The Bad Guy

by Celia Aaron

My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story.

But every fairy tale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me. I’m the bad guy.

He was foolish enough to think he still had a claim on her. The moment I saw her, his flimsy hold on her began to slip. I intended to sever it completely, by any means necessary. I’d heard about love at first sight, though I couldn’t claim that emotion. The need to possess her was what fired through my veins, not the sentimental nonsense of hearts and flowers.

She was mine. Even if I had to steal her.

I’m drawn to your spark of darkness the same way you’re drawn to the ocean of mine.

She huffed and settled her head on my bicep. “Go to sleep. I’m tired of your robot analysis and your stalking and—really, I’m just tired of you.” “Sure you are.” I relished the reverberating pain of her teeth marks. “Next time, draw blood.” “Psycho.” I kissed her hair again and relaxed into my pillow. “Your psycho.”

He leaned next to me. “Every bad guy is the hero of his own tale.” “Seriously?” I gawked at him in the reflective door. “The hero?” “I saved you from that dimwit, gave you a castle full of your favorite things, and am prepared to lay down my life for you in case of fire or other calamity. What about all that?”

“I’ve never been someone’s hero before.” “You’re mine.” “So I’m the good guy?” I stretched up and kissed his chin. “Let’s not get carried away.”