Page 8 of The Cursed Sebastian Storm

Sebastian knew he was in trouble. He couldn’t have that without telling James the truths that risked destroying all their newfound closeness. Really, Sebastian shouldn’t have let James fuck him so sweetly with such a big secret hanging between them.

But James was the good one, not Sebastian.

He held James close, not ready to let him go or move on to what came next. James seemed happy to stay where he was, nuzzling Sebastian’s neck. If only they could stay in bed forever, things would be perfect.

CHAPTER THREE

Eventually, they got up and dressed. Eli was due home soon, and Sebastian didn’t think it would make the best impression if Eli found him and James lounging around naked.

They went downstairs to the compact kitchen at the back of the house. A good portion of the house’s decor was dated, but not in the way things at Storm House were. Sebastian’s family’s manor had collected relics marking each of the eight decades since the place was built because the Storms never threw anything away. James’s home seemed more like a family residence that he hadn’t wanted to completely make his own. The decorative plates mounted on the kitchen wall didn’t scream a James Gray aesthetic.

“They were my grandmother’s,” James explained in response to Sebastian’s staring.

Sebastian leaned awkwardly against the counter, pulling the leather jacket close. “This was her house?”

“Yeah.” James filled an electric kettle with water and flipped it on, then grabbed a couple of mugs and a box of tea bags. “She and Grandpa sold our parents’ house. Eli and I both preferred living here after. It was easier than being home, so there was no real reason to keep it.”

James meant after his parents died. There was no need to specify for clarity, but Sebastian wondered if avoiding saying it was born out of the grief James still felt. Sebastian’s heart sank at the reminder. The last of his post-sex happiness was gone. It wasn’t fair James had lost loving parents. Even if it was fourteen years ago, it wasn’t the kind of experience that ever left you.

“Chamomile?” James asked, holding up a tea bag.

“Sure.” Sebastian turned away and watched the kettle come to a boil. Now was the time to tell James what he’d been holding back. The longer he put it off, the worse it would be when he finally opened up.

“Do you think there’s any risk in getting Eli and Parker to break the secret-binding spell so we can tell them what happened?” James poured the hot water as he spoke, his frown unrelenting and brow deeply furrowed.

“No.” Sebastian was glad for the change in topic. He could tell James his secrets tomorrow. They had more pressing things to worry about tonight. “Breaking the binding trapped you, but we aren’t at Storm House. I don’t think the curse can consume anyone outside the property when the magic is tied to the land. I don’t see how it could get to Eli or Parker from here, even if we break the binding and spill the secret.”

“It makes sense for the curse’s reach to have limits,” James agreed before blowing on his tea. “You can’t be trapped there if you’re already outside the walls.”

Sebastian picked up his warm mug. “We can tell them not to go onto the Storm House grounds in case the curse tries to grab them if they get too close. But worst-case scenario, we know how to free anyone who gets trapped.”

“True.” James sipped his tea. “But it’s not like I expect to get trapped again if I walk back onto the property. I doubt the curse can grab anyone new if they’re out of range when they learn the secret, even if they go to Storm House later.”

Sebastian put down his mug with a thunk. “Why would you go back to Storm House?”

James gave him a confused look. “We’ll have to at some point.”

“Why?” Dread pooled in Sebastian’s gut.

“We’ve got to feed the chickens,” James said reasonably. “And we can’t abandon Miss Moo. Plus, you probably want to get some clothes and things.” James didn’t remind him that they would have to address the curse and look for a more permanent solution to the imbalance. They’d have to go onto the property to achieve that.

Logically, Sebastian knew he had to go back. He knew he wouldn’t be trapped again, not after the successful transfer. But returning to Storm House felt like certain doom.

James shifted closer to Sebastian until their shoulders touched. “I can feed the chickens for you.”

“You shouldn’t have to do favors for me,” Sebastian muttered. He already felt guilty, and every kind thing James did for him made it worse.

James took Sebastian’s hand. “If going back to Storm House is triggering for you, then it’s a favor I insist on.”

Fuck, James was going to kill Sebastian with all this unconditional kindness and support. It only made what Sebastian was hiding feel worse. He shouldn’t accept. He needed to tell James what he knew about his parents’ deaths. He never should have hidden what he’d learned, but that day in the sitting room, staring down at that old newspaper, Sebastian had wanted to protect James from the truth.

He’d wanted to protect himself too and had needed to get a handle on his feelings before opening himself up to James. Now, those excuses had worn thin. Nothing but fear and guilt held him back.

“Let’s worry about the chickens in the morning.” Sebastian pushed his other thoughts away.

Before James could answer, the front door opened, and Eli called out, “James?”

“In here,” he called back.

---