Chapter 6 Shackled
Emily’s heart raced, her palms damp as she stood before Sebastian.
That familiar shiver of unease crawled up her spine—the kind that always came whenever his dark, unreadable stare locked onto her in the past. There had been a time when just one look from him like this had been enough to make her tremble.
Now, things were different. These days his gaze often softened when it landed on her, filled with warmth she hadn’t thought him capable of.
Affection. Possessive, but gentler than before.
Yet at that moment, the sharpness in his eyes as he glared at Harold had dragged her back to the past, to the cold, ruthless man who had once terrified her.
Her nerves twisted tight when he stepped toward her. Her instinct braced for a scolding, a lash of words, but instead, his hand slid to the back of her head, his fingers threading lightly into her hair. He drew her forward with something startlingly tender.
His voice dropped, velvet-soft, wrapping around her like silk. “I was gone for two days. Aren’t you going to tell me you missed me?”
Emily froze, her throat catching. A tiny, inward groan echoed in her mind. ‘Who’s going to tell you that? If I say it, you’ll just get more smug.’ She bit her lip, then forced a careful smile. “Yes… of course I missed you.”
The icy edge in his eyes melted instantly, replaced by a warmth so tender it made her chest tighten.
He released her and strode toward the table where he had left his suitcase. Emily’s eyes followed him, curiosity pricking at her, anticipation fluttering low in her stomach. His tall frame bent slightly as he reached for a small box and then turned back toward her.
“I brought this for you,” he said evenly, extending it toward her. “Don’t eat them all at once. You’ll get sick.”
Emily blinked, surprised. She lifted the lid with careful fingers and gasped softly. Inside lay rows of her favorite dark chocolates, each piece glossy and rich. They weren’t just chocolates. They were rare, dairy-free, and expensive, the kind she had only tasted twice in her life.
She gasped softly, delight sparking across her face. Her eyes widened with wonder. “How did you know I like these? These are so hard to find.” She eagerly popped one quickly into her mouth, the bitter richness melting across her tongue. A radiant smile spread over her face before she could stop it.
Sebastian’s brow arched. “Good?”
“Very good,” she said, beaming. She held the box toward him. “You should have one too.”
His gaze flicked from the chocolates back to her face, lingering. Something in his gaze made her hesitate; she guessed he wasn’t one for sweets. She began to pull the box back.
But before she could, his hand slid to the back of her head, pulling her to him with a force that brooked no refusal. His lips claimed hers in a heated, demanding kiss, the faint sweetness of chocolate lingering on her mouth, mingling with the natural warmth of her skin.
Every press of his lips was impossibly intimate, pressing her flush against him as her body trembled beneath him. Emily’s fingers instinctively curled into his shoulders.
Emily tried to protest, her lips brushing against his in a soft, breathless whisper. “You probably haven’t had dinner yet. Let me bring you something first—”
But her words barely left her mouth before he silenced them with his actions. With effortless strength, he swept her off the floor as though she were weightless, carrying her back a step before lowering himself onto the edge of the bed and settling her on his lap.
Her body went rigid for a moment, her breath catching as the warmth of his frame surrounded her. She could feel the solid rise of his chest beneath her palm, the steady thud of his heartbeat echoing through her hand.
Then, he drew back just slightly. His lips brushed her cheek in a lingering kiss, soft enough to make her eyelids flutter shut. A quiet warmth spread through her, stealing her breath.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze fell to his hand. His palm was stretched out toward her, and resting in it was a small blue box.
When she finally opened her eyes again, she found his palm stretched out toward her. Resting in it was a small, velvet-blue box.
Surprise widened her eyes, dark irises glinting under the golden light of the bedroom. She took the box from his hand and carefully she lifted the lid.
Inside lay a necklace—delicate, impossibly fine, its chain gleaming like spun silver under the glow of the lamp. The pendant caught the light, scattering it in tiny sparks that shimmered like captured starlight.
Her lips parted, words caught in her throat as her heart thundered wildly.
Her breath caught sharply, her chest tightening as recognition slammed into her.
It was the same necklace she had stared at online just last week—the limited-edition design that had vanished from stock in minutes, leaving her sighing in defeat and scrolling back over the pictures like a lovesick dreamer. And now… it glimmered in her hand.
Without warning, Sebastian leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was feather-light yet deep, fleeting but laced with heat, lingering just long enough to leave her trembling in its wake.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he lifted her gently from his lap and settled her onto the bed, the ghost of his touch still burning along her skin.
Rising to his full height, he moved with the unhurried grace of a predator, striding toward the bathroom.
“Set the dinner table, baby. I’ll be there in a minute.” The soft click of the bathroom door closing broke the spell.
Emily’s hands flew up to her face, fingers pressing against her burning cheeks.
‘This necklace… it only came out last week. It was sold out within seconds. I never told anyone—never even whispered it out loud. How on earth does he know?!’
A shiver ran through her spine, panic fluttering inside her chest. She pressed a hand against her racing heart, her voice a trembling whisper, “Can he… can he read my mind now?!”
