Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Sebastian stood frozen in the doorway of the drawing room, his jaw clenched and eyes hard as he took in the scene before him. Caroline sat stiffly on the sofa, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, while Edward Pembroke leaned towards her with an earnest, imploring expression. The air was thick with tension, the charged silence broken only by the sharp click of Sebastian's boots against the polished floor as he strode into the room.

"Lord Pembroke," Sebastian said coolly, his deep voice laced with barely restrained irritation. "I don't recall my wife mentioning a scheduled visit from you today."

Edward had the good grace to look chastened as he rose to his feet, offering a slight bow. "Forgive me, Lord Casterbridge. I'm afraid I imposed upon Lady Caroline's hospitality without forewarning. A lapse in judgment on my part."

Sebastian's gaze cut to Caroline, taking in the pale cast of her cheeks and the slight tremble of her hands. Instinctively, he moved to her side, resting a possessive hand on the small of her back. She leaned into his touch, some of the tension easing from her shoulders.

"Well, as you can see, my wife is rather occupied at the moment," Sebastian said shortly, not bothering to hide his impatience. "Perhaps it would be best if you took your leave now, Pembroke."

Edward hesitated, his eyes darting to Caroline's face as if seeking silent permission. But she kept her gaze averted, her posture stiff and closed off. With a sigh of resignation, Edward sketched another bow.

"Of course. Forgive the intrusion. Good day, Lord Casterbridge. Lady Caroline." With a last, lingering look in Caroline's direction, he strode from the room, the heavy oak door swinging shut behind him with a dull thud.

In the sudden silence, Sebastian turned to face his wife fully, his brow furrowed with concern and a simmering undercurrent of anger. "Do you mind telling me what in heaven's name that was about, Caroline? Why was Pembroke here?"

Caroline flinched slightly at his sharp tone, her fingers twisting anxiously in the folds of her skirt. "It was nothing, Sebastian. Truly. He just... he wanted to talk."

"Talk?" Sebastian scoffed, raking a hand through his hair in frustration. "The man is clearly in love with you, Caroline. And I am quite certain that talking was the very last thing on his mind. What could he possibly have to say to you that was so urgent it couldn't wait for a proper invitation?"

Caroline remained stubbornly silent, her eyes fixed on the intricately woven rug at her feet. Sebastian felt a surge of jealousy claw at his throat, sudden and sharp. The thought of Edward Pembroke putting his hands on Caroline, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, made his blood boil. He knew that before their passionate encounter the previous night, she had been innocent, but in this moment there was no time for logic thought.

The vivid picture of Edward Pembroke's hands caressing Caroline's trembling body was enough to make him positively green with jealousy.

"Did he touch you?" The question came out harsher than he intended, laced with possessive fury. Caroline's head snapped up, her eyes widening with shock and a flicker of indignation.

"No! Sebastian, of course not. It wasn't... it wasn't like that." But there was something in her voice, a slight tremor of uncertainty, that made Sebastian's gut clench with suspicion.

"Then tell me what it was like," he ground out, struggling to keep his temper in check. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like another man was attempting to seduce my wife in my own damn house!"

"Sebastian, please," Caroline entreated, rising to her feet and laying a placating hand on his arm. "I told you, it was nothing improper. I made it very clear to Edward that I'm your wife now, that whatever feelings he may have harbored in the past need to be put aside. He's just... he's having a difficult time accepting it, that's all."

Sebastian clenched his jaw, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he fought to rein in his temper. He wanted to believe Caroline, to trust in her fidelity and good judgment. But the nagging voice of doubt and insecurity whispered in his ear, reminding him that their marriage was not one of love or passion, but of duty and salvaged reputations.

"We'll discuss this later," he said brusquely, stepping back from Caroline's touch with a pang of regret. "Perhaps after dinner."

Caroline pressed her lips together, a flicker of hurt and frustration passing over her lovely features before she nodded stiffly. "Of course, husband."

He could see the blatant confusion in her wide eyes, and he knew of course why it was there. Their previous evening–and this morning–had been perfect, only for him to now let his anger at Pembroke's presence destroy the tenderness that had settled between them.

Dinner was a tense, silent affair, the only sounds the clink of silverware against fine china and the occasional clearing of throats. Sebastian brooded over his plate, his appetite nonexistent as he replayed the scene from the drawing room over and over in his mind. The way Edward had looked at Caroline, the hushed, urgent tenor of their conversation... It made his skin crawl with jealousy and a possessive rage he hardly recognized in himself.

Caroline, for her part, kept her eyes downcast, picking listlessly at her food. She seemed smaller somehow, withdrawn into herself in a way that made Sebastian's chest ache. He hated seeing her like this, hated the distance and discord that had sprung up between them so suddenly.

As the last course was cleared away, Sebastian stood abruptly, the screech of his chair against the floor making Caroline flinch. "We shall speak in my study," he bit out, his tone brooking no argument. "Now."

