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“I should get home,” I tell him, so we can end whatever this moment has been. “I’m sorry I came and…. decided to be crazy and vent to you.”
“I’m not.” He answers me the same way he did with paying for lunch. No nonsense, no bullshit. And the same response flows through my body. For years, in school and up till the day my uncle died, I wanted him to be like this with me. To just talk to me.
“Be careful what you say at the shop though,” he tells me and then adds, “people listen.” The tone in which he says it brings an uneasy feeling over me and with a tightness in my throat, I start to tell him I’m sorry, but he cuts me off.
“Just so you know for next time.” The softness to him, it does something to me I can’t explain.Next time.As if I could have this moment again with him.
“You’re different,” I marvel at the revelation out loud.
“I’m not the one who’s different.”
“What do you mean?” I search his eyes for answers, wanting to know how he meant me to take that statement.Needingto know.
“Does it matter?”
“I don’t know what matters anymore.”
“What do you know, Chloe Rose?”
The way he asks it, or maybe it’s just my own thoughts, but it feels like the way he asks it is so much dirtier than what he actually asked.
“I know I should go to work or go home.” Neither of those options sounds appealing, but both are true.
“It’ll already be two by the time you get to work,” he says and shakes his head, “don’t bother.”
“Home it is then,” I say, easily conceding, and reaching for my purse as I scoot out of the booth to stand. “Thank you for lunch,” I tell him and then add, “I can walk since it’s--”
“Let me take you home.” He doesn’t look me in the eyes when he gives the command, he doesn’t even look at me. It’s clearly non-negotiable, so I don’t bother objecting.
The drive back to my place is even worse than the drive to the diner. Thankfully, it only takes about four minutes. And two of those were spent at a red light.
“I really could have walked,” I tell him as I slip out of his car. He opened his door first, intent on getting out rather than just dropping me off, so I walk a little quicker, eager to get to my front door first and cut him off there. I just want to be alone for a while. I want to hide away if I can. I need to process everything, but Sebastian has a way of bringing me out of my hiding place and showing me more of this world that makes me want to risk living.
“Should I come in and look around?” he asks as his car keys dangle from his hand. He stands in front of me expectantly, but I can’t give him that.
“I'd prefer it if you didn't.” The moment I unlock the door and turn around, I block the doorway and put a hand on the doorknob. It’s only open wide enough for me to stand in the gap comfortably. “I think I need to decompress; today’s been a lot to handle.”
He cocks a brow at me in that way I like. “You wouldn’t lock me out, would you?”
The way he asks makes me smirk, which slowly shifts into a genuine smile as I consider him. He’s so tall, so much taller than how he is in my thoughts. And his shoulders, so wide. He could protect me from anything. That pull to him is so strong it’s scary. But Sebastian himself doesn’t scare me, not in the least. He never has. It’s the power he has over me that’s terrifying. “I would… but if you asked to come in, I’d let you.”
My answer puts a smile on his face that matches mine. “See? I told you, you’re different.”
I huff a laugh, shaking my head. I’m not so sure that I’m different. It’s more like I’m letting him see more of me. That’s not the same thing.
He leans in close as I fail to summon a response, so close that I know exactly what he would want if I didn’t lock him out tonight. I’m in over my head with him, hot and bothered and wanting the same thing he does.
I need to get away from this city more than ever.
“Get some sleep then,” he says softly, in a deep, rugged tone when my eyes meet his. The carnal need that burns in his gaze sets my body on fire. I’m still standing there, watching him walk away when I can finally breathe again.
What is he doing to me?
The feeling deep in my gut, the one that used to be constantly present, still lingers as I walk up the stairs. Something is telling me it’s not all right, it’s not a coincidence. But that something is quieted by the thoughts of Sebastian and the idea that if it’s not all right, I can run to him. It brings out a strength in me I desperately need. He does that to me. And I find it hard not to be drawn to him even more because of it, my stupid heart especially. He’s been good at hurting it in the past, but it still wants more of him.
SEBASTIAN
The second her door closed, I felt eyes on the back of my head. I could feel someone watching. But when I turned around, there wasn’t a single soul in sight. No neighbors on their porch, no kids playing in the street.