The thought had barely formed when the door opened again with a quiet click. Sebastian stepped back into the room.
Her breath hitched at the sight.
He was bare-chested, a pair of low-slung trousers clinging to his hips.
Droplets of water slid from his damp hair, catching the light as they trickled down the ridges of his abs, chasing along the sculpted grooves of muscle.
He dragged a hand through his dark hair, slicking it back, his casual movement only emphasizing the raw power etched into his biceps.
Emily’s gaze betrayed her. Her eyes traced over the breadth of his shoulders, the ripple of his chest, the carved strength in his arms. Heat flooded her cheeks, warmth searing through her body until her pulse roared in her ears.
He was dangerous like this. Too devastating, too perfect, every inch of him radiating a pull she couldn’t fight.
Panic clawed up her throat. Her instincts screamed for escape before her foolish heart exposed everything. She scrambled to her feet, placing the necklace down on the bedside table as if it burned her fingers. Without daring another glance at him, she bolted toward the door.
But she had underestimated him.
Two strides were all it took. In an instant, he was there, towering over her, cutting off her escape.
The heat of his damp body rolled off him, filling the charged air between them.
Before she could react, his arm swept around her waist, strong yet careful, pulling her flush against the solid wall of his bare chest.
Her palms pressed against the hard planes of his body, her fingers trembling as she tried—weakly, uselessly—to push him away. But her heart betrayed her, hammering violently under his touch, her pulse a frantic rhythm she couldn’t disguise.
His burning eyes locked onto hers. His voice came rough and low, brushing against her skin like a caress. “Running away already, baby?”
Before she could even breathe, his arms locked around her waist, lifting her as though she weighed nothing.
He set her down on the table pressed against the wall, his face lowering immediately to her chest. Through the thin silk of her nightshirt, his mouth sought her, his tongue circling her hardened peak before his teeth caught lightly, sending shocks of pleasure through her body.
“Ah…” Emily gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders. The playful bite turned into deep sucking, his lips fastening hungrily around her, drinking her in as if he couldn’t get enough.
Her eyes fluttered shut, her body writhing beneath him, her hips arching forward, back straining as soft whimpers escaped her lips.
She tried to push at his shoulder, desperate to free herself from the overwhelming sensation, but instead of releasing her, Sebastian only sealed his mouth tighter, biting and sucking until she cried out.
With a rough tug, his hand ripped at her shirt, buttons scattering across the floor.
He spread the fabric open, his palm claiming the swell of her breast, squeezing before his mouth descended again.
His teeth scraped over her tender bud, and Emily shuddered as the sharp edge of pain melted instantly into a rush of intoxicating pleasure.
“Mmm… ahh, Sebastian,” she whimpered, her arms clinging to him helplessly, her body arching forward, pushing more of herself into his mouth even as she trembled.
Every flick of his tongue, every nip of his teeth sent shocks racing through her veins, teasing her with the edge of release without ever letting her fall.
“Ahhh…” she moaned again, her voice breaking. Every bite drove her higher, every slow lick tore her apart. Her body throbbed with the unbearable ache of orgasm, but it never came. It was exquisite torture—her blood burning, her core pulsing, every nerve alive with need.
“I can’t take it anymore,” she whimpered, tears spilling from her lashes as her legs locked tightly around his hips, rubbing, grinding, searching for relief that never came.
But Sebastian was merciless. His tongue rolled around her peak, sucking, then licking, repeating the motion until she was trembling uncontrollably, her cries filling the room.
A string of saliva slid from the corner of Sebastian’s mouth, his chest heaving as he pulled back for a breath. His shaft stood tall and swollen, the tip glistening, throbbing with need. The ache in him was unbearable.
He released one of her peaks only to seize the other, his hunger insatiable.
His tongue lapped and teased before his teeth grazed, pulling another desperate cry from her lips.
His arousal pulsed harder, the sheer restraint of not burying himself inside her making him burn.
It was madness—the way his body craved her as if she were the only sustenance he needed.
With a low growl of raw desire, Sebastian fastened his mouth to her other breast, nipping, sucking, tasting her as though she belonged only to him.
Her soft, full curves filled his palms as he squeezed, kneaded, worshipping and tormenting all at once.
He moved from one to the other, switching back and forth, his mouth relentless, his face buried in the soft weight of her, groaning with every taste.
“Oh God,” Emily sobbed, her voice trembling, unable to stay still beneath the storm of his hunger. Every bite, every suck was a merciless tease, pleasure and torment twisted into one.
As her chest heaved with ragged cries, his hands slid lower, parting her thighs wide.
Her intoxicating scent filled the room, dragging another groan from his throat.
Without a pause, he reached into the drawer in the table, pulling out a bottle and several things she hadn’t even noticed him hide away.
Everything happened so fast she could barely catch her breath.
In one rough motion, Sebastian lifted her from the table, stripping her nightshirt, shorts, and underwear in a single sweep.
The next moment, her back hit the bed—her wrists bound above her head, her legs spread and secured with belts at her knees and ankles.
Emily gasped, her chest rising and falling as she realized she was shackled beneath him, completely at his mercy.