SEBASTIAN’S POV
I woke up slowly, my arm numb beneath Sasha’s weight but unwilling to shift an inch.
She was nestled against my chest, her face relaxed and soft,
her lashes lying dark against her skin. She looked peaceful,
no walls up, no sharp comebacks poised on her lips, and no distance between us. Just her, here in my arms.
The thought made my chest ache with a kind of joy that was so unfamiliar it left me raw. This moment, it was more than anything I’d expected, even dared to hope for. She felt the same.
She’d told me that last night. I could still hear the words in my head, like a melody on repeat, lulling me back into some strange state of bliss.
Carefully, I pulled my arm out from under her, leaning down to press a soft kiss on her forehead.
She sighed in her sleep, shifting, but didn’t wake.
As quietly as I could, I slipped out of bed, grabbed my shirt, and headed to the kitchen.
A small part of me hoped to wake her with the smell of coffee and something she’d actually like to eat. I thought about everything she’d said, all the little revelations she’d let slip.
She’d opened up last night in a way that felt like she’d finally let me see her, past all the sarcasm and careful distance.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the counter as I set the coffee pot, my mind wandering back to her words.
“Sebastian…” Her voice had been so soft when she’d told me she felt the same, barely above a whisper.
I could still feel her in my arms, the way she’d fit against me as if we’d been designed for each other.
I knew, beyond any doubt, I wanted this feeling to last, more than just the morning or next week, but something that extended past my usual plans, even the ones I hadn’t yet made.
With the coffee brewing, I cracked a couple of eggs into a bowl, whisking them as the light from outside filtered through the kitchen window.
I’d never really thought about doing this before making breakfast for someone, sharing these small, quiet moments.
I’d been surrounded by noise, strategy, plans, even in my downtime. But this, it felt… right.
The scent of coffee began to fill the air, and I heard her footsteps coming down the hall. I turned, catching sight of her leaning against the doorway,
her arms folded, watching me. She looked like she hadn’t quite woken up yet, her hair a little tousled, her eyes heavy with sleep.
“You’re up early,” she murmured, voice soft, her gaze lingering on me with something I couldn’t quite name.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I said, offering her a smile. “Figured I’d make breakfast.”
She tilted her head, her eyes flicking to the coffee pot and then to the pan on the stove where the eggs were starting to cook. “You, making breakfast? I’ll admit, this is a surprise.”
“Hey, I can cook,” I replied, trying to sound indignant but failing. I’d never had much reason to cook before. “At least, eggs.”
She laughed, and the sound settled deep within me, making me feel more grounded than I had in years. She wandered over, stealing a slice of bread I’d set out, taking a bite before I’d even finished toasting it.
I shot her a mock glare, but the way she looked back at me, her eyes crinkling with amusement, made me forget everything except the way she could make me feel with just one look.
“Sebastian,” she said, a little more seriously now, “last night… I meant what I said.”
“I know.” I paused, taking her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin. “And I meant it too. More than you probably realise.”
Her fingers tightened in mine for a second, her expression softening. “So… where does this leave us?”
“That’s up to you,” I replied, my voice a bit quieter. “I’m here, if you’ll have me.”
She looked down, a faint smile playing on her lips before she let go of my hand, wandering back to lean against the counter.
I watched her, my heart pounding, grateful for the silence, the understanding between us.
Before I could say anything else, my phone buzzed, vibrating on the counter. I glanced at the screen, seeing Roland’s name flash across it. Work.
The world outside was never far away, even in these quiet moments. I sighed, glancing at Sasha, who gave me a small nod, as if she knew I’d need to answer.
“Sebastian,” Roland’s voice sounded through the receiver, brisk and businesslike as always. “How did the meeting go?”
“Meeting?” I echoed, realising I’d nearly forgotten about the previous day.
The details had blurred, my mind so consumed by Sasha. But I filled him in, trying to remember as many specifics as I could.
I had done my part, but all of it seemed trivial now, just a series of steps in a routine that had grown stale.
Roland paused, then asked, “And… anything else happened?” His voice held a note of something beyond curiosity almost like concern.
I hesitated, glancing at Sasha, who had turned her attention to the coffee cup in her hands, pretending not to listen.
But I knew she could hear me, knew she was waiting for me to answer. “Yeah, actually. Sasha and I… we talked last night. Finally admitted we feel the same way.”
There was a long silence on the other end, longer than I’d expected. Roland was never one for silence, usually quick with his words, fast with his plans. But now, he was quiet, his hesitation loud in a way that left me uneasy.
“That’s… good,” he said slowly, though his voice was more subdued than I’d expected. “Congratulations.”
The word felt strange coming from him. I’d known Roland a long time, seen him in countless deals, at countless dinners, watched him manoeuvre through some of the sharpest minds. But I had never heard him sound so… uncertain.
“Everything all right?” I asked, frowning.
“Yes, of course,” he replied, too quickly. “Just… something urgent has come up. I should go.”
Before I could respond, he hung up, the line going dead in my hand. I stared at the phone, my mind churning.
Roland had never been one to rush off, especially not after congratulating me on something so personal.
Sasha’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Everything okay?”
I looked up, seeing the concern in her eyes. For a moment, I considered brushing it off, but the feeling gnawed at me, settling like a stone in my stomach.
“Roland… he seemed off. Said something urgent had come up.”
She stepped closer, her hand finding mine, squeezing gently. “Do you trust him?”
The question took me off guard, and I found myself nodding almost reflexively. “I’ve known him for years. He’s… well, he’s always been there.”
“But now things are different,” she pointed out softly.
“Maybe that’s why he’s reacting the way he is. You’re choosing something-someone-that’s not part of the plan he’s used to.”
Her words struck a chord in me, one I hadn’t considered. I looked at her, truly looked, and realised that what I felt for her, what I wanted with her, went against everything I’d ever planned.
And maybe that was what made it feel real. It wasn’t just another strategy, another calculated decision.
“I know he means well,” I murmured, looking down at our joined hands. “But I don’t care what anyone thinks. This is what I want. You… are what I want.”
Sasha’s gaze softened, her fingers brushing over mine. She didn’t need to say anything; her silence spoke volumes.
And in that moment, I knew that whatever was happening, whatever changes were coming, we’d face them together.
I pulled her close, feeling the warmth of her in my arms, the steady beat of her heart.