Page 82 of Please Save Me

Eventually, he grabbed his phone and swiped through its contents before handing me the device. On his screen was a picture of him and Mason standing in front of some sort of garden that looked more like it belonged in a fairytale than in real life. Due to Mason's much smaller bump, I guessed it was taken sometime in the early summer.

Her hair was curled, and she wore a sundress. Sebastian’s shirt matched, and he lovingly rested a hand on her stomach. In this photo, these two looked like a happy couple.

Sebastian then took his phone and scrolled through it to find a much more recent photo. In this one, the house was a mess, Juniper was half naked, and Mason was with Lucian in the kitchen.

“Can you spot the difference in these two photos?” Sebastian challenged.

“… The second one is taken on a different continent?” I suggested, not wanting to rub dirt into any wounds he may have.

It was obvious that these photos were about as different as snowflakes. But I thought that the answer he wanted may have had something to do with the way Mason looked at Lucian.

“You’ve never been shy in terms of honesty. Don’t spare my feelings now,” Sebastian lectured as he took his phone back. “The difference is she loves my brothermore. Why else would she be engaged to him?”

My eyes involuntarily widened. I thought for sure Mason didn’t tell him… actually, I know she didn’t. After Seb left, Mason ate dinner, passed out on the couch, and was currently curled up between Lucian and Sophia in Sophia’s room. She didn’t have a chance to tell Sebastian.

I didn’t think anyone had. “How’d you know that?”

Seb started to laugh before freezing. His confidence momentarily faltered as he focused on me. The intensity of his gaze caused me to shiver. But, after a moment, he eased up.

“If you didn’t know, I’m Maine’s best detective,” he bragged, resting a hand on my bare shoulder. “It’s no secret that Lucian’s been wanting to propose to her, and Mason was desperate to marry me two weeks ago. I assumed Lucian played a part in that, and your reaction told me everything I needed to know.”

I traced his face for any sort of deceit. Unfortunately, Seb was such a good liar that I’d never be able to make out if he was lying without being told. But what he said seemed plausible. Seb did seem to be good at his job. Plus…. How else would he have gotten that information?

“Did you know I saved my virginity for her?” Sebastian’s scoff quickly turned the tide of our conversation.

“How long did ya save it for?” Not that it mattered. I was just curious… especially because he had a long-term boyfriend before he and Mason got together.

“I didn’t get to experience consensual sex until I was twenty-two.” He sounded bitter.

But I was curious.

“So that Fella you were with before…” I tried to remember his name. Unfortunately, Leona had only said it once, probably in an attempt to embarrass her brother.

“Alex?” Sebastian winced a little as the name fell from his lips.

“Yeah, him… how long were y’all together without touching?”

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably, “I’d rather not discuss my personal relationships if it’s all the same to you… but I don’t consider Alex forcing me to sayyesastouching.”

The muscles in Sebastian’s arms became more defined as he hugged himself. It didn’t take a genius to know what he meant.

Poor guy.

I took a deep breath, suddenly remembering I basically forced him to kiss me earlier. “I uh… sorry for kissin’ you earlier.”

Sebastian looked at me with what could only be described as shock. “Why are you apologizing? Was I bad?”

I winced as if Sebastian were poised to hit me. Somehow, the fact that kissing him earlier wasalmostenjoyable was worse than a shiner ever could be. I wanted to hate him, to continue to hurl insults his way in hopes he’d eventually leave. But, after everything he just told me, I had a new, weirdadorationfor Sebastian. It was the type of feeling that left your chest in knots and your head in the clouds.

“No, I uh… I liked it.” My voice got softer as I continued to speak. I took a deep breath, but that only added fuel to the fire in my face. “But normally, I’m real big on consent, and I didn’t have that.”

His icy gaze bounced around my face as his lips parted. He studied me with slow breaths before swallowing hard. He regained his composure, and I bracedmyself for him to call me stupid with some big word that’d take me a second to understand.

“So, if you had my consent, what would you do to me, Daddy?” His tone was slightly robotic like this was some poorly rehearsed script he’d memorized.

Still, it caused my mind to race. What was I allowed to do with Sebastian? Was this a trick? If I told him that I’d like to tie him up and fuck his mouth, would he laugh at me like I was some sort of clown?

“...What do you want me to do to you?” My words were slow as molasses as I tried to gauge the situation.

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