20. Rose

20

Rose

I stared at Sebastian’s outstretched hand, bottom lip trembling. “I… what, Master?”

“Get up.” He snapped his fingers and stepped forward. “Come on.”

“Please, Master,” I said in a hollow voice, shaking my head. “Please don’t take me back there.”

“I’m not taking you to that room,” he replied. He dropped his hand, gesturing to the shirt and pants I’d left folded on the end of the bed. “Put those back on. It’s cold outside.”

My eyes widened. “You’re taking me outside?”

“Yes.” His eyes narrowed with impatience. “Go on. Before I change my mind.”

I slipped into the pants and buttoned up the shirt as fast as I could, heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. I wasn’t sure if I could trust him when he said he wasn’t taking me into that awful punishment room. It could be a nasty trick, designed to play with my mind.

He opened the glass door and led me up the concrete stairs. When he pushed open another door in front of us, I almost cried out with relief. Daylight.

“It’s raining pretty heavily,” Sebastian said, turning back to me. “You don’t have shoes, so I’ll have to carry you.”

“Okay, Master,” I whispered.

He hoisted me up over his shoulder, carrying me like I was an errant child. Then he strode out of the shelter and into the pouring rain, hurriedly making his way over a large patch of grass toward the back of his house.

“Are you letting me go home?” I called out over the howling wind and rain.

“No. This is just a treat.”

“What did I do to deserve a treat?” I asked, but my voice was lost in the wind.

Sebastian hurried up the wooden stairs that led to the back porch of the expansive house. Then he set me down on the smooth boards, grinning as he wiped his dripping face with the back of his hand. “Fuck, it’s really coming down,” he said. “We look like drowned rats.”

With that amiable, joking tone and the smile on his face, it was difficult to see him for what he truly was. A monster. Instead, I saw the man I knew back in Alderwood, when we were still friends. Sociable, kind, funny, patient, and oh-so handsome.

But that version of him was a lie, and let’s face it… we were never friends, even then. We were always something more. Something ineffable.

He opened the glass sliding door and ushered me inside. “Don’t worry about getting the floor wet. It’ll dry,” he said, eyeing my drenched hair. He nodded toward the left. “This way.”

“Where are we going, Master?” I murmured as we headed down a hall.

“Bathroom,” he said. “I figured it’s about time you had a proper bath, and we’re already soaked, so why not, right? I’ll get us some food and drinks as well. You must be hungry.”

My heart was pounding, mind reeling. Why was he suddenly being so much nicer than usual? Surely it was another one of his tricks.

“Why am I getting a treat, Master?” I asked.

He glanced at me over his shoulder. “You don’t have to call me that anymore. I changed my mind about it.”

“Why?”

“I just remembered that all you Covenant folks call the Entity your Eternal Master. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I figured it’s probably too confusing for you to call me Master as well.” A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Let’s just go back to Sebastian. Seems easier.”

“Okay… Sebastian,” I murmured. I still didn’t trust this nice version of him. Not at all.

“Anyway, to answer your question…” He stopped short and turned to face me, eyes flickering with indecipherable emotion. “To be honest, I feel bad.”

“You feel bad ?” I asked, brows shooting up.

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you yesterday. I mean… shit, yeah, I did . But not like that,” he said. “I just wanted answers, and I got carried away. I hurt you so much you passed out from the pain, and now you don’t even remember any of it. Obviously, I took things way too far.”

“Oh.”

I didn’t know what else to say. I wasn’t going to argue with his assessment. Not when my back was still covered in red welts and thin scabs from the whipping he’d doled out.

I chose to ignore the part of me that enjoyed it and begged for more. I had to block it out, because it was too confusing to think about, and I already had enough confusion and worry in my life at the moment. Especially with this strange new mind game Sebastian was playing.

He stepped a little closer. “Just to be clear, I’m not letting you go, Rose. But I do want us to find some way to get along. A way where we don’t hurt each other.”

“Okay,” I said, averting my eyes. I would love to believe that this friendly side of him would remain, but I knew better. I’d seen the monster come out. Seen the terrible wrath in his eyes. He couldn’t just shove that down forever. Sooner or later, it would be back.

He turned and headed farther down the hall. Then he stopped at a doorway and motioned inside. “Do you want to run the bath while I get some stuff from the kitchen?”

I stared at him. “You’re going to leave me alone in there?”

