Chapter 12
Gianna
I change into a satin dress, the soft material flowing over my skin freely with the gentle wind.
The night is growing colder, but someone turned on a standing heat lamp I hadn’t noticed on the balcony.
I shift on my strapped heels, leaning into the railing as I look over the twinkling lights of the city.
It’s been years since I’ve stepped foot in Chicago, but I love it here.
Something about it always felt like home.
“Trisha said you don’t want to come to dinner,” Sebastian says from behind me. His deep voice slides over me and heat pools in my belly. Everything he does affects me; it always has.
I glance at him over my shoulder, unable to hold my smile back when I find his eyes on my ass. “That’s not what I told her. I see she’s as incompetent as she is irritating.”
His gaze snaps up to meet mine and a single eyebrow raises. “Irritating? What did she do?”
My tongue presses against my teeth, demanding I don’t say what I want to. That I don’t give him the satisfaction of what I felt earlier today. “I just didn’t like her attitude. Who is she?”
Sebastian shrugs. “Assistant of sorts. Whatever I need her to be.”
Hearing the same words stabs me right in the chest, and I turn to face the city, trying to keep my breathing calm and my tears at bay. “Then I don’t get why I’m here if you have people to do whatever you need.”
While beautiful, I suddenly detest the dress I’m wearing. I want to rip it off and toss it in the trash. It was watching the damn video that has me acting like a fool, trying to impress a man who doesn’t care about anything but being in control and getting his prize in the end.
The warmth of his chest presses into me, his hands curling next to mine over the railing. I shiver when his lips glide up my neck to the shell of my ear.
“Are you jealous, mon c?ur?”
I suck in a breath.
My heart.
For years, I’ve wondered what he called me while we were in college.
I knew Sebastian spoke fluent French that he often wielded for conversations he didn’t want me privy to.
Out of spite, or perhaps because I felt a little forlorn, I forced myself to learn the language.
My head tilts toward him. “Of course not.”
I feel his smile against my skin. “Liar.”
He pulls back, holding out my phone. “Your brother demands proof of life. Call him.”
A twinge of guilt courses through me, knowing I’ve been ignoring him as much as everyone else today. I grab it and turn to move off the balcony, but Sebastian keeps me in place. “Stay here. Make it quick. I’m still taking you to dinner.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I know it’s not worth arguing about. I look out over the water and dial my brother, who doesn’t even let me speak before yelling.
“What the fuck, Gianna? I’m literally about to board a plane because you haven’t answered me all day.”
Sebastian snatches the phone from my hand. “Watch how you speak to her,” he growls out before giving it back to me. He doesn’t move from his spot, pressing closer into my back, and I roll my eyes.
“So he’ll only let you call if he’s there with you?” Matt’s voice is cold and I can hear the engine of the airplane in the distance.
I sigh. “No. I was actually avoiding his calls all day when I left my phone in the room. I—I’m sorry I didn’t think of you.”
Sebastian’s hand flexes around my hip.
Matt is silent for a moment and I know he’s trying to control his anger. “Are you okay? Your bracelet—”
“I know. Look, Sebastian was right. I signed the contract and I have to trust he’s not going to hurt me. Carrying multiple GPS trackers into his house isn’t a sign of trust.”
My brother scoffs. “Trust isn’t just handed over. He has to earn it, and what has he done to earn your trust? Blackmail you?”
Goosebumps pebble along my arms when Sebastian’s hand glides up my stomach, his thumb stroking the underside of my breast. My nipples harden, the tips evident in the thin material.
I look up at him through my eyelashes, trying to control my breathing as he swipes his thumb over the sensitive bud before pinching it.
“Uhm. I understand what you are saying, but this is the deal I made. You have to let me try t-to, uh… handle it myself.” I stumble over my words as Sebastian’s arms circle around me, his other hand pulling at my dress and his fingers caressing the soft skin of my hip right under the waistband of my thong.
The scent of his cologne, the warmth of his body, and being cocooned in his arms is overwhelming. I can’t focus on anything but him.
I fail to keep my eyes open when Sebastian presses a kiss against the small triangle of skin behind my ear and I shudder in his hold. It’s one of those spots that nearly undoes me every time. My fingers curl tighter around my phone and the balcony’s railing.
