Page 30 of Princess of Passion (Caprice Langden)

Chapter Ten

- Sebastian -

I’d say I couldn’tremember the last time I slept so well when I shared the bed with a woman, but the memories from Connecticut were never far away. I could replace them with those from last night. We didn’t spend the night cuddling with our arms wrapped around one another for hours on end. Instead, it was momentarily spooning before we sought a night’s rest on opposite sides of the bed.

It’s a huge bed. I woke up a few times and reached for her. I held her in the silence of the darkness before something in my soul said it was okay to let go and we retreated to opposite corners again.

I slept like a fucking king whose kingdom was at peace for the first time in ages.

It was another illusion that wouldn’t stand up in the light of day. I slept past my usual time, not even bothering to open my eyes as my arms sought Lilly. I reached, and stretched, and reached...and came up empty-handed.

She was gone.

She could have been anywhere—the bathroom, back in her room. I waited, to see if she’d return, but who the hell was that guy waiting uselessly in his bed to see if the woman he’d fucked the night before wanted to come back for an early morning quickie?

And where the hell was she, anyway.

Irritated by my weakness, I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and threw on gray sweats and a black t-shirt.

I stopped by the kitchen for a quick cup of coffee, then went to the control room off the west wing. This was the only room in the house occupied twenty-four hours a day by someone from my security team.

I nodded at Jared when I walked in.

Where is she?” I leaned over his shoulder and scanned the drone footage on the screens in front of him.

“First, she walked around the perimeter of the house. Now, she’s on her way down the drive. She’s almost to the gate.”

I watched the live footage of Lilly making her way down the paved drive. Her head moved from side to side, observing her surroundings. The drone was too high to see her expression, but I could tell she wore one of the velour track suits and running shoes I’d given her, but she seemed in no hurry to get to her destination. Lilly took her time walking down the drive, pausing once to shield her eyes as she scanned the sky above her as she finally noticed the drone. I could imagine her rolling her eyes as she continued her walk.

I wasn’t surprised that she was up early to explore her surroundings after I’d given her permission to do so, but my ego was a bit bruised that she’d left my bed with nothing more than escape on her mind. A blow job would have been a preferable way to start the day, but a man couldn’t ask for everything.

“Follow her.”

I took another swallow of coffee and leaned against the wall behind Jared. I knew what she was up to. She was trying to not be too obvious about looking for a way off the estate.

When she approached the gate at the end of the drive, one of my crew stepped out of the gate house. The two engaged in what appeared to be a civil conversation.

“Get closer.”

Jared lowered the drone. When Lilly realized how closely she was being watched, she said something to the guard before turning to walk back up the driveway.

She tilted her head up into full drone view and made a gesture I’m sure was meant for me. She gave me the bird. For the second time.

I wanted to laugh, but my ego wouldn’t let it appear that I was amused by my “prisoner” flipping me off.

“Stay on her.” I leaned back against the wall with my arms crossed, prepared to enjoy the show. Jared turned the drone to follow Lilly up the driveway, but the cat and drone game was too tame for me. I needed to turn the heat.

“Chase her.”

“Sir?”

“Speed up and chase her. Let’s see how fast she can run.” I hid my chuckle as the drone sped up and Lilly’s surprised expression appeared on the screen. The chase was on.

As it turned out, Lilly could run pretty fast for a girl who always wore heels and whined about broken fingernails. At one point, she hurdle-jumped a lawn chair like a pro before bending down to grab a solar light, which she then threw at the drone. He soared high, well out of her reach, then dive bombed her in retribution.

“Nice touch.”

“Yeah,” he muttered as he used the controls to pursue her around the side of the mansion. “She’s a feisty one. Do me a favor–don’t tell her I was the one controlling this.”

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