Dishing up two plates of pasta, he carried them to the garden and placed them on the table outside Helen’s room. Her door was open but Helen was too busy typing on her laptop to see him.
Seb knocked lightly on the door frame. “Dinner’s up.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You haven’t eaten all day, Helen. You don’t have to eat with me if you don’t want to, but you should still eat.”
“Are you mother hen, now?”
Seb waited patiently.
She stopped typing. “I’m sorry. I’m being a bitch.”
“I understand you’re stressed. You’ll feel better if you eat something. I’ve made that zucchini dish you like.”
For a moment, she looked like she’d shun him again, but then she pressed a few keys and dragged herself away from the screen. When she got outside, she blinked at the brightness of the evening and mumbled athank youfor the meal.
“What’re you working on in there?” Seb asked. “That doesn’t look like Alexa’s interface.”
“No, it’s just some code I’m writing.” Helen paused the fork halfway to her mouth. “You don’t have to do this you know.”
“Do what?”
“Be nice and sociable and cook me meals. I don’t expect you to.”
Her brother didn’t expect much from him either and it pissed him off. “Do you think I’d ignore you after the state you were in?”
“I don’t need your pity.”
“I don’t pity you. I care about you!” Seb stepped away from the table, embarrassed about his outburst. He’d never told a woman he cared before, but …fuck it, he couldn’t stand the hostility in Helen’s eyes anymore. “Regardless of how it’s seemed this past week, I care, okay? I. Care. About. You. And it cuts me up seeing you so sad.”
Helen came immediately to his side. Seb faced her and was again gripped by that incredible urge to take her into his arms, like when they’d stood by the window at the manor house earlier today. It had taken all his discipline to walk away then, but he wasn’t strong enough to resist her a second time. He reached for her, just a slight raise of his hand but it was all she needed to run into his arms.
Holding her tight, Seb savored the feel of her, the smell of her hair, the way her body fit just right against his, and then somehow, they were kissing, and her hands were in his hair and soft little moans were escaping her in that way he always liked so much.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his mouth. “Stay with me tonight.”
Bad ideaformed on his lips, but when Helen tugged at his T-shirt, he followed her willingly to her bed wanting nothing more than to please her. To make her happy again.
Soon, his hands and mouth were moving slowly over her body, touching her where she liked to be touched best, caressing the pain and sadness away. A bad idea had never felt this good, and when he finally eased himself inside her, he held her pretty face between his hands and kissed her, feeling like he was home again.
Chapter 28
HelenwatchedSebastianashe buzzed around her room the next morning, opening curtains, straightening out her covers, fluffing up her pillows.
“I’m not sick, you know,” she said, sipping the tea he’d made her. “I’ll be okay.”
He’d been so sweet and kind, and last night … God, she’d needed his touch. His solid body on hers.
“I’ll come straight back this evening. I won’t go to the gym. Maybe we can go walk by the river, or eat out someplace?”
“Junk food?”
He laughed. “Maybe.”
Then he kissed her and dashed out to work.
Just like a real boyfriend.
