An Ember's Touch

Persuade Me

 “Balter!” 

Sebastian stuck a cigarette in his mouth and ignored the sibling’s reunion, pulling his phone out as he sat in his jeep with the door open. He got the text that Nate too was now at his house, chewing hard on his lip and went for his lighter. Out the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Kassandra slapping her brother hard enough that he stumbled a little. 

“He-ow!” Balter rubbed his cheek. “What was that for?”

“That’s for getting my car impounded.” Kassandra repositioned her purse more upon her shoulder, “I’m lucky that I’m getting it back tomorrow. Thanks to Sebastian.” She crossed her arms. 

Balter grimaced over Sebastian who was leaned over on his knees rubbing over his knuckles as he stared at the sidewalk, deep in thought. He looked him up and down in disgust. In what world did this guy do an act of kindness for someone that didn’t profit himself? “What’d he do?” 

“A lot.” Sebastian pulled his cigarette from his mouth stared longer at the sidewalk. He considered Balter lucky as s**t in his book at the moment since A) He didn’t have his gun with him but only a knife and B) he made that deal with Kassandra that he wouldn’t harm him till their deal was done. “Until Vincent gets his guns back, I’m the one protecting you from getting your knee caps taken out.” He shot Balter a cold look, “So I think it’d be nice if you’re cooperative.”

Balter gulped and Kassandra glanced between them, confused. “Who’s Vincent?”

“You don’t need to know.” Balter murmured to her.

“He’s right.” Sebastian lightly agreed and flicked his ash, locking eyes with her then. Kassandra walked over to be encased by the smell of his cologne and cigarette. She stomped her foot and gripped onto her purse, keeping Sebastian’s attention.

“Who is Vincent and what he has to do with my brother?” she spoke low, “And don’t f*****g lie to me. You said it yourself that your hate lairs.”

Balter swallowed hard, watching Sebastian as he calmly stared at her. A flicker of hunger flashed over Sebastian’s eyes when Kassandra gripped her hip. This girl. He smirked and looked away, taking a drag. “If I tell you about him, you learn about the rest of us. Then you’ll never be safe.”

“I want to know who wants my brother dead.”

“Fine. Under two conditions.” He exhaled and stamped his cigarette into the bottom of his shoe. He turned to her and leaned forward, Kassandra watching his eyes darken. He said it softly so only she could hear it. “After I drop your brother off then we’ll talk, but you have to persuade me to tell you. How I see it: If I’m gonna get f****d telling you the important stuff, I might as well get to f**k something for it.”

Kassandra swallowed and thought back in the night she lost her virginity to him. The way he traveled over her body, she gave her purse a squeeze. She peeked over her shoulder, through her hair, seeing her brother intently watching them. “He’ll be safe?”

“The less anyone knows about us, yes. You’re just taking that chance, this is my proposition on letting you into my world.”

Kassandra fell deeper into Sebastian’s raging eyes, getting sucked into the thrashing storm. “As long as he’s safe. I’ll do it.”

Sebastian hid back his disappointment, exhaling and sat up. She wasn’t the first who wanted to know about The System or those who want to know about the one he works for. He slipped his cigarette and lighter into his pack, clearing his throat huskily. Deep down, he knew a girl like Kassandra was too frail to stand firmly in his world. She would break like a thin sheet of glass. He didn’t want to, but the courage when she tried to stand her ground for her brother gave him little interest. To have a sibling that cares that much she’d practically sells her body. He huffed and shook his head, feeling defeated. “Get in.”

It was an hour before they finally reached Grand Oaks Neighborhood, Sebastian little astonished by how well they lived until he remembered they both still lived with their parents. He didn’t make a comment when Kassandra asked him to park down the street, making Balter walk and make up an alibi of where he was. When Balter was five feet away from the Jeep, Sebastian turned the car around and ignored Kassandra watching her brother.

“So who are the rest?” Kassandra pressed.

“We’re not there yet, now are we?” Sebastian muttered, stopping at the entrance and checked both ways. “Like I said persuade me to tell you.”

