Page 57 of Time After Time
His smile grew, and he nodded back, though his response was calmer than mine.
“Gen,” he called out my name, causing my nods to halt as I awaited his next words. “I’m waiting for you to kiss me.”
He didn’t need to say anything else; his words alone pushed me into action. The tips of my shoes brushed against his as I stepped forward, rising slightly on tiptoe to close the distance between us. Sebastian stayed still, arms crossed, observing me, his head tilting down just enough to meet me halfway.
As my lips neared his, my right hand found its place on his biceps, feeling the warmth through the fabric. Our lips brushed, and I could see the tension in his eyes, the way he leaned in, his mouth parting just slightly, breaths slipping between us. I felt the depth of his longing in that moment—the subtle flex ofhis biceps beneath my hand and the intensity in his gaze that seemed to pull me closer, his eyes almost melting into my lips.
“Gen,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with heat. I could only whimper in response, the desire surging within me impossible to hide.
“You’re taking too long,” he murmured, his arms shifting as if to pull me closer. But my hand stayed firmly on his arm, holding myself back, trembling with anticipation. “You’re taking too long to kiss me, Gen.”
I was. I knew I was. I wasn’t just teasing him; I was torturing myself too.
“You’re right.”
I closed the gap between us, my lips crashing into his. The sudden movement caught us both off guard, and we lost our balance, tumbling backwards onto his bed with a surprised gasp. Laughter bubbled up between us as we found ourselves in a tangled heap, him lying beneath me.
For a moment, I couldn’t help but laugh at how absurd it all felt, but the amusement vanished the instant our eyes met. The atmosphere shifted, tension thickening into something heavier. We leaned in, our lips meeting in a hesitant kiss. What began uncertain and awkward quickly deepened.
Sebastian’s hands drifted upward, slipping beneath the hem of my dress, sending a shiver down my spine. I could feel the coolness of his palms against the back and sides of my thighs, the heat fading slightly, stopping just at the band of my panties. His fingers lingered there, curling around the fabric, teasing but holding back, not yet daring to go further.
My hands moved on their own, slipping beneath his sweatshirt, eager to find the warmth of his skin. I was surprised to find there was no extra layer, just his bare chest. Unfazed, my fingers kept exploring, tracing the lines of his body, feeling the strong pulse of his heartbeat beneath my touch.
His hands moved over me with urgency, fingertips grazing the curves of my body as if he couldn’t get enough. When they finally rested on my chest, the pressure of his touch felt almost possessive, the heat of it settling into the space between us. Our lips stayed locked together, the need to stay connected overwhelming, and even the slightest shift made a sound of longing slip from me.
Sebastian’s fingers curled around the delicate strap of my dress, guiding it down my shoulder. As the fabric slipped lower, baring one of my breasts, he lowered himself to sit before me. His eyes sparkled with desire, moving frantically all over as they trailed over my exposed skin, drawing closer as his face neared.
My nerves danced with anticipation as I shifted on his lap, drawn in by the intensity of his gaze and the slow descent of his lips toward my chest. But just as they hovered over my burning skin, the creak of the front door shattered the moment like glass.
Even with the door locked, we both knew the moment had passed. Sebastian rested his forehead against my chest, his breaths uneven, matching the rapid thump of my heart. His hand moved to adjust my dress, quietly bringing things back to normal.
When he lifted his head, his smile reflected the flush of my cheeks, making my heart skip a beat.
“Are you okay?” Sebastian asked, his gaze intense as it fixed on mine. My pulse quickened as my fingertips stroked the delicate curls on the back of his neck. Nodding, I sensed a longing growing inside me, compelling me to narrow the space between us.
“Guys, there are snacks if you want some!” Cora’s voice burst into the room, slicing through whatever was going on. Sebastian’s hands tightened around my hips, holding me against him as if to say he wasn’t ready to let go just yet, asking for just a little more time alone.
I couldn’t help but let out a soft whimper as he carefully lowered me beside him on the bed. He rose to his feet, moving towards the door, his bare feet almost silent, making sure not to make a sound as he opened it. “We’re fine, Mum, thank you!” he called out, adjusting his hoodie and discreetly fixing himself inside his shorts before turning back to meet my gaze.
“Word is you’re helping out at the Sun-Kissed festival this year?” Sebastian approached the bed where I sat, then settled against the headboard, motioning for me to join him.
I shuffled towards him, feeling the weight of exhaustion in my limbs, his gaze tracing over me as one arm extended, waiting for me to draw near. Once I nestled against his side, he wrapped his arm around me protectively as I nuzzled against his neck.
“Mrs. Marley used to be so involved,” I said, feeling a knot form in my chest at the mention of her name.
It was still hard to accept that she wasn’t here anymore. Sebastian and I had talked about how every departure, no matter how expected, always felt sudden. Thinking of her led my mind to Mr. Marley, whom we visited as often as we could, despite his insistence that he was fine. But with Aria gone for the past two weeks, he was alone in the house, relying on the visits from townsfolk to keep him company. I knew, though, that nothing could replace having Mrs. Marley there with him. Things would never be the same.
Sebastian’s tender squeeze on my side told me he was paying attention to what I was saying. “Are you stepping into her shoes, then?”
I nodded, the movement barely perceptible against his side. “Yeah, I’ll be helping out with the festival prep, especially with the decorations. Mrs. Harrison and I went over the budget, and she’s worried there won’t be enough left for decorating after allocating most of it to the booths and activities.” Glancing up, I noticed Sebastian hadn’t shifted his gaze from me, his fingerstracing comforting circles on my arms. “But I think I can make it work with what we have.”
“I know you’ve got this.” The sincerity in his voice made my heart swell, filling me with a sense of determination that I didn’t know I had.
“What’s the plan for you and Robert this year?” I asked, adjusting my position on the bed as he leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. I ended up lying on my back with my head in his lap, looking up at him as his fingers threaded through my hair.
“We’re organising a baking competition,” he replied with a grin. “Apricot Bliss Cupcakes.” His grin widened into a mischievous smirk. “And yours truly gets to be the judge.” We both dissolved into laughter at his obvious excitement. I knew he loved the idea not just because it let him show off his cooking skills, but also because apricots were his absolute favourite.
Just imagining him tasting all those cupcakes made me grin.
