Page 144 of Bastian

The lighting is soft and illuminates the space with warmth at the same time the moonlight enters from the windows.

In the middle of the room, there is a round marble pedestal bistro dining table with a pedestal base. From all the way here, I can see the table is decorated with lit candles and red roses. In fact, there are red roses in every corner of the room. Sebastian never fails to shower me with not only material stuff but also roses and candy.

The man knows me so well.

As I move farther inside the room, soft music starts to play in the background, and suddenly, a feeling of deja vu takes over me, reminding me that I’ve been here before. The feeling takes me back in time to those blissful days in Paris.

A date.

This is his idea of a date now.

Once, he would have gotten a jet and flown us to Paris for the night, but now that I am pregnant, he’s been more careful and even a bit more tyrannical, which I don’t really mind. Not at all.

Since I can’t fly, he brought my favorite city to me.

“Bienvenue à Paris, mon amour.” Sebastian’s husky voice washes over me as he enters from the side door. As if my imagination conjured him, he comes closer dressed in dark gray slacks, and a white long-sleeve dress shirt with the two top buttons undone, revealing golden skin, and dark ink. He is looking dashing as ever with a smile on his face and suddenly I am very grateful to Baby Kenton for not acting up tonight. This afternoon I wasn’t feeling so good and I was close to throwing on my favorite oversized t-shirt and putting my hair up in a messy bun because I had no energy to get all dressed up. So close really but then after a long nap and a chocolate bar the little tyrant inside of me behaved just enough for me to enjoy this dinner with his father.

Tonight, I opted to dress comfortably but still elegantly, choosing a maternity solid-rib-knit black cami dress and I paired it with clear, single-band heels because although I had to give in and start wearing godawful maternity clothing, there’s no way I was going to give up my heels.

That’s where I draw the line.

I gave this baby my body. I sacrificed both my work and sleeping schedule for him or her, too. Hell, I am even eating foods I’ve never eaten in my entire life for this kid. The heels? I am not giving them up. Nope.

Half of my hair is up in a messy ponytail, while the other half falls in soft waves down my back. In my ears, are diamond studs, matching perfectly with the gift Sebastian gave me.

The two snowflakes’ diamond necklace.

I feel beautiful tonight.

The look Sebastian is giving me now makes me feel beautiful, too.

Desired.

Loved.

Throughout the day, I had butterflies dancing around with my baby in my stomach. This is not the first time I have had dinner with Sebastian, but something about this time feels different.

I intend to get forever with you right. His words replay in my mind.

Forever with Sebastian.

"C'est beau..." I breathe out in wonder as Sebastian takes me in his arms and kisses me senselessly. God, I love the taste of this man. Mint, whiskey, and cigar. I moan aloud when he swipes his tongue against mine.

Perhaps it’s the hormones.

Breaking the kiss, he smiles and helps me to my seat. “You look stunning, but you know this.” He whispers.

“I do, but it’s sweet of you to point it out.” I grin when he rolls his eyes playfully.

Taking his seat, he says. “I never thought sweet would be an adjective you would use in a sentence about me, darling.”

Raising my glass of water, I take a sip before replying. “There’s a lot of sweetness underneath that cocky and asshole-ish exterior, Sebastian.” I roll my eyes at him when he grins. “Touché, darling.”

Shaking my head at him, I look down at the table to find mini-French appetizers. My stomach growls, and Sebastian laughs, passing me a one-bite appetizer. “I see my baby is hungry.”

“We’ve been over this, Sebastian. ‘Our baby.’ I narrow my eyes, taking the small piece of bread from him and popping it into my mouth. “And starving, actually,” I tell him with my mouth full, all decorum goes out the window when I’m hungry sadly.

Laughing, his eyes shine when he looks into mine. “I meant you, Arianna.”

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