30. Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Cameron

There was nothing scarier than a text message that read, “We need to talk.”

As soon as I saw it, my mind spiraled with possibilities. Did Mason want to break up again? Was she going to run away with Sebastian, never to be seen again?

Had she discovered something unsavory about my past?

Even worse, Mason and I had to wait literal hours to be alone. By the time we got back to my room, all I could think about was how I’d lied to Sebastian this morning. I hadn’t spoken to Mason; all I knew was she spent the night in Lucian’s room. I just wanted to push him away from Mason, but after everything that happened at breakfast, I felt a little sorry for him.

Not sorry enough to apologize, though.

“Sweetpea, why don’t you sit down?” I asked, staring up at Mason from the bed.

She paced around the room with her hands on her lower back. Her sweater clung to her like a second skin, revealing every curve of her changing body. But, while she looked beautiful, she didn’t look comfortable.

“I can’t, I’m nervous,” she breathed. “This is a big conversation.”

A cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck. “Does it end in a breakup?”

I had been on edge since Lucian said he smoothed everything over with her. He ain’t normally one to do that. I had half a mind to believe he’d actually made things worse.

She shook her head, and the tension in my stomach eased.

“Just trying to collect my thoughts,” she assured me.

“Well, come collect ’em over here. You’re making me nervous.”

She hesitated, and I extended a hand.

“I know you’re an adult, and you can make your own choices. But I want you off your feet.”

She conceded with a sigh, and I helped her get settled. I wasn’t sure if she needed the help or not; I just wanted to make her as comfortable as possible.

“You look nice today,” I commented as I fought the urge to smooth down her sweater. Was I allowed to touch her belly without asking?

“Thank you. She’s being active and literally resting right here.” Mason poked her stomach to demonstrate.

“Can I feel?” I asked, before I thought better of it.

She looked at me with surprise before reaching for my hand and placing it on the left side of her stomach.

“Feel how that’s kind of soft?”

I nodded, my heart beating so fast I was dizzy. “I think so.”

Mason’s natural pout gave way to a smile as she slid my hand closer to the middle.

“Do you feel how that’s more firm?” She continued.

I nodded, emotion stealing my words.

“That’s the baby.”

The weight of those words settled on me. Sure, I had seen pictures of ultrasounds and touched Mason’s stomach while she slept, but it didn’t fully sink in until now. Mason and I made a baby, just like the ones that came with Lucian when he moved in.

I was going to experience the sleepless nights and the first steps. Every magical milestone I’d seen Jas and Juni hit from six months on, I’d get to relive, and I’d see a few new ones too. There were so many things about having a baby that I didn’t realize I’d missed until that moment.

The subtle pop under my hand stole my breath in the best way possible.

“She’s strong too,” Mason mumbled.

“Really?” A strong baby didn’t feel like much to write home about.

“Mhm, she’s kicking my ribs.”

That didn’t sound pleasant, and I wondered if I should apologize. But no, that’d probably just make things more awkward between us.

“I’m sorry, by the way.” She wound a strand of hair around her finger, looking away from me as she spoke.

“For what?”

A flush crossed her face as she looked up. It was cute how easily she blushed.

“For running away last night.”

I scratched the stubble on my chin, wondering if I should tell her I barely noticed. When I came back and saw she was gone, I just assumed she wanted to see Sebastian. But this gave me the perfect opportunity to get to know her a little better.

“Already forgiven… can ya tell me why ya ran, though?”

She cleared her throat before squirming in her spot. I’ve never seen another human fidget as often as Mason Albright. After a moment, the red in her cheeks deepened as she mumbled something so quiet I had no chance of understanding it.

“I need you to speak up, Sweetpea. Your accent makes it hard to understand when you whisper.”

Her chest swelled as she looked back up with a squeak. She was so red that I was getting a little concerned.

“I said I think I like you, and that scares me.”

My heart skipped as my mouth dried. The happiness bubbling in my chest spread to my face, morphing into a grin I tried to fight. I covered my mouth with a hand, trying to act like that wasn’t one of the best things I had heard all day.

“I think I like you too.” A beat of silence fell between us as our baby girl thumped again.

“And this little wiggler you’re growing, too.”

“So, what do we do?” she whispered.

