His eyes drop to my crotch, widening when he sees the dark patch on my jeans. He blinks, looking suddenly uncertain.
“Didn’t it… feel strange?” he asks quietly. “Doing that, with a guy?”
“Not at all,” I say honestly. “Maybe I’msupposedto feel shocked. Or confused. But I don’t. What we did, it felt incredible. And being with you... it just feels right. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.”
I lift his hand to my lips and press a kiss to his palm. He touches my cheek with it, his fingers soft, and the look in his eyes is so full of tenderness it makes something in my chest ache.
“You do realize this thing between us is completely wrong, right?” he says quietly.
“Totally,” I nod, and lean down to kiss the bruises I’ve left along his neck.
He watches me seriously, though he tilts his head to give me better access. “I’m not joking, Remi. You know how much I like you, and not just physically, but if Maddie finds out, she’ll be crushed.”
I pull back, matching his seriousness. “I know, Seb. I do. But before we shut this down completely... shouldn’t we at leasttalkabout it? Really talk. Think things through?”
“Of course I want to get to know you better,” he says, his voice soft but full of feeling. “But honestly... I can’t imagine a world where Maddie would ever accept this. Acceptus.”
“So you agree, we should take some time to think this through?” I ask, my heart thudding in my chest.
“I guess we have to,” he sighs. “Besides, I’ve got a train to Stratford tomorrow morning, so…”
“You do?” I blink. “You didn’t tell me…”
“When would I have, Remi?” he says with a half-smile. “You’ve been MIA for days. I probably would’ve told you tonight… if we hadn’t been, you know,sidetracked.”
He smirks, and I wince. The guilt hits hard.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, Seb. I avoided you because… I didn’t know how to be around you without giving myself away.”
He lifts my chin, gently but firmly, forcing me to meet his gaze.
“Don’t ever do that again, Remi. You shutting me out, it hurts. No matter what happens with us, promise me one thing:talk to me. Whatever’s going on, we’ll face it together, okay? That’s the only way anything survives. And trust me, I’ve ruined enough relationships to know.”
“I promise, Seb. From now on, I’ll always be honest with you.”
“And I will with you.”
I smile, touched, then ask, “But tell me more about this trip.”
“No, wait!” he cuts in, grinning. “Let’s get cleaned up first. You can’t sit around inthatmess…” He gestures toward my ruined trousers with a raised brow.
“You’ve got a point,” I mutter, grimacing. “Shower, then. Want to join me?”
He gives me a look, equal parts exasperated and amused, then shakes his head slowly.
“Haven’t you had enough?”
I grin, my cheeks flushing. “I think I’m addicted…”
“Well, okay,” he says, raising an eyebrow. “But only if you promise to behave. I still have to pack.”
“If I see you take off those lace panties again, I’m not responsible for my actions.”
“You really liked them?” he asks, suddenly shy. “I was worried they’d freak you out.”
“Oh, theydefinitelyfreaked me out, just not in the way you thought.”
I grin, catching his hand and tugging him gently toward the bathroom.
