Sebastian stands up in a rough movement. My heart speeds up as glasses wobble. He prowls to my side. All eyes are on him as he stops next to my handsy neighbor.
“That’s my seat,” he tells the finance bro in an impressive display of the law of assumption at work. Sadie is into manifestation, so I know that its basis is that you have to assume what you desire has already happened. And everything in his tone, manner, and commanding presence suggests that he will be obeyed instantly.
My neighbor looks at him with wary confusion.
Sebastian stares back.
The guy drops his hand from my lower back and stands abruptly. Sebastian doesn’t even look at him as he takes the now-empty chair next to me.
The finance bro watches him for a minute as if unsure what to do, before saying, “I needed to leave anyway,” and slinking off into the night.
“That was rude of you,” I say mildly, trying to pretend I’m not secretly, wildly thrilled by the whole scenario.
He motions for a server to clear the other guy’s drink and bring him a fresh glass.
She rushes over, watching him with undisguised fangirl vibes.
“Then he shouldn’t have felt up my fiancée.”
“I’m not really your fiancée,” I whisper back.
He grunts.
“Though it was rather exciting. I’ve never had an almost-fight over me before.”
“You have. You just don’t know it. I kicked Brett’s ass because of you. And you quit because of it.”
“But I thought you kicked Brett’s ass for Allegra.”
He rolls his eyes. “As if I’d get into a fight for anyone but you. He talked about you in a way that wasn’t… respectful. I’ll spare you the details, but I couldn’tnotprotect you. I couldn’t walk away and let him think you were someone he could mess with.” His voice is a soft rasp.
“You were injailbecauseof me? You risked your reputation in the industry, all you’ve been working for.”
I marvel at everything he’s saying. It’s not quite computing. For years, I fought my emotions because I didn’t think there was any way he’d ever want me. But in the span of two nights, he’s upended it all and when I look into his familiar, beautiful eyes, his bone-deep sincerity shines.
A jazz quartet plays on our side of the table, and all the guests are many drinks deep. Laughter and bits of conversation float around us. Candles flicker. Sebastian is seated so close that our conversation is hushed, breaths volleyed between us.
“It was fine. There wasn’t long-term damage to my career.” He shifts closer, his gaze full of an emotion I can’t decipher. “I’d risk far more. I don’t seem to have the capability to walk away from anything to do with you. You want space.” He swallows. “But I will always be here for you, Em. No matter what else happens, that will never change.”
His words cause shivers to run down my spine. “Don’t you see,” I say. “You silly man. I could never be happy if you risked your career for me. I want you to achieve all your dreams. So you can’t punch dumbasses like Brett Danners, even if they talk crap.”
“I’m not promising that.” He pauses. “But I will think twice about it. Especially since my actions ruined Sadie’s graduation and caused you to quit.” His eyes sober. “I’m so fucking sorry. I hate that I got in the way of your special night.”
“If we’re admitting things tonight, I should admit that I wasn’t just upset about leaving Sadie’s graduation party. I-I thought you punching Brett meant you really cared about Allegra. I couldn’t shake this idea that you would get serious with someone and move on without me. I couldn’t stand that thought.” I hold my breath, feeling deeply vulnerable at the admission.
We’re surrounded by voices and laughter and the clink of glasses, but we’re in a bubble that’s all ours. His hand traces the path the finance bro’s fingers took earlier, but while that man’s touch was dead on arrival, Sebastian’s has every nerve ending lighting me up, every sense firing, all systems go. I shiver, and he pulls me even closer. One more shift toward him and I’ll be sitting on his lap, which doesn’t sound bad. Not at all.
The short skirt of my dress snags his attention. His hand moves even lower until it caresses where my waist nips out to my hips. I shiver again, the pleasure reaching my very core. He’s only touching me through my dress, and I’m achingly aware that with within just a few inches, he could reach my panties. I’m also achingly aware that the night is dark and if we went for a walk, we could get lost in the fields. I want to know how it would feel if he laid me down and worshiped my body with his.
“Don’t you know it yet, Em?” His words are a rough whisper that reverberates through my soul. “I couldn’t be with another woman. I have no interest in anyone else and haven’t for a long damn time. I tried to talk myself out of it. I tried not to look too closely—at you or at my own mind—but it was always there. Becauseyouwere always there.”
My mouth falls open. “Oh,” is all I can manage.
His eyes are still serious, but his lips tip up in amusement. “Is that all you have to say?” He leans over and brushes a kiss at my ear. “Do you want boundaries tonight?”
I shake my head, my heart buoyant. “No. That’s the last thing I want.” I lean over, and with slow, confident intention, I runmy hand from his knee, up, up, up his thigh, thankful for the tablecloth that hides the motion.
I feel his swift, indrawn breath.
