Pretend We're Over (Pretend 2)

I look down at my hands and realize that I am.

“Come on, we’re going,” Sebastian continues to drape his arm around my body, holding me tightly to him as we make our way through the bar. I can’t think. I can’t focus on anything.

When we get to his car, Sebastian doesn’t separate from me until he has me tucked into the passenger seat. Once in the driver’s seat, he takes my hand again, holding it tightly as we drive back to his condo.

“Are you really going to file a restraining order?” I ask, surprising myself when those are the first words I speak.

Sebastian parks the car in his private spot below his penthouse and then looks at me, really looks at me, like he can understand everything I’m thinking from my eyes.

I wish he could. It would be easier than having to tell him everything. I have so much to say. About the events that led to us getting married. About Oaklee. About my past.

And yet, I have no idea where to start.

Sebastian unbuckles both of our seatbelts, still not speaking. “You’re incredibly brave, you know that?”

“What?” I ask, breathlessly.

“You. Are. Brave.”

He kisses the back of my hand.

“You. Are. Strong.”

He lifts my chin and kisses one cheek.

“You. Are. Fierce.”

He kisses my other cheek.

“You. Are. An. Incredible. Wife.”

He kisses me on the lips like this is the last kiss he’ll ever get. It’s full of desperation. Or desire. Or longing for something he knows won’t last.

“Yes, I’m going to file a restraining order. I’m going to make it clear to the fucking world that you are mine. And I’ll make sure that you never have to be afraid of Trevor again.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond. Trevor left me speechless by getting physical. Sebastian is leaving me speechless because I didn’t realize a man could be so kind, so loving.

He grabs ahold of my hand as he pulls me into the elevator. When the doors close, I wait for him to kiss me. For his hands to roam over my body. For him to show me exactly what he has planned once we reach his condo.

“Don’t look so disappointed,” he says.

I look up at him.

“I’m planning on fucking you, dirty girl. But both of us are already on edge. I don’t want to spark any more anxiety or fear. I want to fuck you long and slow. I want to cherish you. Take my time with you. Remind you of how incredible I think you are.”

Make love to you, my mind fills in what he’s not saying.

And God, do I want that. We’ve fucked a lot in our time together, but he’s never been gentle and sweet when he’s inside me. I get the sense he wants to slow time down. He wants to worship my body. And I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening.

When the elevator opens, he lifts me up, cradling me in his arms as he kisses me so gently that if my eyes weren’t open, I wouldn’t be sure he actually kissed me. Once inside, he kicks off his shoe before carrying me straight to his bedroom, hobbling on his cast.

He lays me down on the bed. His body hovers over mine.

“You okay?” he asks, his eyes burning into my body, looking for any clue of pain that Trevor might have caused.

“He didn’t hurt me.”

Sebastian shakes his head. “The fact that you don’t realize he did hurt you means he hurt you.”