I stare at him. Something is off with this story. “So, you weren’t with the women?”
“No.”
“Why did you think you were at first?”
“There was lipstick on my collar.” He keeps washing himself.
Alarm bells start to ring. “Where did the lipstick come from?” I ask.
“The girls in the bar. Apparently, they came over and were trying to talk to me, getting all flirty. Thankfully, I got the hell out of there. Poor Bart didn’t have the same fate.”
I stare at him as I imagine the scenario he is setting. Hmm.
Interesting.
“Fucking nightmare.” He exhales heavily. “I’m glad to be home, put it that way.”
“How do you know the security guard walked you home?” I ask.
“I saw him, and he told me that he walked me to my room and that I got into bed while he was still there. I checked all the details, don’t worry.”
“And nobody else was in your room?”
“No. I told you that.”
I don’t like this.
“Bart needs to go to the hospital and get drug tested. This is a criminal offence,” I tell him.
“He is going. That’s why we came home early.”
“Well, you should go, too.”
“I’m fine. Nothing happened to me.”
“How do you know? What if something did? What if you had sex with one of those hookers? What if they took photographs? What if this is some elaborate blackmailing scheme? You’re the Deputy Prime Minister, Sebastian. If anyone is a target to be blackmailed, it would be you, and not that stupid sleazebag Bart.”
“I would know if I had sex with someone, April.”
“How? We have so much sex that you wouldn’t be able to feel a change in your body.”
He rolls his eyes and continues to shower.
I stare at him. “I want you to go and get tested.”
“I’m not. Drop it.” He puts his head under the water and begins washing his hair. "All I'll be doing is wasting six hours at the hospital for no reason."
Ugh, infuriating, stupid twat.
I walk out into the kitchen as my mind goes into overdrive.
Something is off.
Darkness looms around the corners of my bedroom, just like the shadows in my mind.
Sebastian is fast asleep, lying on his side, facing me. I watch as his chest rises and falls, the flutter of his lashes, and his lips that slightly part when he breathes in.
I’ve never been so besotted with someone before. Sure, I’ve been in love and been in lust, but with Sebastian, it’s different. Everything is magnified. The speeches he gives, the way he looks at me, the way he wears his suits… even the way he smells.
I have this overwhelming feeling that something isn’t right. Something is going on in the background, and I need to work it out before it blows up in my face.
Protecting him is all that matters.
I’ve been in the pits of Hell and I am weathered for any storm, but I can't let it go.
I can't drop this feeling, no matter how hard I try.
I will not allow that witch Helena to hurt him ever again.
I get a vision of her in his office last week. The entitled way in which she hid whatever it was behind her back, as if she was owed something. How dare she come here with an agenda?
I hate her.
Maybe more than I hate my ex, and that’s saying something. At least he accepted the divorce and, sure, he wouldn’t move out of our house, but he was never vindictive.
Sebastian stirs, and his eyes flutter open. He reaches for me and pulls me closer, “Why are you awake?” he whispers in his husky voice. He holds me cheek to cheek.
“Bad dream.”
He kisses my temple. “Go back to sleep, baby. I’ll protect you.” He rolls me over and nestles in behind me. I hear him slip back into regulated breathing as he dozes back off.
But who’ll protect you, my love?
I stare at the wall, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I’m filled with conviction, I know what I must do.
I will.
I rearrange the lapels on Sebastian’s suit jacket. “I’ll walk you down. I want to grab a coffee.”
“Okay.” He tugs at my hips, bringing my body against his crotch. Can we ever just hug without it being sexual?
Obviously not.
“You do make it very hard to leave, Miss Bennet.” Our lips meet in a tender kiss. I smile up at my handsome man and run my fingers through his thick, black hair.
“I’m looking forward to our weekend away.” I smile.
“Me, too.”
He takes my hand and leads me out of the door. We take the elevator and walk out onto the street, where we see the black car waiting for him. We head toward it.
“April!” a voice calls, we turn to see Duke.
My heart drops as I come to a stop. “Duke.”
Oh, crap.
Sebastian tries to drop my hand and I grip it harder, keeping him close.
“Duke, this is Sebastian.”
Duke nods, and Sebastian forces a smile. “Hello.”
He tries to release my hand again, and I hold it with white-knuckle force.
“Are you two…?” Duke frowns as he looks between us.
“We are,” I reply.
Sebastian rolls his lips, uncomfortable with this conversation.
“Can I speak to you?” Duke’s eyes flick to Sebastian. “Alone?”
Sebastian tries to escape my vice-like grip, and I squeeze it in a silent warning. “No, Duke, I’m sorry. There is nothing further to say. We’ve been over it a hundred times.”
“I… I can’t move on,” Duke splutters.
Sebastian drops his head. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
My heart breaks but I keep a hold of Sebastian. He needs to be here for this conversation. I don’t want him to feel insecure all over again.
“I’m in a relationship with Sebastian, Duke. I’m sorry that we didn’t work out, but you need to accept my decision.”
Duke’s nostrils flare, his angry eyes find Sebastian. “She’ll never marry you. She doesn’t want children. She’ll spit you out like she did me.”
Sebastian stares at him, remaining silent.
“Duke,” I sigh.
“Tell him,” Duke spits. “Tell him you never want to live with someone. Tell him you never want to get married.”
Sebastian tries to pull his hand free. “Stay here, Sebastian!” I snap, losing the last of my patience.
“No.” He pulls away and walks toward the car.
My eyes find Duke. “You and I weren’t right for each other,” I say softly. “And I know that for certain now that I’ve met Sebastian. You will understand, too, when you meet the right person. I promise you.”
“She will never marry you. She’s broken!” Duke calls to Sebastian, losing the last of his control
Sebastian stops and turns back toward us.
Oh God, could this conversation get any worse?
“We’ll see,” Sebastian replies sharply. “You will respect her decision and stay away from her.”
My eyes flick to Sebastian.
“Goodbye Duke,” he snaps. “My condolences, but we won’t have this conversation again. This is your first and last warning: stay away from her. April, let’s go.”