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Elianna
Sebastian’s lips are on mine. A zip of pleasure cascades over my mouth, along my skin, and to my very center.
My mind skips to the beauty of the sunset plunging down the mountain, and I feel the cool breeze lift my hair at the crown of my head. Sebastian teases my mouth with his own, sliding the heels of his hands firmly up my waist until he’s reached my rib cage. Then his thumbs rub circles along the base of my spine. I break the kiss and gaze at him. Not because I want to stop, but because I didn’t think anything could feel this good and I need a second to compose myself.
He’s breathing heavily, and that’s when I realize I am, too. Nothing’s said, we just stare at each other, his impossibly dark eyes with the complexities of hidden color, drinking me in. Is he having doubts about what just happened?
I’m not. And to prove it, I glide my hands up his arms and wrap them around his neck. I kiss him again, and this time, he’s gentle and tender, allowing me to take the lead.
When I need to take another breath, I pull away again, leaving one more lingering kiss.
I look out over the sunset again and it’s amazing how much it’s changed in that short amount of time. Everything’s darker and richer, the clouds sodden with purple.
I steal a glance at Sebastian and he’s not looking at the sunset, he’s looking at me. But instead of squirming at the heat of his gaze or trying to make a joke, I lean into it.
This man. This man is looking at me like I’m somehow better than this explosion of a sunset, and I’m going to enjoy looking at him looking at me.
A slow smile starts to form, and it lights up his whole face. It’s not that he suddenly starts grinning ear to ear. No. That would be an uncharacteristic trait for Sebastian, and honestly, maybe a little creepy.
But his gentle smile is taking over every feature, maybe even the set of his shoulders. He’s lighter somehow, and everything in him seems to hold a Sebastian-like secret.
“So . . .?” He finally says, then bites his bottom lip. “That was . . . pretty cool, Elianna.” Then he rolls his eyes and gives a little head shake. “Not cool, cool’s an insufficient word.” He reaches a hand up to scratch his shoulder blade and shifts from side to side.
I pull him into a hug, and his arms circle me once more. “We could say it’s undefinable?” I say.
“Yeah. Or maybe that it made my heart sing hymns at heaven’s gate?” He glances down at the concrete and I gasp.
“You said you didn’t know the sonnets! But you do.” A laugh tumbles out of me, and I cover my mouth with my hand. “I can’t even remember which one that line is from, but I know it’s Shakespeare.”
He shrugs. “I might have picked a copy of the sonnets up from Sophie. It’s been lonely at work without you.” His eyes squeeze in vulnerability.
I reach my hand up to his cheek. “That is amazing. Give me more.”
“More lines from a sonnet?” His eyes darken. “Or more kissing?”
“Both,” I say, just before he lowers his mouth back to mine.
It’s a good thing this house is so raw and uncut because if there were a nice, soft sofa or, heaven forbid, a bed in here, I may entertain the thought of never stopping. And I have to stop. We have to stop.
Eventually.
Except, as my mouth explores his jawline and below his ear, I wonder if maybe I could find a spare pile of sawdust lying around.
As fun as that might be, I’m able to pull my mind away from those possibilities, one arm around his waist, his arm around my shoulders, my head resting on his shoulder. And now we’re watching the last seconds of sunset, the final beams fighting to burst over the mountain tops in the ridge across the way.
I’m a beach gal, through and through, always have been, always will be. But there is definitely something to be said about mountain-top living.
“You’ve had the right idea, building up here.”
“I knew it felt right from the beginning. I just had no idea how it would all turn out.”
“Will you stay here long term? Ethan always said you go where you build.”
He lets out a long, slow breath. “Being here in Longdale again, for more than just summers as a kid, had an effect on me that I wasn’t anticipating. It didn’t take long being here on the lake, around town, hanging out with my aunt Stella again, for me to . . . I don’t know. Feel at home.”
“So Sebastian Tate is settling down, huh?” I smile, but my heart starts pounding. I can see this man with a family of his own, and I can see the softer side that that would take. And the thought that it might not be with me leaves ashes in my mouth.
“I am settling down.” He nods, but then hesitates. “It’s something I want, the whole thing, the house.” He raises his arms, king of his castle. “The family. But I’m not sure it’s something I can do. I don’t know if I’m capable of it.”
