Hegroaned his response, touching his forehead to mine. “Holy fuck … I’m nevergoing that long without this again.”
Thelong, salacious strokes reminded me that he, a reformed playboy of sorts, hadgone months without being touched by anybody but himself. If anything could bea testament of his honest devotion to me, it was that, and my fingers claspedtighter to his scruffy cheeks.
“Ilove you,” I whispered, nodding my confirmation.
Abroken gasp touched my lips as his eyes squeezed shut. “Fuck, Tabby … say itagain …”
Ichoked on a surprising sob, hooked a leg around his waist, and repeated, “Ilove you, Sebastian. I love you so fucking much, you have no idea.”
Andas though the lack of confession had been the pin holding his composuretogether, he broke into a fervent fit of kisses and deep, delving thrusts ofhis hips. Hands grasped and fingers clawed. Tongues tied and hair pulled. Icame undone, gasping and begging for more, and he came after, touching hisforehead to my shoulder and pleading me todon’t stop, don’t stop, don’tstop.
Whenit was over, Sebastian collapsed, tangling his fingers into my hair andpeppering lazy kisses against my lips before rolling over and laying face-up onthe bed, his arm wrapped around my shoulders.
“So,I gotta ask,” he said, after catching his breath, “what did it for you?”
Myarm wrapped around his waist, and I laughed. “What?”
“You’rethe first woman aside from my mom and sisters to say you love me, so what thehell did it? Was it my dashing good looks or was it the unparalleled wit?”
Ilooked toward his eyes, finding them trained on me, as they always seemed tobe. “It, um …” I shrugged against him. “I guess it was Greyson. The way you arewith him, how easily he fell in love with you. How quickly you fell in lovewith him and immediately assumed your role, like you were always meant for it. Theway …” I hesitated, taking a deep breath and exhaling as I continued, “The wayyou broke down when he first called you his dad. I think that’s when I reallyfell for you.”
Sebastiannodded, tightening his arm around my shoulders. “That’s a good answer,” hereplied, his tone rasped with heavy emotion. Then, he admitted, “I neverstopped wanting him.”
“Iknow.” I flattened my palm, smoothing over the nest of blonde hair.
Hisheart pulsed beneath my hand, thundering with the power of a man who had everythingin his grasp. Triumph and pride, swelling his lungs with every rise and fall ofhis chest, as though he had won a battle after years of defeat.
Hefinally had everything he had ever wanted; the life, and love, of his son.
“Andyou,” he added, nodding affirmatively. “I’ve secretly wanted you for years. Alittle witch who could finally tame this beast.”
Inuzzled my cheek against his shoulder, silently thanking him for setting mefree, and whispered, “I love you, Sebastian.”
“Ilove you too,” he replied. “And that’s never going to stop.”
Myeyes closed to the ghosts of the past, whispering their goodbyes, and with themcame the peace of settling into this new life—the life we wanted. Together.
epilogue
sebastian
“Anyway, I decided to get rid of it.”
Iwoke with a jolt. My hair was matted to the sweat dotting along my forehead,and I brushed the growing lengths back. Lifting up onto an elbow, I reachedover to the nightstand and flipped the switch on the ugliest piece of shit lampI had ever seen.
Tabbyliked them, and what Tabby liked, Tabby got.
Sheslept soundly beside me, unstartled by my rude awakening. I watched her for aminute, debating whether I should wake her or not.
Fuck,she was beautiful, even as she slept. Some people can’t look good whilesleeping. They revert to a weird state of childlike innocence, with puffedcheeks and puckered lips. But Tabby maintained the beauty that made me want tostare at her and wonder how the hell an immature bastard like myself managed toget so lucky.
Idecided to let her sleep, but knowing I needed to do something to take my mindoff the sudden return of that dream, I climbed out of bed and quietly left our room.I was tempted to step into my drum studio and beat the skins to rid myself ofthe adrenaline, but I headed downstairs instead. Some TV might do me some good,I figured, and I swung into the living room, only to find Greyson sitting onthe couch.
“Heykid,” I greeted him, hopping over the back of the sofa and landing next to him.“Can’t sleep either?”
Heshrugged. “Not really.”
Inoted a book in his lap, and nudged my chin toward it, as I asked, “What’sthat?”
