Sinister Kisses (The SKALS Series) Page 3

  Her cheeks flushed a becoming pink, and he smiled against her skin before straightening. Taylor gave a sharp inhale as they moved deeper into the house and the great room spilled into view. Her eyes roamed over the floor to ceiling fireplace and the high plant shelves spanning one side of the massive chamber. The light from the two-story window bay on the back wall bounced off the rich gleam of the leather furniture and spilled into the kitchen to their right.

  “I think you could fit my whole apartment in this area,” she mumbled. “Twice.”

  She turned and ran a finger over the black granite island, her eyes bulging at the double stainless steel ovens and matching appliances. He winced as she took in the second sink and shot him a look of utter disbelief.

  Scratching the back of his, head, Sebastian stared at the travertine floor. “Standard option for this model, but I like to cook so it’s convenient. One’s for dishes, one’s for prepping.”

  “You cook?” she asked, her face twisting with playful doubt.

  “I prefer it over eating out,” he said softly. “I find the mindless repetition somewhat relaxing.” He pointed to a door past the vast eating area off the kitchen. “Pantry,” he explained. “Just past that is a half bath if you want to get cleaned up before we start. The door to the right leads to the laundry room and garage. Try not to get lost.”

  Taylor laughed at his teasing wink. ”Maybe I should leave a trail of breadcrumbs, just in case.”

  “Only if you plan on them leading upstairs as well.”

  “I don’t know that I could find my way there,” she mused, glancing around again.

  Sebastian smirked. Turning, he pointed to a set of stairs leading up off the kitchen.

  Taylor shook her head. “Two staircases. That is insane.”

  His smile never reached his eyes. “Not insane, just practical in a house this size. Now go,” he warned, tipping his head toward the bathroom.

  A short while later the house was suffused with pleasant warmth from both fire and stove. Water boiled behind them, sending thick billows of steam into the air as he and Taylor finished cutting out ravioli squares. He was hard pressed not to stare and to keep his hands on task. Her sleek dark hair, big grey eyes, and rounded features were gorgeous, but the way she kept biting her lip and knitting her forehead in concentration was adorable. If he wasn’t so hungry, he would’ve found another use for the counter space. Blowing out a deep breath, he turned to stir the thickening Alfredo and wine sauce.

  She hummed to the soft notes of the music playing in the background. Sebastian watched her with a smile as she tried to dice through the mushrooms they’d piled onto chopping blocks. It was obvious the truck stop diner only taught their chefs so much. Slinking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed against her back. The heat from her body and the subtle scent of her perfume were almost his undoing. Closing his eyes, he tried to peg the aroma radiating from her skin. A rich warm vanilla made his mouth water with the desire to taste her, and he detected the barest hint of cashmere.

  “You’re doing it wrong,” he murmured, closing his hand over hers and wrapping it around the curve of the knife handle. He leaned over her, assisting her hands. Soon, she had the hang of it and was chopping away like a pro. Burying his face in her hair, he stayed behind her, enjoying the gentle movements rippling through her body.

  “Sebastian?” Taylor asked quietly.

  “Hm?”

  “Are you harboring a fugitive in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”

  He cocked his head in confusion then it dawned on him. “I believe that’s my pistol you feel.”

  “Huh. Is that what they are calling it these days?” she stated dryly. She couldn’t contain the giggle that followed.

  “No really,” he said pulling back with an amused chuckle. “It’s my pistol. I got distracted and forgot to take it off earlier.”

  She turned to face him. Her expression was serious and almost wounded. “You brought a gun to pick me up?”

  Peeling off his holster, he dropped it on the counter and met her stare with a steady gaze of his own. “I always carry a gun, Taylor. The things I’ve done—the number of people I have pissed off during my career, I’d be a fool not to. Does that upset you?”

  “It’s a little unnerving,” she admitted, hugging herself.

  “Is it my gun you’re afraid of, or is it me that unsettles you?”

