Page 13 of Lustful Secrets
Mallory watches him disappear behind Sebastian's office door. Great, now she’ll have to wait around a little while longer. Maybe Sebastian will tell her she can leave for the evening.
Her intercom buzzes and Sebastian asks her to come to his office. She stands and makes her way inside.
"Yes, Mr. Black?"
"You may go for the evening," Sebastian announces. "Have a pleasant weekend."
"Thank you, sir. You as well."
Mallory makes her way out of the office and quickly gathers her belongings before Sebastian changes his mind.
The dimly litbar buzzes with activity, its atmosphere thick with the scent of alcohol and the murmur of conversations. Mallory sits alone at the bar, the empty shot glasses in front of her a testament to her attempt to drown her confusion and longing in alcohol.
Her fingers tremble as she picks up her phone and composes a message to Sebastian. The text is a mix of desperation and desire: "Sebastian, I need to see you. Please come."
When he replies, it’s only three words. "Where are you?"
Mallory's response, though shaky and riddled with typos, conveys her location. The minutes stretch like hours as she waits, her heart pounding in her chest.
Sebastian's arrival is like a storm rolling in. He scans the room, his eyes locking onto Mallory at the bar. The intensity of his gaze makes her shiver.
"Mallory," he hisses as he approaches. "What the hell were you thinking, getting this drunk and reaching out to me?"
Her eyes meet his, and in her inebriated state, she can't hide her vulnerability. "Sebastian," she slurs, "I can't stop thinking about you. I need to know what this means, what we mean to each other."
"Mallory," he mutters, his voice tinged with frustration, "you don't understand what you're getting yourself into. This isn't how I do relationships."
Tears well in Mallory's eyes as she reaches out to touch his arm. "But I need to know, Sebastian. I need to know if what we shared means anything to you."
He sighs deeply. "I'll take you home, Mallory," he says, his voice softening. "We'll talk tomorrow when you're sober."
As he helps her off the barstool and guides her toward the exit, the unspoken tension between them lingers in the air. Mallory knows their relationship has reached a pivotal moment, and the emotions and desires she’s kept at bay threaten to consume her.
Mallory, still leaning on him for support, looks up with a mix of confusion and vulnerability. "Sebastian, where are we going?"
"We can't go to your place," he replies, his voice tight with worry. "Your father is my best friend, and this will raise too many questions."
Mallory's eyes widen as the realization sinks in. She nods, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"I have a place nearby," Sebastian, guiding her toward a nearby luxury hotel. "We can get a room for the night."
They arrive at the hotel, and Sebastian checks them into a discreet suite. Mallory is still drunk, her emotions swirling like a turbulent sea.
As they enter the plush hotel room, Mallory's gaze meets his, and her eyes hold a mixture of longing and uncertainty. "Sebastian, what's happening between us? Why are you avoiding me?"
Sebastian sighs, helping her into bed. "You’re drunk. You need to sleep."
"Will you stay?"
"Only until you fall asleep."
She nods her head; that will have to do for now. She can't believe she’d called him. She can't believe she put them in a situation to get caught by her father. And she can't believe she'd questioned his feelings.
He leans close and kisses her lightly on the lips.
"I have one rule you must agree to."
"What's that?"