“You can’t go anywhere. The window is locked, and if you try to break it, I’ll hear.” He smiled thinly and stepped inside, one hand reaching out to flick on a light switch. “The plug is on the edge of the bath, and I’m sure you can figure out the hot and cold taps. Towels are on the shelf to the left. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

He stepped out and headed back down the hall. I watched him go, stomach still churning with confusion, and then I turned and entered the bathroom.

My breath caught at the sight before me. The bathroom was enormous, with pale marble walls that gleamed under the soft glow of the lights. To my left, a massive bathtub sat, its surface a pristine white. It was framed by a low, tiled platform that extended around it, perfect for setting down the food and drinks Sebastian had promised. Beyond the tub, a glass door led to a shower with a spacious interior and two showerheads.

To my right, a large vanity with an expansive mirror stretched along the wall, its countertop free of clutter save for a bottle of what I could only assume was soap. Plush white towels sat on a shelf nearby.

I stared at all the luxurious fixtures for a moment, rooted to the spot with fear and bewilderment. Sebastian had willingly left me alone in here, and that made me think it was some sort of test. A test I could easily fail if I dared to do the wrong thing, like slip down the hall and out the door.

I couldn’t risk that, because I knew he’d see me, so I decided to turn on the bath and use the gushing water to mask the sound of me hunting through the bathroom for a possible weapon.

When the tub was plugged and the water was hot, I began my search, beginning with the drawers beneath the vanity. They were all empty. No nail scissors or razor blades that could be used for an attack. Not even a hairbrush to hit him with.

The cupboards were just as bare. I could only assume Sebastian had his own personal bathroom in his bedroom, and this one was just a spare for guests. That was probably why he felt safe leaving me in here. No chance of escape, and nothing for me to use as a weapon.

With a glum sigh, I pulled two towels off the shelf and headed over to the bathtub. I dropped the towels on the platform and slowly unbuttoned my shirt. Just as I was about to slip it off, Sebastian returned, holding a tray with two glasses of pale yellow liquid, a bowl of strawberries, and two slices of cake.

“Champagne,” he said, raising his brows as he placed the glasses on the edge of the bath. “It’s a type of wine. I figured you might be missing the berry wine from your village, and this is the closest thing I have in the fridge.”

“Thank you,” I said stiffly.

He set the food down as well, and then he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the floor, revealing his chiseled upper body. The sight made my mouth water, and I looked off to the side, ashamed of my response. I could still feel his eyes on me, though, and I knew my cheeks were bright pink.

“Get undressed,” he commanded. “Don’t worry about the water on your back. It’ll sting at first, but then it’ll feel better. Trust me.”

Trust you? Seriously? I wanted to scoff at him, but I knew I had to stay calm. Try not to antagonize the furious beast that lurked below the veneer of kindness.

I finished taking my shirt off and dropped my pants. Sebastian unbuckled his belt, dropped his own pants, and kicked them to the side, head swiveling to look at the tub. “I wish I had some bath salts to put in it,” he mused. “That might help you relax.”

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at the floor from the corner of my eye. When Sebastian kicked the trousers aside, something had flown out of a pocket. He hadn’t noticed it, because he was looking over at the bath, but I saw it—the black and gold keycard that he used to access my underground cage.

A small part of me wondered if it was part of the test that I suspected he was putting me through. Perhaps he intended for the card to fall out to see if I’d try to grab it. Then he could catch me in the act and punish me all over again, cruelly laughing and throwing his distrust in my face. I could practically hear his words already.

I knew it, Rose. You’re a bad girl. Turns you on to flout the rules, doesn’t it?

Then again, it really seemed like an accident. When he haphazardly threw the clothing aside, he couldn’t possibly have known in all certainty that the card would slide out like that.

I had to take the chance. If I didn’t, I’d regret it forever while I wasted away in that horrible underground prison.

I looked over Sebastian’s shoulder. “What’s that?” I asked, pointing my index finger.

When he turned his head, I kicked my shirt over the keycard to cover it.

“What’s what?” Sebastian asked, turning back to me with a frown.

“The mirror,” I said. “Is it a real one? Or is it one of your camera things?”

He smiled faintly. “It’s just a mirror,” he said. He gestured to the bath. “Get in.”