  “A little of both.” She hung her head and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Weapons are only safe in the hands of people who are comfortable using them. Otherwise, they can very easily be turned against you.” He cupped her chin and looked her in the eye. “You’re going to have to learn how to shoot something besides an airsoft or a paintball gun if things go any further between us. That’s for your benefit, as well as my mine. I have a lot of enemies, and the last thing I need is to be distracted at work because I’m worried about what’s going on at home. If that’s going to be an issue for you, it’s better to say so now and get it over with.”

  “I know how to shoot. I’m good at pegging bottles and cans. It’s just a different ballgame when it’s a person,” she said with a shrug. “I can’t even hunt because I can’t stand the thought of hurting anything.”

  Sebastian folded his arms, reclining one hip against the counter. “There’s a difference between necessity and sport. If your life is on the line, you need to know that you can pull the trigger."

  Taylor nibbled her bottom lip, her head shaking slowly. “I don’t know that anyone knows that for sure until they’re faced with it.”

  “That is true to an extent, but if conditioned properly a body will respond on instinct alone.”

  “I don’t have a predatory instinct,” she argued, still shaking her head. “I’ll never be a super soldier like you.”

  Sebastian reined in his concern and persistence with an effort. The woman had stubbornness in spades. He blew out a long exhale. She just wasn’t ready to have this conversation. They had time; he’d make sure of that. He forced a smile to his lips.

  “No one is asking you to be a soldier, but if given the chance, I think you’ll discover you’re stronger than you know,” he stated evenly. “We need to focus if dinner is going to be edible. Bring me the mushrooms.”

  When presented with a task, the girl’s mind latched a hold of it. She leaned close as he mixed the filling.

  “Where did you learn to cook?” she asked, eyes flickering over the spices he added.

  He smiled. This was a safer topic. “I’m a man with many interests, Taylor. For the most part, I’m self-taught. I browse through recipes to get the basics, but most of it is experimentation and trial and error. I should probably attribute my mother. She was a wonderful cook, but my father never let me near the kitchen.”

  “Why? Some of the best chefs in the world are men.”

  Sebastian shrugged, a small frown crossing his face with the memories that threatened. “My father was a gruff man. He didn’t see it that way.”

  “Is that why you joined the military at such a young age?”

  He stopped stirring and set the spoon down. Bracing his hands against the edge of the counter, he lowered his head for a moment. He had told her before to ask about anything but his job and he would answer, but his father was a painful subject—a wound that never fully healed. Reaching up, he rubbed the back of his neck and nodded.

  “In part, I guess it was. I wanted to serve my country as much as I wanted his approval. Unfortunately, he passed away from a heart attack while I was in basic training and that day never came. Mom was so lost without him she passed away eight months later. I guess neither of their hearts could handle the strain.”

  Taylor’s hand settled between his shoulder blades and he bit back a groan as her nimble fingers kneaded away some of the tension. His eyes drifted shut. A man could definitely get used to that kind of attention.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t know…”


  “It’s okay,” he said, straightening. “We’re still trying to feel each other out.” He shrugged. “Besides, I know if he could see me now, my father would be damn proud.”

  Sebastian leaned back against the ottoman and watched the flickering firelight play across Taylor’s face. Her smile alone was enough to light the room and banish the late autumn chill. Swirling the wine in his glass, he glanced outside. Dusk had already caved, and the night had fallen into darkness except for the stars peeking through the clouds. He frowned, turning his attention back to the fire. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed a woman’s company this much. Taylor was so spirited and full of life. Several times throughout the course of night, she’d even made him laugh with some silly antic or another. That wasn’t something he experienced often, and he missed it.

