Pulling out, he lowered me to the ground and handed me a handkerchief from his pocket. I took it and straightened out my clothes while he scanned the alleyway.
“Did someone see?” I glanced up at him.
“Don’t think so.” He tilted my chin up and kissed me. “Your secret is safe with me.”
I smoothed my hair out of my face and tried to orient my thoughts away from what we’d just done. In an alley. In Manhattan. Only a stone’s throw from a busy street.
“Are you going to run more?” He adjusted my top for me.
“I…” Was I? “I’m going to Veronica’s for the night. As planned.”
He wasn’t skilled at hiding disappointment, but he stepped back and offered his arm. “At least let Anton drive you to her place.”
“I can get a cab.” I took his elbow, and we walked out of the alleyway as if nothing unusual had just happened.
“I know. But I’d rather he drive you. I’ll stay behind so you can have it all to yourself.” He gave me a sidelong glance. “Unless you’re into the chloroform play after all.”
I glared at him. “Leave it to you to make jokes about kidnapping someone.”
“It wasn’t a joke.” He helped up his hand to signal Anton, who was parked twenty feet down the block.
“No, psycho. I’m not into ‘chloroform play.’”
He smiled. “Okay, it was a joke, but I rather like it when you get all riled up.”
I slapped his arm as Anton pulled to the curb in front of us. “There is something really wrong with you.”
“I know.” He walked me to the car and opened the back door for me.
I slid in.
He leaned down and kissed me, gently this time. “Until the next time I catch you.” With that, he closed the door and I could finally take a breath.
49
Sebastian
I walked past the maître d at Freniere’s and strode to the bar. Dad sat on one end nursing a Tom Collins. He took one look at me and frowned.
“What?” I slid in next to him and ordered a whiskey neat.
“If you’re here, that means she’s out there without you.” His tired eyes drooped.
I clapped him on the back. “All is not lost.”
“How’s that?”
“Let’s just say that she’s going to keep running, but she’s fine with letting me catch her every so often.” I took a draw from my glass, though the whiskey was incapable of touching my high. Camille had given me hope, a chance at a future with her. “I think it’s time to celebrate.”
A glimmer lit in Dad’s eyes, and he smiled and clinked glasses with me. “Well, hell! That’s great news. Did you two talk it out? She say she forgave you?”
I took another drink. “Not in so many words.”
“The how do you know she—”
“Dad, I just know. Okay?” I gave him what I hoped was a knowing look.
“Oh.” He seemed to catch on, because his cheeks pinked. “Oh, I see.”
We drank in silence for a few moments, though I couldn’t miss the smile on his face as he sipped. “So, where did she get off to?”
“Her friend Veronica’s. She stays there when she’s in town. Anton’s driving her as we speak.”
“But she’ll see you again?”
“Dad. Calm down. Yes. She didn’t say no. That’s the same as a blatant yes.”
He nodded. “And she knows that. Knows you even better than I do.”
“I agree.”
“You did it.” He motioned for another drink. “Or at least it’s a start. She didn’t run away screaming. Always a good sign.”
“She ran, but I caught her. I’ll always catch her.” The new sensation, the one that sent me flying, swelled in my chest. She’d put it there. All the love I had was hers.
50
Camille
“Veronica?” I called as I walked into her apartment. Silence greeted me. She was still out with her new boy toy.
Relief washed over me. I needed time to think about what had happened in that alley. I dropped my bag on her entry table and walked into the kitchen, flipping lights on as I went. Leaning against the counter, I laughed and covered my face.
“You’re insane. That was insane.” My giggles turned into a smile. “And now I’m talking to myself. Perfect.” I opened the fridge and grabbed a water.
Drinking it slowly, I replayed everything that had transpired, the feel of his skin on mine, the way he’d said my name. And most of all, his profession of love. Butterflies swooped and spun in my stomach. I’d been in control, and for a moment in that alley, I realized that I was the one pulling his strings. He was the captive, the one tied to me. Not with a golden monitor, but by an invisible link that only we could feel. I couldn’t put words to it, not yet. But I knew it, just as sure as I knew he’d never stop his pursuit—I loved Sebastian. It was wrong and sick, yet so, so right.