Page 47 of Forever His Favorite
Emily bit the inside of her cheeks to stifle her laughter.
Sebastian seemed more than happy to comply. Without waiting a second, Sebastian strode over, scooped Emily into his arms, and—with a quick, surgical movement—kicked Adam in the leg.
Adam winced in pain.
“Stop coming between me and my wife,” Sebastian growled. “Next time, I’ll break this leg!”
Holding Emily in his arms, he walked her out of Adam’s house.
Chapter 19 Restless
Sebastian led her into the living room and gently eased her onto the couch. When she settled, he sat down beside her, draping one arm along the back of the sofa so it hovered protectively behind her shoulders. His other hand slid into her lap and closed around hers.
He leaned over her, his expression softening. “You always make me worry. Ever since I got you, I’m constantly afraid you’ll disappear into thin air.”
Emily’s lips curved into a gentle smile as she studied his tense face. “Where could I possibly go?” she whispered softly. “You’ve saved me so many times, pulled me out of so much trouble… I feel like I owe you more than I could ever repay.”
Sebastian brushed his thumb gently across her lips, silencing her. “Don’t say that. You don’t owe me a thing. If anything… I owe you my life, baby.”
“What?” Her brows drew together. “What are you talking about?”
He lifted his hand, showing her the small ring he wore on his pinky. “Do you not remember this ring?”
Emily stared at it for a long moment, a slow recognition creeping across her face. “I—” she murmured. “It feels familiar, but I can’t place where I’ve seen it.”
Sebastian drew her closer by her hands, his voice dropping to a whisper. “That boy you gave it to when you were a kid, the one whose face you couldn’t remember? That was me.”
Emily went still.
Sebastian continued in a gentle voice, “When I was a child, someone kidnapped me to blackmail my parents for money. They planned to kill me, but I somehow escaped. I ran into you on the streets while running away and trying to find my own home or a police station, and you gave me this ring. You told me I’d be safe.” He swallowed; the memory cut him. “I left, thinking I’d find you again when I returned to my parents. I met Adam—and through him, I finally saw you again. I can’t explain the relief I felt when I recognized you, even though you didn’t remember me.”
“You… recognized me at first glance?” she whispered.
Sebastian nodded. “And I fell in love with you at first sight.”
Her fingers tightened around him, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. She lifted her hand to his face, tracing the sharp line of his jaw with trembling softness. He went on, voice breaking with regret.
“I wanted to propose to you after you graduated, but by then I found out you’d already accepted Lucas. I regret waiting so long. If I had asked you earlier, maybe it would’ve been me instead of him. When you fell into my arms and told me you weren’t with Lucas anymore, I had decided I’d never let you go again.”
Emily could barely process his words. She had never realized that he had carried this love for her all along. Her pulse raced, each beat throbbing painfully inside her chest.
Sebastian bent down, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss that left her breathless. His voice trembled against her mouth as he whispered,
“I’m grateful every second that I finally have you. You are everything to me. There’s nothing in this world that could ever make you indebted to me. I owe you my life—and every bit of love that exists in this world.”
Emily stared at him, her heart beating hard in her chest. Her hand reached up to his face, tracing his cheek before sliding down to his neck and across his chest, sliding his shirt aside. Her eyes flickered to the wound there. “This wound… is from back then?” she asked.
Sebastian nodded. “They tried to kill me.”
Her fingers slid back up, tracing his face again, lingering with tender care.
Sebastian’s hand left hers, sliding around her waist to pull her closer. His head lowered, hovering just above hers, dark eyes smoldering.
“You have to reward me every night for waiting patiently all these years,” he whispered.
Emily’s brows knitted in confusion. “Reward?” she asked, tilting her head.
A sly, wicked smile curved his lips. He grabbed her arm, while his other hand slid beneath her knees, lifting her effortlessly into his lap. He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.
