She sighed, wondering if he'd ever stop getting jealous when she mentioned Marco. Pure fury radiated from Sean's body, and she shivered.

"You didn't hurt them, did you?" she asked quietly.

​​

"What do you mean?" Sean asked.

"I mean, their families moving from London isn't some sort of cover-up, is it?" she asked. "They shouldn't have sent those men after me, but—"

"You think I had them killed?" Sean asked, his voice low.

"I don't mean killed," she said quietly. "When I saw Marco at the airport, he looked really bad. Like he'd been beaten."

"And you were sorry about that?" Sean asked, turning to look at her.

"What?" she asked. "No, I don't care what your men did to Marco. But these girls didn't deserve that."

"No one laid a hand on them," he finally said. "I just wanted to get them away from you."

"I see," she said.

"Do you feel sorry for them?" he asked. "Do you wish I hadn't done it?"

"I don't know," she said. "I guess not. Because of them, those men attacked me—and Sophia could have been hurt too. They deserve to have consequences, but why didn't you let the police deal with it?"

Sean scoffed, "This way is faster."

She chewed her lip in silence. Sean's power was terrifying. In the few short weeks, since she'd known him, he'd had four separate people shipped abroad—completely destroying their lives and their futures. She felt his eyes on her and turned to look at him.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked, his voice suddenly gentle.

"No, I'm not," she said.

"I think you're lying," he said even softer.

"Maybe I am," she replied.

"Don't be afraid of me," he said. "I won't hurt you."

"Okay," she said quietly.

"You don't believe me," he sighed.

"I do," she said.

Sean fell silent, and she chewed her lip. He'd broken his promises to her before, but she trusted him. She'd seen him fly into furious, violent rages, and she'd watched him make ruthless and life-ruining decisions, but she'd also seen the tenderness in his eyes and felt his gentle touches. Somehow she knew he would never hurt her.

He pulled the car up to the mansion, killed the engine, and helped her out. Drew waited for them outside the door, holding a letter in his hands. He passed the letter to Sean, who glanced at it with a smile.

"I believe this is for you," he said, offering her the letter.

Confused, she took it and tore the envelope open. The red Kings College logo was stamped at the top of the page. She scanned the letter, but her eyes froze on the line, "We are pleased to offer you admission for the course beginning this Autumn."

She read the line again and again. Her heart hammered in her ears, and she lowered the letter. Drew had disappeared, but Sean stood just outside the door, watching her with a small smile on his face.

"Thank you, Sean," she whispered. "This is amazing! I can't believe it's official!"

He smirked, "See what happens when you let me help you."

She ignored the comment and said, "That reminds me. I have a gift for you. It's not admission to a prestigious university, but I hope you'll like it."

Shyly she took his hand and led him up the stairs to her bedroom. He pushed the door shut behind her and looked down at her with fiery eyes. Wordlessly, he grabbed her waist and pushed her up against the closed door. His mouth found hers, and he kissed her deeply but gently.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Enjoying my gift," he murmured.

"What?" she asked.

He pulled away slightly, a crease in his brow. "Aren't you the gift?"

She felt her face go hot, "No. That's not what I meant."

"Are you sure," he whispered, bending in to catch her earlobe between his teeth. "I'll be very gentle."

"Be serious, Sean," she said.

"I am," he murmured, pressing his lips to the hollow behind her ear.

A shiver ran down her spine, and she pushed against his chest. He sighed and stepped back, and she ran to the closet to grab the shopping bag before he could make more advances. She pulled the two small boxes out of the bag and returned to the bedroom. Nervously, she handed them to him.

"I saw them when I was with Sophia, and I thought of you," she said.

He opened the first box and looked down at the tie.

"The blue matches your eyes," she said shyly.

"Does it?' he asked, smiling.

She nodded, "Open the other."

With a flick of his wrist, he undid the golden ribbon wrapping the box and slid open the lid. He looked down at the belt and then back at her. A mischievous, dangerous spark glowed in his eyes.

"Help me put it on," he said.

"Hmm?" she asked.

"Why don't you help me put it on?" he repeated.

"But you're already wearing a belt," she said.

"Then you can take it off for me," he said.

He stepped toward her, gently catching her wrist in his hand. He tugged her arm and placed her hand on the buckle of his belt. His eyes burned with desire, and his breathing was hoarse.

"Do you remember the day in my car when you fumbled with my belt?" he asked.

She froze, feeling a sudden flood of embarrassment. She remembered it all too clearly—dropping to her knees in the backseat of his town car and fumbling with his belt. A rush of shame filled her.

"I'm sorry," she said miserably. "I thought that's what you wanted."

"It is what I want," he whispered hoarsely. "You have no idea how badly I want it."

She shivered as he stepped closer. His hot breath brushed her shoulder and her collarbone, and then his warm lips nibbled at the skin on her shoulder. A small gasp escaped her lips, and he pulled her tight against his chest, claiming her mouth with his own. His lips crashed down against hers and his hands tangled in her hair.

Once again, she found her body responding. She arched her back, tilting her head back so he could kiss her more deeply. She threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him back. When he pulled away, she was gasping for breath. His eyes flashed, and he took her hand again, placing her fingers on the buckle of his belt. Her palm brushed against the stiffness in his trousers, and she froze.

"You see what you do to me," he whispered.

Suddenly self-conscious, she fumbled with the buckle of his belt, trying to undo it without touching the erection straining against his pants. The buckle clicked, and the belt fell open.

"Take it off," he whispered.