«Why didn't you take me below ground last night? It's got to be safer for us to be away from the sun altogether.»
«Because for most newly turned, it takes some time to get used to the idea of being underground. I didn't want you to feel threatened in any way and showing you my dungeon could have been interpreted as a threat by some people.»
«Dungeon?» The word tripped through her mind as he chuckled.
«Just a small part of the underground complex beneath the house. You'll see it all, eventually. But not tonight. Tonight I only plan to show you the bedroom. We still have a few hours before sunrise. The rest of the night is ours.»
«I can still hear you, you know,» came Matt's voice, more faint than before, through their shared link. «It's not quite as loud, but you're definitely there, buzzing in the back of my mind. Man, this feels weird.»
«No doubt,» Sebastian answered. «I'm hoping distance will dull the connection so you won't be subject to our internal dialog all the time. Is it lessening at all?»
«Yes,» came the reply, fainter than the last as they moved downward into the earth. «I can barely hear you now.»
«Good. Rest well today, my friend. We'll see you tomorrow night.»
«Goodnight, friends.»
That last was the faintest communication yet and Christy knew a moment of relief that Matt wouldn't suffer too much for what had happened. She felt guilty about enticing Sebastian into that threesome, though it had felt wonderful at the time. Still, if anyone was going to be joined with them for all eternity, she supposed Matt was a good choice. He was a steadfast friend, with enormous strength and a good heart. She felt the truth of those thoughts as she saw some of Sebastian's memories of Matt in their shared minds.
They'd been through a lot together, Sebastian and Matt, and had been criticized by each other's races for their close friendship. She saw that Matt had brothers, and two sisters, one now dead at the hands of her mate. Sebastian was friendly with the entire Redstone Clan, which was led by Matt's oldest brother Griffon. They were builders by trade, and Christy remembered seeing the name Redstone Construction and a cougar emblem on the side of more than a few trucks and construction vehicles throughout her travels. Very successful builders, Sebastian's memory soon affirmed.
Apparently were strength was put to good use in such occupations and many of the Redstone employees were no doubt werecreatures of one kind or another. Matt was the youngest of the brothers, but by no means a child. He was a few decades older than Christy herself, though he looked to be in his mid-twenties or early-thirties. Again, those were genetics and corresponding long lifespan played a role in her perception. She had to get used to the idea that these people didn't always look like what they actually were. Sebastian, for one example, was more than two centuries older than her, and some of her friends' new husbands were even older than that.
It was a lot to take in.
«Hiro is coming back tomorrow night and we'll continue your training.» Sebastian broke into her thoughts as he stopped before a door in the secret passageway. There was no need for lights in the dark tunnel. Her vision adjusted to allow her to see in the dark as clearly as if it were day. Another cool thing to get used to.
«What are you training me for, exactly?»
Before the words were even out of her mouth, she saw the truth in his mind.
Jeff. He wanted her to face Jeff.
«No!» Her mind rebelled, but Sebastian was there, his strong arms around her shoulders, guiding her through the door he'd opened. «I won't do it. I don't ever want to see him again!» She lost control of the fear filling her mind. She thought she'd been doing so well, putting her past behind her, but apparently the terror Jeff had taught her would not be denied. She knew Sebastian felt her uncontrollable response and that made it somehow worse. He saw the full extent of her weakness now. She was a coward.
«No, my love,» he crooned, rocking her in his arms. «You're no coward. Jeff is the coward. It's easy to beat up on those weaker than yourself, but not honorable or brave.
I'd like to see him try to hurt you now. You'd show him a thing or two. You'd teach him a lesson he'd never forget.»
«Is that what you really think? Is that why you had Matt give me his super-blood? Because if that's what you're after, I don't think I can do it, Sebastian.» She drew comfort from his embrace, even while her mind objected. «I'm not strong enough.»
Sebastian seemed to consider her words. «Physically, you're much stronger now than any human-especially a weakling like Jeff Kinsey. It's the psychological strength we need to work on, my love. And we will. We have lifetimes ahead of us to work on it, but it starts with you facing your fear of this mortal head-on.»
She would have objected, but he shushed her with a gentle finger on her lips. «Not tonight, not tomorrow night either, but one night soon, you'll be ready to take the first step on your path to recovery. I'll be beside you every step of the way, my love.» Leaning close, he kissed her lips, little butterfly kisses meant to comfort. «I will always be with you now. We are One.»
«Sebastian.» She breathed his name as he lifted her in his arms and carried her to a soft, wide bed draped with blood red silk sheets. It was an antique no doubt, with heavy velvet curtains in the same dark red and black, and wider than any bed she'd ever seen in her life. He deposited her on the cool sheets, and followed her down into the softness of a mattress stuffed with down.
«I've wanted you since the moment I first saw you, Christina. You'll never know how hard it was for me to let you leave your friend's wedding with Jeff. I knew something was wrong with your relationship, but I didn't know the extent until Jena called Kelly from the hospital. Thank heavens I was at Marc's that night. Otherwise I would have heard too late.» His voice cracked with emotion as he drew her close, cuddling her under his chin. «I comfort myself that your friends would have saved your life anyway, but another would have been your maker. I knew the moment I saw you, I wanted that responsibility-that honor-for myself. I wanted to teach you and coach you, and stand back and marvel while you blossomed into the woman you always should have been. The woman you would have been without Jeff in your life.»
«I'm glad you were there. I can't imagine sharing this with anybody else.» She began undoing his buttons one by one.
«I know I surprised you with Matt. I'm sorry for that, but I had my reasons.»
Christy paused, spreading one hand over his warm, hard chest. «I understand, Sebastian. It startled me at first, but last night and earlier tonight were some of the most amazing moments of my life.»
«It's just the beginning, my love.» He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles with teasing nibbles. «Our lives are joined now and things will only get better from here. I promise.»
«Sebastian, I want to make love to you.» She couldn't control her wayward emotions. She'd wanted this man for a long time but hadn't dared dream he could be hers in any way. Now here she was, with Sebastian in his secret lair, alone at last. She wanted to join her body to his once more as they were now joined in mind. «Just you. Only you.»
There wasn't time for words as Sebastian rid them both of their clothing. Within moments they were skin to skin on Sebastian's luxurious bed. The silk of the sheets felt cool and soothing against her overheated skin while Sebastian's masculine fingers trailed down her body with an expert's precision. He knew just how to touch her to stimulate every last nerve ending and erogenous zone.
But if she wanted to change her life, she was going to start now. No longer would she play only a passive role. Jeff hadn't wanted her to take much initiative in the bedroom. She'd been a virgin when they'd married and let him take charge. That had been enough when they were newlyweds, but over the course of their marriage, she'd often felt she wanted more. Jeff wasn't inclined to let a woman take the initiative, but it had taken her years to realize how insecure Jeff really was. She knew Sebastian was quite different though. He wanted her to spread her wings and experiment. She saw that in his mind and in his heart.