Page 39 of Blood and Thorns

“You really shouldn’t have run from me,belle.”

Chapter 20

Arabella

“I didn’t run,” I whispered, the cold causing shivers to erupt over my exposed skin now that my adrenaline had waned. Sebastian stood there shirtless, blood seeping from his wounds. He showed no signs of goosebumps or discomfort, as if the cold meant nothing.

His head tilted to the side, dark hair escaping from the band to frame his face. A bruise was already darkening on his cheek, and there was a small cut on his forehead. There was no expression on his face, but his eyes showed barely contained rage. He vibrated with it, but there was also something else there. Like he got excited by the anger and pain.

Taking the bloodied knife he’d just used to kill someone, he dragged it over the centre of my dress, the edge threatening to cut the fabric. My lips parted, and my pulse danced against my skin.

“I didn’t run,” I whispered once again. “I just needed some air.”

I wasn’t sure if he believed me, and I prepared myself for pain, or maybe even death. He’d warned me, and before I thought I’d just accept it without a fight. But now I wasn’tso sure, tightening my fists in preparation to defend myself with everything I had.

Sebastian looked down, and I was pretty sure amusement lightened his eyes, as well as a touch of sadism. Dropping the knife, he stepped closer, until my breasts pressed against his bare chest.

With his free hand he touched my cheek again, and this time I didn’t flinch. I hissed as he touched the scratch, but I knew that was all it was. A scratch.

“Get in the car,” he demanded, his voice dangerously low.

I nodded, glancing over at Caden who was talking into his phone. He glared at me when he realised, and I quickly dragged my eyes forward until I came to the car waiting by the curb.

Sebastian was a heavy presence at my back, the tension between us stretching in the silence until it was pulled so taut it wrapped around me like a noose. He remained silent the entire drive, his body coiled so tightly beside mine. He still hadn’t said another word even when we ascended the lift to his penthouse, or when he guided me down the side corridor I had yet to explore. I panicked slightly at the sight of the large bed, but he didn’t pause, guiding me into the connecting bathroom.

If I thought my bathroom was big, this one was ridiculous. A large double shower was in the corner, and the bath was big enough to fit several people. Or maybe just someone as big as him.

Still no words were spoken as he pulled at the hem of my dress, and unable to control my shaking, I let him. I wore nothing beneath, the cool air pebbling my nipples.

He didn’t even look at me, instead reaching over to turn on the shower until steam billowed. Moving almost mechanically, he removed his shorts, and I couldn’t help butlook down. Only to immediately jerk my eyes up to his chest as he stepped us back, closing the shower door around us.

Fucking hell.

He was clearly well proportioned, and if that wasn’t an inappropriate thought right now, I didn’t know what was. A blush prickled my cheeks, and I dipped my head in hopes he hadn’t noticed.

I didn’t need him thinking I was checking out his dick while we were both naked in the shower. After I’d just been attacked and he’d just been sliced with a knife.

What the fuck was wrong with me? Because no way should I still be thinking about his dick, or my own body’s reaction to it, while fear still coated my tongue. Worse was the way heat curled low in my stomach, seemingly awakened by the danger.

It was wrong. Completely messed up.

There was me, trying to ignore the sudden throbbing between my legs while Sebastian was clearly having a moment. His breathing was heavy, uneven.

His muscles were rigid as he placed both his palms on the tiles on either side of my head. It was as if he was trying to steady himself, to drag his emotions back under control. A perfectly reasonable response, given the circumstances.

Unlike me who, despite everything, couldn’t stop wondering what it would feel like if he directed all that anger into something else.

Fuck. Me. Sideways.

Was I having a trauma response? Or was I just unwell?

Hesitantly, I reached up, only for his hands to encircle my wrists so fast I gave an undignified squeak. There was a beat, a moment where he tightened his fingers, and my bones strained beneath the pressure. But then he released me.

His eyes darkened,and I knew not to try and touch him again.

Confident I understood, his muscles seemed to finally relax, the hot water hitting his back until the pool at our feet was no longer a rusty red.

He pulled me beneath the stream, and my shivers immediately stopped. I tipped my head back, letting the warm water wash everything away. Sebastian pulled the band from my hair until the strands fell heavily against my shoulders.