The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(52)

Emma followed, though she wondered if the innkeeper thought it odd she carried no clothes with her or anything of importance.

“That will be all.” John slammed the door in the innkeepers face, giving Emma a startle as she jumped away from him.

John ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll just see to the horses then and have some bread sent up. Don’t try to escape, Emma. You won’t appreciate the consequences.”

Nodding, she turned her back to him as he exited the room, slamming the door behind her. Moments later one of the workers at the inn walked in with some bread, cheese, and tea. They also started a fire and asked if she needed anything else.

Rescuing? A knife to stab John with?

Shaking her head, she watched as her last hope walked out of the room. Emma went over to the chair by the fireplace and sat, too tired and numb to move. The only way out was to wait and see if John would get foxed enough for her to slip past him in the early morning.

Managing to warm herself by the fire, she allowed her body to try to catch some sleep. After all, there was nothing she could do. At least not yet, not until John had passed out.

Emma dreamed of Sebastian’s smile. The way his body seemed to cover hers, to protect her. His dimples and his laughter, her body ached for him. She awoke with tears streaming down her face and his name on her lips.

“Sebastian,” she choked.

“Shh…”

Snapping her eyes open, she scanned her surroundings. Everything was pitch black, but she felt his hands.

The same sure hands she had felt during blind man’s bluff were firmly placed over hers, warming her and comforting her to the core.

Safe, she was safe.

A loud thud sounded followed by a muffled curse.

Emma tensed under Sebastian’s hands. And then she heard a familiar man’s voice say, “I’ve got him, Seb. It’s fine.”

Letting out the breath she had been holding, Emma finally took a look at her surroundings. Everything was still blanketed in black and then a match was lit, as well as the fire. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she saw.

Sebastian was in front of her, and to her utter shock, Rawlings was standing over John’s body.

“Is he…” Emma didn’t want to finish the sentence.

Rawlings grunted. “No, though he deserves it. We have the local magistrate on his way.”

“Emma.” The voice belonged to Sebastian. Why was it she couldn’t bear to look at him? To make eye contact with the one man who held her heart and who had saved her? “Did he hurt you, Emma?”

“No.” Her voice was small.

“Emma. Rest, sweet Emma. We shall talk in the morning. You are safe.”

“Stay,” she found herself saying and then clenching onto his arms as if he was her only lifeline.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Rawlings spoke first. “I’ll let the innkeeper know the bride’s brother and cousin have arrived then.” He left the room abruptly. Emma collapsed against Sebastian’s chest, exhausted. She felt his arms surround her as he carried her to the bed.

A soft mattress swallowed her up, and without thinking, she pulled at Sebastian to join her. This was not a night she wanted to spend alone.

Slowly, the bed sank under the weight of him. Sighing, he pulled her into his body and brushed the hair out of her face. “Sleep, Emma. Just sleep.”

In her defense she tried.

Tossing and turning, half tempted to hit Sebastian across the face like she would a pillow that had lost its fluff.

“Emma,” Sebastian warned when she turned to face him.

Fascinating how the dark seemed to make one more brave. Tentatively she reached out her hand and nearly gasped aloud when it came into contact with his smooth jaw. Tracing the outline of his face with her fingertips, she allowed her body to relax.

She felt him swallow, could sense the desire humming from his body. But she wasn’t afraid, nor did she want to leave.

This was the one place in the world she wanted to be. And after today he would leave her forever. The ruse was over. He had no need for her anymore. John had truly ruined everything worth hoping for in her life.

So just this once, she wanted to do something for her and forget the consequences.





Chapter Twenty-five


Sebastian had wanted to kill John. The only thing stopping him was the ridiculous promise he had made Rawlings. That and the look on Emma’s face when she had dreamed of him and spoken his name. The way it sounded on her lips was his undoing.

If she asked him to sail across the world to prove his love, he would do it without a second thought. So when she asked him to stay, he couldn’t refuse, not if his life depended on it.

Currently he regretted it with his whole being.

Body aching with need, it was sheer torture lying next to her. It didn’t help matters that she fit so perfectly in his arms, as if she was made for him.

Rawlings had done him a favor by informing the innkeeper her brother and cousin had arrived. He had made it possible for him to stay with her without her totally ruining her reputation, not that it was in jeopardy of being pure as snow.

Emma made a whimpering sound. He braced his arms tighter around her and then she turned to face him. Cursing under his breath, he tried to think of ways to keep his body under control before he compromised her.

The face of an angel slept in front of him. For a moment he willed her to open her eyes just so he could gaze into them. Soft reddish brown hair fell around her perfect cheekbones. Reaching out, he caressed her neck then rained kisses down her nose.