Sebastian was mortified, trying desperately to stop her. “Don’t touch me!”
11
“Don’t be so dramatic What’s there to be shy about? Haven’t I already seen and touched everything?<i>” </i>Caitlin swatted his hand away and yanked off his belt.
The next second, she froze, utterly stunned.
Her reaction–orck thereof–made the situation all the more excruciating. Sebastian felt like his entire existence was copsing in on itself. He roared, “I said no!”
<b>Snapping </b>out of her daze, Caitlin suppressed the chaos in her mind. If she refused to feel embarrassed, the only person left to be mortified would be him.
“No what? You think I want to do something to you?” Caitlin’s lips curled into a mischievous smile as she teased him. “But hey, tonight is our wedding night. Since you’re clearly functioning perfectly fine in that department, maybe we should-”
“Dream on! Don’t even think about it!” Sebastian exploded, his voice frantic and panicked. “If you dare pull anything, I swear I’ll make you regret the day you were born!”
He grabbed a pillow and hurled it at her, frantically fumbling to cover himself with the nket and his discarded belt.
Caitlin simply shook her head with augh. “Rx, I was joking. Honestly, you’re not even my type. My standards are much higher than that.
“For the record, there’s no shortage of men who are head over heels for me. I like handsome, fresh–faced guys, not some old–timer like you!”
Old–timer?
Did she just call him “old meat” and say she wasn’t interested in him?
Sebastian was so angry he nearly spat blood. “Get out of here, you crazy woman!”
Instead of leaving, Caitlin pinned him down on the bed and used a tie to bind his wrists. No matter how much he struggled, she proceeded to clean him up thoroughly.
The entire process was a nightmare for Sebastian. His mind was in utter disarray, his legs immobile, and now his hands were tied. For the first time, he seriously feared this woman. What if her im of disinterest was a lie? What if she nned to take advantage of him?
No one besides Camellia had ever touched him like this, and he had no intention of letting anyone else get close!
Caitlin eventually finished cleaning him and even managed to change his clothes, carefully working around his injured legs encased in ster.
Once she was done, she pulled the nket over him and untied his wrists. Sebastian immediately tried to grab her. “Damn woman!*
“You’re wee for the cleanup, by the way,” Caitlin quipped, dodging him effortlessly as she picked up the basin. “Don’t you feel better now?”
Sebastian seethed in frustration as she walked out, leaving him lying there fuming.
Though, begrudgingly, he had to admit he did feel morefortable. His body was clean, the stickiness was gone, and the unpleasant odors had vanished.
Caitlin soon returned with another basin and a set of toiletries, “Mr. Vanderbilt, it’s time to brush your teeth!”
“Ell do it myself” Sebastian growled, sitting up with difficulty and brushing his teeth.
Afterward, Caitlin announced, “Your beard needs trimming too”
“I’ll handle it!” he insisted.
nut Caitlin wasn’t having it this time. “You can’t even see. What if you cut yourself? Let me do it.”
Sebastian sat upright with a grim expression, not resisting as Caitlin applied shaving cream to his jawline and carefully shaved his beard.
Her touch was gentle but precise, and in no time, she finished the job. Wiping his face clean, Caitlin inspected her work and nodded approvingly. “Not bad. Now you actually look human”
Sebastian sucked in a sharp breath. Did she have to be so blunt? What, did he not look human before?
After leaving the room for a quick shower, Caitlin returned with two maids carrying an extra bed.
“Put it right here,” Caitlin instructed, adjusting the bedding herself.
Hearing her bustling about, Sebastian frowned. “What are you doing now?”
“I had a bed brought in for me. I’m sleeping here tonight,” she replied nonchntly.
“Who gave you permission to sleep in the master bedroom? Go to another room!” Sebastian snapped.
“What’s the big deal? I’m here to bring you good fortune, aren’t I? Sleeping here is part of the package.”
“Over my dead body! We’re only married on paper, so stay in yourne. You have ten seconds to leave demanded.
Caitlin shot him a nce, didn’t argue, and left the room.
Hearing her footsteps recede and eventually fade, Sebastian exhaled deeply. Finally, some peace.
But that peace didn’tst long. Barely a minuteter, Caitlin’s footsteps echoed back into the room.
He heard her close the door and approach him.
“Who told you toe back?” he growled.
my
room!” Sebastian
“I went to get Howard. He and I are sleeping here tonight. If you need anything, I’ll be right here to help,” Caitlin exined calmly.
Sebastian’s heightened senses caught every detail as Caitlin moved around the room, setting Howard down on the smaller bed.
“Alright, Howard, lie down. Mommy’s going to read you a story, okay?”
Taking out two picture books, Caitlin leaned against Howard’s bed and began reading aloud.
Sebastian, skeptical, asked, “Howard’s really here? You’re not making that up, are you?”
“Of course he’s here. Howard, go prove it to your daddy,” Caitlin said with a grin.
Howard obediently ran over to Sebastian and, with a decisive “smack,” pped his father on the forehead.
15:46 Mon, 14 Apr
Fine. He believed her now.
Only <i>his </i>son would dare pull stunts like that,
Caitlin began reading. Her voice was soft and melodic, like a babbling brook, soothing and pleasant. To Howard, it was the most beautiful sound in the world–his mommy’s voice.
To Sebastian, however, it was pure torment, feather–light and maddeningly seductive, stirring something unsettling deep inside him.
When Caitlin finished both books, Howard had already fallen asleep. She gazed at her son’s peaceful face and couldn’t resis nting a kiss on his cheek.
Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Bruce<b>, </b>asking when she’d be back. Caitlin replied with a voice note: “Sweetheart, I’ll be back in a couple of days. I miss you too. Sleep tight! Mwah-”
Hearing her cooing voice, Sebastian sneered inwardly. Was she flirting with some boy toy? Disgraceful.
Turning off the lights, Caitlin settled into her bed and quickly fell asleep.
Sebastian, however,y wide awake. Sharing a room with others <b>was </bpletely foreign to him, and now there was a woman and a child in his space.
The sound of Caitlin’s soft<b>, </b>even breathing grated on his nerves.
As the night wore on, he finally began to doze off–only to be startled awake by <b>a </b>strange noise.
His heart clenched as he realized what it might be.