Page 74 of Falling for Them

Sure enough, it isn’t Ella.Sebastian’s name lights my phone screen.I swipe to answer.

“Have you heard from Ella yet?”he asks.

“No, I’d call you if I had.”

“Dammit.Look, I saw her on Friday.”

“Youwhat?”I say it so loudly, one of the security guards in the lower floor of the building gives a start.I wave at her and lower my voice as I say to Sebastian, “You saw her?Where?”

“I thought she might work in a bar or pub in the Bellefleur District, so I’ve been going to different pubs and bars.”

“Where does she work?We’ll go there tonight.”

“She’s skittish, King.I think she requires a lighter touch.”

Lighter touch.Fucking hell.I think she requires a good spanking to remind her of who her daddies are.

“She’s been hurt,” Sebastian says.

A flare of jealousy moves through me.“You talked to her.”

“Yeah.We went to the karaoke bar—”

“You didn’t even fucking tell me you saw her.What the hell, Bash?”

“Okay, you’re right.I’m sorry.She said she was going to call you, so I thought she did.”

My grip tightens on my phone—I want to squeeze the device into dust.“She didn’t call me.”

“I should’ve checked in with you.”

“Yeah, you should’ve.”

Rule one is enthusiastic consent.Rule two is single women only.Rule three is we’re honest and open with each other and, if something turns into a relationship, with the woman we’re dating.

I can imagine him running a hand through his hair in frustration as he says, “Look, I mean it.I should’ve talked to you.Things have been a little crazy and I didn’t think.”

“Crazy how?”I ask—now I’m concerned instead of irritated.I know how Sebastian struggles, how worried he is about slipping back into alcohol abuse.

“I sang with Ella at the karaoke bar.People noticed.”

“And…?”

“And social media won’t shut up about it.Trina won’t shut up about it.”

I wince on his behalf.He’s loyal to Trina because she believed in him from the very beginning, when he was just a punk college student singing in clubs.But I’ve never liked her much.

“Look, if she hasn’t called you yet, maybe she’s working up the nerve,” he says.“I think we should give her some time.”

I don’t want to give her time.I want to give her a good spanking until she promises not to leave like that ever again.And then I want to hold her in my arms and reassure us all that she’s safe.

But Sebastian’s the “thoughtful” guy between the two of us.Despite his love for pushing women to their limits, he’s the most in tune with their emotions.If he thinks Ella might need time, then I’ll try to honor that.

“Fine.”I try not to growl the words.“I’ll give her time.”

We hang up and I get into the elevator to ride up to my office.Fuck.Maybe Ella’s just not interested.Maybe we came on too strong.

Maybe this was never meant to be a relationship.