Page 43 of Taken Off Camera
“How much would all this cost?” I ask, already calculating what I can afford to sacrifice from my budget.
Sebastian frowns. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Sebastian—”
“I’m handling it.” He cups my face. “This is what I do, Micah. This is my job.”
The tenderness in his touch contrasts with the firm set of his jaw. I want to argue about the cost, about accepting such an expensive gift, but the memory of those photographs silences my protests. The thought of Travis watching me without my knowledge twists my stomach into knots.
“We should talk boundaries,” I say instead, turning to face him. “I can’t live in a fishbowl.”
Sebastian sets his phone down, giving me his full attention. “Tell me your concerns.”
“Cameras in the living room and by the front door make sense,” I concede, pulling the blanket up to cover our legs. “Kitchen, too, I guess. But none in the bathroom or bedroom. Those spaces stay private.”
His mouth tightens, clearly wanting to argue. “The bedroom window is vulnerable. That’s likely where the photos were taken from.”
“We’ll hang blackout curtains,” I counter. “No camera can see through that.”
“And when you’re streaming?” Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “Those lights you use make everything visible from outside, even through curtains.”
Heat rises to my face as I realize he’s right. Myring lights and back-light create the perfect silhouette for anyone watching from across the street. “Fine. One camera in the bedroom, but angled only at the windows, not the bed.”
Sebastian considers this compromise. “Okay. And a system connected to my phone. If any motion is detected around your windows or door when you’re not home, I’ll also receive an alert and come over.”
The idea of him receiving alerts about my apartment sends an unexpected thrill through me. “You’d drop everything to check on a false alarm?”
“Yes.” No hesitation, no qualifiers.
His certainty spreads warmth through me. Sebastian reaches for his phone again, opens a note-taking app, and begins sketching a rough outline of my apartment. His fingers move with precision, marking entry points and camera placements with small Xs.
“Four cameras total,” he explains, turning the screen so I can see. “One here by the front door, one in the front room covering the windows and balcony door, one in the kitchen near the fire escape, and one in the bedroom focused on the windows only.”
I lean against his shoulder, studying his sketch. “When would you install them?”
“Tomorrow, if possible.” His arm wraps aroundmy waist. “The sooner we secure your space, the better.”
The thought of Sebastian working in my apartment, making it safer, sends a different kind of warmth through me that feels dangerously like domestic bliss.
“Okay,” I agree, kissing his shoulder. “Tomorrow.”
The electric drill whirs to life as Sebastian secures the bracket for the living room camera to the wall. He stands on a small stepladder, his movements well practiced and efficient. A tool belt hangs from his hips, the weight of it pulling his slacks lower, revealing a strip of skin whenever he reaches up.
I pretend to read on the couch while watching him work, coming and going from my apartment, installing equipment, adjusting settings, and teaching me how the system works. The small cameras blend well with my décor, the unobtrusive black domes easily mistaken for smoke detectors.
“These will all connect to the app,” Sebastian explains, mounting the camera to its bracket. “You can check the feeds anytime, from anywhere. So can I, if you share access.”
A sizzle of awareness streaks through me. Giving Sebastian access means allowing him to see into my life even when I’m not playing to an audience, and the idea of him always watching thrills me.
“I want you to have access.” I close my book. “I trust you.”
Sebastian pauses in his work, his expression softening. He climbs down from the ladder and crosses to where I sit, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “I won’t abuse that trust.”
I lick my lips. “You can abuse it.”
“Oh?” His lips move to mine. “You want me watching you?”
Nodding, I pull him down onto the couch with me.
