Free Charlotte & Sebastian by Leanne Crabtree

seventeen-ninety-nine to a poor family. The second of seven children: four brothers and two sisters. It was tough for my parents to try and feed us all and unfortunately for my youngest brother, William, he got sick and passed away when he was just four years old.” Charlotte gripped his hand tightly and squeezed, offering silent comfort. “It was after his death when my elder brother, James, and I realised we needed to help bring in money so none of our other siblings would die like Will. James was a skilled carpenter and managed to make money from that. I, on the other hand didn’t have a useful skill. I did however have this,” and he indicated his face. “Working women in our village would call me handsome all the time and one particular nobleman's wife took a fancy to me. She seduced me one night after my seventeenth birthday and then paid me the following morning, telling me she'd enjoyed it and wanted to do it again. It was then I realised how I could help my family. Sleep with women, give them pleasure for money.” Charlotte drew in a swift breath, only now understanding where this was going. “The noblewoman introduced me to other women and I became well known in the area. One night a few years later I was approached by a lady who offered me a lot—and I mean a lot—of money if I'd spend the night with her. I agreed knowing the money would do unimaginable things to help keep my family fed. The lady was wild and during the sex she bit me and drained me before making me like her. It was so unexpected, the attack, that I didn’t fight her, even as I felt my life draining away.” He paused in his tale, his eyes hardening. “Marielle kept me as her plaything for half a century, making me do unimaginable things to her enemies and people who slandered her before I managed to kill her. I despised what she'd made me into and hated the fact I had to consume human blood to survive but I also knew that denying myself would make me into even more of a monster so I did what I had to. And here I am today.”
    “That sounds rough.”
    He shrugged, “No rougher than what you went through with your family.”
    “Did you ever see yours again?”
    Sebastian took so long to answer she turned away to watch the dancers again, thinking he'd had enough of talking about his past. Something she could understand.
    “I went back after killing Marielle to find my parents were dead, which was to be expected after half a century. The death of my youngest sister, however, was not. It seems she was a victim of some disease which couldn’t be treated at the time. I have no idea where my other siblings ended up.”
    “ I'm sorry,” she said.
    Sebastian's eyes went unfocused for a second and then he stood up, tugging her with him. “Let's stop talking about me and go back to the Agency and see the Director about you . We need him to give the okay for you to go out on missions and I need to suggest he pair us up so you can keep me company.”
    Charlotte rolled her eyes, “You mean so you can keep me under control.”
    In the next second his finger was pressed to her lips, his eyes more serious than she'd ever seen them. “In. So I can help you keep in control. I have no desire to control you, Charlie. I love you just the way you are.”
    A smile had grown on her lips during his speech and she playfully nipped at the digit pressed against her mouth. His eyes darkened and in a blink, his hand was at her nape and his lips were hot against her own. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
    It was a while before they left the roof.
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    It was nearly ten when they arrived at the Director's office. Sebastian knocked twice and waited.
    “ Come in.”
    He gave her a reassuring smile before pushing the door open and walking inside. She followed him at a slower pace and felt the Director's attention on her as soon as she entered. Raising her gaze to meet his, their eyes locked for a second and it was her who