Page 33 of Bound to Him

When he was alone again, Sebastian took a deep breath and went to gather up the people he needed to speak with.

* * * *

“Honestly, Sebastian. What’s going on?” His mother gave a delicate yawn. “We’re all exhausted and need to be fresh for tomorrow. Can’t whatever this is wait?”

Sebastian remained standing while his parents and the Emersons sat on facing sofas. Will perched on the arm closest to his mother. Milo stood a few feet away from him in silent support. He’d extricated some of them from final goodnights to the guest while having to pry others from their bedrooms. Will had actually managed to coax the lovely Serena into his bedroom and had been unable to bank his annoyance at being interrupted. Sebastian had called upon all of his relentlessness honed in business to get them in this room. Now that the time was upon him to break the news, the same calm that came over him as he closed a deal bolstered him.

“I’m sorry, it can’t.” He paused a moment before lowering the proverbial boom. “What I have to tell you needs to be said tonight. There’s not going to be a wedding.”

A stunned silence filled the room. The parents were frozen in their spots, their expressions one of surprise. Will’s, however, was pure anger.

Will shot to his feet. “This isn’t funny, Sebastian.”

“It’s not meant to be, as I’m sure you are aware. This marriage was a farce from the start and I’m not going through with it.”

His father found his voice. “What do you mean? You and Will get along great, share similar interests and a friendship. Lots of couples don’t have that kind of solid foundation when they marry. How can there be a problem with you two marrying under these circumstances?”

Sebastian jammed his hands in his pockets and spilled all the beans—even though it wasn’t his story to tell—because it was necessary to make everyone understand. “Will’s not gay, Dad. He’s not bisexual, either. This marriage was never going to be consummated, for lack of better way of saying it. We both agreed to this to shut you up. All of you,” he said, training his gaze on the Emersons.

“Fucking hell, Sebastian. What are you accomplishing doing this?” Will’s question was both a plea and a threat.

“For you, nothing. I’m sorry. Your parents are your problem. If you’d been honest with them from the start about your sexuality, maybe they wouldn’t have pushed for us to get together.”

The Emersons blinked at him with surprise before Will’s mother spoke. “You’re wrong about that. This is about family legacies and wealth-building, the same as it’s been for generations. I’m a lesbian but I suffered Sam’s touch long enough to conceive Will. You both being men, you don’t have to do even that much.”

From the looks on the parents’ faces, Sebastian could tell this was not news to them. Their expressions told him that his revelation about Will was of no consequence whatsoever.

Will, on the other hand, was surprised. “Jesus, Mom. I knew you two weren’t in love, but this…?” He shook his head, looking defeated and no longer angry.

Patricia lifted her chin. “What? You think it’s any of your business who I’m attracted to?” She swept her gaze over to Sebastian. “Do you think any of us had a choice in our marriages? We did what was expected of us. No one told us we were going to like it or even cared whether we did. You two have it much easier than we did. At least biology doesn’t force you to have sex with someone who repulses you.” She patted her husband’s hand. “No offense, dear.”

Sam smiled. “Of course not, darling.” The man had the audacity to go even further than his wife in airing their secrets. “We both have our girls on the side—discreetly—and are very happy with the arrangement. You two will do the same. We assumed that regardless of your sexual orientation. It’s how it’s always been done.”

Sebastian was so dumfounded by this information, he nearly laughed. “So says the man who lectured me and Will about fidelity not long ago.”

Sam waved that criticism away. “I was talking about paying for sex, not taking lovers.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “My mistake.” The hypocrisy of these people was a never-ending ride of surprises.

Sebastian’s mother weighed in. “Sam and Patricia are right. Your father and I were fortunate in that we enjoyed sex with each other. He just happens to want it far more than I, so he fills his needs with others. It doesn’t bother me in the least.” She stiffened and sniffed. “Forcing us to make all of these unseemly confessions is both rude and unnecessary. You can have whatever life you want after you two marry. Calling off the wedding is a very selfish thing to do, Sebastian.”

All these revelations were depressing and also only served to firm his resolve. “I’m sorry for you all. You’re children of the sixties and should have demanded more for yourselves. For myself, I’ve decided I am going to have more. I want love to go along with a ring and children. Believe me, I’m as surprised by it as you are,” he muttered.

Will took a few steps toward him. From his expression, he’d shoved aside his mother’s shocking confession and was back to being mad at Sebastian. “Yeah? And how are you going to find Mr. Right when you have that slave boy in your bed? You already cart him around pretty damn much everywhere you go.” When Sebastian merely stared at him, Will threw up his hands. “Oh, fuck me. You’re in love with him?”

“As it happens, yes. Again, I’m surprised, too.”

His mother turned to look at him head on. “You can’t mean to marry that…that boy. I won’t have it.”

“Oddly enough, Mother, I don’t need your permission.” He kept his tone light, yet steely. No one was going to talk him out of his decision.

“You’ll be thrown out of the company and cut off from funds.” This wasn’t unexpected—not the threat or the person making it. His mother had always been the more ruthless of his parents.

Sebastian shrugged with indifference even though his stomach tightened. He didn’t want this fight but he’d brought it on himself. “Then I’m fired, I guess. I’ll have to start my own company.”

“With what?” his father demanded.

“I have my inheritance from Grammy Howard. I haven’t touched the capital and it will make good seed money.”

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