Chapter 29
Sebastian
We’re enjoying an early-morning breakfast before Lily and I travel to the airport and back to London.
We stayed out late last night, celebrating Luke and his title, but I didn’t drink much alcohol, which I’m grateful for now.
Can’t say the same for my best friend, who’s sporting a real bad hangover.
I’m surprised he even made it to breakfast with us, but Jessica insisted they spent some time with us before we left—and what Jessica says goes.
Luke is down bad for his girl, but I can’t really say too much about it, considering my own feelings and inability to say no to Lily.
“God, I’m never drinking again. This hangover might kill me,” Luke groans into his hands.
We all chuckle around the table, Jessica laying a comforting hand on his back.
“Yeah, they didn’t hold back on you,” she says, referencing all the drinks that were treated his way yesterday.
It was practically a line of people in his team wanting to treat the newly crowned champion, myself included.
“Stop being a baby,” Lily says, happy to tease her brother about his misery.
Our food arrives, and even though the meal is nice, I’m looking forward to going back to the city and having our breakfast routine back.
Lily cooks a stellar breakfast, and it’s even better now that I get to wake up with her by my side before we start our day.
“On a serious note, Luke, we’re all very proud of you,” Lily says a while later when we’ve talked about the way that led Luke to his victory.
He’s had tough competition and challenges thrown his way, but he pushed through.
“Thanks, sis. I’m glad you made the trip—both of you,” he says, looking over to me as well.
Even though our trip was short, it was well worth it. I’m happy that we were able to be here for such a monumental moment in his career.
～
“Feeling alright?” I ask Lily, who sits in the seat next to me.
We’ve been flying for about an hour, and we’ll land in the middle of the night. Then I’ll have practice, which will be tough, but I’ll manage.
“Yeah. I’m excited to go back to London,” she says, and I see my opening.
I’ve been wanting to talk to her about her project coming to an end and how we’ll move forward.
“You have two weeks left?” I ask, feeling stupid for even asking.
I know how many days she has; I’m dreading the countdown of our time together.
“Yes, then I’ll go back, and then the trip to the Caribbean, if we make it there.”
This is news to me.
Trip to the Caribbean?
“You going away?” I ask, trying to keep my tone as nonchalant as possible.
I guess a small part of me was hoping she might stay a little longer, given the changes in our relationship, but again, I don’t want to stand in the way of what she loves.
“Yeah, the girls from college and I have been planning a trip, but Mira and Kait are still struggling, so we’ll likely have to wing it.”
This really shouldn’t be surprising.
I know Lily loves to travel.
No wonder she’d like to travel after spending weeks in gloomy London.
That doesn’t stop the feeling of dread that settles in my stomach: the realization that I might not see her for several weeks—hell, maybe months.
“That sounds fantastic,” I say, even though the words feel like sandpaper rubbing against my throat.
“Yeah, I guess,” she says, looking lost in thought as she looks away from me and out of the window.
The silence stretches between us before Lily mutters something about getting some sleep.
As she wanders off to the bedroom in the back of the jet, I’m lost in thought.
It will be fine.
She’ll be gone for a few weeks and will hopefully come visit me after.
This is the part of my job that is hard. Taking trips, especially across the pond, isn’t the easiest.
My schedule simply doesn’t allow for much travel during the season.
That leaves the people in my life as the ones who visit me most of the time.
Will Lily be okay with that?
I guess I won’t know if I don’t ask her.
I was planning to do so, but then the trip to the Caribbean was mentioned, and I realised she may be eager to get back to her life in the States: her friends, school, and family.
Nevertheless, I plan on enjoying the rest of our time together, and we’ll handle the rest when the time comes.
～
I’m counting down the minutes until practice ends, and I’ll get to go back to my apartment.
The tiredness is kicking my ass, making each metre heavier than the last as I run.
Playing midfield has never felt this tough.
“Good trip to Vegas?” Dean snickers beside me, enjoying my obvious misery.
“Yeah, the lack of sleep is killing me.”
Usually, I would host game night tonight, but I told the guys I wasn’t up for it after my trip.
They’ll come over someday later this week instead when I’m all rested and back in shape.
I do look forward to having Lily for myself for the evening.
The last few days have been a lot of socializing, and although it’s been a good time, I’m eager to be just the two of us for the night.
Practice finally ends, and I grab a quick shower before heading home.
When I get to my apartment, I’m confused when I don’t find Lily there.
She slept over when we got back, and I expected to find her here.
I don’t see any messages from her, so I decide to just head down and see if she’s in her own apartment.
I should probably terminate the lease so she’ll have to stay with me for these last twelve days.
Yes, I’m counting.
I take the elevator down to her floor and don’t bother knocking. As usual, her door is unlocked, and I walk right in.
Lily is seated on a barstool, working on her assignment.
When she spots me, she looks up, but quickly goes back to the notes in front of her.
“Hey, babe. Are you busy? Why are you down here?” I ask her, confused about why she’d work down here instead of my flat.
She writes down something, her eyes still cast downward, and I feel my frustrations growing.
Why won’t she look at me?
Have I done something wrong?
“I just thought you’d appreciate some space. I’ve been at your apartment, your jet, and the hotel room in Vegas.”
I sense the vulnerability in her voice, wondering why she’d get that impression.
“Do you want space from me?” I ask, moving closer to her.
She finally looks up and lets out a breath.
