Page 74 of Bastian

“You should be committed. How a man like you ended up running this country, I am not sure.” She snaps. “Oh, yes, I know. The people who elected you are just as delusional.” She says sarcastically with her hands on the doorknob, yet she hasn’t made a move to leave. Instead, she’s arguing and enjoying every second of our typical verbal sparring.

Mad, mad love, baby.

Mad, mad love.

“Well, aren’t you going to say anything, Sebastian?” Her voice comes off closed off and cold.

I remain quiet, thinking about my next words carefully. Because what leaves my mouth next will set the tone for what’s next for us.

A few seconds pass before I break the silence.

“Arianna?”

I watch her shoulders tense, becoming rigid, ready for the impact of my words. It saddens me that that’s her usual response. A reflex to guard her heart before she’s hurt again.

I will be remedying that, too.

“What?” I almost laugh at how incredibly adorable she sounds. Maybe she’s right. Maybe, I’m delusional.

“You made the world your own. Now it’s time for me to do the same.”

Scoffing, she replies. “The world is already yours, Sebastian.” She scoffs. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

She is wrong.

“Not yet. Not fully.” I whisper, hoping my words penetrate the iron walls that guard her beautiful heart. “Because you’re it for me, baby. My world.”

A hurt and incredulous laugh slips out on a breath, and I notice her head shaking. “I’m not.” Her words come out as a painful breath. “I never was.” Sadness laces her words before she blocks me out and exits the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

“You were. You are, and you will always be the whole fucking world to me.” I whisper to the empty room, then I empty my glass while her scent still lingers.

On the air, my skin, and in my brain.

ARIANNA

RULE BREAKER

“Was I not enough? Was I too cold? Is that why I never measured up?” — A

Entering the dining room area, where we usually have our hot coffee, the newspaper, and breakfast are already waiting for me while Banning and Shaw are both entertaining my daughter, who wakes up every morning at the crack of dawn. The moment I enter the room, I know that Arianna fled after our encounter last night, as I predicted.

I might have pushed her to the point it was too much for her, but it needed to be done. The cards are on her table, and I made it clear I won’t stop until she’s fully mine. Heart, mind, body, soul, and if there’s more, I want that too.

All of her.

Every part.

The good, the bad, and all that sass that drives me insane.

“Good morning.” I walk over to where Ellaiza is seated having scrambled eggs with bacon and strawberries.

Shit.

The strawberries remind me of Arianna.

Her taste.

I haven’t been able to eat one without my thoughts trailing back to her. Bending down, I drop a kiss on my daughter’s head and linger there for a moment too long, trying to savor every second. Every damn minute while she’s this little. “Morning, daddy.” She says between bites. Her two pigtails are perfectly done, not lopsided as usual. Evidence that Banning did not do her hair this morning.

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