My heart hammered in my chest as I slowly stepped up to the raised platform and stuck one foot in the steaming water. Sebastian’s eyes were on me, but I couldn’t feel any of the usual suspicion or anger radiating from him. He genuinely didn’t seem to have noticed my keycard coverup.

“How does it feel?” he asked as I slid into the water.

I grimaced. “It stings, like you said it would.”

“Give it a minute. It’ll get better,” he said.

He removed his underwear and stepped into the bath too. I pointedly kept my eyes away from his muscular body, hating how attractive I found him.

When he was submerged in the water, he grabbed one of the wine glasses and passed it over to me, lips pressed in a sympathetic half-smile. “This will help with the pain too.”

I murmured my gratitude and took a sip of the bubbly liquid, mind still mired in confusion. Perhaps this wasn’t a test after all. Perhaps Sebastian really did feel bad about how poorly he’d treated me, and—

Oh, no.

You scoundrel.

Something had just clicked into place in my muddled brain. I had a good idea of what his game was now. He was probably pretending to be kind and sympathetic so that I’d begin to trust him and like him again, just like I did when he first arrived in my village. He’d fooled me then, embarrassingly easily, and I wouldn’t let him do it again. No way.

My mind whirled, and a dark seed of an idea took root, rapidly growing and spreading. I could take advantage of this situation. Sebastian obviously thought of me as an ignorant, na?ve little girl, and I could use that against him. Make him think I’d fallen for his vile trickery.

What followed would be a terrible sin, but it would set me free and stop him from hurting me—or anyone else from the Covenant—ever again. A necessary evil. The Entity would forgive me.

I took another sip of the wine and reached for a strawberry. “Mmm. Delicious,” I said after I’d chewed and swallowed. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I, um… I think…” I trailed off and shook my head. “No, never mind,” I added in a low voice.

Sebastian straightened in the tub. “Tell me what you were going to say.”

“I don’t know if I can.” I widened my eyes, trying to look as innocent as possible. “How can I trust that you won’t hurt me again?”

“I won’t. I promise,” he said. “I want us to get along.”

The glint that had suddenly appeared in his eyes told me I was completely correct in my assessment of his scheme. He’d realized torture wouldn’t work, so he’d decided to play with my head by pretending to be my friend until I finally shared the information he wanted.

You want to trick and manipulate me, outsider? Two can play at that game.

I swallowed hard and shifted nervously in the water. “Well, you see… I know you want to know who killed your mother, but I really cannot tell you anything about that, because my people aren’t responsible for what happened,” I said softly. “But… the forbidden cave. You said she was researching it before she died, didn’t you?”

Sebastian leaned forward, eyes flickering with interest. “Yes. Why?”

“I can understand why you’d want to know where it is, if it was one of the last things she ever researched. It must play on your mind endlessly. Always wondering what she saw and experienced out there. But the thing is…” I trailed off and looked down, gnawing at the inside of my cheek. I had to draw this out so it didn’t appear as if I were giving in easily. That would be suspicious. “The cave is extremely dangerous. If you go inside and pierce the veil, you could release the Darkness.”

“I know.”

“I’m willing to tell you where it is,” I said, eyes snapping back upward to meet his gaze. “But only if you promise me that you won’t go beyond the first three feet. Any farther than that, and the veil will be pierced.”

“I promise.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You must swear it, Sebastian. If you pierce the veil, you risk the safety of the world.”

“I swear on my life. I won’t go that far in. I just want to see what my mother was researching.”

Liar, liar…

I let out a heavy sigh and looked down, shaking my head as if I were disappointed in myself for even considering this. Then I took a deep breath and spoke up again. “Do you remember when I took you to my berry-picking spot?”

“Yes.”

“Do you recall the offshoot path I showed to you along the way? The one I seemed afraid of?”

“Yes.”

I affected a remorseful expression and swallowed thickly. “I lied to you back then. I only pretended to be afraid,” I said. “I was ashamed of myself for doing it, but I knew you were very curious about the cave, and I didn’t want to give you any hints about its location. So I thought I could throw you off the scent by lying about that path. That way, you might sneak up there, find nothing, and then hopefully give up the search.”

Sebastian’s brows rose. “You sneaky little thing,” he said, eyes flickering with amusement. “I understand, though.”

“The real path is elsewhere. The way to it is along that same main path, though.”

“On the way to your berry spot, you mean?”

I nodded. “Yes. Do you recall seeing a large tree about halfway down that path? On the right edge. It has an enormous red X painted on it.”

