Free Sinister Kisses (SKALS #1) by Adriana Noir Page B

Her heart hammered as his gaze drilled into her.
    “I do,” he stated in a deceptively soft whisper. Sebastian released her slowly, though his stare was not as merciful. “It’s been a long night. Go get cleaned up before I feel the need to reiterate that fact.”
    Fear wound a treacherous path through her body. Shivering, she somehow managed to wrest her eyes away from his. Taylor inched off him and slid off the side of the bed with a wince. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her as she made her way into the master bath. There was no mistaking the weight of Sebastian’s stare as it tracked her every step. His words chilled her to the bone. She’d only asked to be playful, but his reaction had been anything but.
    Biting her lip, she rubbed the side of her cheek and glanced around the massive bathroom in search of a washcloth. Her gaze darted over the stone shower and jetted corner tub with decorative pillars before flitting over the sinks to the right. She shook her head. Even the bathroom was a humbling display of decadence with its rich travertine stone, lush plants, and deep Tuscan tones. Her eyes bulged when she scanned the counters and cupboards to the left and she spotted a small built-in wine cooler.
    “Third drawer down.”
    She whirled at the sound of Sebastian’s voice. Stepping past her, he moved to the sink and the bathroom echoed with the sound of running water. Taylor blew out a quiet breath and nabbed two clean washcloths from the drawer. After they’d finished, Sebastian took hers and tossed them both into a decorative hamper. The silence was killing her. She wrung her hands, wanting to speak, but not wanting to push her luck any further. Hope flooded her as Sebastian turned to her and beckoned her forward with a crook of his finger.
    Without a word, he scooped her up off the cool stone floor. Grateful, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his warm crook as he carried her back to bed. He’d already turned the covers and the fire down. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip as he eased her onto the soft mattress and drew the comforter up under her chin. She sighed as the bed dipped beneath his weight and Sebastian pulled her against his side.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I was just trying to be funny. I don’t want anyone else but you.”
    “Nothing about you is a joke to me. I will be your last.”
    She wanted to believe that. Still, she found her brow knitting and a small frown plied her lips. Sebastian lifted his head off the pillows, his expression questioning in the shadows.
    “What?” he asked.
    “I want that to be true so bad, but what if things don’t work out? What if you get tired of me? People promise each other forever all the time, but that rarely happens anymore.”
    A sigh lifted his chest, and his arms tightened around her in a reassuring squeeze. “I’m not going to get tired of you, Taylor. That’s them not us. We will make it work. Now stop questioning me and get some sleep.”
    “Yes, Sebastian,” she murmured, stretching against him with a sleepy yawn. “Thank you for everything.”
    “Taylor…”
    She giggled at the slight hint of warning in his voice. Pressing closer, she snuggled against him and rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. “ Sleeping.”
     
    Morning came far too early. It had been hard to pry herself away from the comfortable haven of Sebastian’s bed, and harder still to resist the allure of a hot shower. Her body ached, the soreness branching through places of her she hadn’t even known existed until last night. Taylor’s cheeks warmed with the thought as she rummaged through the fridge. The feel of him, the smell of him still lingered on her body like a brand. She’d paused several times while making coffee just to savor the moment and breathe in his scent.
    She kept the door propped open with her hip and rummaged through the shelves and bins. The sudden glide of