Page 14 of Addicted To His Favorite
“I’ve done everything for her for the past five years,” he said, his tone clipped and dangerous. “Every mess she’s made—every jealous outburst, every scene, every problem—I cleaned it up.” His voice dropped lower, more lethal. “I protected her. Who else in the world would do that for her?”
His voice rose with each word, anger biting into every syllable.
“How can she just leave me over a few words?!” Lucas’s hands curled into fists, knuckles whitening.
The agitation in his tone faltered, a faint crack splintering through his anger. His voice dropped, trembling so slightly it was almost lost beneath the hum of the engine.
“No matter what happens,” he muttered, shaking his head as if trying to push the thought away, “Emily would never leave me. It’s… it’s just not possible.”
***
Emily stepped out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam curling into the cooler air behind her. The hot shower had washed away the heavy makeup and suffocating dress from the night, leaving her feeling a little lighter.
Damp strands of hair clung to her bare shoulders, and tiny droplets slid down the curve of her neck before disappearing beneath the white towel wrapped tightly across her chest. Her steps were slow, almost absentminded, her thoughts far from the present.
The screech of tires. The blinding glare of headlights. The sick jolt when the hammer struck, hurling her toward the road.
And then… those blue shoes.
Her brows knit, lips barely moving as she breathed the words only for herself.
“Who was it? That wasn’t some random accident. That man tried to kill me.”
She was so deep in thought that she didn’t notice she had stopped right at the bathroom door, fingers absently clutching the edge of the towel at her chest.
Her trance broke when a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against the strong wall of a chest. Her breath caught, eyes snapping upward and froze as Sebastian pulled her against him.
His head dipped closer. “Planning to sleep in the bathroom tonight?”
Startled, she tightened her grip on the towel.
“We’re a new couple,” he continued, his gaze dipping briefly to the knot of her towel before rising to her face again. “Shouldn’t you be in my bed by now?”
“Yeah,” she murmured without thinking, her mind still fogged with the lingering fragments of memory.
Sebastian’s mouth curved into a faint smile. He let her go, only to cross the room, walking to the bed. He lifted the covers and glanced at her in a silent invitation.
As she stepped forward, he added casually, “Even though I like you just as you are now…” his gaze swept over her towel-clad form, heated and unapologetic, “…you should wear a nightdresswhen you leave this room.” His voice dropped lower, edged with possession. “I don’t like showing what’s mine to others.”
The words hit her like a spark, and her gaze dropped instinctively to herself—only for the realization to slam into her. She’d stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but a small towel, every inch beneath it bare under his eyes. Heat rushed to her cheeks.
Her fingers instantly clenched the fabric tighter, a startled gasp slipping past her lips.
Sebastian’s smirk deepened. He reached to the bed, picked up a silky nightgown, and held it out to her. “Wear this.”
She snatched it from his hand, shooting him a sharp glare before retreating back into the bathroom. Her pulse drummed against her ribs as she slipped the cool, whisper-thin fabric over her damp skin.
When she stepped out again, he was standing by the bed, bare-chested, his dark trousers hanging low on his hips.
His gaze burned over her, starting at her face… drifting to her chest… and then lower.
Her brows drew together, confusion flickering in her eyes. She followed that look down—and her breath caught, her body going rigid.
The silk nightdress, a deep crimson, barely grazed mid-thigh. Its plunging neckline dipped scandalously, the delicate fabric clinging to her curves with every subtle movement, revealing more of the soft swell of her breasts.
Her arms flew up to cover herself and snapped, “Are you a pervert? Did you pick this on purpose? What kind of nightdress is this?!”
“Of course I did,” he replied without the faintest hesitation.