She followed him wordlessly, her skirts swishing softly against the rich carpet as they made their way down the dimly lit hall. As soon as the door closed behind them, Sebastian rounded on her, his eyes blazing with barely contained emotion.

"Tell me the truth, Caroline," he demanded, his voice low and rough. "What did Pembroke say to you? Please. Please do not lie to me." His eyes bore into hers, searching for any hint of deception or hesitation.

Caroline held his gaze steadily, her chin lifting a fraction in defiance. "He said that he was in love with me," she admitted quietly. "That seeing us together was difficult for him, knowing that our marriage was not one of love or choice. He insinuated that you would find your pleasure elsewhere, with women of...experience."

Sebastian felt as if she had struck him, the air leaving his lungs in a sharp rush. "And?" he ground out. "What did you say?"

"I told him he was wrong," Caroline whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I told him that whatever his feelings, I was your wife now. That he needed to respect that, respect me and the vows I made." Her eyes shone with unshed tears, pleading for him to understand. "I swear to you, Sebastian, on all that I hold dear... I did not encourage his advances. I never would."

He stared at her for a long, tense moment, his heart hammering against his ribs. Then, slowly, he reached out and cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing tenderly over the delicate arch of her cheekbones.

"I believe you," he murmured. Then, slowly, reverently, he lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her lips in a kiss that began soft and sweet but quickly turned hungry and demanding.

Caroline met him passion for passion, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed her body flush against his, soft curves melding to hard planes. Sebastian groaned into her mouth, his hands skimming down her back to pull her closer, need pulsing hot and heavy in his veins.

"I want you," he rasped against her lips. "I need you, Caroline." His mouth trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down the slender column of her throat, teeth grazing her pulse point and making her gasp.

"Then take me," she breathed, tilting her head back in invitation. "I'm yours, Sebastian. Only yours."

***

He wasted no time. Instead, he pressed a hard, open-mouthed kiss against her waiting lips, his tongue meeting hers in a fervent duel. Caroline gasped when she felt him growing hard against her and his hand moved to gather her skirts, lifting it to give him access to the silkiness of her thighs.

Sebastian groaned when his hand moved to cup the warmth of her center and she let out a wanton gasp at the contact.

"Please, Sebastian," she whispered, her voice low and desperate. "Please, I need more."

Sebastian obliged almost instantly, slipping a finger into her warmth.

A soft, needy moan left her lips and she threw her head backwards as he pressed into her, his lips once more meeting the soft skin on her neck, his teeth scraping softly against her.

"Caroline," he whispered softly, his voice low against her ear. "Touch me."

Her heart beat wildly in her chest when she looked up at him and moved her hand to his hardness.

Sebastian let out a low groan when she cupped him softly, her brows furrowed in fascination. He pressed a gentle hand on her wrist, his heart racing.

"Teach me how to please you," she whispered as she looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent.

"Move… move your hand," he muttered before guiding her hand to massage his aching hardness. She did so almost eagerly, wanting to please him, though the movement of her hand faltered when he pressed a thumb on the small bundle of nerves in the apex of her thighs. She closed her eyes and let out a gasp, falling against his chest desperately.

"Do… do that again," she muttered—a desperate plea that he obliged immediately, this time rubbing languid circles that had her trembling and moaning in his arms.

"Please, Sebastian," she whispered, her breath feathering over his neck. "I need more. I want more."

The temptation to be bold enough, desperate enough, to plead with him to take her on the desk in his study coursed through her. Self-control won out, though and she managed to drag her lips away from his for a fraction of a second.

"Bedchamber," was all she whispered before allowing him to lead her up the stairs silently. Caroline followed him wordlessly, out of breath and clinging to his hand as though she'd drown if she dared to let go. Once inside the bedchamber, Sebastian was quick to shut the door and press his body against hers, their lips meeting in another fervent kiss. They wasted no time—Sebastian quickly ridding Caroline of her gown before stripping off his own attire. This time, he took his time to slide his gaze over her nude form, appreciating every line and curve as he lay her down on the bed.

A blush rose to her cheeks and he used his index finger to lift her chin. "Caroline," he whispered, "Look at me."

It took a few seconds before she lifted her eyes to gaze upon his nude form. Her eyes moved slowly over every muscle before landing on his erect member and she bit down on her lower lip hungrily.

"Take me, Sebastian," she whispered before laying back on the bed, her legs falling open. Sebastian moved quickly, positioning his body over hers and entering her in a swift moment.

"Oh…"

He swallowed the soft moan that arose from her lips as their hips started moving rhythmically, almost desperately against each other and his grip tightened around her hips when he felt her starting to clench around his hardness.

He met her lips again, pressing chaste kisses against her swollen mouth before moving his lips to her ear.

"Let go for me, darling," he whispered softly, thrusting deeply and grunting when she let out a series of wanton sounds, her legs and arms wrapping eagerly around him as she found the brink of ecstasy. He followed shortly after, burying his face in her neck as his body stiffened before the release crashed over him.

They lay like that, wrapped up in each other, silent until sleep came and overtook them.