"Hmm?"

"I appreciate you doing this for me, but..."

"But?"

"What about your workload? You have a life of your own to worry about, without me slowing you down."

"And what if I want to be slowed down?"

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "You almost sound like you mean it."

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it."

"You'll get sick."

"I'm never sick."

A weak chuckle erupted from Chast.i.ty's throat. "Famous last words."

"It's true. I think I got all the sickness out of my system during my childhood. When I was a baby, my parents didn't think I'd make it. My immune system wasn't very strong, and I was constantly getting colds, ear infections and any floating virus there was. Name it and I had it."

"You must have worried your mother to death."

"Probably, but I think I broke her in for my brother and sister. They didn't give her half as many gray hairs."

"So, just like that you stopped getting sick?"

"I think it was one of those freak things. When I was ten, I had the measles and I can honestly say that's probably the last time I've been sick. I haven't had so much as a cold."

"How is that possible?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Fast living?"

Chast.i.ty giggled, then winced. "Stop it. I'm not feeling up to laughing."

"So, go to sleep."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you're holding me too tight," she lied. The truth was, he wasn't holding her tight enough, but she'd be d.a.m.ned if she admitted it. Chast.i.ty was finding it exceedingly difficult to not care about him.

Sebastian released her, but he remained by her side. "I'm sorry. I just like holding you."

This was just too much. "Why, Sebastian?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you being so nice? I would have thought that by now you'd be tired of me. What's the record for you, anyway?"

He sat up abruptly, looking down at her with stormy eyes. "Where is this coming from?"

"It's coming from a place called common sense. You have to admit that you don't have the best track record with women."

"And how would you know about my love life?"

"I've seen the women come to the office and none of them lasted very long."

"None of those women were you."

She gasped. "Sebastian?"

"Forget I said that. You need the rest."

"Yes, I think I am rather tired," she said, wanting to change the subject as fast as he apparently did. Sebastian's heat of the moment confession was just the ammunition she needed to finally get her revenge, yet it gave her no joy.

Chapter Twelve.

For the next four days, Sebastian waited on Chast.i.ty hand and foot, taking her to the doctor, picking up her prescriptions and forcing her to eat a little something. He also made sure she had clean linens every day. He even took good care of her cats.

Sebastian brought his work home so she wouldn't be alone. On Friday morning, Chast.i.ty felt refreshed except for a cough she couldn't quite shake. Otherwise, she was as good as new. She rolled over, seeking Sebastian's warmth. He wasn't there. Feeling bereft, she sat up. Even though she'd been sick, he'd slept with her every night, cradling her against his body. She'd found it comforting.

"Sebastian?" No answer.

She slid out of bed and nearly tripped over Monty. He growled at her before racing off. Chast.i.ty made her way downstairs. It was a large house for one man, but tastefully decorated. Yesterday was the first day he'd allowed her out of bed and he'd showed her around. The funny thing was, she could see herself in this place, permanently.

That's when Chast.i.ty knew she'd have to go home, and fast. If she stayed here any longer, she'd never want to leave. The smell of bacon and fresh coffee permeated the air and led to the kitchen. She found Sebastian in front of the stove, wearing an ap.r.o.n and a pair of snug jeans that hugged his tight a.s.s.

A pool of moisture formed in her panties. Get a hold of yourself, girl. She should have been at the point where the sight of him didn't make her pulse race the way it did.

"Good morning, Chast.i.ty," he greeted, without turning around. He'd obviously spotted her in the mirror above the stove.

"Good morning," she said, tentatively stepping into the kitchen and taking a seat.

"I'm glad you're up. You're just in time for breakfast. How do you like your eggs?"

"I don't really have much of an appet.i.te right now."

"But you have to eat something. You haven't eaten a lot all week, and if you want your strength back, you need to get something substantial in your belly."

She knew better than to argue with him. "Fine. If I have to eat, how about a slice of toast and some coffee?"

"I think I can do better than that. I'll put some scrambled eggs and bacon on your plate. Just take a few bites for me."

"Okay, but I'm not going to finish it all."

"Just as long as you give it a try, is all I ask."

"I didn't know you cooked."

"When you're the oldest sibling, and your mother has to work two jobs to make ends meet, sometimes you have to be in charge of the household stuff like cooking and cleaning."

"Wow. You're a regular jack-of-all-trades. You're a brilliant attorney, you cook and you're a great caretaker. Cute ap.r.o.n, by the way."