He rubbed his jaw. “No, I didn’t notice it. I must’ve been distracted. But I’m sure I can find it easily enough if it’s on that path.”

“Yes, it’s very easy to spot. I’d say it’s about ten minutes away from the village,” I said. “Anyway, that X signifies the danger that lies beyond the tree. That’s how the children know to never play in that area when they’re out in the woods.”

In truth, the X marked out the Covenant’s hunting grounds. Many hidden traps lay beyond that tree, so an inexperienced villager wandering into the area would soon find themselves mortally wounded. An outsider like Sebastian wouldn’t last more than ten minutes there. Fifteen if he was very lucky.

Funnily enough, the inspiration for my plan had come from yesterday’s whipping. A few minutes ago, when my back was stinging from the hot bathwater, I recalled the way I’d forced my mind to go elsewhere in order to avoid the pain of the lash, just like the boy who fell in the animal trap all those years ago. From there, the idea of luring Sebastian into one of those very same traps had taken root.

Without the whipping, I might not have thought about that boy and those dangerous pit traps, and then I wouldn’t have thought of this plan. That was why the Entity had allowed me to endure such torture—so that I could escape this place while also ensuring that my captor would pay for his crimes.

All goes to plan if you keep the faith.

“That makes sense,” Sebastian said. “But where’s the cave in relation to the tree?”

“It’s not easy to find. The elders made it difficult on purpose, for obvious reasons,” I said. “Can you remember what I tell you?”

“Yes.”

“All right. Once you step beyond the tree, you’ll come across a very narrow path lined with bushes. It’s not easy to spot, because there’s so many other bushes and trees there, but once you find it and follow it, you’ll eventually arrive in a large clearing. You must cross this clearing. On the other side, you’ll find another tree marked with an X. Beyond that, there’s another path, and that one leads directly to the cave. It’s about a twenty-minute walk.”

“Let me see if I got all that. I have to find the marked tree, then the half-hidden path beyond it, then the clearing, then another marked tree, and another path.”

“That’s right.”

“Good.” Sebastian nodded slowly, eyes glimmering with satisfaction. “I’ll go this afternoon while the directions are still fresh in my mind.”

Beneath the water, I pinched my inner left thigh so hard that tears instantly sprang to my eyes.

Sebastian noticed my distress, and he leaned forward. “What’s wrong?”

I grimaced and squeezed a tear out, letting it roll down my cheek. “I… I can’t believe I actually just told you all of that,” I said, forcing a quaver into my voice. “I’ve betrayed the Covenant.”

“You did the right thing, baby girl.” Sebastian pulled me close, one hand stroking my hair. “Don’t cry. Please.”

I forced out a sob, and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me as I trembled with faux remorse. “Hey, come on,” he said in a soothing murmur. “No more tears. You haven’t betrayed anyone.”

“I have!” I said, voice muffled by his shoulder. “I’m a traitor! I was never supposed to reveal the location to an outsider.”

“I know, but it’s all right. I swear to you, I won’t go all the way into the cave,” he said, drawing back to look me right in the eye. “You did the right thing by telling me. Truly. You did it because you have empathy. You saw and understood how important it is for me to go there and walk in my mother’s footsteps. That makes you a good person, Rose. Not a traitor.”

I squeezed another tear out, and I saw real sympathy flashing in Sebastian’s eyes as he looked down at me. I almost wanted to laugh with glee.

“Thank you,” I whispered instead. I sniffed loudly, as if I were sucking up all the tears, and looked toward the bathroom window. The glass was frosted, making the outside world a blur, but it was still clear that the sky was gray. “I don’t think you’ll be able to go there this afternoon. The weather is terrible.”

Sebastian shook his head. “It’s bad now, but I checked the forecast. It’s supposed to clear up around lunchtime. So if I leave then, I’ll be up at Alderwood just after one.”

“What’s the time now?” I asked. Down in the underground quarters, with only artificial light and no clocks, I’d lost all concept of time.

“About nine A.M.”

“But…” I hesitated, frowning. “Didn’t you just get back from the city?”

“Yes.” He lifted a brow. “How did you know I was there?”

“I’m not sure. I suppose I must have been half-awake when you came in to leave that food for me before you went, and I must have heard you saying something about going there. For work.”

“Ah.” He nodded slowly. “Anyway, yes, I was there. Why do you ask?”