I felt like that was obvious. We’d continue taking things as slow as we were. I’d avoid taking her out in public; that way, she wouldn’t face any backlash from the church. Lucian mentioned something about fattening Mason up, but honestly, I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. And I was sure Sophia had her own set of plans for Mason, whatever they were.

Instead of explaining all that to her, I leaned in, pressing my lips to hers. She tasted like the London Fog she’d been nursing in the sitting room. She deepened the kiss, twining her fingers in my hair. Instantly, my blood rushed to the wrong head, and I thought about pushing her to the ground and making her call me ‘daddy’.

I had to clear my throat as I pulled away from her, desperately denying the unholy things I wanted to do to her.

“We’ll take it slow.” And I’d give her anything she wanted. All she’d need to do is ask, and I would be putty in her hands.

Her breathing was deep as she played with the neckline of my white cotton tee shirt.

“Was that the big conversation you needed to have?” If so, it’d gone a hell of a lot smoother than I expected. But she shook her head. My brows raised as I tried to imagine what on earth she could have to tell me.

“How do you feel about Sebastian?” she asked timidly.

Just hearing his name made my stomach churn, but after her reaction yesterday, I wasn’t going to talk down on him to her. Just in my head, and to Lucian, and to Sebastian himself if the mood struck.

“He’s a little… eccentric,” I admitted. “But other than that, he’s fine.”

“... Do you think he’s handsome?”

I fought the urge to grimace as I scratched the scruff on my chin.

“I mean, he looks like his brother.”

In a corporate psychopath kind of way.

“.... Would you ever consider sleeping with him?”

My skin crawled at the idea. “Like… alone?”

Mason’s hand was icy as it rested on my jeans. “Maybe eventually, but it doesn’t have to be.”

I considered it for a moment. If we didn’t touch, and I didn’t have to look at him, and it made Mason happy, I could fuck Sebastian. But something about this situation was fishy. He and I had been butting heads like rams. Now, we were one wrong word from sleeping together?

“Are you askin’ for him, or you?”

Her eyes widened, and her lips pursed together.

“Does it matter?”

She’s asking for him.

“He has a crush on you,” she admitted.

I closed my eyes as I counted to ten. There was no way Sebastian Castillo had feelings for me. Not only was he lying to Mason, now he was dragging me into his ridiculous witch hunt. Even if he was on the right track, it didn’t justify risking her life.

But I couldn’t tell either of them any of that. I’d just have to ride it out.

“I’d sleep with both of you. But not just him. I don’t know him well enough.”

Mason looked down at her stomach, and I cupped her chin and pushed it back up.

“Don’t say it,” I warned.

There was a playful glint in Mason’s eyes, and she smiled at me, but this time was different. I could see the gap in her teeth and the start of her all-too-sharp canines. It felt more genuine than the rest of the smiles she’d shown me, and it made my head spin in that pleasant, dizzy way only new love could.

Wasn’t I too old to feel like that?

“Do you mind if Seb and I talk first?” My tone was cautious. “I ain’t really into the idea of fuckin’ someone just because I can.”

Again, Mason looked at her swollen stomach, softly rubbing the curve as nerves caused me to shift in my seat. I wasn’t immune to the irony of what I just said.

“You’re different.” I rushed through my words.

Her midnight-colored hair fell to the side as she cocked her head. My pulse quickened, and the gross feelings that bubbled up at the mere thought of Sebastian had all but vanished. What I told her was true; I liked to get to know someone before I laid with them. After my first encounter with Mason, I’d asked myself countless times why she’d been the exception to that rule.

“Exactly how am I different?” she inquired.

How wasn’t she different? Mason had this uncanny way of disarming people; to say her smile lit up the room would be an injustice. Entire solar systems could form around the brilliance of her genuine smile. A lump formed in my throat as I fought to come up with a rational response.

Finding none, I was forced to tell her the truth:

“I think fate wants you in my life.”

She put her hand on my cheek, her smile shrinking but not dimming in the slightest, and I wondered if she felt the same.

The way Mason looked at me made me feel seen. Like she wasn’t just looking at me; she was looking for me. And part of me was afraid of what she’d find if she searched for too long.

She inched closer, and I thought she’d kiss me again. Every part of me ached for her in ways that barely made sense. My eyes shut, and I leaned in, prepared to accept anything she was willing to offer.

It was more than a little shocking when her lips barely graced the tip of my nose.

