Chapter 8: Rachel Dallas

Vincent was away for a total of four days.

During those four days, Sebastian waited anxiously for his lover's return. He did his routinely chores, ran errands, and—in his free time—he played his violin; making sure to include the songs Vincent loved to hear him play whenever he took out the instrument, including Bach's Chaconne in D minor and Devil's Trill Sonata. The songs kept his heart beating and they kept his loneliness at bay.

By the start of day four, though, Sebastian had resorted to sitting with Tanaka in the servant's hall, drinking herbal tea with him. Indeed, the drink tasted like nothing more than hot water, but now there was nothing for him to do. For the first time since he had started working at the Phantomhive Manor, he was bored.

The sounds of a carriage pulling into the manors front drive made his face light up and he and Tanaka made their way out of the mansion to welcome Vincent home.

However, the first person to step out of the carriage was not Vincent, but a tall, beautiful noblewoman in an elegant lavender-colored dress. Her long, strawberry blond hair was pulled into a lovely bun. Her big blue eyes held a lively spark, and she had one of those playful smiles that was somehow welcoming to all who'd see it.

Vincent tumbled out of the carriage behind her.

"We weren't informed that you were bringing a guest, sir." Tanaka stated.

"Indeed, I should have given the house a call." Vincent agreed, "This is Rachel Dallas. She'll be staying with us for a few days."

Sebastian normally wasn't the jealous type, but judging from the way Vincent looked at Rachel—the way he'd blush in a sort of excitement when he looked at her, he had developed feelings for someone else. It was a kick to the gut to Sebastian, but he couldn't find it in him to get upset over the matter.

"Tanaka," Vincent said, "If you'll please escort Miss Dallas inside and show her around the manor, I'll have Sebastian take her things to a guest room."

"Yes, my lord." Tanaka replied with a bow and gestured for Rachel to enter the manor.

Only after they were gone and out of his sight did Vincent approach Sebastian.

"And you!" his tone was light, teasing, and playful, "Why don't you come here and welcome me home properly?"

Sebastian laughed and rushed into Vincent's open arms. It felt wrong. His proper welcome was a soft kiss to the earl's lips. It felt wrong. Vincent returned the favor, and once more, it felt wrong.

"I'm happy to see you didn't destroy the manor while I was away." Vincent teased.

"Tanaka kept me busy up until early this morning." Sebastian said, "After that, we just waited for your return."

"Hmm, sounds boring." Vincent said, kissing Sebastian once more, "Come on, I want to celebrate my home-coming in my room; just you and me."

It didn't feel right.

Sebastian gave a sly smirk and hummed, "It all sounds so scandalous . . ."


Their rounds of sex increased in numbers and in length, and by the end of their sixth round, they were both bitterly exhausted. Vincent lay on the floor with Sebastian sprawled beside him in a sea of crisp, white sheets. The both of them were covered in sweat, heaving for breath, and relishing in the suffocating smell of sex.

"Now that was a proper welcome home." Vincent remarked.

"I'm glad I please you on all kinds of levels, sir." Sebastian said, barely hanging onto the last threads if consciousness.

Vincent tugged playfully on a lock of Sebastian's hair, "Stop. That. Call me 'Vincent' okay? I don't think we necessarily have to resort to addressing each other as master and servant."

Sebastian rolled over so he was facing him, "Why did you bring Rachel here?"

The smile left Vincent's face, "I was stupid."

"How so?"

"You'll hate me when I tell you."

"I don't think I could bring myself to hate you."

Vincent let out a small huff, "I'm sorry, Sebastian. I guess I got so caught up in the introductions that when I started getting to know Rachel . . . I didn't take us into consideration. Angelina was lovely, I admit, but a bit too young, for my taste. Rachel is kind and had lowered herself to the rank of a servant to make sure I was taken care of. She was so much like you. I was a fool!"

To his surprise, Sebastian wasn't at all hurt by Vincent's words. Sebastian actually looked pleased.

"I couldn't bear it if you were surrounded by people that didn't treat you properly." He stated, "This Rachel girl sounds nice. I say if you like her, then nothing else matters."

Vincent was shocked, "How could you say that? I thought you'd be upset. I thought you'd be angry. I had relations with you; a servant. I did a low thing, not just by having sex with you, but by growing attached to someone else! You should be angry at me!"

Sebastian gave a lazy shrug. He was upset. He was hurt. He wanted Vincent for himself. Then again, greed was never his strongest sin.

"I think I'd be more upset if Rachel Dallas was a prostitute, which she's not. She seems like a fine, graceful yet playful woman that is very capable of making you just as happy as I can."

Saying the words made him sick. He was letting go of the only man—only person—he ever loved. But if not having Rachel Dallas upset the earl, Sebastian couldn't bring himself to keep holding on.

Vincent held Sebastian close to him, "You wouldn't mind caring for Rachel while she's here, would you?"

"Of course not, but might I ask why?"

The words were like a knife wedged in this throat.

"I want to see how you two get along. First impressions can be deceiving, and any person that is cruel to you—an extension of myself as a servant—isn't fit to even be in my sights."

"And if I don't like her?"

Sebastian felt bitter and numb.

Vincent ran a hand through Sebastian's hair.

"Then I guess it's just us."