Kassandra slumped into the seat and glanced around the customized Jeep. The inside had the same matching outside green while the seats were a robin egg blue and black, Kassandra spotted a little picture tucked in next to the speedometer. It was of a girl and him both smiling, Sebastian having jet black hair. She hesitated for a second, “You got a girlfriend?”

He paused. “No…why?”

When he glanced over, she nodded to the picture. He double glanced to it and his stomach instantly knotted up with guilt. “Was.” He murmured, pulling out and going left. “She died two years ago. Car accident.” He painfully gulped, Kassandra watching him regripped the wheel and squeezed it with white knuckles.

“I’m sorry.” she whispered.

“Not your fault.” Sebastian grumbled, “Now change the subject.”

Kassandra ducked to her purse, hugging it more to her stomach. “We heading back to your place to do this?”

“Not exactly. My sister’s there to go over business stuff so we’re gonna take a back road to my place.”

“Back road.” Kassandra repeated, “How much land do you have?”

Sebastian smirked at the road and his knuckles relaxed. “Prepare to be amazed.”

~~~~~*~~~~~

“Whose place is this?”

“Mine. We’re about a hundred feet away from the house.”

Kassandra tossed his shirt to the floor and ran her hands over his warm skin, noticing the little nicks and scars. How she didn’t notice them from the first time bottled her for a second, assuming she was more concerned of what he was sticking inside of her. She trailed her nails over his collar bones then his built shoulders, eyeing the three visible scars. “What happened here?” she whispered and stepped closer.

Sebastian inhaled her when he fingers gently pressed against them, rubbing her thighs. “Deal went wrong a couple of years back. Got shot three times trying to get out.” He pulled her down onto his lap.

Kassandra softly frowned at the scars and then locked eyes, “How many other scars do you have?”

“Find them and I’ll tell you their stories.” He smirked, rubbing her waist and leaned in. Kassandra held her breath when their lips touched. This time, it wasn’t aggressive but gentle. Kassandra exhaled and touched his jawline and dug her nails in a little. Just the touch of his soft, warm lips was an explosion of euphoria. A small moan crept up and Sebastian pulled her waist closer against him. Just a kiss from her and he was craving so much more. He slowly pulled away and huffed with a smile, “Got any scars?”

“Nothing severe like your adventures. I fell over a slide when I was little.” Kassandra shrugged and pulled her tank top up to her ribs. She instantly got goosebumps when he brushed his fingers over it then kissed it, slipping his hands under her shirt and pushed it up more to reveal a powder blue lacy bra. He groaned with s****l frustration, pulling her tank top off. He tossed it behind her and caressed her waist, staring in awe how her breast spilled a little over the top of it. Kassandra saw his phone light up on the nightstand then, nipping her lip from smiling when he began kissing her breast. She softly called his name, trying to not to moan when it began to dance around from vibrating. “I think someone is calling you.”

“Every time.” He sighed, rubbing her waist one last time before flopping onto his back and grabbed it. He ran his hand through his hair and answered it, staring up the ceiling. “Yeah?”

She trailed her nails down his V-lines and glanced around the treehouse.

It was a good size place which was connected by three trees, a bridge connecting them to the next one. By the amount of furniture, clothes, and shoes, it looked like an everyday hang out. She peeked over her shoulder to see a couple of bongs and weed trays on the coffee table, along with a couple of clips of bullets. He was a dangerous person, Kass. But I need to know what Balter is getting himself into. She glanced back when Sebastian began rubbing her thigh, getting butterflies when he was smiling at her. But why was he so intoxicating? She curled her fingers under his belt and slowly pulled on it, Sebastian nipping his bottom lip and grinned.

“Yeah, I’m back in the treehouse right now…No, I’m not by myself.” He closed his eyes when Kassandra gently stroked his hardness through his jeans, “I gotta go, I’ll text when I’m heading up there. Go ahead and pull something from the freezer and I’ll make it.” He hung up and huffed, twisting a little and returned it back to the nightstand. “For a recently losing your virginity, you sure know what to do.” He sat up and groaned and pulled her moreover his hard self.

