SEBASTIAN’S POV
I dropped down to my knees in front of her, doing everything I could to keep my face composed.
The amusement bubbling up in my chest was nearly too much to contain, but I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my composure.
Sasha’s expression, though, was giving me away. Her wide eyes and slightly parted lips told me exactly what she was thinking.
She’d jumped to conclusions the moment I guided her to the bedroom, and I could see the pink creeping over her cheeks.
She looked away, clearly flustered, and crossed her arms over her chest. I was tempted to laugh.
Yes, I’d considered that kind of evening with her, but I couldn’t resist this chance to tease her a bit. We had all night, after all.
“Did I… Did I surprise you?” I asked, my tone laced with the faintest hint of amusement.
“Surprise me?” she echoed, still avoiding my gaze. “Sebastian, what are you doing?”
I tilted my head up to catch her eye, barely containing my smirk. “Just getting comfortable.”
Her eyes narrowed, finally catching the glint of humour in mine. “You’re messing with me.”
“Maybe,” I admitted, chuckling softly. “But you looked like you were expecting something else.”
Sasha’s cheeks darkened even more, and she tried to cover it with a huff. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”
“I’ve been called worse,” I said, straightening up to take a seat on the bed. I patted the spot beside me, gesturing for her to sit as well. “But come on, sit. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
Reluctantly, she crossed the room and joined me on the bed. Her body language shifted, the initial embarrassment slipping away as her curiosity took over.
I studied her for a moment, taking in the way she was trying so hard to look unaffected. She’d never admit it, but I knew she loved these little games, the way we played off each other. I’d learned that much about her.
“So,” she started, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them. “What’s on your mind?”
I took a breath, feeling the weight of the next few words settle on me. “There’s a business trip coming up,” I began, keeping my tone casual even though I knew this would change things.
“I’ll be gone for a while-at least a couple of weeks.”
Her eyes widened slightly, and her expression grew more serious. “A couple of weeks?”
“Maybe more,” I admitted, trying to soften the blow. “It’s something that can’t wait. An important meeting with clients overseas, and there are a lot of moving pieces I need to handle in person.”
She was quiet for a moment, processing. Her fingers played with the hem of her shirt as she looked away, her thoughts clearly drifting.
I could see the small hint of worry in her eyes, even though she tried to keep it hidden.
“Why didn’t you mention it sooner?” she asked quietly.
I rubbed the back of my neck, a bit guilty. “I was trying to figure out the timing, make sure everything was confirmed before I told you. Besides… I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.”
She sighed, leaning back a bit on her arms. “I get it. It’s just… a long time.”
“Yeah, it is.” I reached out, placing a hand over hers, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. “But I was thinking, maybe you could come with me.”
Her gaze snapped back to mine, surprise flashing across her face. “Come with you? Really?”
I nodded, watching her reaction closely. “Yeah. I mean, why not?”
” You’ve mentioned before that you haven’t done much travelling, and this would be a chance for you to see more of the world. Besides, it would be… nice. Having you there.”
Her face softened, and she gave me a small, hesitant smile. “You think I’d be any help on a business trip?”
“Help?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “I don’t need you to help.
I just want you there. It’s not about work. It’s about us, Sasha. Spending time together, seeing new places together. I want you to experience that with me.”
She looked down at our hands, her fingers entwined with mine. “It sounds… amazing, honestly. But are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“Trust me,” I murmured, squeezing her hand gently. “You’re the best kind of distraction.”
A small laugh escaped her lips, and she shook her head, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.
I could see the possibility taking shape in her mind, the idea of stepping out of her comfort zone and experiencing something new.
“Where would we go?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.
“Paris, for starters. Then maybe Milan, and possibly London.” I watched her reaction, and sure enough, her eyes lit up.
“And I’m not talking about being stuck in boardrooms all day, either. We’d have plenty of time to explore.”
“Paris, Milan, and London?” she whispered, as if the names themselves were some kind of magic. “I’ve never even dreamed of going to places like that.”
“Well, you should start dreaming bigger,” I teased, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You deserve it, Sasha. I want to give that to you.”
She looked up at me, and for a moment, there was a vulnerability in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before. She bit her lip, her fingers tightening around mine.
“It sounds too good to be true,” she said softly, almost like she didn’t trust that this was real.
I leaned closer, my voice dropping to a murmur. “It’s real, Sasha. I want this for us. A chance to make memories, away from everything else. Just the two of us.”
She took a deep breath, her eyes searching mine, as if looking for any sign that I wasn’t serious. But I meant every word.
The thought of her beside me, experiencing new places, was something I hadn’t let myself consider before. Yet now that I had, I couldn’t shake it.
“I… I’d love that, Sebastian,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
A slow smile spread across my face, and I pulled her closer, wrapping my arms around her. She settled against me, and I could feel her heartbeat, steady and sure, as she leaned into me.
“Good,” I murmured, resting my chin on the top of her head. “Because I can’t imagine going without you.”