“Great, see you Monday then.”
What the hell?
Taking out my generic phone, I check the time. It’s late, and they’ll be closing soon, but if I hurry, I might make it. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I speed walk down the hall and toward the administration building which thankfully isn’t that far from where I am right now. Students rush past me, all of us clearly in a hurry.
By the time I reach the building, I’m a tiny bit out of breath, but I still don’t slow down. Pushing open the large door, I step inside, my sneakers squeaking against the linoleum. Pausing briefly, I stare at the front desk. No one. There’s just a sign that says be back tomorrow.
Well then… Deciding that tomorrow is just too late to wait, I walk down the long hall toward the offices. When I find my advisor’s office, I lift a hand and knock on her door.
“She’s already gone,” Sebastian’s voice rings in my ears, and I swear my whole body reacts to the deep gravelly sound.
Goosebumps spread out across my arms, and my heart starts beating just a little faster.
I ready myself, before I turn around, puffing my chest out to show him that I’m not scared or affected by him.
I turn expecting to find him scowling at me, maybe even preparing to yell at me to get out, but instead, he just stares at me, his eyes softer than I’ve ever seen them. I’m so shocked by the way he is looking at me that I forget to respond.
“Is there something I can help you with?” He breaks the silence, and a shiver runs down my spine.
“I… I don’t know,” I admit. “Professor Berg sent me here, he didn’t say why.”
He doesn’t look angry or irritated, and I’m not sure what to make of him at this point.
“Come here. I can check your file on the school database.” He motions toward his office, and I follow him like a lost puppy.
He sits down behind his desk and starts typing something into the computer, while I sit nervously in front of him, wringing my hands in my lap. I try my best not to stare at him because every time our eyes meet this stupid warmth fills my abdomen.
“Professor Berg made a note that you failed your first test, you didn’t submit your homework, and you didn’t bring your textbook to class.” Sebastian looks up from the screen and finds my eyes. An unspoken question hangs between us.
“I don’t have my textbooks yet, but I will get them soon and make up all the work I’ve missed,” I sigh. I was really hoping this wasn’t that big of an issue, but obviously, it is.
“Why don’t you have your textbooks yet? You should have gotten a supply list a long time ago.”
A flush works its way up my throat and onto my cheeks. Embarrassed, I look away, finding some spot on the wall behind him to concentrate on.
“I just… I don’t have the money to pay for them right now.” I try my best to make my voice strong and even, anything but what I’m truly feeling, but instead, it all comes out in a rush like the air deflating from a balloon. He shakes his head and leans back in his chair. For some strange reason, I feel the need to explain.
“I’m looking for a job right now, so it shouldn’t be much longer.”
“Why didn’t you come to me and ask for help?” I swing my gaze back to him just to make sure he isn’t joking. His expression confirms that he’s serious, which confuses me even more.
“Are you serious, right now? You really expect me to ask you for help? When should I have asked… before or after you told me that I’m nothing to your family?”
Regret fills his eyes, and his face twists as if he’s in pain.
“I’m sorry about what I said and how I acted that night.” His apology takes me by surprise, the insults I had lined up for him are now suddenly stuck in my throat.
“You… you’re sorry?” I can’t pull my gaze from his, and not just because he’s gorgeous, no it’s because of the way he’s looking at me. Like I matter. Like I’m important to him. There’s a stark difference between who he was that night and who is he is tonight.
He nods his head, “I am. Let me make it up to you… let me buy your books for you?”
“No!” I yell without thinking. I shove from the chair nearly causing it to crash to the floor. Once on my feet, I move toward the door. I didn’t come here for his pity, or his money and the fact he’s acting otherwise infuriates me. Twisting around, I stare at him with fire in my eyes.
“You can’t just buy me off to make yourself feel better, and I don’t need or want your pity.” I turn fully, prepared to storm out, but I make it all of one step before he is on his feet quickly, coming around the desk.
Confidently, he walks across the room and over to me. “That’s not how I meant it, and you know it. I would never pity you or buy you things as a form of apology. I want to buy you the books to show you that you can count on me for help… if you need anything, just ask.”
Exasperated, I growl, “Just ask? Just ask?” I repeat. I cannot believe him. Maybe I’m blowing up over nothing, but I’m exhausted, tired of thinking about him and wondering if he’s thinking about me too.
Invading his space, I crane my head back and raise my hand. Sebastian gives me a confused look, but I don’t give him a chance to question me. Using my index finger, I poke him right in his perfectly muscled chest.
“I don’t need your help.”
Confusion bleeds into an emotion I can’t quite read, and then he does something I would never in a million years expect him to do. He grabs my finger and uses it to pull me closer. The softest of gasps slips past my parted lips. With his other hand, he gently grabs me by the back of my neck, holding me in place while he bends down, bringing his face impossibly close to mine. Too close. Breathing through my nose, I catch a whiff of lemongrass and orange, realizing a moment before it’s too late that I’m smelling him.
Before I can think on that embarrassment, his lips crash into mine. There’s a hunger to his kiss, it’s wild, unhinged passion. He pulls me flush to his body, leaving no space between us. Our chests press together, my hardened nipples rubbing against his skin through both of our shirts.
I want him bad.
I need him bad.
It’s wrong, but it’s so damn right.
Fisting his shirt in my hands, I pull him closer, deepening the kiss. The friction against my pebbled nipples causes me to groan, and Sebastian takes my open mouth as an invitation, his tongue sliding past my lips to stroke my own.
His strokes are steady, firm, and they make a slow heat build low in my abdomen.
I’ve never kissed like this before, with so much passion and heat. It feels like I’m burning up, my skin burning where he touches me. When he starts to move, I don’t think twice. I let him guide us back to the couch, and then he pulls me down onto his lap.
Straddling him, I let my hands wander over his broad shoulders, and down his sculpted chest, slowly trailing down to the abs I know he’s hiding beneath his shirt. I run my fingers over each hard indentation before coming to rest on the zipper of his dress slacks.
In one small motion, I unzip him. I have no clue what I’m doing, or why I’m doing it, but I want this. No, I need this. As if his brain has finally caught up with my actions, he breaks the kiss and presses his forehead against mine.