He turned around with a wide grin on his face. The words read: kiss the cook. "So, you like this, do you?"

"I must admit that you look...interesting in it."

"Not s.e.xy?" he teased.

"Maybe a little."

His grin widened. "I guess I'll have to wear this more often then." He placed a plate in front of her.

Chast.i.ty's eyes widened at the amount of food he'd heaped on it. "Sebastian, there's no way I'll be able to finish all of this." With wary eyes, she surveyed the meal before her of toast, bacon, eggs and a grapefruit half.

"Just eat a little."

With a sigh, she picked up her fork. After a few bites, Chast.i.ty discovered that she was indeed hungry. She stopped shoveling food into her mouth long enough to shoot Sebastian a sheepish grin when he sat down with his own plate.

"Not hungry, huh?"

"Okay, I guess I was hungrier than I thought."

"Now that you're up, I was thinking that I could take you out of the house today."

In the middle of taking a bite of bacon, she pushed her plate away. Now was the time to tell him or she'd never get it off her chest. "About that. I'm feeling so much better and I think I should go back home today. I'd like it if you would take me to the office, so I can get my car."

"There's no hurry. You're not going to work today, and tomorrow's Sat.u.r.day."

Chast.i.ty smacked her forehead, remembering that her mother was supposed to visit today. At least now, she had a legitimate excuse without causing an argument. "I have to go home. My mother is coming today. I completely forgot."

His green eyes narrowed, studying her face. "Is this the truth or just another excuse not to spend time with me? This is getting really old, Chast.i.ty."

"I'm telling the truth. My mother is really coming today. The thing is, she didn't tell me what time she'd be arriving. Knowing her, it probably won't be until later, but I have to clean my place up for her."

"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?"

"Gee, Sebastian, I didn't realize I had to report every detail of my life to you."

His mouth tightened, nostrils slightly flaring. "Fine. I'll go with you. I'd love to meet your mother."

The last thing she needed was to see Brenda clinging to Sebastian like a limpet. "I don't think so. I only see her once in a blue moon, so you understand, don't you?"

"I didn't say I'd stick around, just that I'd like to meet her."

"Why?"

"Because she's your mother. Why not?"

"You know what I mean. Why are you acting as if we're in a relationship? We're not, you know."

"Maybe I'd like to be."

He had to be kidding. Chast.i.ty laughed. "I think you may be the one coming down with something. Is your head warm?"

"I mean it, Chast.i.ty," he said quietly.

Sebastian was serious. She stopped laughing. Was this it? Could she drop the bomb on him now? Something held her back. "Sebastian, this wasn't what we agreed on."

"I don't think we've agreed on anything. You've been holding me at arm's length since we began this thing and I don't like it one bit."

"We're just f.u.c.king, that's all. Why do you have to make things more complicated than they already are?"

"Just f.u.c.king?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.

Chast.i.ty shrugged, trying to maintain her air of nonchalance. "I haven't relegated this to anything. It is what it is and I'm just trying to be honest. If you really thought about it, you'd probably realize what a favor I'm doing for you."

"And what favor might that be?" he asked tightly, his eyes shooting green fire.

"No strings attached s.e.x. Isn't that what every man wants? Besides, why rock the boat? If it's not broke, don't fix it, right?"

Sebastian's eyes narrowed and his lips tightened to a thin, angry line. "Is this what you want? No strings attached s.e.x?"

No! Chast.i.ty wanted to scream and shout that she wanted more too, but fear held her tongue steady. She wouldn't let him hurt her again. "Of course it's what I want. Haven't I already said so?"

Sebastian's nostrils flared. "How are you feeling right now?"

"Fine. Good enough to go home."

Sebastian pushed his plate away and stood up. Striding over to where she sat, he grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?" Chast.i.ty tried to force herself from his grasp, but it was iron-clad.

"You said you were better, so how about some of that no strings attached s.e.x you're so fond of."

Shaking her head vigorously, Chast.i.ty trembled. "No. I'm not in the mood."

"But I am, and you don't get to call all the shots." Yanking her out of her seat, Sebastian pulled Chast.i.ty into his arms. He covered her mouth with a hungry, brutal kiss. When she tried to turn her head away, Sebastian grabbed a fistful of hair, forcing her head straight.

"No," she whispered against his mouth, even though her traitorous body started to melt against his. Chast.i.ty's nipples grew into tight points as they strained against his chest.