“Virgins can still have dirty dreams, can’t they?” She giggled.

Her words when Sebastian smirk and quickly pulled her off, rolling on top of her. “Deepest desires. Go.” He glanced down and started to unbutton her jeans.

Her heart was racing now, watching his fingers smoothly work. Soon enough, seeing her own black lace underwear. “I already said it.” She whispered, hiccuping a breath when his fingers slipped under them. She gasped when a finger brushed her c**t.

“Come on.” Sebastian cooed. “No one doesn’t have just one s****l desire. Especially with a body like this.” He slipped his fingers in her wetness, watching Kassandra’s smile ear to ear. She grabbed his forearm and dug her nails in, moaning when he curled his fingers a little. “So wet.” He leaned in, locking lips passionately. The fireworks hit both of them again, Kassandra moaned and pulled her leg up. Hungry for more, Sebastian withdrew his hand and moved to be in between her legs. Kassandra planted her hands on his toasty chest and pushed him back, both of them breathing heavily. He scoffed, “Too fast?”

She gently shook her head then it involuntary slipped from Kassandra’s throat. “I just desire you.”

Sebastian sat back on his feet and gripped his waist, glancing over her angelic body. This woman. He smirked and nipped his lip, dropping his head to this stiff manhood. “You’re the first that’s ever told me that.” He rose a brow through his hair, watching her body elegantly shift a little on the blanket. He glanced over at his phone when he heard it vibrate, ignoring it when he was it was Vincent. Kassandra noticed his phone too since she was questioned with a smile if he was going to get it, crawling half over her then stretched for it. He waited till he missed it, turning it off and tossed it in the drawer. He went to pull her jeans off, getting a giggle out of her when he tossed them over her shoulder.

“Vincent and I are part of a hidden group called the System.” He stood up and undid his belt.

“The System.” Kassandra sat up on her elbows and watched him toss his pants, which left Kassandra giggling at his galaxy print boxers. “Nice boxers.”

“Hey, they’re comfy.” He climbed back on top, kissing her hard. He jolted a little when she slipped her hand under the waistband and grabbed his c**k, beginning to slowly jerk it. Sebastian grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against him, next kissing and biting her neck. She started to sink deeper into the pool of their s****l euphoria, gasping when she felt his manhood slide into her. Sebastian bit his lip hard, trying to control himself as he slid in deeper into her wet warmth. He grabbed her right thigh and pulled it up, giving in to a big thrust which made her squeak. She already forgot how big he was, easily filling her up with no trouble. She clutched his arms and locked eyes with his. There was a hurricane brewing within them but it didn’t feel so violent the longer she was in them. He suddenly stopped and cursed, remembering then.

“What?” Kassandra pant, aching for some sort of movement.

“Nothing.” He gently shook his head, remembering then that there were condoms where he threw his phone.

“I thought you said you hated liars.” She suddenly gasped when he clapped hard against her, telling she got him when he smirked.

“I just remembered I don’t get Plan B pills in the house, but there’s condoms in the nightstand.”

“Don’t want kids yet?” She moaned when she felt his hardness slide out.

“Not with the chaos I brew.” He played around, digging through the drawer.

Kassandra ran her hand through her hair and stared at the high vault ceilings as a wrapped crinkled. “How considerate of you.” She commented, suddenly feeling his thumb massage her c**t. She nipped her lip and smiled down at him, “Not what I want.”

“And what I don’t want.” He leaned over her, their lips inches from touching. His voice was low and husky, sending shivers through her. “Is ruining someone that I care about’s life with my doing.”

“And if they want kids?” She whispered.