  He took a long sip of wine as he studied her. She was so certain of her independence and stubborn to a fault. Convincing her to stay would not be easy. A small smile threatened. That wasn’t true. Convincing people was what he did best. It was how he made his living. It was what he was trained to do. He shook his head. Employing any of those tactics was a surefire way to send the girl running for the door. He already had Taylor in his sights. Keeping her there was the issue. That was going to require a little finesse and quite possibly some patience as well. His chest rose with a sigh. Patience could pose a definite problem.

  She peered at him from above the rim of her hot chocolate. He smiled as her grey eyes took on an impish sparkle. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

  “Stay with me.”

  Taylor blinked. “Do what?”

  “You heard me,” he said, setting his glass down. Sebastian prowled across the floor to join her on the fluffy white throw. “I want you to stay here.”

  She blushed as he captured her chin and forced her gaze to his.

  “I—I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  “There you go thinking again,” he chided. He brushed his lips across hers in a feather light caress before leaning in to claim them in a long, slow kiss. They tasted of chocolate and marshmallows, and a more honeyed flavor that belonged solely to her. When he pulled back, she stared at him with beautiful, dazed eyes. “Don’t think, just do.”

  “I…can’t,” she mumbled.

  “If we went by your ideas of what was best, we never would have had our first date and we definitely wouldn’t be sitting here now.”

  Her shoulders shook with a silent laugh. “You have me there, but I can’t, Sebastian. I’m just not ready. I don’t even know what this thing is or where it’s heading.”

  He cupped her face gently in his hands. “What do you want it to be?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Yes you do. Tell me.” She shrugged, trying to lower her head and hide behind the thick veil of her hair, but he held tight. He gave a slow, reproachful shake of his head. “Look at me.”

  A shaky breath pushed past her pout. “I…Jesus, are you always this intense?”

  “I can be. It’s a simple question, Taylor. What do you want from me?”

  She chewed the swell of her bottom lip, her brow furrowing with frustration. “I don’t know how to answer that.”

  “Truthfully,” he stated. Sebastian released her face, but kept her pinned with his stare. “Where do you want this to go? What would you like the next step to be? Do you want to be with me, Taylor, or do you want to walk away?”

  Her head snapped up. Finally, her gaze met his. “I want to be with you.”

  Nodding, he let out the breath he’d been holding. His face eased into a smile, and reaching up, he ran his fingers across her cheek to trail through her hair. “That’s what I want, too. I’ll give you time, if that’s what you need. But it won’t be long. I’m not a patient man, and I can’t stand the thought of you alone in that neighborhood at night.”

  She peered back at him with a bemused smile dangling from her lips. “I’ll be fine, Sebastian. I promise.”

  “I am going to hold you to that.” Sighing, he raked a hand through his curls and pushed up onto his feet. “Come on. Let’s get you home before I change my mind.”

  III.

  Taylor burrowed deeper into the folds of her scarf. Winter was still technically a few weeks off, but the early December air bit clear down to her bones. Juggling the festive bags in her arms, she shivered as a forceful gale of wind swept through the downtown streets. The holiday banners and shimmering garland strung around the old-fashioned gas style lamp posts rippled and flapped with the force. She smiled, nodding to an elderly woman on her way past, her breath leaving her mouth in feathery plumes. Even the frigid cold was not enough to shake the exhaustion, and Taylor struggled to hold back another yawn. One more today and her jaw might very well come unhinged.

  She giggled at the thought, wondering what Sebastian would think of her then. It had been a long couple of weeks, a whirlwind to say the least. When they weren’t working, they were together, often until the wee hours of the morning. As much as she loved being around him, the schedule was definitely starting to take its toll. Another yawn threatened, and this time she failed. Lifting the bags, Taylor fought to cover her face as her sleep deprived body caved and tears rolled over the freezing slopes of her cheek.

  She collided with a solid wall of muscle without warning. Grunting, she fumbled to keep both balance and bags in check. Hands reached out and gripped her arms, preventing her from falling over at the last minute. Grateful, but embarrassed, Taylor lowered her parcels and flashed a sheepish grin.

