Page 21 of Born Chaos

It’s nice to have these reminders every now and then. I am wanted. I am loved. And there is someone in this world who would fight for me. Who does fight for me.

“Wanna get out of here?” I ask as a coy smile pulls on my lips.

It’s reflected in Sebastian’s own lips, and he nods. We both stand, and he drops some cash on the table. And he reaches for my hand, and it feels so damn good when I take it.

We walk, rushed, hurried. We pop out onto the street level, and Sebastian holds open the passenger door to his car. I slip inside, and not a second later, Sebastian roars the engine to life, pulling away from the curb.

He places his hand on my knee as he drives. With a glance in my direction, he brushes his fingers lightly over my thigh, sending sparks of life and electricity through my blood, straight to my heart and brain.

We roll into the parking garage at his building just minutes later. I keep glancing over at him as we walk to the elevator, and I feel his eyes all over me. I press the button to call the elevator down, and silently, with electricity charging the air between us, we wait.

Blessedly, it’s empty when it arrives. We step inside, and I realize both of us are holding our breath.

The second the door closes, we both explode.

My hand rises to tangle into his hair. His hands go to my hips as he twists me around, backing me into the wall. And our lips devour one another—hot, wet, desperate, and demanding.

“Shit, I’ve missed this,” Sebastian growls into my mouth.

I brace both of my hands to the back of his head, desperate to eliminate every ounce of space between us. Sebastian’s hands slide from my hips, back, and in one swift movement, he hoists me off the ground, wrapping my legs around his waist. A burst of pleasure pops through me as he uses the weight of his body to keep me pinned against the wall.

The things Sebastian does to me are undeniable. Addictive. Leave me desperate and wild. And it thrills me to the core that he’s just as insane for me as I am for him.

We’re only lucky because most people have already been at their day jobs for an hour. The elevator doesn’t get interrupted even once as it rises all the way to the top floor to Sebastian’s penthouse. The door dings, and with me still wrapped around him, Sebastian carries me out of the elevator.

He tips us over into one of the big, white couches. And with that vampire’s smile, he looks down at me, brushing my hair out of my face.

“I am completely obsessed with you, Juliet Doe,” he says softly, his eyes burning with intensity. “And I’ll spend eternity making you mine.”

Words matter. The way we say things matters. But we don’t always say things in the perfect way. Sometimes meanings can be skewed.

So even though Sebastian’s words set off a distant warning bell in the back of my brain, I know I say things wrong all the time. I know what he means. And I’d fight tooth and nail for him, too.

So I tell that warning bell to shut up and pull his lips back to mine.

CHAPTERSEVEN

It’s rainingwhen we walk up the stairs to The Nocturne. It’s a cold rain, and I don’t know how it isn’t snowing. Everything feels gloomy, dark. I might not easily be able to go out during the day anymore, but even I’m feeling a little sun starved. I could definitely use a little vitamin D.

Sebastian places his hand on my lower back as we step through the doors. Rick walks right behind us, on duty for once. He stations himself outside the doors, keeping watch. In the ballroom, I see that Elena has already arrived. Tabitha stands just behind her, looking as severe and cold as ever.

“Plans are nearly finalized for your engagement party,” Elena coos with a sly smile. We walk in, and Sebastian pulls a chair out for me at the table. I might not be a council member, but no one seems to mind me being here. “You and I need to go dress shopping tomorrow. We only have six days until the party.”

“You mean you haven’t picked something for me yet?” I question with mock shock. “You’re losing your edge, Elena.”

“Never,” she accuses with a pointed look, even as a smile cracks her lips.

Roman walks in, shaking rain out of his already wild hair. My eyes immediately meet his, and similarly, he instantly catches my gaze. And very deliberately, they flit over to Sebastian. As if in question that we worked things out.

I reach across the table and take Sebastian’s hand.

“It’s going to be solid ice out there by the time we leave,” Mason says as he and Sigrid walk in together, their bodyguards flanking them.

“It’s too damn bad,” Sigrid says, her tone surprisingly hard. “This is not going to be a short one.”

“This doesn’t sound good,” Elena notes. She leans back in her seat, crossing one leg over the other.

Sigrid and Mason round the table, each pulling out a chair and settling into them. Mason braces his elbows on the table, his fingers steepled. Sigrid sits in her seat, her back rigid, her jaw tight.

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