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commanded.
    It took effort not to argue. More than anything, she wanted to tell him that she was okay, that she could take care of herself, but it was Sebastian and she knew it would be pointless. If helping her was what he wanted, that was what was going to happen. Instead, she studied his face, wondering what had happened between him and Marx as Sebastian wet her hair. It was so hard not to press for information, if for no other reason than to just make sure he was okay, but when it came to SKALS, there had always been a very strict ‘don’t ask’ policy between them. If he wanted her to know something, he would tell her.
    Wrapping her arms around her knees, Taylor sat huddled as Sebastian lathered a generous amount of shampoo between his hands. The fragrant burst of cashmere seemed to fill the entire room. Her mind tried to focus on his actions as he scrubbed her scalp, working the soap into a thick lather. The gentle, but vigorous, scrub of his fingers felt like heaven. Closing her eyes, she let a contented sigh part her lips as he rinsed her, then conditioned her tresses and repeated the process again. By the time he’d finished rubbing down her body, she felt like a pampered, boneless heap.
    Leaning over the tub, he cradled the back of her head, his lips claiming hers in a slow, drugging kiss. Taylor moaned against him. Pain or not, her body still responded with hunger to his touch. He kissed her again, this time his lips curving in amusement against hers.
    “Mmm. That’s my girl,” he praised.
    Grabbing a towel, Sebastian eased her up and hit the drain for the plug. She clung to his biceps unsteadily, unable to find the strength to stand on her own. After wrapping the fluffy warmth around her shoulders, he scooped her up and lifted her from the tub. Relieved, her arms sought immediate purchase around his neck. His hold tightened in a reassuring squeeze.
    “It’s okay. I got you, sweetheart,” he murmured, drawing her against his chest.
    She pressed her nose against his neck and breathed his warm, woodsy scent as he carried her out of the bathroom and laid her on the bed. He stripped the wet towel away and peeled the covers back before drawing them up to tuck them under her chin.
    “Are you hungry?” he asked, perching on the edge of the bed beside her.
    “No. Not yet.”
    “Soon then.” Leaning over her, he kissed the top of her head. “Josh will be here shortly and I have a few things I need to take care of. I’ll be downstairs. If you need me, just holler, but I really want you to just take it easy for a bit and try to take a nap.”
    “Okay. Can you stay here for just a few minutes though?”
    Running his fingers through her hair, he winked. “Absolutely.”
    Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tightly against his side. She rested her head against his chest and snuggled closer into the warm cradle of his body. Toying with the buttons on his uniform, she closed her eyes as he trailed his fingers up and down her back.
    “Seb?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Was Marx upset that you spent so much time at the hospital?”
    She could feel the hesitation thrumming through him as he grappled with his words and how much to share.
    “Marx wasn’t pleased,” he admitted quietly, “but he will get over it. I don’t want you worrying about these things, Taylor. It doesn’t matter. I’m here and that’s what’s important.”
    She nodded, but couldn’t ignore the dread crawling through her. Short of him dying, SKALS locking Sebastian away again topped her list of nightmares. He’d barely made it back to her last time, and she would never forget the array of bruises and burns marring his beautiful skin. Some of those scars still remained. As if sensing the dark turn her mind had taken, he tipped her face up toward him.
    His breath fell warm and soft against her skin and carried a faint hint of spearmint as he rubbed a slow circle against her belly. “Do you need anything?” he asked.
    “No. I’m