The Library

Sebastian

T he shrill sound of my phone cuts through the steam-filled bathroom, pulling my attention from Lilith’s heated gaze. I can tell from her expression that she wasn’t expecting this interruption—not after everything we just discussed. Her body is still tense, her skin flushed from our exchange about the brand and the tracker, and now, this phone call is the only thing between us and finishing what I started.

Giving her a quick kiss on the forehead, letting my lips linger just long enough to make her soften, my words come out mocking, “Enjoy your shower. And scrub carefully on that beautiful pussy.”

I slap her on the ass cheek, earning a sharp intake of breath from her, and walk out, my mind already shifting from our moment of possessive intimacy to the call I need to answer.

I glance at the screen. Ty.

Ty wouldn’t interrupt me for something trivial.

Perfect fucking timing.

I slide my thumb across the screen to answer it, catching Lilith’s curious look. She thinks she can read me, but she has no idea what’s going on beneath the surface. No idea why this call matters. I tell Ty that I’ll call him right back, knowing this is going to be something I don’t want Lilith to know about just yet. She’s already wanting more answers to questions I know will chase her off, so this is not the answer to start with.

I’m halfway out the bedroom door when my phone buzzes again. This time, it’s a notification from Facebook. Lilith’s name pops up on the screen, and I freeze for a moment, my pulse quickening.

My eyes narrow as I open the app, and there it is—a relationship status request.

Lilith Gray is in a relationship with Ashford.

What the fuck?

A cold rush of amusement, disbelief, and something else-something darker-floods through me as I accept it. I let out a low chuckle, staring at the notification. She’s staked her claim on me publicly now, hasn’t she?

Just like that, she’s telling the world I’m hers. She doesn’t even know what she’s getting herself into.

I can almost see her now, sitting there with that smug, satisfied look on her face, thinking she’s made a bold move. Thinking she’s got some sort of upper hand by announcing us. But Lilith has no idea that what she just did only solidified how deep she’s in with me.

I’m not just some fucking check mark on her social media.

She’ll pay for that later. Not in the way she expects. She might think this is some cute, possessive move-claiming me, putting my name out there for everyone to see. But the truth is, it’s only going to pull her deeper into my world.

Now, people will be watching. They’ll see her, see us, and questions will follow. Dangerous questions.

And Lilith? She’s just taken her first real step into the shadows of my life. And whether she knows it or not, there’s no turning back.

She wants to claim me? Fine.

But I’ll remind her who holds the power here.

Once I’m in the kitchen, I lean against the counter and press the call back button. It rings only once before Ty picks up.

“,” he greets, his voice tight with urgency. “We’ve got a problem, man.”

I glance toward the bedroom door, the sound of the water still running from the bathroom. “What’s going on?”

There’s a pause on the other end, and I can practically hear Ty weighing his words. “It’s bigger than we thought. The man we took out last night… wasn’t the only one involved. There’s a network. And it’s starting to unravel.”

My grip tightens on the phone. “How bad?”

“Bad enough that the Society wants this handled quickly. Cleanly. You and I are expected to tie up the loose ends. This isn’t going to be a one-night job. We’ll be away for a bit.”

I curse under my breath, my mind racing. I’d known something was off during the hit last night. But now, this was bigger—this was going to take time. Time away from Lilith. And time away from her right now isn’t something I want to risk.

“I’ll meet you in an hour,” I say, my voice cold as I shut down the call, ending it before Ty can say anything else.

I watch her step out of the bedroom, her skin still flushed from the shower, wrapped in nothing but a towel. There’s something so fucking intoxicating about the way she looks right now—innocent and raw at the same time. Her hair is damp, droplets sliding down her bare shoulders, and I can see the way her muscles tense, her body still adjusting to the brand I marked her with.

She thinks I’m being sweet. That I’m making breakfast because I care. And huge part of me does. Maybe part of me wants to make her feel safe, cared for, after everything I’ve done to her. But that’s not why I’m here, why I’m telling her she’s moving in. I have my reasons, and they have nothing to do with kindness.

The phone call earlier is still hanging over me, and I know it’s only a matter of time before shit starts to unravel. I need her here. I need her close, where I can watch over her, where I can control the chaos that’s about to descend on our lives.

I smirk as she approaches, her gaze lingering on my back, the tattoos that mark me. I know she’s staring, and I know exactly what she’s thinking—she’s trying to figure out why I’m acting like this, why I’m playing the role of the loving boyfriend. She doesn’t realize yet that I’m doing this because I need her under my roof. Safe. Where I can keep an eye on her.