  “I’m so sorry!” Her awkward smile turned to one of genuine surprise and she half gasped, half laughed as she gaped at the familiar face. The bright blue eyes, rusty auburn hair, and square chiseled features were ones she knew all too well. Her heart swelled at the sight of her childhood friend.

  “Taylor McAvay, is that you?”

  She burst into a full laugh and nodded. “Daryl West! How are you? I haven’t seen you since graduation.”

  He grinned and rubbed the back of his head, his broad shoulders rolling with a lazy shrug. “Eh, you know. School and football are keeping me busy. Same old story, different day.”

  She giggled. “How do you like it up there? I hear things can get pretty wild in college.”

  “It’s great!” he said, laughing. “You should totally head upstate and visit sometime. I could give you the good old campus tour.”

  “Yeah,” Taylor said, nodding. She tilted her head and grinned. “I’d like that.”

  “You should have been there, too. I mean, that was always the plan growing up. We’d graduate, get the hell out of dodge, go to the same college, and end up being rich and successful members of society.”

  She blew out an exaggerated sigh. “I know, but it didn’t really work out that way for me. Uncle Roy’s health is questionable at best, and someone really needs to stay behind and keep an eye on Bryce. That boy might be grown, but he’s still as wild as ever.”

  Daryl nodded. “He always was. You look great, Tay. You really do. We should grab some lunch. We have a lot of catching up to do, and I would love to hear what you’ve been up to lately.”

  Taylor blushed as her stomach released a low, painful rumble as if on cue. She glanced down in surprise, her shoulders shaking at Daryl’s boisterous laugh. Several midafternoon shoppers paused to look their way. Her color deepened as she offered them a sheepish smirk and shrugged, smiling up at him. He hadn’t changed at all. His shoulders were a little wider than she remembered, and his build a little thicker, but he was still the same sweet, down-to-earth guy.

  “Yeah, okay,” she said, nodding. “That sounds great. Just let me stick these bags in the tru--”

  The words died on her lips as a car squealed around the corner. Her eyes widened as the sleek black sedan barreled down the street and jumped the curb of the sidewalk. She staggered back, almost falling in her haste to escape as the squat tires barked to a stop inches away from her booted feet. Daryl shouldere
d his way in front of her, his broad body stiff and bracing for a fight when the driver’s side door swung open. Rearing up on her tiptoes, she peered over her friend, her eyebrows knitting upon seeing Josh.

  He marched toward them quickly, and her heart sank when she realized he hadn’t even taken the time to shut the door. A million scenarios played through her mind, none of them pleasant. Had something happened? Was Sebastian okay? She swallowed, the lump in her throat growing tighter with each step he took. Determination stamped the rugged planes of his face, as well as his quick, angry stride.

  “You,” he growled, jerking his head at Daryl. “Get out of the way.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, buddy,” the linebacker argued, folding his arms and widening his stance.

  Josh sighed and snapped his fingers, pointing at Taylor. “Get in the goddamn car.”

  Fear and confusion battled for control. He leveled her with a fierce glare that left no room to argue, and the aggressive glint in his blue eyes was nothing short of terrifying. Taylor took an uncertain step back. Her breath left her in a shaky exhale; her blood roared in her ears as her mind scrambled, searching for the cause of his displeasure. She hadn’t said anything about that day in the woods, not even to Bryce, and they had no secrets between them.

  Josh’s face hardened. Her legs threatened to crumble as his lethal gaze bore into her. He sprung without warning, his sturdy six-foot-one frame unfurling with an unnatural amount of speed. She gave a petrified squall as his hand locked around her upper arm and he hauled her out from behind the shelter of Daryl’s body. The packages tumbled to the sidewalk. She watched in horror as the myriad of gifts she’d spent the afternoon purchasing spilled across the broken concrete, some of them bouncing clear out into the street. Fighting to pry herself loose, Taylor stumbled while the deep boom of her friend’s voice thundered in her ears.