“No, I don’t, and that’s scaring me,” she says, her voice barely a whisper at the end.
I stand in front of her before I lean down and press my lips against hers.
Pouring all my longing, wants, and love for this woman into it.
“I don’t want any space either, Lily. I was disappointed when I didn’t find you in the apartment when I got back, so please, just come home with me?” I plead with her.
This may be a simple request to take the elevator back up together for the evening, but to me, it means so much more—even if I’m not able to tell her that just yet.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” she says, pressing her lips against mine again.
I bring my arms around her, dragging her up against my body.
I set her down on the counter before I start kissing down her neck and chest, hungry to have her as close as possible.
“Eager, Bennet?” she teases, her own hands exploring my body as I sink down in front of her.
“Fucking starved, babe,” I tell her, pulling her pants down her legs.
I lick the inside of her leg, and Lily grabs a hold of my hair as she leans her head back, a moan escaping her.
“Be a good girl and spread those legs.”
She obeys, and I take a moment to drink her in.
She’s only wearing a tight top and a deep green thong, but it’s her face that really draws me in.
The smile she gives me, the confidence shining off of her—it’s all fucking perfect.
I hold eye contact as I lower down to her heat, a simple swipe of my tongue on the outside of her thong.
“Sebastian.”
My name is a plea on her lips.
I run my fingers up the inside of her legs, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin beneath my own.
“What, babe?”
“Please do something.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice.
I pull at her thong, dragging it off her, before I lay my hands on top of her thighs and press my tongue against her heat.
She buckles under me, lying herself back on the counter, her hand still in my hair, gripping and pulling as I continue fucking her with my tongue.
I add a finger, driving her towards the edge.
When she comes, she moans my name as I ride out her orgasm, feeling drunk on her taste.
When her breathing calms, I stand up and lean down over her before I give her a kiss.
“Fucking perfect,” I tell her.
Some may not be too keen on kissing when your partner’s just gone down on you, but Lily doesn’t mind.
As our kissing turns heated, her hand travels between us, inside my pants, where she grabs a hold of my cock.
I’m hard and ready, and Lily seems to enjoy the weight of me in her hands as she starts jerking me off.
“You feel so good,” she says.
I pull down my pants, both of us looking at her hand working my cock so good.
I groan out loud, and when I feel the pressure start building, I grab her hand.
“Take off your top, Lily. I want you completely naked,” I tell her, kicking off my pants before grabbing my shirt and pulling it off.
She does the same before I grab her legs and pull her to the edge of the counter.
“Are you ready, baby?”
“Always.”
I push inside her in a hard thrust, both of us moaning in pleasure.
We fit together so perfectly.
“Fuck, Sebastian.”
Her desperation matches my own as we climb each other’s bodies, trying to get as close as possible.
Tongues twisting in open-mouthed kisses.
Hands roaming across all the skin we can reach.
“Fucking mine,” I tell her, looking into her eyes, desperate for her to meet me halfway.
She does—every time.
“Yours,” she confirms.
I play with her clit, sending her over the edge with me following closely after.
When we’ve caught our breath, I kiss her deeply, humming as I press my chest against her.
I can tell Lily has something on her mind, the uncertainty evident in her eyes as she gazes up at me.
“What is it?” I ask her, running a hand down her cheek.
“Did you mean it? That I’m yours? Or was it the heat of the moment? It’s okay if it was, I just want to know.”
Lily never stops surprising me.
In my mind, she’s been mine from the moment I told my fucking teammates to lay off her.
“Christ, I’m lying on top of you with my cock still inside you. Of course you’re mine, Lily.”
Her smile is breathtaking, the relief evident in her face.
“Come on—let’s take a shower, and I’ll show you once more just how mine you are.”
“I’d love that.”
～
We’ve just finished dinner together with Harriet when Lily gets a call and excuses herself quickly.
I know she hasn’t been able to catch up with her girls since we got back a couple of days ago.
As Lily leaves the room, I start helping Harriet clean up the kitchen.
“I’m sad that she’s leaving soon. It’s been nice having a woman around here as well. No offence,” Harriet says.
Just like me, she’s dreading the take-off back to America, which is approaching faster than I’d like.
“Yeah, none taken. I’ll miss her as well,” I tell her, looking down at my hands as I rinse off our plates.
Long-distance relationship.
Something I’ve never done.
I’ve never really done any type of relationship.
But with Lily, I’ll take whatever I can get.
She’s mine, and I’m hers; and for now, that’s everything that matters.
“Do you think she would stay? If you asked?”
Harriet’s not the first to think of this. I’ve thought about it several times, considering asking her to just stay, or come back to me as soon as she can.
It’s been on the tip of my tongue, but then I remember her trip, and how she lights up whenever she mentions something new she’d like to try or a place to visit.
I don’t want to be the reason she lost her spark, all because she was back in my condo, waiting for me to get back from practice to have dinner and movie nights.
That’s my perfect dream.
But not hers.
“I don’t know. Maybe, but she loves travelling, exploring new places, and socialising. I’m worried she’d be bored with this life.”
We haven’t been together for that long, so it feels like too much to even ask her to consider moving here with me—a whole different continent away from her family and friends.
“You don’t know if you don’t ask, Sebastian James.”
My name never feels as long and serious as when Harriet says it with that tone.
“Yeah, I’ll try,” I say, giving her a wink, which makes her shake her head at me and mutter “men” under her breath.