she said, “I just don’t understand what it means.” The elder gave her a sympathetic smile and said , “It means you married the man, child.” He looked at Sebastian who nodded . “She is mine, so I will stay with her.” The elder looked thoughtful and said , “This is unusual.
They were out of the garden before Ash could collect herself and blurted out, “Married!” Sebastian glanced at her and said calmly, “L et’s go to your room first before we have this discussion.” The fact that he sounded so reasonable frustrated her and made her angry. When she tried again to start the conversation he refused to engage and so she rushed her steps so they could get to her room. Ash realised her mistake when Sebastian closed the door of her small room and she was trapped in a small space with him. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the look on his face. He stalked towards her and framed her face in his hands. He asked , “Do you deny that you are mine?” She blinked confused with the way he was putting things. “You never asked me. You just decided. You never said anything about marriage.” She thought back to it all. The first time he had stated she was his was when he was ill just a few days ago. She pulled back and glanced down at her hand . “Was that it. The only thing you needed to say we are married.” Ash rubbed at the brands. They had stopped paining an hour ago but they still tingled. She could feel the power in the brands. Defeated she flopped to sit on the edge of her bed. Tears blurred her eyes. Sebastian sat on the bed next to her and with a finger under her chin turned her to look at him. He murmured , “Hush.” Then he kissed her. It was gentle, which surprised her. He was such a large man and filled with a constrained violence inside him. He moved his hands to rest lightly on her waist. That reminded her of the kiss before. Ash pulled back and asked, “Why? I mean you could have waited and explained things.” Sebastian sighed and said, “I thought you understood. I thought you stopped things earlier because you wanted the binding first. Before you would let me take you. The idea of binding us together pleased me so I did it. I thought you knew what it all meant.” She blinked staring at him for a moment. Anger rushed through her and she pulled back further . “You never said anything. Ever, Sebastian. You don’t tell me anything, how am I supposed to understand or know what is going on inside your head when you are so stoic with me. How was I supposed to know a bloody kiss was a marriage proposal?” His eyes darkened and she was afraid for a moment. He surprised her though by saying . “Sorry.” He stood up then and started undressing. Gaping she asked , “What are you doing?” “ You are upset. I will comfort you.” Her words choked in her throat then she went breathless as he completely disrobed. He sat on the bed again and she finally shook off her stupor . “Wait Sebastian. This morning when I stopped you it wasn’t because I wanted you to marry me first it was because I’m not ready.” He brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek and said , “You only believe you are not ready because you are afraid. I will not harm you and you will know that there is nothing to fear.” His logic was infuriating. She pushed away his hand and said , “You aren’t listening to me. Yes, I am afraid. I’m only seventeen and I haven’t... well before I hadn’t even been kissed.” “ Good.” She shook her head . “You don’t understand.” Sebastian leant forward and she quickly put her hand on his chest to push him away. Ash could feel the heat of his skin and the beat of his heart. She was breathless. Panic mixed with confusion. He put his hand over hers on his chest and said , “You are afraid of the unknown. So I will give you the experience so you will no longer be afraid.” She shook her head, confused and tingly. He tugged on the