ChapterTwenty-Seven
Rosalia
Sebastian helps me stand from the couch on the balcony.
I wrap my hands around his neck, pulling him to me for more of his kisses.
In breathless disorientation, I find myself being swept inside the suite.
My rational mind whispers we should slow down, but my body has stopped listening to reason.
His lips never leave mine until the back of my legs hit something soft.
He lowers me onto the plush cushions of a couch and settles his weight on top of me.
We stare at each other, our chests heaving, his eyes dark and wordless with anticipation.
His usual composed demeanor has vanished, replaced by something primal and urgent.
Then his mouth crashes down on mine once more, and I surrender to the flames.
His hand slides up my thigh, his touch leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. I shift, and his touch skims the lace edge of my panties, teasing, testing, drawing a sharp gasp from my lips. He pauses, his gaze locking with mine, silently seeking permission.
“Please,” I beg, my hips lifting, seeking more of his touch.
With a low groan, he hooks the delicate fabric and slowly, torturously, drags my panties down my legs.
His hands tremble slightly, betraying his thinning control.
Cool air dances over my overheated skin, making me shiver.
But his warm kisses quickly replace the chill as he traces them up my inner thigh.
Each press of his lips is a brand, a promise, igniting the fire that burns deep in my core. I squirm beneath him, my hands tangling in his hair, torn between the urge to pull him closer and the need to savor every second of this sweet torture.
When he finally reaches the apex of my thighs, I’m trembling with anticipation. He pauses, his breath teasing my sensitive skin, before dragging his tongue along my heated flesh in one long, slow lick.
“Oh,” I gasp, my head falling against the cushions as pleasure sparks through me like electricity.
Sebastian hums against me, the vibration resonating through my core. Then, he sets to work in earnest. Oh. My. Wow. He moves between slow, languid strokes and focused attention, responding to my every sound and movement, pushing me toward the edge.
Pressure builds inside me, and my hips rock against his mouth, seeking more friction, more stimulation. He slides a finger inside me, then another, curling them just so, hitting a spot that makes stars explode behind my eyelids.
“Don’t stop,” I plead, beyond caring how I sound. “Sebastian, please don’t stop. ”
My gasps come in sharp, staccato bursts. My heart pounds a frantic rhythm against my ribcage. His free hand is splayed across my lower belly, holding me in place as he redoubles his efforts, driving me relentlessly toward the edge.
I shout his name as a tidal wave of pleasure crashes over me, pulling me under, stealing the air from my lungs and the strength from my limbs.
He guides me through it, his touch becoming tender but never stopping until the last wave of bliss has faded.
I lay boneless and spent, my pulse hammering so loud that the sound seems to echo in the large room.
He crawls up my body, his eyes wild with need, pressing his hardness against me. “I want you,” he growls. “I want you so much I can’t think straight.”
I reach for his belt, my fingers fumbling with the buckle in my eagerness, when a knock at the door freezes us both mid-motion. “Who?” I ask.
His fully dilated eyes meet mine. “I think our drinks have arrived. I’d suggest we pretend we aren’t here…but given how loud you were moments ago, I don’t think she’ll buy it.” He grins, and it holds satisfaction and simmering desire.
Heat explodes from my neck to my ears. “Was I really that loud?”
“And it’s incredibly sexy.” He places a light kiss on my knee. “Which means you’ll have to answer the door.”
“Why?” The crash from my orgasm must have left my mind foggy, because I have no idea what he's talking about.
He stands, and the answer becomes very apparent. The outline of his erection makes me want to reach for him, but nervousness skids along the edge of satiated passion. And not only because of his size. Would it be wise to keep going—to go all the way?
My body screams yes, but sleeping with him while my deal with Thorne still hovers between us is reckless. And unfair to Sebastian.
He sits next to me, kissing my neck. I straighten. “I—I’ll answer it.” I nearly sprint from him in my indecision, opening the door.
Jenny steps inside, asking where to set the drinks. I tell her the kitchen table is fine, hoping my panties aren’t lying somewhere out in the open. After artfully arranging the glasses and napkins, Jenny returns to the living room .
“Thank you, Jenny. That’s all we’ll need from you tonight,” Sebastian says from the couch. He pulls a wallet from his pocket and removes some money. Looking at me with a mix of apology and embarrassment, he asks, “Could you give her the tip?”
I look at the throw pillow placed strategically on his lap and pull my lips between my teeth to keep from giggling. He mouths, “Not funny.”
“It is a little,” I whisper back, taking the folded cash in his hand. Glancing down, I cough. There must be at least ten one-hundred-dollar bills.
I walk to Jenny, the cash heavy in my hand.
She probably feels the same way about money, counting every dollar like I do.
We have that in common, and probably many more things.
More than I have with the man who handed over this fortune without blinking—the same man I was just kissing, who I’m supposed to be keeping at arm’s length because of a deal I made to keep my tiny bookstore open.
A deal I had to make out of desperation because my reality isn’t thousand-dollar tips.
It’s shoestring budgets, overdue notices, and a dream I might have to let die because I’m beginning to care too much for this man.
I swallow, and my throat clicks, suddenly dry. I need to think this through. But if we’re alone again and he kisses me and touches me, reasonable thought will be impossible.
Jenny thanks him and wishes us a pleasant evening. I stare at the closing door, peeling back my cravings and concerns in quick succession. I so want to stay and discover if Sebastian is as loud as me when he comes. But I should figure out my mess with Thorne first.
