Stephanie gripped the gearshift, slotting it into lowest speed with caution.


    Yet the sports car was like a sleek beast of metal and horsepower, shooting forward like a stallion freed from its pen. She hurriedly stomped on the brakes, her face nching to a ghostly hue. Sebastian, lounging casually beside her, arched an eyebrow andmented, "Not bad, you knew when to hit the brakes."


    Stephanie shot back with a huff, "If I hadn''t, both of us would''ve been toast!"


    "Owe you my life now, do I?" His smirk was infuriatingly charming.


    She pouted with a mix of pride and defiance. "Mock me all you want, Sebastian. But are all sports cars this wild?"


    He nodded sagely. "Yep, that''s why you need to get the feel for it before you floor it."


    "You gonna show me how?" Stephanie asked.


    "Get out first," he instructed simply.


    Stephanieplied, vacating the driver''s seat and allowing Sebastian to slide in. He adjusted the seat back, then beckoned her to sit on hisp. With hands guiding hands, feet instructing feet, he began to teach her. The car rolled out once more.


    Sitting atop Sebastian''sp, Stephanie felt a cocktail of awkwardness and excitement as she learned to tame the car''s wild heart. Her cheeks, however, flushed a curious shade.


    Sebastian, usually the picture ofposure, was equally flustered. Never had he imagined his self-control could falter like this.


    The car cruised along the country road skirting the castle, taking its time before returning to the sanctuary of the garage.


    Sebastian''s voice was low and resonant. He whispered to her ear, "Got the hang of it?"


    Her response came as a rosy-cheeked murmur, "Uh. I think so."


    His eyes darkened. "Since you''ve learned that, maybe we can move on to something else."


    The air shifted palpably. Sensing the


    feel


    changastian was shedding Stephanie couldn''t help b veneer of propriety. Contents


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    In the end, it was Sebastian''s arms. that


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    Cher back through the eN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


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    Gazing at the petite figure curled up and exhausted under the sheets, Sebastian felt a twinge of guilt.


    He tucked her in before his phone rang. It was from Martin, calling about urgent business matters.


    After hanging up, he returned to Stephanie and put her into his embrace. "Tired?" he asked gently. Half-asleep, she murmured a drowsy "Yeah."


    "Sorry." he whispered.


    She hummed with her eyes still closed. "Sebastian is bad."


    "I am. This won''t happen again, I promise."


    "You better not be lying, Sebastian."


    "No lies. You just take a nap here for the afternoon, okay?"


    "Got business to take care of?" Her eyelids fluttered open slightly as she peered up at him.


    He nodded. "You sleep now, and I''ll be back for youter."