“You only just got back. It’s a very long way.”

“Five-and-a-half-hour drive, yeah. Six if I stop along the way for gas and coffee.”

My brows rose. “So if it’s nine now, then that means you must’ve left the city in the middle of the night,” I said, tilting my head. “Why didn’t you just stay there instead?”

Sebastian leaned forward. “I could have. But I decided to leave right after the work issue was resolved, which happened to be in the middle of the night,” he said. “I had to get back here as soon as possible because I knew you’d be hungry.”

“Oh. You didn’t sleep?”

“Nope. Drove straight back here. I don’t want you to starve.”

“I see,” I murmured.

He lifted one hand to tenderly stroke my cheek. “I care about you, Rose,” he said gruffly. “I know it doesn’t seem like it most of the time, but it’s true.”

“I know,” I whispered, even though I knew nothing of the sort. “I, um… I think… perhaps part of me cares about you too. That’s why I asked about the drive. Because you haven’t slept, you drove all night, and now you want to hike up to Alderwood in just a few hours. I don’t know how you’ll manage it.”

“I’ll be all right. I just need a gallon of coffee,” he said, smiling faintly. He leaned back again, eyes coasting over my body. “How’s your back feeling?”

“It feels fine now. You were right. The water is helping. Or maybe it’s the wine.”

He chuckled and looked at my empty glass. “Do you want some more?”

“Actually…” I gnawed at my bottom lip. “Could I try some of that coffee stuff you mentioned? I’ve heard of it, and I’ve always been curious.”

Sebastian’s brows shot up. “You don’t have any coffee in Alderwood at all?”

“No.”

He stood and leaned over to grab a towel. “Well, you’re in for a treat. Coffee is the fucking best.” He stepped out of the tub, wrapping the towel around his waist. “I’ll go and make it now. Be back soon.”

The second I heard his footsteps heading down the hall, I grabbed my own towel and quickly dried off. Then I padded over to my shirt and retrieved the keycard I’d hidden under it. The shirt had a pocket on the front, so I slipped the card into that before crumpling it back up on the floor. Now I wouldn’t have to worry about hiding the card in my hand while I dried and dressed later.

I slipped back into the bath just before Sebastian returned with two steaming cups. “I did yours with cream and sugar,” he said. “I take mine black, but you might not be ready for that.”

“It smells really good.” I wrinkled my nose. “But also really bad. I don’t know how that’s possible.”

He grinned. “That’s a pretty accurate descriptor of coffee.”

As we drank the coffee and ate the strawberries and cake, things felt strangely… normal. Like we were just friends or lovers sharing a meal and a nice conversation. I had to force myself to remember that Sebastian was a monster. That he’d probably kill me if he ever decided he no longer had any use for me.

That was exactly why I had to get rid of him first.

The bath grew cold twice, and both times, Sebastian drained the tub while we were still in it, refilling it with warm water at the same time so we could continue to relax, eat, and talk. Occasionally, when he looked at my body a certain way, I was reminded of the nights we spent at the hot springs, and I felt a twinge in my core, followed by a desperate ache.

I had to be grateful to Sebastian for that , at least. In the short time I’d known him, he’d shown me the greatest pleasure in the universe. It was just a shame that he’d also brought me so much pain and anguish.

After the water started to go cold for a third time, he sat up straight, lips pressed together in a thin line. He leaned over the edge of the tub to look at his phone. Then he sighed. “I have to go soon. We should get out.”

“Okay.” I lifted my hands to show him my fingers. “I’m very wrinkled now anyway.”

He helped me out of the bath and grabbed my towel for me. As I dried off, I kept my eyes on my clothes, praying he wouldn’t decide to help me further by picking them up for me. If he did, he might feel the card in the shirt pocket, and then… well, I didn’t even want to imagine the consequences.

He caught me looking at the clothes and frowned. I snapped my gaze away, but it was too late. He was staring at them now.

“I should get you some fresh clothes,” he said. “You’ve had those ones for a couple of days, and they got wet in the rain earlier.”

“No.” I fervently shook my head. “It’s fine. I’ve barely worn them, and they look dry now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. They’re very comfortable. The only reason I didn’t wear them much is because of my sore back. But I want them now.”

He shrugged as he put his own clothes back on. “All right. Suit yourself.”