“Not after what I’m going to tell them.” He slid his c**k in, gripping her waist and starting to pound her p***y harder. His frustration was beginning to take over, gripping her waist harder and thrust harder. He barely felt the inside of her now but the satisfaction was there when she started to saying his name louder. For a moment, he felt her grip his c**k which drove him to go harder. I just desire you. Her words traced through his head, feeling the sweat starting to come. He was starting to edge. “If you really desire me, I want you to scream my name.”

“Oh, Sebastian.” She threw her head back and dug her nails into the pillows.

“Louder.” Sebastian growled, suddenly slowing down and viciously rubbed her c**t.

“Sebastian!”

“Louder.” He snapped, pulling out. He grabbed her waist and flipped over around onto her stomach, watching her ass when he slapped it. He got a loud, long moan out of as she arched her back and swayed her hips. He growled low and entangled his fingers into her hair and slowly pulled her up, Kassandra gasp when he unclipped her bra and aggressively threw it across the wall. One hand explored her soft breast till it found her hard n****e, his other hand guiding his c**k back inside in her wet p***y.

“Oh, Sebastian! c*m in inside of me!”

For a second, he wanted to toss the condom over his shoulder and f**k his morals but he bit lip hard, now fighting himself. “Not even there yet, baby girl.” He breathed against her temple, his entangled hand moving to her throat and jerked her body into him. He groaned into her hair as her ass slapped against him.

“f**k me like there’s no tomorrow, Sebastian!” She yelled, standing up on her knees and slapped her hands on the headboard. She pushed her ass harder against him, feeling his size pushed even deeper when enriched both of them with excitement. “f**k, I love your d**k!” She screamed, throwing her head back. Sebastian was taken back by the presence he was suddenly f*****g a porn star—and he loved it. He let go of her throat and pulled her hair before grabbing her hips and went back to pounding her.

He was closer than before, feeling the build-up inside of him. With pure high delight, he watched his c**k constantly f**k her p***y and her ass clapping against him. He leaned his head back, feeling himself edging closer. Thank God Balter didn’t have a sister like himself. “I’m gonna c*m, Kass.”

“c*m inside of me, Sebastian. Fill me up!”

The thought made Sebastian’s c**k twitch, muttering f**k it under his breath. He pulled himself out, listening to Kassandra plead more as he ripped the condom off and tossed it. He thrusted back inside of her, feeling the dam inside of him burst. He shouted it to the ceiling. “Oh, f**k!” His body shuddered as he spilled inside of her, watching her slowly relax. She bowed her head and swayed her hips a little, Sebastian weakly huffing and ever slowly thrusted in her till he felt nothing left to drain from his c**k. Hungover, he closed his eyes and flopped his head back. He didn’t want to pull out, he was enjoying her pulsing p***y repeatedly squeeze him. He thrusted one more time, “Alright…you persuaded me.” He gulped, wiping the sweat from his face and pulled himself out. He stood up and went for his shirt, cleaning his d**k while he watched the c*m ooze out when she laid down. Kassandra was panting in awe, feeling like she was on cloud nine. She buried her face into the pillow and giggled. Her legs, her heaven, they were both quivering with satisfaction. She flinched when Sebastian flopped on the bed, rolling over to see him on his stomach next to her with a big, playful grin. He pushed his damp hair out of his forehead and took her glistening body. “Your girlfriend material.” He murmured, eyeing her breast.

“But too dangerous for me, right?” She nipped her lip, giggling at the fact he had his galaxy boxers back on. He huffed and gently nodded. Her smile twitched and rolled more to face him. “I don’t care if you’re dangerous.”

“You don’t know me yet.” He chuckled, putting an arm over and kissed her passionately. “I hurt people, Kassandra.” 

“I don’t care.” She blinked, trailing her nails along his collar bone. “Your eyes tell me differently. Sure, they’re intimidating but I see something else.” 

Sebastian exhaled, doing his best to ignore the butterflies in his empty chest. This girl. “Come on.” He rose a brow and got off the bed, “We’ll stop by a grocery store, buy a Plan B pill then I’ll drop you off back at your house.” 

Kassandra sat up as he tossed her underwear at the bed, then went to pull his jeans on. “So how long is this deal going to last?” 

