Chapter 36

The gown was an off-shoulder burgundy-colored dress with a slit that ran to the top of her thighs. The simplicity was its selling point. The waist was fitted so nicely and her curves were pronounced in a flattering way. Sebastian was going to love this, she was sure. She let down her hair, allowing the voluminous waves to run down her back seductively. Only the red of her lips was evident of make-up. She'd kept it to a minimal, not wanting to overdress.

"Jane," Grace called out from the bed. "You're sure this is just a wine tasting?"

"Yeah, why?" She turned from the mirror to face Grace, careful to keep her features neutral. She heard the edge to her tone, recognized it to be unbelief. She didn't know about Sebastian and Jane wanted to keep it that way. Her sister had an annoying knack for knowing everything. Thank the gods she was leaving this evening.

"You're putting on make-up."

"Mhmm. So?"

"Jane," Grace sighed. "You never put on make-up. Not even back at home."

Didn't she? Now that she really thought about it, save for a little mascara and the occasional lip balm, she'd never really bothered to put on make-up. There had been no need for it in her opinion. She didn't have any friends to impress or any man to seduce—at least to the rest of the world. Elijah hadn't seemed like he cared. He'd sure never spoken about it, always in a hurry to get her out of her clothes.

"So?"

Grave gave her a blank stare. "I know you, Jane. Maybe even more that you know yourself. Is he the reason you don't want to leave Stormbrooke?"

Of course not, she mentally told herself. She hadn't left because things hadn't settled down. Grace said so herself. Her family is still very much angry at her. It had absolutely nothing to do with Sebastian. Sure, things had happened between them that had caused her to rethink a lot of things but that was it. Just fantasies and shit.

"There's no 'he'. Don't be ridiculous and don't go anywhere."

Without waiting for a response, she left the room. She knocked on Sebastian's door so he wouldn't knock on hers and accidentally see Grace.

The door opened almost immediately.

"I'm ready." She smiled, suddenly shy. Fuck. Why did this always happen when she was with him?

He did a double-take. "Fuck yes." He murmured, looking her up and down. "Oh, fuck yes."

She gave him an uncertain chuckle, not knowing what to say to that. "Uhm…thanks?"

Sebastian sighed, looking into her eyes for the first time since he opened the door. "Shit. I'm sorry. You look exquisite, Kitten. Sent straight from the devil to torment me."

He'd called her Kitten. Jane didn't know when or how it happened but at that moment, she realized how much she loved that name. She hadn't heard it since last night when they'd had sex.

The thought made her giggle and she suddenly leaned forward, locked her arms around his neck and kissed him. She poured all her emotions into this kiss, hoping he heard what she couldn't say out loud. Their mouths danced a frightful yet mind-blowing tempo and more than anything, especially when he wrapped a hand around her waist to push her closer to him, she wanted to bask at this moment forever.

Pulling away, they stared into each other's eyes.

"You feel it, don't you?" He whispered, running the tip of a finger along the rim of her jaw line.

She nodded, finally giving in. It was so tiring fighting what she knew was inevitable. Of course, she felt it. Mrs. Rose probably did too.

"I do."

Sebastian smiled then, pecking her on the lips. "I'm going to have a hard time fending off men. You look like a sexy assassin in that dress."

She felt her cheeks burn, rolling her eyes. "Only you would ever think something so dumb."

"Don't blame me. Blame the dress."

"Let's go, please. I can't take any more of your yammering."

Sebastian laughed. "Alright, ma'am."

***

Jane had never been to the town's park before but she was sure without all the decorations scattered everywhere, it was a very beautiful one. With the added colors and decor, it looked like something out of a movie. There was an actual cellar at one side of the playground. There was a stage that somehow resembled a very small podium with a microphone where one could speak and waiters walking all around with wine glasses in trays. Jane wondered if this was a frequent thing in Stormbrooke. Did these people just dress up and organize these kinds of things? It was nothing like she was used to.

"God, I love the smell."

She looked up at Sebastian as they walked into the park, arm in arm. His suit was well fitted, hugging his body in ways that should be illegal. His hair had been combed back though it did look like he'd run his fingers through it too. He had a five o'clock shadow that was all too sexy and when she imagined those beards rubbing her inner thighs as his tongue drove her wild, her pussy clenched.

"What smell?" She asked, swallowing. Her libido was haywire, she was sure of it.

"The smell of wine. I own a brewery."

That was a surprise. "You do?"

He nodded. "Alongside my best friend, Mitch."

"I think it's even more shocking that you have a best friend."

She threw a smile and a wave to a friend she'd made on the beach, dragging her eye around for other familiar faces.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Kitten."

"True."

There was a lot he didn't know about her either. For example, he didn't know that she was betrothed or that her little sister was presently hiding in her room at the moment. So what? They both had secrets.

"Isn't that your buffoon friend?"

She followed the direction Sebastian has gestured towards and felt a smile grow when she spotted Harry walking towards them.