taylor?”

  “No. I’m sorry. I’ll do what you want. I swear.”

  He smiled against her ear. “I am going to hold you to that, darling.”

  Her body shook with the onset of tears, but he didn’t want tears. He wanted compliance. A quick glance over his shoulder assured they were alone. He gave her underwear a sharp tug, yanking them halfway down her thighs. A gentle pat urged her to kick them off the rest of the way. It was a small step in the right direction. What wasn’t was her lingering reluctance. Tension hummed through her body signaling her heart wasn’t on the same par as her actions. Sighing, he released her long enough to retrieve the lacy garment from the ground and stuff it deep into his front pocket.

  Letting his stare bore into her from behind, he undid his zipper and sprung his straining shaft free. Taylor stiffened as he slowly tugged her dress back up and prodded between her thighs. He felt the toned muscles there twitch as she fought the urge to press them together. Reaching around her, he clamped his hand over her throat in gentle warning. The other hand secured her hips as he drove into her tight heat and buried himself to the hilt. Her strangled cry echoed through the barren stretch of desert, wringing a smile from his lips.

  “Come on,” he urged, dragging her backwards with him to a small bench.

  Taylor whimpered, squirming as he pulled her onto his lap. Her feet scrabbled against the ground seeking purchase and a way to relieve the pressure. Sebastian shook his head. He had no intentions of making it that easy.

  “This isn’t about you. Sit still and hook your feet
behind my calves.”

  He groaned as she obeyed, and the position brought her down even harder. Rocking his hips, he ground up into her, drawing a muffled cry of pain. Her body shook with the strain. Snaring her chin, he turned her face enough that he could claim her lips. His hand slid under the hem of her dress between her parted thighs. Taylor moaned in understanding as his middle finger found the small nub above her slit. He pressed against it, rubbing her in hard fast strokes. Breaking their kiss, he let his head fall back to watch her face and keep a close eye on the door.

  “Is it sinking in yet, Taylor? There’s more than one way for me to prove my point,” he growled, driving up inside her. She bit back a sob at the increase in pressure, her fingers sinking into his forearm in pleading. “I don’t care if it takes all night. You’re going to give me what I want. You’re the one who decided you would rather do that in pain.”

  He rubbed her slit harder. A low rumble built inside his chest as he felt her body throb and contract. Slick moisture coated his finger and her breathing hitched, signaling she was getting close. The need for release was growing unbearable. He picked up his efforts until his moans joined her whimpering gasps. He snarled in frustration, straightening the front of her dress and pulling his hand away as the door to the observation deck cracked open. He pulled her back against his chest, so it would appear she only sat on his lap, cuddling.

  An older gentleman wandered outside. His milky stare flickered over them briefly, and he regarded them as if startled. Smoothing a hand over the red and black checkers on his plaid shirt, he offered an amicable nod, his wrinkled lips pursing into a smile.

  “Newlyweds?” he asked.

  Sebastian ground his teeth, doing his best to keep his annoyance from showing. It wasn’t the geezer’s fault. He had no clue what he was interrupting. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder why people had to be so nosey. Or stupid. A simple glance at their ring fingers would have answered that question. Maybe the man did notice and was just desperate for small talk. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen tonight.