I turn around, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips as I wipe my hands on the towel. “Enjoy your shower, darling?” I ask, my voice low, filled with amusement. She looks up at me, eyes wide, like she’s trying to find her footing. She knows. She can feel it.

“I see you’ve been busy,” I add, watching her blink, still trying to process what I’ve done.

“You actually accepted?” she asks, her voice small but laced with disbelief.

I chuckle, setting the towel aside and making my way over to her. The distance between us shrinks as I close in, my gaze locked on hers, dark with that familiar hunger. “Of course I did,” I say, my voice steady, deliberate. She doesn’t get it yet, but she will. “You want the world to know, right?”

I pull her against me, feeling the way her body molds to mine. My hand slips around her waist, fingers brushing over the brand on her pussy, the mark that tells the truth of everything. The one thing that matters. “I’ve already claimed you, Lilith. I don’t care if Facebook knows. I want everyone to know. You’re mine.”

I watch her swallow, see the way her pulse races in her throat, and it excites me. She’s still fighting it, but I can feel her resolve cracking, piece by piece. I lean in, letting my lips ghost over hers, just enough to make her tremble. “You want to make it official on Facebook? Fine,” I murmur, knowing that’s not even close to the full picture. “But remember, I’ve already made it official in ways that go far beyond that.”

I let my lips trail down her neck, feeling the way she melts into me, surrendering to what’s always been inevitable. It’s not just a status. It’s the life we’re building—one built on the twisted, dark connection between us. No one else can touch that.

I pull back, just enough to see her face, her eyes wide and full of emotions she’s still grappling with. But I see it—acceptance. Finally.

“You’re mine, Lilith,” I whisper, my fingers tracing the edges of the brand. My name on her skin, a permanent reminder of what we are. “Now and forever. Everyone can know it, but you’ll always feel it.”

I watch her take it in, see the rush of emotion in her eyes. She’s not running anymore. And for the first time, there’s peace in her expression. She understands. She’s mine, and I’m hers. There’s no escaping that.

“You’re going to move in with me,” I say, turning my head back to the stove like it’s a done deal. Because it is.

I hear her stop in her tracks, her breath hitching slightly as she processes what I just said.

“What?” she asks, her voice tinged with confusion, but also curiosity.

I turn back to her, watching the way her eyes widen. She’s not used to me making decisions for her—at least not like this. Not with this level of finality. But she’ll learn. She’ll understand that this is how things work between us now.

“You heard me,” I say calmly, turning my attention back to the stove. “You’re moving in. It’s time.”

I don’t need to explain myself. She knows I’m serious, knows there’s no room for negotiation. And I can feel the conflict inside her, the way she’s torn between wanting to surrender completely and still holding on to some illusion of control.

“I’ll move in,” she finally says, her voice steady but defiant. “But only if you start giving me answers. Like Ty does with Anna. No more secrets.”

I pause, my grip tightening on the pan as her words sink in. She’s asking for answers. She thinks she can demand something from me, like she’s in a position to negotiate. It amuses me, the way she pushes back, the way she still believes she has some kind of say in this. I do love a woman who puts up a fight, it only makes it that much sweeter.

I glance over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “Answers, huh?”

“Yes,” she repeats, her tone firm. “I deserve to know what’s going on.”

I let out a low chuckle, turning to face her fully. There’s a fire in her eyes, a challenge, and it only makes me want her more. I can see the desire flickering beneath the surface, the way her body reacts to my presence, even when she’s trying to stand her ground.

“If you want answers, Lilith,” I say, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper, “you’re going to have to work for them.”

I watch as her body responds, her nipples hardening beneath the towel. She doesn’t say a word, but she doesn’t have to. I can see it in her eyes, the way she’s already surrendering without even realizing it.

“You’re unbelievable,” she mutters, shaking her head, but the faint blush creeping up her neck tells me everything I need to know.

I laugh, a deep, satisfied sound, turning back to the stove. “And you’re still here, aren’t you?”

She rolls her eyes, but she knows the truth. She’s not going anywhere. Not now. Not after everything that’s happened between us. And the thought of her being anywhere else, out of my sight, makes something dark and possessive flare up inside me.

The phone call from earlier flashes in my mind again, and I know I need to leave soon. The situation with the Society is escalating, and it’s only going to get worse. But for now, I’ll let her have this moment. Let her think she’s negotiating, that she’s making her own decisions.

Because when it comes down to it, Lilith is already mine. And she’ll learn that soon enough if she hasn’t already, but my girl loves to push my buttons. She loves to see what she thinks is the darkest side of me.