“Why?” Sebastian grimaced while he fixed his half-hard self to fit comfortably in his jeans. He was doing his belt when he double glanced at Kassandra, stopping to watch her stand up and slip her underwear on. This angel. She flicked her hair off her shoulder and gripped her hips, “I’m assuming you wanted to extend it?”

“Possibly.” She shrugged, walking over to where her bra was and put it on. He tossed his shirt on a chair and went over to where a duffle bag was. 

“Possibly, she says. ” He pulled a striped pullover hoodie out of it and put it on. He turned back to her getting her pants on, watching in awe when she did a little dance to get her butt into them. “At the moment, it’s going to get bumpy here the next few days.”

“How so? And I persuaded you, remember?”

“About the system, yes. But not what goes on within.” He ruffled up his hair then pushed it back out of his face. “You’re gonna have to persuade me for that next time.” He winked which made her roll her eyes and went for her tank top.

“Why a treehouse?” Kassandra gestured to the cluttered place.

“Because I’m still a child at heart.” He snorted, picking up a flat bill hat off the duffle bag then socks. “But it’s the clubhouse for the boys, also a safe house when the boys are in the dog house with their ladies. Hunter pretty much lives in the other house, he’s one of my main boys.” He nodded, sitting down on the sofa and slipped the socks on.

Kassandra came over with her shirt in her hands. “Main boys?”

Sebastian dropped his socked foot and stood up, stretching his arms over his head that his hoodie rode up a little bit to reveal his V-lines waist. He dropped his hands and huffed, “The System is a pyramid. There’s three on top, each of us do their own things while they have three main followers, helpers, whatever you call them.” He fixed his hat. “I’m one of those three higher-ups, Vincent is another one.” He walked around her, grabbing his shoes.

“So what’s the difference between you two?”

“Vincent likes to do whatever he wants to, because he has enough men that he can do it.” He turned around to her, “I don’t know how but he or someone in his branch persuaded your brother to help transport stolen guns from a military base to him. Although they’re stolen, they’re officially Vincent’s guns. That is how the system sees it, that is the System’s way.”

“Military guns?…For what?” She murmured, making Sebastian stop in front of her.

“He likes to provoke Society panic. It’s his kick.” He gently stated. “Anything he does is never a small event that won’t show up in media.” he brushed passed her.

“And you?” Kassandra stared at the front door, pulling her shirt on.

Sebastian huffed and sat, “Just a strategic loan shark. Don’t give me what you owe, I’m coming for you.”

“…What made you choose this life?”

Sebastian’s stomach knotted up, slipping his shoes on without a word. Even when he felt her eyes on him, stood up and cracked his neck side to side. His voice was low, “Nothing System related. Come on.”

Sebastian jogged down the stairs after Kassandra when they heard four-wheeler guzzling closer, cursing under his breath when he spotted Nate and a couple of others heading down the dirt path. At first, Kassandra didn’t recognize any of them at first till they slid to a stop a couple of feet away. She waved the debris away, grimacing. Sebastian shoved his keys into his pocket and hunched his shoulders as he walked over to them. Nate cut the engine to his first, the other two looking over Kassandra but quickly switched to watch Sebastian come over.

“That’s my hoodie.” Nate pointed out, leaning on the handlebars.

“Yeah, it is. Comfy.” Sebastian plucked at it. “What’s up?”

“Well, Hunter said he didn’t hear screaming anymore next door when he came over. So I can only assume you finished.” He nodded to Kassandra then, “Hi, Kass.”

Kassandra’s cheeks burned, ducking her head down and kicked at the dirt in shame. Sebastian lightly joined when the boys snickered, peaking over his shoulder at her. “Leave her alone. What’s the dip?” He rested on his right foot.

“Anna got a partnership offer she wants to talk to about.” Nate swished the toothpick in his mouth. “You’re not gonna like it but she’s not gonna listen to me.”

“Great.” Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck and squinted at the thin forest edge around them. “Get a hold of Limited, getting a collab started for the summer collection.” He dropped his hand to clap against his leg, pulling his keys out. “I’m gonna drop her off then I’ll be back.”

