Chapter 20
Lily
Putting a countdown on when we’ll take the final step is like slow torture.
Every glance, touch, and moment together feels elevated. It doesn’t help that Sebastian seems to be dealing with these frustrations much better than I am.
I’ll give him a look of agony, and he’ll just chuckle.
Having a crush on him when I didn’t know if he had mutual feelings for me? Hard.
Having a crush on him and knowing he feels the same? Unbearable.
During the day, things are fine.
He comes down for our breakfast, and there will be some light touching, flirting—the usual.
Then we’ll go to the stadium, and I won’t see him for most of the day, which is good.
Being apart makes it easier not to want to kiss him senseless.
I still want that when we’re apart as well, but the urge isn’t as strong as when he’s near.
Which brings me to the biggest challenge.
After our dinners with Harriet in the evenings, I’m struggling.
Like I am right now.
We’re watching a movie—I have no idea which one. It could probably be a horror movie, and I wouldn’t even notice.
My brain is high wired on all things Sebastian.
I feel like I’m going insane.
He’s stroking my arm lightly, the most innocent touch, but it’s making me feel feverish.
A very different fever from the one I was experiencing earlier this week.
I groan out loud, which makes Sebastian laugh.
That leaves me even more frustrated.
“Why is this so easy for you?” I sit up and look at him, all calm and collected, legs spread out on the couch.
“You think this is easy for me?” he asks, as controlled as ever.
“Well, yeah. You don’t seem to struggle, and I’m about ready to fucking pounce on you,” I say, not bothering to sugarcoat it.
When Sebastian moves closer to me on the couch and takes hold of my hand before whispering in my ear, I feel the goosebumps rise.
“You want to feel just how fucking hard this is for me?”
I barely get out a whispered yes before he moves both of our hands down his body. When he guides my hand to his crotch, I feel his hard length underneath my fingers.
I’m tempted to squeeze it, but Sebastian removes my hand just as I’m ready to play.
That quick feel of him is enough to make me feral for him.
These last few days really need to speed up.
“I’m in a constant state of want around you, Lily. But I’ve had some training in self-control over the years.”
Years.
He’s felt like this for years.
Just like I have.
“Years, huh?” I whisper back, giving him a small kiss behind his ear.
We’re treading the line here, but I’m desperate.
“Yes, years, Lily. Therefore, I’ll make it through these last few days, then we’ll both get what we want.”
Having him speak like that sends another wave of desire through my body.
He seems so confident, so sure, and it makes me wonder how he’ll be in other ways as well.
He finally got the clearance that he could travel to Las Vegas with me, which means we’re just a few days from telling Luke about us.
I can’t fucking wait for that.
“So now be a good girl and lean back on this couch, while we watch this documentary, and I’ll stroke your arm like we’re just a couple of friends.”
“Just a couple of friends,” I grumble, making both of us laugh.
“At least for the next five days.”
～
For the first time since we started our movie nights, we actually fell asleep. Sometimes I’ve fallen asleep only to wake later before heading back to my apartment.
Now, though, we both must have fallen asleep and cuddled together on the couch throughout the night.
I wake up in Sebastian’s arms and snuggle closer to his body.
He’s warm and wrapped all around me like a perfect blanket.
When the door opens, I expect it to be Harriet, so I don’t move out of his arms.
She knows more than enough and probably won’t be surprised to find us cuddled up together.
What I don’t expect is Sebastian’s whole family to enter the apartment.
His brother, mother, and father are all standing in the entrance, taking in the sight of their son and brother cuddling me.
“Well, well, well. Isn’t this lovely?” Joseph, his older brother, exclaims.
I quickly try to pull out of his arms, but Sebastian is still half-asleep and tightens his hold on me.
“Sebastian, wake up!” I whisper-shout.
Oh my God.
At least I know them from growing up close to their house and from seeing Luke and Sebastian running around. Joseph is three years older than Sebastian, and five years older than me, so he was too cool to hang out with us.
Still, whether we’re acquainted or not, this situation isn’t ideal.
I finally manage to get out of Sebastian’s hold and stand up.
At least we are fully clothed. Imagine if we had actually crossed that line and they found us naked.
Now, that would not be good.
“Lily! Such a pleasure to see you again.”
His mother comes over and hugs me.
Finally, Sebastian wakes up.
Who knew he was such a heavy sleeper?
“Mom? Dad? Joseph? What’s going on?” He rubs his eyes before standing up from the couch and greeting his family.
“We wanted to surprise you! But it seems like you surprised us,” his mother says, the joy radiating off of her as she looks at me again.
God.
Why did we have to fall asleep this time?
His family seems to be getting all sorts of ideas about catching us snuggled together.
I don’t know what to do or say, but Sebastian doesn’t seem to be bothered by his family.
“Yeah, you all know Lily. She’s doing her sports psychology project on me. We fell asleep watching a movie.”
He makes it sound so domestic and friendly, which I’m grateful for.
It’s also the truth.
His family doesn’t seem to buy the story, though.
All wearing the biggest smiles I’ve seen.
“I should get going,” I say, but they all protest right away.
Even Sebastian seems confused as to why I would want to leave this situation.
I’ll definitely talk to him about this later, and how he would react if it were my family walking through that door.
He would probably have a panic attack right about now.
I don’t have the will to argue with the four of them, though.
Breakfast with the Bennets it is.