My eyes shot open just in time to see her pull away. I wanted to grab her by the waist and demand she kiss me the right way, but there was something so damn sweet about what she’d done, I couldn’t bring myself to be stern with her.

“I’m going to go get Sebastian. I’ll be back,” she promised.

I didn’t want to sit on the bed with Sebastian; that’d be like rubbing elbows with the devil.

But, as I watched the two of them from the comfort of my rocking chair, I noticed he wasn’t acting like the man I’d been butting heads with. His posture was more relaxed, less menacing, and the way he looked at Mason almost made him seem... human.

In spite of his relaxed demeanor, he seemed uncomfortable. He kept fixing his hair and fiddling with his glasses to keep from making eye contact with me. When his gaze did meet mine, his face would flush, and he’d have to look away. Mason rested a hand on his thigh, and he instantly grabbed it before pressing her knuckles to his lips.

Of all things, why did that have to make me jealous?

“So… Mason says you have something to tell me.” I tried to keep the disgust from creeping into my tone.

Sebastian nodded, barely looking up.

“Sorry, this is really embarrassing.” His apology almost sounded genuine enough for me to believe it.

He continued, “Princess, would you be able to give us time? Just Cameron and I? I think it’ll be easier that way.”

Mason’s eyes widened just a hair before she nodded. “Of course. If you need anything, text me.”

She used his knee to steady herself as she stood, then gave him a kiss that lasted slightly too long for my liking. My heart lurched, and I wanted to demand a kiss of my own. She owed me one from earlier anyway. Instead, I only got a small wave as she walked out, shutting the door behind her.

The second Mason vanished, the man before me began transforming into the Sebastian I knew and hated. His gaze darkened, and his posture straightened. Sebastian wasn’t a small man in any sense of the word, but the sudden confidence in his stance made it feel like he’d doubled in size. His sheepish expression morphed into a sinister one, and a chill ran down my spine.

“You’ve piqued my interest, Cameron Cole.”

My stomach flipped, and an unexpected rage burned in me.

“Being bisexual ain’t a joke,” I warned. “Whatever it is you’re trying to pull, kindly leave my sexuality out of it.”

Sebastian gasped before laughing. “You think I’m joking?”

My jaw clenched, and I nodded. Of course, I’d have sympathy for anyone who was forcibly outed in mixed company, but the timing was suspicious. Everyone was watching; it was like he’d orchestrated a spectacle to make us all feel bad for him. Maybe the rest of the house believed this ridiculous farce, but I didn’t trust Sebastian.

My mattress creaked as Sebastian stood. The ancient wood floor protested every step he took as he stalked toward me. I dug my nails into the wooden handles of my chair with enough force to turn my knuckles white. Suddenly, he gripped my hands, bringing his face level with mine. He was so close I could smell his cologne: citrus, with a hint of something bitter.

“I can assure you; my sister’s lack of tact is out of my control. Unfortunately, this whole ordeal was just as surprising to me as it was to you.”

I shook my head. “Why should I believe a damn thing you say?”

He let go of my hands and smirked. Before I could even react, he’d whirled around and tossed himself into my lap. Instantly, I tensed. Heedless to my discomfort, Sebastian sunk his shoulders into the crook of my arm. He writhed a bit as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, coming dangerously close to rubbing his ass on my cock. I fought to keep my breathing steady—under no circumstances was I about to let my body react to this scumbag. Finally, he stopped weaseling around and pulled up his photos.

Nearly all of his pictures from the last few months were of Mason or the baby. He skipped past those, scrolling quickly backward in time until he found what he was looking for: a picture of him next to a man with short black hair. Sebastian’s arm was draped over the man, and their fingers were intertwined. They looked happy.

Something in my gut told me to look at the date displayed just over the picture. Last night, he told me how long he’d been dating Mason. Twenty-one weeks, four days, and... six hours, I believe he’d said. That was several hours ago, but after some mental gymnastics, I was able to figure out the exact amount of time between the timestamp on the photo and the start of his relationship with Mason.

It was less than a day.

“Meet Alex Hensle.” Sebastian started, the photo moving as he caressed the screen. “We dated for almost three years. During that time, he... came dangerously close to taking my virginity. But I never lost sight of the person I was saving myself for.”

My stomach churned as I realized he was talking about Mason.

