He pressed his lips against hers, gentle at first. Catherine knew she should pull away, but she froze instead, and his lips became more insistent. With gentle yet irresistible force, he pried her mouth open and slipped his tongue inside. Seconds later, it was gone and then back again, playful and testing. Without thinking, she brought her tongue to meet his, and he groaned and pulled her closer. The bulge in his trousers pressed against her thigh, and his hands tangled in her hair.

"Ahem," someone said.

​​

She pulled away from Sean, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks. Her blush deepened when she saw Vivian standing in the doorway.

"Mother, why are you here?" Sean asked.

"I should ask you the same thing," Vivian sniffed. "What do you think you're doing? In a compromising position in the library—where anyone can walk in and see you?"

"Trying to give you more grandchildren," Sean replied.

Vivian's eyes darkened, and her mouth pursed into a furious scowl. Catherine wished she could vanish from the room.

"I hardly know you, Sean," she snapped. "I'd expect something like this from her. But I thought we raised you right."

"What do you want?" Sean asked with a sigh.

"I want to talk to you," she said.

"I'm sure," Sean replied. "Well, go have some breakfast. I'm going to go help Catherine into bed, and then I'll join you."

"I have no appetite after what I just saw," Vivian sniffed.

"Sarah," Sean shouted, "Show my mother into the dining room and bring her some green tea. Apparently, as she ages, her nerves are getting fragile."

He picked Catherine up and headed toward the door. He paused and said over his shoulder, "I'll deal with you in a few minutes, Mother."

Catherine rested her chin on his shoulder. As Sean climbed the stairs, she saw Vivian rush out of the library and chase after them. Wearing her tweed skirt, pearls, and high heels, she looked ridiculous, racing toward the stairs.

Sean increased his pace, carried her into the room, and placed her gently on the bed.

"It's better if you stay in your room for now," he said.

Catherine nodded in meek agreement, grateful she wouldn't have to deal with Vivian. He leaned down, and his lips brushed her forehead.

"One more thing," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the diamond ring. "I think you lost this."

"I—Iris took it—I swear I—" she stammered.

He took her hand in his and gently slipped the ring back onto her finger.

"I know," he said. "I hope it doesn't come off so easily again."

He lifted her hand and gently kissed each finger, and the door burst open.

"Sean," Vivian said. "I want to speak to you and your wife. There's no use hiding her from me."

"Just give me a minute with Catherine," Sean said.

"I saw you two before," Vivian sniffed. "I know what a minute alone with her would have turned into. Women like her know how to twist a man."

Catherine shifted uncomfortably in the bed.

"Be careful," Sean growled. "You're talking about my wife."

"And I came here to talk about your sister," Vivian said.

"I'm not interested in hearing anything else about Iris," he said.

"Don't you want to know all the details?" Vivian asked.

"Don't you?" Sean shot back.

He pulled Catherine onto his lap and pointed at her bandaged ankle. He lifted her arms gently as if moving a fragile doll and pointed silently at each bandage and scratches and scrapes. He pointed at the scratches and cuts on her face. Though Catherine couldn't see his expression, she could feel the anger radiating off his body.

"Look at her," he finally said. "She's lucky she's not more seriously injured. Or dead."

"Don't be dramatic, Sean," Vivian sniffed. "It was just a fender bender."

"Just a fender bender?" Sean roared. "The car was totaled. Catherine was drugged. I watched her get hit by a bodyguard three times her size."

"Your judgment is clouded, Sean," Vivian said.

"As is yours, Mother," Sean replied. "Tell Iris she's going to study abroad next year. Let me know which country she decides upon, and I'll have everything arranged for her."

"Are you threatening to send your sister away?" Vivian asked.

"It's not a threat," Sean replied. "It's a promise."

"You've already caged the poor girl in our house and frozen her credit card," Vivian complained. "What more do you want?"

"I want her to go abroad," Sean said, his voice flat and calm.

"Be reasonable," Vivian wailed. "You want to send her alone and defenseless into some foreign country?"

"She's hardly defenseless," Sean said, a warning note in his voice. "As you can see from Catherine's injuries, she can handle herself quite well. Besides, she's not a child. She's older than Catherine. It's time she learned to grow up."

To Catherine's surprise, Vivian burst into tears. She dabbed under her eyes with a handkerchief and turned to leave.

"What is it, Mother?" Sean asked, his voice cautious.

"I don't know what I've done wrong," Vivian sniffed. "I have three children, and Iris is the only one who loves me. Antonio chose his wife over me, and now you're doing the same."

"Don't be dramatic," Sean said, but there was a note of sadness in his voice.

Vivian marched from the room, and Catherine listened to the click-clack of her mother-in-law's heels in the hall. Catherine stayed tense in Sean's arms. She was glad Vivian was gone, but she didn't want to continue the conversation about sex.

"You know that auction you mentioned?" she asked, desperately hoping to change the subject. "Do people need an invitation to participate, or is it public?"

"It's private," Sean answered.

"Could you get me three extra invitations?" she asked, already forming a plan.

He gazed at her for a moment, "Smart girl."

"I'm not a girl," she snapped.

"You're nineteen," he replied sadly. "Barely old enough to sign a marriage certificate. You know, that's why we don't have one."

"What?" she asked.

"I'm not going to force someone so young to sign something with me," he said calmly. "I'm waiting for you to agree you want to sign it."

"What if I never agree?" she asked.

"I have my ways of persuading you," he whispered.

She felt his lips on her neck and tried to push his head away.

"You said you wouldn't rush me," she said.

"I said I wouldn't make love with you," he murmured into her skin. "But I can still touch you, and kiss you and—"

"You promised," she insisted.

"And I intend to keep my promise," he whispered, nipping the skin on her shoulder.