I move back to the stove, my mind half on the conversation, half on the call I took earlier. The situation with Ty is growing more complicated, and the assignment will pull me away from her soon. I don’t like it, but there’s no choice. She doesn’t know how deep this all runs, and right now, it’s better that she doesn’t.

But she’s getting closer. She’s demanding answers, pushing boundaries. And I’ll give her some answers… when it benefits me. For now, I need her safe and close, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her here.

“Enjoy your breakfast,” I say, the smirk returning to my face as I watch her, knowing full well that the moment I leave, she’ll be thinking about everything I haven’t told her.

She’s smart, and she’s dangerous in her own way. But she’s also mine. And I’m not letting her go.

I watch her closely, knowing she’s piecing things together. Lilith isn’t the type to sit back and let things happen around her—she demands answers, craves control. But I can’t give her that. Not yet. Not fully.

“Are you leaving now?” she asks, her voice low, careful. She’s overheard enough to know something is going on, and the way her eyes narrow tells me she’s preparing to push back.

I set the pan down on the stove, turning off the burner. I face her, leaning against the counter, arms crossed. “I have to leave,” I say, watching her reaction. “And I don’t know how long it’ll be before I’m back.”

Her lips press into a thin line, her eyes narrowing with frustration. “How long?” she repeats, like she’s challenging me to give her an answer, something she can hold on to.

“I can’t say. You know that,” I reply, my voice steady. “But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She exhales sharply, crossing her arms over her chest as if she’s trying to shield herself from the reality of what I’m saying. “So, what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for you?”

“You stay here,” I tell her firmly, stepping closer. “You can go to class if you need to, but remember—you don’t need to finish college.”

Her eyes flare with a mix of surprise and irritation. “Don’t need to finish college? I want to become an author, . I need that degree.”

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair as I watch her dig in her heels. She doesn’t understand, not fully, the life she’s becoming a part of. “I know what you dream of, Lilith. You don’t need a degree to make that happen.”

Her expression hardens, and I can see the stubbornness flaring up in her eyes. “I don’t want to make my way just because I’m sleeping with one of the most powerful and dangerous men in town.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. I step closer, frustration tightening in my chest. “It’s not about that, Lilith. You don’t have to fight for things I can give you.”

She shakes her head, refusing to back down. I feel my patience slipping, running my fingers through my hair again, but I cave. “Fine,” I mutter. “Go to school. But from here and back, that’s it. No detours. No games.”

Her eyes flash with a brief satisfaction, but I’m not done. “There are housekeepers here, guards. They’ll handle anything and everything you need while I’m gone. You’ll be safe.”

I pause, watching her reaction as she listens, her jaw set tight but her eyes softening. “And I’ve already hired my guys to move everything from your apartment into this house. This is your home now. Ours.”

She exhales sharply, clearly frustrated but trying to process what I’m saying. She doesn’t fight me on this—she knows it’s a battle she won’t win. “I just want to get some clothes from my apartment,” she says, her voice lower now, almost resigned.

I nod, though the hesitation grips me. “Fine. But you’ll be quick, and I want you back here. Anna can come over and stay while I’m gone.”

She looks up at me, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, as if she hadn’t expected me to offer that. “Ty’s going with me. So, Anna will be here with you.” That’s more than enough information for her to piece things together, but I know she won’t push for more right now. Not with me leaving.

I take a step closer, my hand reaching for her chin, lifting it so our eyes meet. “Lilith,” I say softly, my thumb brushing over her jawline. “I need to know you’re safe while I’m gone.”

Her breath hitches, her eyes searching mine. And then, without another word, I kiss her, deeply and intimately, letting her feel everything I can’t say. My hands tighten on her waist, pulling her closer, savoring the taste of her lips, the softness of her body against mine.

She melts into the kiss, her hands gripping my arms, and for a moment, I forget about everything else. The call, the assignment, the violence waiting for me out there. All I want is this moment with her.

But I know I have to leave.

Reluctantly, I pull back, resting my forehead against hers for a brief second before stepping away. “I’ll be back soon,” I murmur, my voice low. She doesn’t say anything, just nods, her lips parted and her eyes still heavy with desire and frustration.

I go change and grab my shit, then grab my keys, glancing back at her one last time before I head for the door. The weight of the assignment looms, but my mind is still on her, on the way she looked at me, the way she fought me and then gave in.

I’m already planning how I’ll claim her again when I return. Because she’s mine—no matter how hard she tries to push me away. And it doesn’t have anything to do with fucking her. At least not all of it.