Sebastian haphazardly tossed the device toward the bed, showing no concern when it bounced off the mattress and clattered on the hardwood floor. Instead, he slowly shifted in my lap, placing a hand on my cheek. I wanted to shrink away from his touch, but I knew that was exactly the reaction he was after. A cold sweat broke out on my back as my muscles went so tense I feared they’d snap.

His face was blank as he tried a new tactic to get under my skin:

“I named your daughter. Does that upset you?”

It didn’t upset me, it pissed me off. Once everything was said and done, Mason and I would have a long talk about changing it, and I wouldn’t take no for an answer. But none of that was any of Sebastian’s business.

“This is no fun if you don’t talk to me,” he pouted.

I shook my head. “You need to get off’a me.”

“Awe, so soon? But I’m just getting to know you.”

Goosebumps rose on my arms as he ran his finger along my jaw and down my neck.

“Get. Off.” I repeated through my teeth.

But Sebastian didn’t listen. Instead, he inched closer.

“I think we should share secrets.”

I closed my eyes and started counting to ten. But before I even reached five, Sebastian was moving against me. His breath warmed my face as his lips grazed my ear.

“I have a feeling that you’re somehow linked to the Sons of Christ. ”

My stomach turned sour, and I thought for sure I’d throw up on him. Last time I heard an outsider speak that name, I was a much different man. I didn’t want to open my eyes. If I did, I’d risk seeing the joy Sebastian got from tormenting me.

“Your pulse is elevated… breath shaky… poor thing, you’re terrified , aren’t you?”

Shut the fuck up already, you creepy bastard.

“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you…” A velvety-smooth chuckle stole the end of Sebastian’s sentence.

“... Not yet anyway.”

A jolt of panic filled my stomach as I remembered my conversation with Sophia. She had told me Seb wasn’t a cop, that he made too much money. Honestly, I didn’t believe her at the time—not fully, anyway. I assumed he was some kind of CIA hotshot, overpaid for his massive ego.

But now, as he sat on my lap, I wasn’t so sure. There was something dangerous about Sebastian, something that made me believe he really would hurt me.

Sebastian shifted on my lap, his callused hands finding my cheeks. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see him staring at me, a Cheshire-cat-like grin sprawled across his face. This motherfucker needed to get off me, or I was gonna break him in half.

I tried to calm myself by searching his face for the features he shared with Lucian. Sebastian’s skin was so light you’d never guess the two were brothers, but as I examined him, I started to see the similarities. Same strong jaw, full lips, and a nose that’d look right at home on a Greek statue. He even had the same dimples. But the eyes were strikingly different. Besides the icy blue color, Sebastian’s eyes were deeper set than Lucian’s, and his lashes were thinner.

His breath cascaded down my cheeks as we sat balanced in the rocking chair, completely unmoving.

I finally broke the silence:

“Who do you work for?”

Sebastian’s hand moved from my cheeks to trace my features, analyzing them as if he were looking for something that would definitively link me to the cult he was after. Fortunately for me, that proof was hidden among the scars on my chest.

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

From anyone else’s mouth, that phrase would’ve sounded like a bad joke... but Sebastian’s words carried an eerie conviction. His words should have scared me, but instead of fear, an odd sense of relief washed over me. Sebastian was fucking crazy, that much was becoming clear.

Crazy, in my experience, wasn’t always a bad thing.

“Would you kill for Mason?” I asked.

Sebastian’s breathing deepened, and his pupils constricted as his tactile exploration of my face stopped at my lips. He tickled my bottom lip with his thumb as he considered his answer. After a beat, he closed in, and I was afraid he’d kiss me. Instead, his lips lingered at my ear, his breath infesting my hair.

“I already have.”

He pulled away, and my heart stopped. I tried to maintain what remained of my composure as questions swirled in my mind: Who the fuck could he have killed? How did he hide it? Did he even have to hide it?

Did his employer clean up the messes he left behind?

“Does that scare you, Cameron Cole?” Sebastian’s taunt was slow, as if he were savoring the idea of terrifying me.

But I shook my head. If things kept going like they were, Mason might need someone willing to kill for her.

I just hoped Sebastian was as smart as he claimed to be. If he were, it would take him no time at all to realize I was nothing but another casualty of Dale’s twisted gospel, lucky enough to live to hide from the tale.