“Jeremy called me. He’s worried about you,” Matt says.
Sebastian slips his hand farther down, cupping my pussy as he palms my breast, kneading it harshly.
I suck in a sharp breath, barely hearing my brother’s words. “Who?”
A soft laugh fans over my neck and I lean into his chest, wanting more.
He grants my wish, parting my pussy to tease my entrance before sliding up to circle my clit with his fingers.
I jerk at the sensation, heat coursing through my body at his mere touch.
It’s always been this way with us. The man pushed me to new heights that I never achieved by myself, nor did I even think about these things with—
Oh god, Jeremy. That’s what my brother said. I snap my eyes open, pulling away from Sebastian as much as I can. Which isn’t a lot when he follows me to lean harder against the cool metal of the railing.
“Gianna—”
“Sorry, I was joking. I’ve had a long day, Matt.
I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Love you.” The last word is rushed out before I hang up as Sebastian yanks me back against him, shoving two fingers inside me.
He grabs the phone and tosses it on one of the lounge chairs as I moan from his pumping hand.
Then he pinches my chin, turning my face to him before his mouth crashes down onto mine.
I kiss him back, letting myself fall into the familiarity of his taste.
It’s everything I didn’t know I missed. His lips on mine stoke a painful fire inside me.
It burns with pleasure of being here again, but there’s still a reminding ache of what will come after.
That Sebastian has always willingly given me every part of him but his heart, and I can never seem to remember that in the moment when I’m at the mercy of his touch.
I pull away to catch my breath and Sebastian kisses down my neck, nipping at the corner of my shoulder as I grip the railing.
Removing his fingers from inside me, he pushes down the strap of my dress, cupping and kneading my bared breast before his fingers pinch my hardened nipple and smear my wetness over my skin.
Gasping, my eyes roll back as he presses his hard erection against my ass, showing me how much he wants me, and I want him just as desperately.
This was never difficult for us. Our chemistry was explosive and our bodies so in tune with one another, it felt magnetic at times.
It’s everything else that we struggled with.
I’d been young and insecure, with a constant need for reassurance that he cared about me.
The longer Sebastian and I were together and he didn’t tell me he loved me, the more paranoid I grew.
It’s easy to see now, but back then I hadn’t realized my distrust and resentment were causing me to spiral into making questionable decisions.
That led to me stalking my boyfriend that fateful night, convinced he was cheating on me, only to witness him murder someone.
A shudder runs through me at the reminder. He mistakes it for passion, groaning as he bends me over more.
“Tell me you don’t want this. That you don’t want me, Gianna.”
The lie is on my lips but I swallow it down. I can indulge in this one time, it doesn’t have to mean anything. I will not lose myself in him.
Sebastian hums, liking my silent approval.
He shoves my dress over my ass, pulling on my hips to force my back to arch.
I hold my weight against the railing, gasping when I feel the hot, hard flesh of his cock press into me.
I rock back and he takes the invitation to slam forward, working with quick strokes until he’s buried to the hilt.
My pussy is stretched full of his big dick, the girth of him still such a pleasant discomfort.
Sebastian drops his forehead to roll across the back of my shoulders.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you. You feel so good, like where I was always meant to be.”
His whispered confession wreaks havoc on my heart, but I don’t get a chance to dwell on it before he pulls out and thrusts back into me.
The fact he’s still wearing his shirt and pants saves us from the embarrassing skin smacking as he picks up his pace, his fingers digging into my hips.
My eyes roll back, a fire coiling in my belly from his rough fucking.
God, he’s right. I’ve missed this too. Nothing could ever compare to his fat cock pummeling into me.
His hand twists into my hair, pulling my head back. I clamp down on his hard length, having not felt that sting of pain in years.
“Yessss,” I moan out in a hiss as he hits a certain spot that has me seeing dots as I come.
His breathing is turning erratic, his rhythm more jerky, and my toes curl in my high heels.
With a few more thrusts, he stills, pressed tight against my ass as he releases deep inside me.
My mouth drops open in a silent scream, feeling each throb of his cock and the warmth of his cum filling me.
He lets go of my hair, rubbing his hands down my back and squeezing my waist.
