Page 51 of Submitting to Them

“I like it,” Sebastian says.

His approval is like a drug, and I give him a big grin.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he says.“Climb up here with me.”

I give a dubious look to the hospital bed.

He scoots to one side, wincing slightly.“Come on, plenty of room.”

“Yeah, maybe if I were on top of you,” I say.

He chuckles.“Well, I wouldn’t argue against that, but the nurses might have something to say.”

I ease onto the bed next to him.Up closer to him, everything is better—his natural scent, spicy and clean like peppermint, overcomes the hospital smells.Immediately, I feel my muscles easing, some of my worry melting away.

Leaning toward me, he kisses my cheek before falling back.“You don’t have to hang out with me, you know.”

“I want to,” I say simply.

“If you say so.”

“I mean it.”I can’t help but sound a little harsh, because the thought of him believing, for one single second, that I don’t want to be here with him, is intolerable.“I want to be here, so don’t try to drive me away, okay?”

He puts his hand over mine.“Okay, Ella.Thank you.”

I must drowse off after a little while, because Sebastian nudges me gently, waking me up.

“Hey, princess.Kingston is here.”

I open my eyes and see him leaning against the end of the bed.

“Hi, Daddy.”Turning to Sebastian, I say, “Why did you let me sleep?I’m supposed to keep you company.”

“It’s not your job to entertain me,” he says.“You simply being here is enough for me.”

“Hmph,” I say, sounding grouchy and groggy.

He just grins at me.

“Well, do you want me to grab some food for us all?”I ask.

“Already brought some,” Kingston says, pointing to a couple of takeout bags on a little table to the side of the room.

We share the Chinese food, eating and talking.It isn’t the same as being at home, though, and that bothers me.It kills me that Sebastian is here, and I wish the two of them would talk about it, talk about how close he came to death, how just a few inches to one side or the other could’ve meant our entire world falling apart.

But I can’t bring it up, not while he’s still here and healing.I don’t want to upset him.

After we’re done eating, I say, “Well, I should probably head over to Bash’s place and feed Schrödinger.”

“I already did that, too,” Kingston says with a smirk.

“Well, you just think of everything, don’t you?”I say.

His stormy eyes darken.“What can I say, I like to have things under control.”

“There’s something we wanted to talk to you about, together,” Sebastian says, looking over at Kingston.“Stop flirting, this is serious.”

“Serious?”I ask, setting my empty plate in my lap.