Page 94 of Book People

‘Right. So you’re only here to make your therapy sessions worthwhile.’

‘No, that’s not what I said.’ He smiles, but it’s tight, impatient. It’s the one he always used when he thought I was being obtuse. ‘I did all this work for you and made a special trip to come here. I had to rearrange my schedule. The least you can do is consider it.’

Of course. It’s all about him, just as it always is.

I stare at him, putting all of Sebastian’s trademark chill into my gaze. ‘No, Jasper.’

He mutters a curse and steps towards me. ‘Come on, one drink. Just one. Let me try and convince—’

‘She said no.’

Sebastian’s voice is hard and cold, and both Jasper and I turn.

He’s standing behind me and how he got there without either Jasper or me hearing him, I have no idea, but he did. Now he’s got Jasper in his sights, and I can see we’re heading for another stand-off.

‘None of your business, mate,’ Jasper says. ‘You’re not her boyfriend.’

I open my mouth to tell him that Sebastian is my casual lover, but Sebastian gets in first. ‘Actually,’ he says, ‘as a matter of fact, I am.’

For a second I’m so surprised I can’t think of a word to say.

‘Is this true?’ Jasper looks accusingly at me.

‘Yes.’ Shock drags the word out of me. ‘It’s true.’

Sebastian comes up beside me and I think he’s going to stop there, but he doesn’t. He strides past and straight up to Jasper, and before I can say a word, his arm goes back and he punches Jasper full in the face.

Jasper drops like a stone, going to his knees, his hands over his nose. ‘What the fuck?’ he demands in a thick voice. ‘I’ll fucking bring charges.’

‘No, you won’t.’ Sebastian stands over him like an angel of God. ‘You’re going to go back to London and you’ll never bother Kate again. Because if I ever see your face in my village, I’ll kick you straight into the river.’

I don’t need a man to defend me and I don’t condone violence. But seriously? Jasper deserved that punch and Sebastian has saved me the bother, and you know what? It’s nice to be defended. It’s nice to have someone stand up for me, because I’ve been doing it by myself for four years and I’m tired of it.

‘Kate,’ Jasper says hoarsely, still clutching his nose. ‘You can’t let him—’

‘Sorry,’ I say, coming to stand beside Sebastian, looking down at my sad excuse for an ex. ‘I can’t control what Sebastian does. And you’d better listen to him, because being kicked into the river is mild in comparison to what I’ll do to you if I ever catch you here again.’

Jasper stares up at us both then scrambles to his feet.

‘Oh, and Jasper?’ I say, sliding in the knife. ‘Even if I hadn’t met Sebastian, I’d rather be alone for the rest of my life than ever see you again.’

Sebastian slides a possessive arm around my waist, pulling me against him. ‘You heard the lady,’ he says to Jasper, his voice dripping with ice. ‘Run along now, there’s a good chap.’

Jasper eyes him for a long minute, spits blood ostentatiously onto the ground, then turns on his heel and walks away in the direction of the Arms.

As soon as he’s gone, I turn and look up at Sebastian ‘That was very satisfying,’ I say. ‘Thank you.’

His gaze is sharp, intense. ‘That arsehole’s lucky he only escaped with a punch. Sorry if I beat you to it.’

He’s not sorry, I can see that, and neither am I. ‘It’s okay. You’re stronger than I am, so it’ll probably hurt him more.’

Sebastian raises a hand and his fingers brush my cheek with a fleeting touch. ‘Are you okay? Did he hurt you?’

I turn my cheek against his fingers, unable to help myself. ‘No. I didn’t let him.’

His hand drops, an expression I can’t read in his eyes. ‘Kate,’ he says softly. ‘We need to talk.’

I already know what he’s going to say. It’s there in his eyes, in that look I can’t read, in his arm around me, slowly losing tension and slipping away. In the distance that wasn’t there before that is now suddenly appearing between us.

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