15. CHAPTER 15
SEBASTIAN
I couldn’t quite grasp how long I had been stuck making small talk with these people, laughing politely at the correct time and adding invaluable information to their conversations.
They reminded me of my granddad, who used to bring me along to show me the business world that our family had built. Yet now, these events were tedious. They sucked the life out of me.
I hadn’t had a chance to check on Aria since I got stuck here. I knew she hated these things, but she could always handle herself. I scanned the room, and my eyes locked on her at the bar. She was laughing and talking to someone.
Nicholas Rossi.
My jaw clenched. I knew there was a possibility of him being here with the type of businesses he operated.
His eyes drifted to me, meeting my intense glare, a smug smile on his face.
He looked back at Aria and lightly touched her arm.
That was it—my breaking point . No one should be touching her but me.
As I reached the bar, I protectively placed my hand on Aria’s lower back, my eyes fixed on Nicholas. What was he playing at? He stood there, casually sipping his drink, but there was nothing casual about him; those eyes told me he was up to something.
Something sinister.
I broke my glare and looked down at Aria.
“I think it’s time we go.” I tried to keep my tone calm; I didn’t want her to pick up on the tension.
“What’s the rush, Knight? We were just getting to know each other,” Nicholas said.
I could feel the blood leave the fist I’d been clenching tightly by my side. My body tightened, causing me to add pressure to Aria’s back. She shifted in response, taking a small step towards me.
“It’s been a while since we shared a drink, Sebastian,” he said, tilting his glass to me.
I took a deep breath. I needed to hold it together. He wanted me to react in front of Aria. He wanted to tempt the old Sebastian out. The one he knew. The one who wouldn’t take shit from anybody. But I needed to keep it together in this place.
I felt the blood rush back to my hand as I released it from its clench. I eased the tightness in my body, smiling back at him.
“Not long enough.”
I knew I shouldn’t have said it, but I wasn’t going to let Nicholas’s smug face see me back down.
He slammed his glass down on the bar, taking a step closer to me.
I stood in front of Aria, shielding her.
“You don’t want to do this here, Nicholas.” I dusted his shoulder off, then tightly squeezed it.
“What’s the matter, Sebastian? Keeping secrets?” he taunted.
“Don’t push me, Nicholas,” I warned him.
His smirk turned into a small, vindictive laugh as he took a step back. He picked his glass back up, taking a sip as he leaned back against the bar again. That was the thing about Nicholas; he could switch at any time.
“It was lovely to meet you, Aria. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
I took hold of her hand; it was trembling. There was no way he would be seeing her again if I had anything to do with it.
“I’ll be seeing you, Knight,” he warned, his eyes fixed on me.
I nodded at him, acknowledging the warning, and squeezed Aria’s hand, turning for us to leave.
The lights of the city flickered in and out of the car as I sped through the streets, overtaking anyone who wasn’t going at the speed I needed in that moment.
Nicholas Rossi.
That name just added more fuel to the fire, to the burning frustration I had inside of me. He had always been reckless. What was he playing at tonight?
My thoughts drifted to Aria as I stole a glance at her. She was watching the city speed past the window. I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to breathe. I swerved into the nearest lay-by, ignoring the horns blaring as I did so.
I turned the engine off, bashing my hand against the steering wheel, causing Aria to jump. It forced her to face me, but I didn’t say a word. Instead, I stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind me.
I stepped out onto Westminster Bridge, striding to the edge of it. I stopped, gripping the cool rails tightly in my hands. “Fuck.”
I must have said it a little too loud, as I got an odd look from the person walking past. I stared out across the Thames, the parliament lights shimmering on the water.
I ran my hand through my hair, slightly pulling at it, before rubbing my face.
What was wrong with me? Why had I let Nicholas affect me so much?
I didn’t know how long I’d been standing there before I turned my head to see Aria cautiously walking towards me.
I could feel her warmth from a distance, and my body eased.
She stood next to me, her arm brushing against mine, my skin tingling from her touch.
The water rippled from the warm June breeze.
We stood there for a few minutes, just looking out, before she broke the silence.
“What was that back there?” she asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about, Nyx,” I said quietly.
She frowned at me.
Maybe I should tell her. Get it all out in the open and pray she’d accept the man I am.
Maybe then she’d understand why I left her years ago.
Instead, she let it go.
“I never knew how beautiful the view was from here,” she said.
I looked down at her. She was far more beautiful than that.
The way her hair fell softly around her face …
she was truly breathtaking. I brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her cheek.
My pulse started to race, a tight tension pulling at my lower stomach. I swallowed hard.
All I could see was her.
All I wanted was her.
Fuck it.
My hand found her waist, her heart beating fast against mine.
Our eyes met, neither of us able to look away.
Her breath was warm, inviting, and my eyes soon dropped to those lips before I met them with mine.
I didn’t need air; she was all the oxygen I could ever want.
How I’d longed to kiss her again, to feel that undeniable connection between us.
Her hands slid up my jacket, resting on my chest, and I soon found myself wanting more.
The kiss got deeper, my thumbs grazing her cheeks as my hands rested on her neck.
It was like dynamite had just exploded in my core, filling my veins, wrapping its fire around my soul.
Her tongue brushed against mine, teasing, as mine got desperate, needy.
That spark had just set off a chain reaction.
I needed to stop.
But those lips …
I pulled myself away, our foreheads touching. “I shouldn’t be doing this,” I whispered, trying to catch my breath. “I’m no good for you.”
“Sebastian, I want you. I always have,” she whispered back breathlessly.
My heart skipped a beat. She had no idea how long I’d waited for her to say that. But I shouldn’t go there. Not again.
“No. You’re my PA. My stepsister once. We can’t.”
I pulled myself away from her, turning my back as I walked a few steps up the bridge. I had to put some space between us, because if I didn’t, I would take all of her, and she deserved someone better.
Someone who wouldn’t lie to her.
“Let’s get you home.”