Because the thought of him catching me in-transit, one of his sexy clients at his side, makes me physically ill. I can’t imagine going down on him while a gorgeous model witnesses my humiliation.

I don’t want any humiliation at all. I want my first experience of putting my mouth on Sebastian to be as mind blowing for me as I hope it will be for him. I imagine his hands in my hair as I take him between my lips, his faded jeans unzipped and pushed to his thighs, and my knees aching—because of course that’s how he’ll want me. The mental picture shouldn’t get me so worked up, but it does.

Until the vision of Liam intrudes on the fantasy, and I fret over the possibility of running into both of them simultaneously. What a disastrous crash that would be.

And that’s why, a few days after Sebastian rocked my world in my studio, I decide to take control of the situation. With Landon and Elise returning tomorrow, I need to do something about Sebastian’s insane demand. Though demand isn’t the right word for it, because he didn’t issue an actual order. The command was apparent in his tone.

I set aside my sketchbook, unable to concentrate on my latest design—a summer formal incorporating a feathery pattern down the flowing A-line skirt. The sun set minutes ago, casting the sky in hues of blush rose and burgundy. Nighttime shadows creep into the corners of my sitting room, and I realize how much time I’ve wasted since the kitchen staff brought me dinner. I’ve been sitting in my window seat ever since, plagued with a lack of focus thanks to Sebastian.

Nervous flutters dance in my belly as I head into my bedroom and enter the adjacent wardrobe room. I’m not just going to take control of the situation.

I’m going to render him incoherent while I fall at his feet.

This crazy, spontaneous idea might be the only way to break past his defenses while distracting him from his cruel plan of humiliation by way of public indecency.

Desperate times and all of that.

Reaching into the bottom drawer of the tall lingerie chest tucked next to my collection of Louis Vuitton shoes, I pull out a teal lace teddy featuring a thong-cut back. I picked it up on my trip to the island’s boutiques during my first month here. The purchase was an impulse buy encouraged by Faye.

Now I’m going to use it as a weapon.