The rain had slowed to a mere patter when we went back outside. I inhaled deeply, taking in the wonderful earthy scent surrounding us. I’d missed this so much; the smell and sight of nature.

Sebastian picked me up and carried me across the yard so I didn’t get any mud or grass on my bare feet. It felt strange to imagine that in just a few short hours, those strong arms of his would be limp and lifeless, never to hold anything again.

When we reached the underground cell, he fumbled in his pocket and grimaced. “Shit,” he muttered.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my face the picture of innocence.

“I must’ve dropped the card somewhere.”

“Oh.”

He smiled. “Luckily, I did this.”

He stepped over to the desk on the other side of the space; the one I’d now realized was covered with his research into Miranda’s death. He opened the top drawer and produced another black and gold keycard.

“I had copies made just in case,” he said, grinning over at me. “I had a feeling I’d probably lose one at some point. I’ve always been clumsy like that.”

“Really? You’ve always seemed very organized to me.”

“Not when it comes to keys.” He rubbed his jaw as he pressed the new keycard on the lock. “Back in college, I lost my dorm key twelve times.”

“Then it was smart to have copies made,” I said, smiling demurely.

He pushed the door open and ushered me inside the cell. “I’ll be back later tonight, if all goes well,” he said. “We can have a nice big dinner then. Sound good?”

“Yes. Thank you,” I murmured.

“I’m glad we’ve figured out a way to get along, Rose,” he said, lips quirking in a faint smile.

“Me too.”

He turned and headed over to the door. Then he stopped in his tracks. “Wait a minute,” he said, words slow and measured.

My heart leapt into my throat. He must have figured out that I took the other card. Now he was going to hurt me or kill me.

He turned around, eyes coasting over my face and body. “I forgot something,” he said in a low voice.

“What?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

“This.” He strode over to me, snaked one arm around my waist, and leaned down to crush his lips against mine.

My eyes widened with shock. For a split-second, I considered pulling away, but I immediately realized I didn’t want to. Maybe it was because of the relief coursing through my body from the near miss. Maybe it was from the fear and hatred flooding me with adrenaline. Maybe it was due to the knowledge that I was never going to see him again.

Or maybe it was just the wine.

Whatever it was, I wanted this just as badly as he did.

I kissed him back, pouring out every ounce of my fear and loathing into each clash of our lips. Even though it was my first time kissing a man, I somehow knew exactly what to do. I’d pictured it in my head so many times, dreamed about it too, and now it came easily to me, like my lips had always been fated to meet Sebastian’s.

He let out a low growl from the back of his throat, one hand tangling in my hair to pull me closer. The rest of the world seemed to fade into a blur around us, along with all its danger. Somehow it no longer mattered that Sebastian was a monster and I was his captive. All that mattered was his hard body pressing against mine and the way his touch sent shivers down my spine, making me ache for more and more.

His practiced fingertips moved lower, delving into the waistband of my pants, and I jolted as the ache in my core worsened, moans spilling into his mouth as I raked my hands through his thick hair.

He finally pulled back to catch a breath, and his green eyes locked with mine. Then he slowly sank to his knees before me, dragging my pants to the floor with him. My head swam as he pushed my thighs apart and buried his face between my legs. Then his tongue was—oh, lord— his tongue was sliding all over me, lapping between every fold and swirling over my clit.

I gasped, jerking involuntarily, and grabbed his shoulders to support myself, nails digging deeply into his skin. His grip tightened on me, hands pressed into my ass to hold me steady as he devoured me like a meal, lips and tongue moving with focused precision over every inch of me.

When his hot tongue slid back over my clit, I began to pant desperately, embarrassed by my neediness but too eager to stop. I was growing dizzy, knees threatening to buckle. I wanted to lie down, but I needed to stay on my feet to experience more of Sebastian’s devilish worship. It was overwhelming, almost unbearable, making me moan and gasp with every merciless flick of his tongue.

“Please,” I gasped. “Oh… oh… yes!”

He pulled away for a moment, leaving me aching. “You taste so fucking sweet,” he growled. “So good.”

The hunger in his deep voice made my legs quiver all over again. “Please,” I begged, the word coming out in a half-choked whisper. “More.”

Sebastian gave me a wicked smile and returned his mouth to my delicate flesh, tongue working its magic all over again. I lifted one hand off his shoulder and threaded it in his hair, biting back a desperate cry of bliss. My climax was imminent, rushing toward me like a tidal wave.

