Inferno by Adriana Noir Page A

final look at Rupert over his shoulder, he ushered her through the sliding glass doors and eased them shut behind him. Wringing her hands, Taylor stood riveted in the center of the kitchen as her heart pounded a frantic drumroll inside her chest. Images of what happened the last time he’d caught her chatting outside with one of the security guards played and replayed in her head with horrifying clarity. She tried to tell herself this was different. That he accepted her socializing with Rupert. That she’d been smart and not left herself wide open by sticking to the relative safety of the deck, but she wasn’t so sure. Opening her mouth, she thought to offer an apology but quickly clamped it shut. It wouldn’t matter either way.
    Sebastian studied her for a long moment before indicating toward the steps leading off the kitchen with a slight tilt of his head.
    “Let’s finish this discussion upstairs.”
    Her stomach knotted. Gripping the thick, polished railing, she forced herself to make the arduous journey one agonizing step at a time. The back of her neck prickled, alerting her to the fact that Sebastian followed close behind. When they reached the top of the broad landing, her fear got the better of her and she faltered.
    Part of her argued that he wouldn’t hurt her when she was pregnant. Another pointed out that he was perfectly capable of swinging a belt without it getting anywhere near the baby, and the timid voice of uncertainty insisted there were far more painful and controlled ways for him to express his displeasure. Tensing, she bit her tongue as he brushed past her and swung the heavy wooden doors to their bedroom open.
    The simple fact was, none of it mattered. Sebastian was going to do what he wanted to do. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, her fate had most likely been decided before they ever set foot in the house.
    Hanging her head, she dragged her feet across the carpeted threshold and stepped into the sitting area off their bedroom. Cold silence hung between them until the tension became almost too much to bear. Turning his back on her, Sebastian wordlessly stripped the thick leather belt of his overcoat free.
    “It’s nice to see you up and moving around,” he stated, his voice soft and almost conversational in tone. He draped the outer layer of his uniform over the arm of the micro suede loveseat before turning to face her and unbuttoning his sleeves. “I am going to assume that means you are feeling better.”
    She shifted uneasily on her feet. There was no winning here. It was a lose-lose answer either way. Sighing, she nodded. “Yeah. I am.”
    “That is good to know, Taylor,” he stated. Unbuttoning the top of his shirt, he headed toward the bathroom and shot a look over his shoulder that clearly indicated she should follow.
    The stone slabs felt cold and jarring beneath the bare soles of her feet. Confused, Taylor watched him peel his shirt free. Ignoring her for the moment, Sebastian reached in to turn on the shower. The forceful blast of the water hitting the walls roared in her ears. She took an uncertain step as he rounded on her, his eyes blazing and intense.
    His laughter was dry and humorless as he pinned her against the wall and raked a hand through the matted curls on his head. “Okay, Taylor. That’s enough. I am going to ask you something and I want the truth. Believe me when I say I will know if you are lying to me,” he said, trailing a finger along the underside of her jaw. “And I don’t think either one of us wants that.”
    “No, Sebastian,” she agreed in a hoarse whisper. Resisting the urge to hold onto him, she tried to still the anxious jitter in her knees.
    “Why are you so nervous?” he asked. “Did you do something wrong?”
    “No.” She shivered as his forefinger traced an idle path between the heavy mounds of her breasts. Taylor froze when she found herself suddenly trapped between the unyielding lines of his body and the cold, stone-tiled