Page 36 of Finally Forever
He touches my back.
I squeal and squirm away.
“Ainsley.” He pins me with a stern gaze.
I pin him back. “It’s not going to happen. I’m too ticklish.”
“Then I’ll have to hold you down.”
“What?” That sobers me a little. I press my hand to the bed, ready to push up.
Sebastian presses me onto my stomach and straddles my back.
“Don’t. I’ll pee, Sebastian. I swear I will.” Anxiety overpowers the alcohol in my blood, sobering me more. “I’m super ticklish. Please.” I get my hands free above my head and reach backward for him, attempting and failing to smack him from my face-down position on the bed.
He catches my wrists with one hand and pins them above my head. “It’ll just take a second.”
“Omigod, omigod, omigod.” I squirm, nerves making my bladder clench with the urge to pee.
He chuckles. “Are you scared?”
“Of peeing my pants? Yes!”
“Hold still.”
He wipes the cut with a moist, cold cloth.
Laughter squeezes through my clenched teeth, and I wriggle to get free.
Sebastian wrestles to keep me still. “Almost done.”
He wipes ointment on my scratch, the slow, soft sweep of his finger sending me over the edge. I jerk, laugh, buck, squeal, and break free. I’m off the bed in a second, racing to the bathroom before I pee myself.
“Ainsley?” Sebastian calls out, but I’ve already shut the door and tugged down my pants. Sweet relief. I sigh as I alleviate my bladder in the toilet, where pee belongs.
I wash my hands and exit, certain Sebastian has left me for the normal people in the cabin.
Instead, I find him sitting at the foot of the bed, a Band-Aid in his hand. “You’re awfully strong for someone your size.”
“Only when I’m being tickled. It’s like I become the Hulk.”
“You don’t look green.” He scans my body, my bare stomach, my bra, and continues to my face and hair.
That gorgeous jaw line of his tightens. “Do you always act this way?”
I shrug. “You used to like it.”
Those jaw muscles flex harder, like he’s so enraged he’s no longer breathing.
“For the record, you were never like this.” I gesture to him as I step closer.
He catches my wrist and yanks me between his spread legs so quickly my lungs empty with my shock.
“Do you remember?” I blurt without thought. Why else would he pull me to him like this?
His fingers rub over the scratch on my back, drawing a shiver from me. “It’s called the element of surprise. You didn’t squeal or turn into the Hulk.” He releases me.
I twist my neck to look at the side of my back. Sure enough, the bandage is secure. “Impressive.” When I turn back toward Sebastian, his fingers are linked between his legs, his gaze down like he’s contemplating something.
