While Sebastian arranged my comatose husband into the recovery position, I fetched a spare blanket from the closet and threw it over him loosely.
“That’s more than he deserves,” muttered Sebastian. I wasn’t sure if he meant for me to hear.
Then he looked directly at me; such a burning, scorching look that I couldn’t breathe. He stepped forwards.
“Not here,” I whispered. “Not with him here.”
Sebastian didn’t take his eyes from mine but he nodded slowly.
“Where?”
I hesitated. “Can we take your car?”
“Of course. My parents won’t miss it.” His lips curled with distaste. “They’ll be out for hours. As well as...”
He didn’t need to finish the sentence.
Gently, he took my hand and led me to the car, opening the door and leaning across to fasten my seatbelt. He kissed me softly on the lips and grinned at my startled expression.
For the first time that evening, I smiled a genuine, happy smile.
“So, where to, ma’am?”
I shook my head. “Anywhere. Nowhere. Somewhere. I don’t care – just as long as it’s with you.”
“The beach?”
“Perfect.”
We drove in silence through the night, the tension slowly mounting between us.
Fate had thrown us together: who was I to deny it? No, that wasn’t right. I simply no longer cared. I had chosen – willingly, knowingly, deliberately. I chose love over law. And I didn’t care.
Finally, Sebastian stopped the car on a remote stretch of road and cut the engine.
“I always wanted to see you in the moonlight,” he said softly. “I didn’t think you could look more beautiful.”
He reached over and touched my cheek, running one cool finger down the line of my jaw.
I captured his finger in my mouth and bit it gently, teasing him with my teeth. He gasped, then held his breath, his eyes closing.
“Oh, God, Caro!”
Air hissed through his lips.
The sound was beyond arousing. I wanted him. I needed him.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and his, sliding onto his lap, taking him by surprise again. I ran my fingers over the soft bristles of his hair as he wrapped his arms behind my back and pulled me to him. I kissed him deeply, my tongue pushing between his lips, stroking his, and he returned the kiss with ferocity. I felt him hardening beneath me and I knew I wasn’t going to deny him again – or deny myself.
His tongue was urgent in my mouth, tension and ardour in equal amounts, pouring out of him.
When I pulled away I was breathless.
Oh, fuck, no! I couldn’t, damn it! I’d already taken Plan B once: I didn’t want to have to take it again – especially not so soon after the last time. Was I ever going to remember the basics?
“Caro!” he moaned.
“I know. I want you, too. But we can’t. I’m not on the pill.”
His eyes flared and he reached for me again, then stopped.
“You’re not? But…”
“No… I… took care of… last time.”
“What?”
“I got some emergency contraception, Sebastian.”
“Oh.”
It was clear he didn’t know what to say to that. I dropped my gaze and shifted uncomfortably. He winced.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
I tried to move off him, but he broke the awkward silence first.
“I… I’ve got condoms,” he said, his voice uncertain.
I blinked in surprise. Had he been expecting this to happen – or just hoping? I decided either way, it didn’t matter. I wanted him.
“Oh, right. Good.”
I scrambled off his lap and leaned back on my seat, my eyes wide. He reached inside his jeans and pulled out a small packet, then stopped again.
I didn’t know what to do. I knew what I wanted to do but I’d never put a condom on a man in my life. My uncertainty turned to pity as I stared at the stricken expression on Sebastian’s face.