I shuddered again as the pleasure tore through me, choking the moans in my throat until they were shaky, rasping breaths. Sebastian kept going, licking me like I was his last meal, hands digging into my thighs to keep me upright even as my knees buckled.

This time, the pleasure didn’t fade away. Instead, the ache inside me was growing worse. My darkest desires from my most wicked dreams were rushing into my mind, unleashing a desperate new need.

“Sebastian,” I said breathlessly, struggling to focus my blurred vision on him. “I… I need...”

It was too shameful to voice all the words, but I needed something more than a tongue between my legs. I felt painfully empty, and I wanted Sebastian to fill that void.

He rose to his feet, eyes glinting as he stared down at me. Then he unbuttoned his trousers and dropped them along with his underwear, revealing his hard cock. The sight of it worsened the needy ache inside me, and my mouth fell open in a soundless cry of desperation.

Sebastian gripped his shaft in one hand, letting out a dark chuckle. “You want this?” he asked, voice low and dangerous. “You want to be fucked?”

A tiny, distant part of me was screaming at me, commanding me to honor my vows and deny him. Reminding me of my sacred duty to remain pure. But the rest of my hazy mind was sinking further and further into a maddening space of hot, smothering desire that quickly blotted out everything else.

I needed him to fuck me. Needed the ecstasy it would bring. I was utterly consumed by this need, body coiling like a spring until I felt like I would explode if I didn’t feel his cock inside me right this second. Those old purity vows were nothing but a distant memory now, like they’d never been taken.

“Yes,” I said breathlessly. “I want you.”

“Say it.” His eyes burned into mine. “Say the words.”

“Please… fuck me,” I whispered. The curse word felt dirty as it rolled off my tongue, but that only served to heighten my desire, making my heart beat faster as sinful heat rushed through my veins.

Sebastian smirked and kissed me again, one hand pressed on the side of my face as his hungry lips devoured mine. His stiff cock pressed against my abdomen, and his other hand dropped between us to rub at my slick folds. “Fuck,” he muttered through gritted teeth, pulling back from the kiss. “You’re so wet.”

“For you.” I tilted my head to look right into his eyes, begging him with my gaze.

He leaned down to kiss my neck, and I felt the briefest touch of his teeth against my skin, as if he were willing himself not to bite me and devour me whole. Then he groaned and pulled back.

“No,” he said. “Fuck… no. We can’t do this.”

“What?” My eyes widened. “You don’t want to?”

“Of course I fucking want to,” he growled, one hand raking through his hair as he stared down at me. “But I can’t. You know I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Your vows, Rose. I know how important they are to you.”

“I don’t care about that anymore!” I said, desperate tears springing to my eyes.

“You’re only saying that because you’re so fucking horny right now.” He shook his head, chest heaving. “But I know you’d regret it the second it was over, and then you’d never forgive yourself.”

“No, I swear—”

He clapped a hand over my lips, muffling my protest. “I can’t. You’ll thank me later, baby girl.”

With that, he yanked his pants back up, turned around, and strode out of the cell without so much as a backward glance at me. I cried out and dashed forward, pounding on the glass. “No! Come back!”

I screamed until I was hoarse, but Sebastian didn’t return. I briefly thought about using the keycard to chase after him, but I knew if I did that, he’d realize I’d stolen it, and then I’d lose my only chance at escape.

When I finally realized he wasn’t coming back, I sank to the floor and curled into a ball, sobbing my eyes out. The aching desperation in my core soon faded away, and it was instantly replaced with heart-wrenching guilt and shame.

Sebastian was right. If I’d gone ahead and let him take my virginity, I would’ve never forgiven myself afterwards.

I couldn’t believe how far I’d fallen; how quickly it had happened. I’d allowed myself to be lured so far into temptation that I’d almost given up a lifetime of purity only a couple of weeks before my ritual.

No.

That was a feeble excuse. I wasn’t lured. I walked right into the situation myself, with my head held high, begging for Sebastian to strip me of my purity. He’d done the right thing by denying me, no matter how much I screamed and cried.

Oh, lord.

He wasn’t a monster after all. There was something good in him, and that sliver of goodness had bubbled to the surface to help and guide me in a time of real need, even when it was clear he wanted to fuck me just as much as I wanted to fuck him.

He could be saved. He could be redeemed. Only…

I’d just sent him to his death.