Page 48 of Time After Time
“I’m going to take a shower.” The words tumbled out before I could think, just as Sebastian gently closed the door behind us, careful not to startle either of us. For a heartbeat, we stood frozen in place, the air thick with tension. I could feel his gaze on the back of my head, sensing the hesitation and concern radiating from him.
“Yeah, sure.” He cleared his throat before speaking, as if needing to find his voice. “I’ll take one too once you’re done.” I hadn’t turned to look at him yet, but from the corner of my eye, I sensed his broad shoulders facing me. My gaze drifted to his hands gripping the TV remote, where I noticed a slight tremor and heard a shaky exhale escape him.
I swiftly retrieved the pyjamas I intended to change into—a white tank top adorned with red hearts and a delicate strip of lace fabric, complemented by matching shorts with the same pattern, minus the lace. Glancing up from my suitcase, I made sure Sebastian’s back was still turned before reaching for one of the lingerie pieces Sylvie had insisted I pack for this trip, along with my razor—just in case. I slipped into the bathroom and quietly closed the door behind me.
Sebastian’s unintelligible murmurs drifted to me. I heard the rustle of the sheets as he sank onto the bed, the sound barely muffling the muttering of his whispers. Pressing my back against the door, I felt its cool surface against my skin, struggling to even my rapid breaths.
I had kissed Sebastian Ventura, my best friend, and I had enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would.
The scene replayed in my mind, and I closed my eyes, resting my hands on the cold marble of the washbasin, my head drooping between my shoulders.
Shivers coursed through me as the memory unfolded—how his hands had touched me. The strokes on my skin, treating me as the most delicate thing, while his firm grip on the back of my dress seemed to hold him back, as if restraining himself from touching me without inhibition.
“Gosh,” I trembled, my right hand instinctively reaching towards my mouth. Fingertips delicately traced the memory of his lips against mine. They felt a little chapped now, and I wondered if he, too, had sensed their raspy texture.
Shaking off the daze, I blinked my eyes open, only to find my clothes scattered across the floor. A soft, bewildered sigh escaped me as I hurriedly gathered the garments I had forgotten I was holding. With a shake of my head, I scooped up the pieces and made a quick retreat to the shower, eager to wash away this feeling in my body.
After drying off, my gaze found the piece of lingerie laid out on the tiny white chair in the bathroom. I paused for a moment, realising that this kind of revealing style wasn’t really my thing, even if it was just for my own enjoyment.
Feeling flustered, I let the lace fabric brush against my legs and arms as I started to put it on. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I gasped in surprise. It wasn’t just beautiful; the way the delicate lace hugged my body gave me a sudden sense of confidence that made it hard to look away.
“Are you okay?” The unexpected tap on the door startled me, and I instinctively turned my head, shielding my body as if the locked door wasn’t enough. “Uh, I heard you gasp, so…” His voice had an uneasy edge, a tone I wasn’t used to between us.
In a panic, my hands scrambled for my sleepwear as I hurriedly pulled on my shorts, wobbling as I hopped on one foot. “Yeah, yeah!” I called out. “I’m almost out!” Once I donned my pyjamas, I unlocked the door and flung it open, only to find Sebastian standing so close that our faces nearly mirrored the scene at the beach.
“Hey.” A choked breath escaped him, and I was taken aback to see his gaze locked on my eyes instead of drifting down my body.
“Hey,” I mumbled in response, letting out a sigh that momentarily drew his gaze downward. He quickly shifted his eyes back to mine, sidestepping the usual signs of blushing.
Before any awkwardness could settle in, he nudged me aside to slip into the bathroom.
“I’m going to shower.” The door shut behind him, leaving me to spin around with wide eyes. Muffled sounds came from inside, and just as I was about to ask, his voice reassured me, “I’m okay!”
Left alone in the room, I hesitated for a moment before sinking onto the bed. Unsure of what to do, my gaze driftedaimlessly. First to the wall, then down to my lap. It was the worst decision. As soon as I spotted my hands fiddling there, I took my left thumb into my mouth, biting the skin around my nail nervously. My right hand reached for my phone, debating whether to text my sister about what had happened. Both the phone and thumb fell to my lap when the bathroom door swung open, slamming against the wall and making me flinch.
As Sebastian stepped out of the bathroom, water droplets glistened on his skin, and his damp hair almost covered his eyes. Dressed only in black Calvin Klein boxers with white lettering, he approached me in just two long strides. My confusion urged me to rise from the bed, and my senses heightened as I tried to make sense of why he would leave the bathroom while still dripping wet.
His eyes locked onto mine. “I can’t stand it any longer,” he declared, urgency threading through his words. Before I could process what that meant, he repeated his statement. Then, without warning, his hands cupped my cheeks, and in a swift motion, he pulled me into a searing kiss.
Even if surprised, I allowed myself to relax into his embrace, stepping closer to Sebastian. The electricity between us intensified, and instinctively, our lips met in an even more passionate kiss. My hands ventured to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his blond, golden locks. The water that clung to them seeped onto my hands, trailing down my arms.
Yet, in that moment, I couldn’t care less about the water dampening my skin.
Sebastian groaned into the kiss, sending shivers down my spine. The world around us disappeared, leaving justthisswirling between us, as if nothing else mattered.
His thumbs softly brushed my cheeks, and I wondered how he could be so gentle when his mouth was being theopposite, nipping my lower lip and tempting me to part my lips, welcoming his tongue.
Sebastian’s intensity grew as he took a step closer. He pressed me tenderly, yet firmly, onto the bed, where the mattress embraced me. The feeling was both comforting and exhilarating, the cool fabric of the sheets contrasting sharply with the heat radiating from our bodies. The bedding cradling my skin where my pyjamas left it bare, prompting goosebumps all over.
Our connection deepened, our breaths syncing as the air between us crackled with energy. When our lips finally parted, a rush of emotions flooded through us—our chests rising and falling, and the sound of our ragged breaths filled the room.
Sebastian closed his eyes, inhaling through his nose, his forehead resting against mine. He supported his weight with his hands on the bed, his body hovering above me. Slowly, his hips pressed down, and I gasped as they met my pelvis.
In that moment, my heart felt like it was trying to escape my chest, torn between wanting to surrender to Sebastian’s touch and the confusion swirling in my mind. I couldn’t shake the doubt creeping in, questioning whether I truly had control over my body and emotions.What was happening?
Sebastian murmured something indistinct. But my attention was drawn inward, absorbing every detail of his face that I wanted to remember. His long eyelashes, his golden eyes and brows captivated me.
“I feel like my heart is going to explode,” he confessed, his eyes closed, lashes fluttering. A shaky breath escaped him, and I couldn’t help but notice the damp strands of his hair framing his forehead, mingling with my own at the hairline, prompting rivulets of water to trickle down my neck.