“Right. Be a gentleman.” Nate pounded fist with him. “Cya later, Kass.”

Kassandra groaned low, turning to look at the Jeep. Sebastian waved to them, calling out to them as they started up the four-wheelers. The two sped off, Nate waving before he raced off after them. Sebastian shaking his head as he came over, unlocking the Jeep. Kassandra watched the debris which was flung up from them slowly simmer before she got in, hearing Sebastian start up the car.

“Nate likes you.” He commented.

“Really? Couldn’t tell.”

“He wouldn’t even be talking to you.” Sebastian snorted, putting it in reverse then into drive. He hastily drove along the dirt road, turning his phone back on. “Nate’s my number one. Has always be there since the beginning.”

“Seems like it.” Kassandra crossed her arms over her purse and stared out the window.

Sebastian kept quiet for a second, thinking back on their conversation. “Everything you said back there, did you mean it?”

“You hate liars, remember?” She pushed her hair behind her ear and glanced at him.

Sebastian smirked at her then the road, spotting the gate then the main road. “Well, everything I said I meant it. Even the girlfriend material part.” He slowed to a stop and pressed the button above the rearview mirror, the gate opening. He smirked at her then, currently searching him for an ounce of a teasement but saw none. “What I’m saying is…if you think…you’re brave enough to learn to about me…would you…like to be my girlfriend?” He blinked.

The corner of her lips twitched in a smile, trying to control a thousand butterflies in her stomach. “I would love to.” She smiled.

“Good, so I can openly do this then.” He leaned over, grabbing the back of her neck and kissed her long. Kassandra inhaled longer and melted back into her seat, hearing her phone go off. She let her purse fall out of her lap and cup his face in her hand once he pressed harder. She hiccuped when his tongue licked her lips, letting it in. She moaned, leaning her head back to breathe, leaving to him to shower her neck with kisses. Her phone went off again, Sebastian chuckling. “I’m guessing it’s important if they’re calling again.”

“Right.” she exhaled smoothly, smiling just inches from him. She giggled and kissed him, gathering her purse and saw it was two missed calls from her mother. She grew alert when she called again, answering it this time. “Hey, Sorry. What’s the rush?”

“We’re heading to the hospital, Reagan found Balter in alley beat up behind that bar he always goes to.”

“What?!” Kassandra barked, Sebastian about to go but snapped over to her now alert himself. “Is he okay?”

“Reagan said he wasn’t conscious when he got into the ambulance.”

“A-alright, I’m on my way.” She hung up, noticing her hand was shaking.

“What’s wrong?”

“Balter.” she frowned, “Reagan found him beat up in the alley behind a bar he goes to.”

Vincent. “f**k!” Sebastian punched the steering wheel, noticing Kassandra flinch. He quickly apologized and tossed his hat in the back seat, running his hand through his hair. “This f*****g day.” He growled, veering right and hit the gas once they hit the pavement.

“W-w-what aren’t you telling me?” She turned more to him.

“Vincent and I’s deal.” He swallowed, oddly nervous. “I told him I would get his guns back and in return, he changes his statement about Balter and get him out of jail. Till then, he could not harm Balter. TILL. f*****g. THEN!” He punched the wheel. Kassandra flinched each time deeper into her seat, watching him in horror. He heavily exhaled and ran his hand through his hair, “I’m defiantly throwing a drink in his f*****g face at the wedding, f*****g compulsive lying, motherfucker!” He glared at the road, picking up his phone. He quickly dialed and put it up to his ear. “Hey, I’m gonna need a quick favor. Meet me at Olive’s with my stuff in an hour, I got somethings to do before I can head back….no, I don’t need any backup…I’m sure…Alright, thanks.” He hung up and dropped his phone into the cup holder, double-taking at Kassandra sitting stiff as a board scared. He bit his tongue harder and glared at the road, pissed at himself. “Sorry…Is Balter least okay?”

Kassandra hesitated, “He’s unconscious.”

“Anything weird. Any insignias, weird cuts, messages?”

“My mom didn’t say anything.” She frowned at his white knuckles. Was this what Balter mean by Sebastian being dangerous? “What does Vincent do?”

He glared at the road, “Gets crazy…but gets his message across.”