Page 53 of Closer

I sneak a glance at him, my chest aching at the tension in his jaw, the furrow between his brows.

“Sebastian.” I set down my fork, my appetite gone.

His eyes meet mine, guarded and wary. “Yeah?”

I open my mouth, but the words won’t come. What can I say? That I’m sorry? That I miss him too? That I’m tired of fighting this… this thing between us?

But I can’t. I can’t go down that road again. Not when I don’t know where it leads.

So instead, I force a smile, my voice falsely bright. “I was thinking… maybe we could go for a walk after dinner? Work off some of these calories?”

His expression softens, the corners of his mouth lifting, and I think I’ve never been that relieved in my life.

“Sure, princess. A walk sounds nice.”

After our little walk outside, we make our way back to our room, and Sebastian slides the key card into the lock, the soft beep sounding unnaturally loud in the quiet hallway.

The door swings open, revealing the single king-sized bed I almost forgot.

“You want to go into the bath first?” he asks.

“Yep.” I slip into the bathroom.

Get it together, Lil. It’s just a bed. Just sleep. No big deal.

I splash cold water on my face, trying to calm my frayed nerves. It doesn’t help. With a sigh, I go through my nightly routine on autopilot.

When I finally emerge, Sebastian’s eyes snap up, giving me a once-over and lingering on my thin tank top and shorts. Well, if I had known I’d share a room with him, I would have taken a closed-up pajama with me and maybe sexier underwear. Maybe.

“All yours,” I mutter, skirting past him.

“Thanks, princess.”

I make a beeline for the bed, choosing the side closest to the window. The bathroom door clicks shut, and I slide under the covers, sticking close to the edge without falling off.

This is fine. Totally fine. Two adults sharing a bed.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will myself to relax. It doesn’t work. Every nerve ending is on high alert, my body thrumming with tension I can’t shake, and he’s not even beside me yet.

The bathroom door opens, and my heart rate spikes. He’s already done?

I keep my eyes firmly closed, feigning sleep and listening to Sebastian move around the room.

The mattress dips as he settles on the other side of the bed, getting comfortable before switching off the light

Neither of us moves. The only sound is our breathing, mine far too quick and shallow to pass for sleep. I’m hyperaware of every movement, every breath he takes. The heat of his body radiating across the expanse of sheets, warming me even from a distance.

Then, the mattress shifts again. I feel him move closer, his warmth directly seeping into my back.

“Lil.” His voice is low, rough. “Come here.”

I stiffen. “What?”

“We’re supposed to be a couple, remember?” His fingers spread across my stomach, drawing me closer to his chest. “This is what couples do.”

I want to protest, but the words are trapped behind my lips when he nuzzles into the crook of my neck, his breath hot on my skin.

“Right.” It comes out as a breathless whisper, and my body molding to his like it was made to fit there.

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