Page 158 of Arianna

It happened, and now it’s done.

“I was watching that, darling.” He murmurs.

“And now you’re not.” I shrug.

Sebastian’s eyes twinkle when he looks away from the TV and stares straight at me. “Brat.”

“Tyrant.” Rounding his desk, I push him back a bit and take a seat on his lap. He is still wearing the same clothes he wore this morning. The only difference is that he has discarded the tie. His hair is messy, as if he’s been running his fingers through his gorgeous black locks. Not feeling shy at all, I wrap both arms around him, and his free hand falls on my naked thigh. The oversized shirt I am wearing barely covers me.

My entire body becomes alive, recognizing his touch. It is the same feeling that erupted when he’d touched me all the time before.

We sit there in silence while I look at his face. I will never get used to his beauty or the way I feel when I am in his arms. This man really is made of black magic.

Wickedly handsome.

Cunning and fearless.

Mine.

His eyes take me in.

Hating how quiet he is and his mood any longer, I break the silence first. “What’s wrong? Is it about what happened la–” He cuts me off, and the hand on my thigh comes up to my face.

Blue-gray eyes meet green.

“Want to know the first thing I thought about the first time I saw you, darling?”

“Back in Detroit?”

He shakes his head slowly, “When your father sent me your picture.”

Anger coils in my stomach when I am reminded of what my father did. “What am I going to do with a spoiled little mafia princess, I presume,” I reply sarcastically, hiding the wave of sadness that hits me when thinking about it.

Sebastian doesn’t smile, nor does he laugh. Something is wrong. His fingers trace the skin of my face tenderly. “I didn’t see the past or the sins of your father when I saw your face.” My heart starts to race as I listen to him. “I saw my future…”

I saw my future…

“Sebastian…” His name is barely a whisper.

His hands fall from my face, and I instantly feel the loss. “Would give anything to be a different man for you.” He takes a sip of his drink and looks away from me towards his home office window.

I have witnessed many sides to Sebastian Kenton, but not this one.

This vulnerable side is new to me.

“I don’t want another man or a different you.” Taking his face in my hands, I force him to look into my eyes. “I just want you.”

Placing his glass back down onto the desk harshly, “Everyone is…”

“Who gives a shit about anyone that isn’t us, Sebastian? I sure don’t.” I snap. “They don’t know us. Not really.”

“Watch that mouth.” he chuckles, but there’s not an ounce of humor like every time before.

I take a second to calm my racing heart. “I mean it. I wish…”

“You wish what?” His face is a breath away from mine.

“I wish you saw yourself the way I do.” There, I said it.

---