“Fucking hell. My balls hurt from how much I just pumped into you.”
A smile graces my lips before I gasp, pulling away from him in a hurry. My dress falls back into place as I stand up straight and face him, eyes wide with sudden realization when I feel the consequences of our actions.
“I’m not on birth control, Sebastian! And—and we never even spoke about other partners,” I say, hysterics raising my voice.
He tucks his dick back in his pants, not even bothering to clean himself. His cum is leaking down my thigh, and I’m stuck frozen in place, afraid if I move it will get on my dress. “Get me a towel so I can clean myself up,” I snap, his nonchalance angering me.
Sebastian raises an eyebrow, his lips thin as he stares at me. “I’ve only ever been bare with you, so unless you have something to tell me, we’re good.”
I swallow, shaking my head, and he nods.
He leaves me standing there a moment as he slips back inside before returning with a small wet cloth.
I grab it from him, wiping up our mess. My cheeks flush when I catch him watching me.
He holds his hand out for the towel when I’m done, but I walk past him into the penthouse toward the kitchen.
The tap of his shoes as he follows me has my heart picking up as I wash my hands, discarding the towel into the empty sink.
When I’m done, I face him, steeling my shoulders. A smirk flirts on his lips as he moves closer, pushing me into the counter and resting his hands on either side of me. He studies my face before leaning down and giving me a soft kiss. I sigh into his mouth, my hands coming up to rest on his waist.
“Do you think once was enough or should we try again to ensure you’re growing our child?” He asks the whispered question as he kisses down my jaw and I jerk my head back.
“What? What did you just say?”
He hums against my throat. “I think we need a few more times. I know you’re ovulating, but we shouldn’t leave it up to chance.”
I push on his chest, needing him away from me as I try to comprehend the unhinged bullshit that just spilled from his mouth, but he doesn’t budge. My fingers dig into his shirt as I blink up at him.
“Sebastian…”
He sighs, pulling away so our faces are even. “I know everything about you, Gianna. More than you do. My feelings haven’t changed. If anyone is meant to be the mother of my children, it’s you.”
A startled laugh bubbles out my throat. “That should be a mutual decision. You don’t get to decide, and that’s that.”
His eyebrows furrow. “It’s in the contract you signed. We’re to be married and actively trying to conceive an heir within a year.”
Married? A rock drops into my stomach and I struggle to breathe.
I never looked at the contract in depth, and I never had the opportunity to give it to Matt, because I know he would have said something.
He’ll never approve of me marrying Sebastian, nor having his children.
And I’m not sure how I feel about it either.
I don’t want Jeremy to die, but that doesn’t mean I want to get back with Sebastian. My feelings are complicated, at best.
“You know I didn’t…” It’s a weak defense, but I’m at a loss for words.
What I thought had been a moment lost in the passion for each other may have been a strategic move on his part.
And that makes me feel worse. I drop my eyes, willing myself not to cry, and clear my throat. “Are we still going to dinner?”
I can feel his gaze burning into my face, but I keep my head tilted down. I’m ashamed of how easily I fell into him again when he is simply moving his pieces on his chess board.
“Let’s stay in. I’ll go grab us something.”
Nodding, I head to the bedroom to change and relax for the night. I pause in the living room to look back at him. His eyes lift from my ass to my face and he raises an eyebrow.
“Who else has access to this penthouse besides Mrs. Tits?” I ask.
Sebastian’s tongue rolls over his lips, and I know he’s stifling his smile. “Nico. A couple of the security guys we rotate.”
I shake my head. “I’m okay with Nico. I don’t want anyone else.”
“They’re apart of—”
“Change it, Sebastian.”
His eyes narrow and his hands slide into his pockets as he straightens his shoulders. “No one but Nico. Got it.”
“Thank you,” I mutter, and head back to the room.
He doesn’t follow me. We both clearly need some space after what transpired on the balcony.
When the front door slams shut a few minutes later, I breathe out of a sigh of relief before showering and changing, returning to my earlier hunt for an office.
If he wants to treat everything we do as a game, then I’ll play along right with him.
Except mine will be with different rules.
——
Want the artwork for the balcony scene? Get it here