The clinking of ice cubes pulls my attention from my conflicting desires to Sebastian. He has walked to the table and downed his drink in one large swallow. Returning the glass to the table, he faces me. “With the fireworks crowd, I think it’d be faster for me to walk than drive you home,” he says.
Is he kicking me out? My chest feels like it’s caving in on itself. I know I’d been talking myself into not staying, but my disappointment is heavy.
“You want me to leave?” I ask, rooted to the spot near the living room entrance .
“Want? No.” His voice is rough as sandpaper. “What I want is to carry you into that bedroom and not come out until morning. But what I need to do—” He takes a measured step toward me. “I see your hesitation. The last thing I want to be is your morning regret.”
“But what about you? I, um…”
He grins crookedly. “Came.”
My cheeks flush with warmth. “Um, yes.” Doesn’t he expect reciprocation?
As if hearing my unspoken question, he says, “You don’t owe me a damn thing, Rosalia.” Heat returns to his eyes. “And believe me, just touching and tasting you was more than a fair trade.”
The intensity in his gaze scorches through me, his words unraveling what little resolve I’ve gathered. My agreement with his brother suddenly feels distant, overshadowed by the man standing before me, all broad shoulders and intent eyes that promise all my desires.
My chest rises and falls with quickened breath. The room shrinks around us, the space between our bodies charged with unspoken possibility. Tomorrow looms with complications and betrayals, but tonight pulses with a different kind of promise. My hands reach for him without my permission. “I should…”
“Get home.” It sounds like it hurt him to say this. His fingertips brush mine, and he sucks in a sharp breath at even this minimal contact. “If we don’t leave right now, I’m not sure I’ll have the strength to do the right thing. See if you feel the same in the morning.”
I nod. “You don’t need to walk me home.”
“We’ve already been over this. Yes, I do. I’ll get my jacket, and we’ll leave.”
He disappears into the bedroom to retrieve his jacket, and with his touch and kisses still searing my skin, I’m tempted to follow him. But the rational voice in my head warns me to slow down, to untangle myself from Thorne’s web before diving headfirst into something with Sebastian.
He emerges a moment later, slipping on his jacket. “Ready?” he asks.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. He holds the door open for me and I step into the hallway.
Standing beside him, waiting for the elevator, gravity shifts, my body fighting its pull to him.
Each passing second stretches longer than the last. His presence radiates a warmth that calls to something deep within me.
My fingertips tingle with the urge to close the small distance between us.
The soft ping of the arriving elevator interrupts my thoughts but doesn’t diminish their intensity. Does he feel this invisible current drawing us toward an inevitable collision, or is it only me?
Sebastian places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me inside. The brief contact sends a jolt of desire through me. I catch his gaze in the mirrored walls. His eyes are dark and intense.
“Rosalia,” he murmurs, my name a caress on his lips.
“Yes?” I ask. If he’s changed his mind and invites me back to his room, I’ll go, and I’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
He steps closer, his body nearly touching mine.
His hand lifts to my face, thumb brushing my lower lip.
For a breathless moment, I think he’s going to kiss me.
Instead, he closes his eyes and takes a deliberate step back.
He opens his mouth, but then shakes his head slightly. “Never mind. Let’s get you home.”
The elevator reaches the lobby, and I step out into the bustling space. Guests mill about, chatting and laughing, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the chandeliers. The world around me is dreamlike, hazy, and distant.
Sebastian’s fingers lace through mine. The simple gesture fills me with a sense of comfort and belonging. Together, we navigate through the crowded lobby until we’re out in the crisp night air.
We begin the short walk to my apartment and my mind races with the implications of the evening. I can’t keep straddling the line between my arrangement with Thorne and my growing feelings for Sebastian. Something has to give.
But for now, I push those thoughts aside and focus on the man beside me. His large hand fits perfectly in mine, and his presence makes me feel safe and cherished. With a contented sigh, I lean into his side, relishing his solid warmth.
We reach my apartment building all too soon. He walks me to the top of my alley stairs, and I turn to face him, my heart in my throat. “Thank you for today,” I say softly .
Sebastian tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek. “It was my pleasure. And my torture,” he adds with a rueful smile that doesn’t quite hide the heat still simmering in his eyes. “I’ll dream about you tonight and pick you up in the afternoon for our hike.”
Come inside , I almost whisper, but keep the words on my tongue. Instead, I melt into his touch, savoring the warmth of him.
He moves back too soon. “Goodnight, Rosalia.”
“Goodnight, Sebastian.” I unlock and open my door, sensing his gaze on my back like a physical caress. It takes every ounce of my willpower not to run to him and lose myself in his arms once more.
The door closes, and I lean against it, shutting my eyes. The memory of his touch, his taste, and his scent is still so vivid and visceral that it’s branded on me. Yet, I know he made the right decision.
I slide the chain into the top lock before stepping into my living room, pacing along the couch. Putting on the brakes was smart. It might be wise to put space between us, to give myself time to clear my head and get my emotions under control.
My phone lies heavy in my purse. I should cancel our plans for tomorrow. I could tell him something came up at the shop.
Sinking onto the couch, I place my head in my hands. Even the thought of canceling makes my chest ache.
In the end, I climb into bed, hugging my pillow, trying to quiet my nerves that hum with uncertainty. Tomorrow, I’ll decide: take a step back and cancel the hike, or take a leap of faith and embrace our connection, trusting that together, we’ll overcome any obstacle.