SEBASTIAN’S POV
Lying next to Sasha, her breath warm against my neck, I wondered how it was possible to feel this way for someone to be this captivated by every glance, every touch, every breath.
I’d held her close a thousand times before, yet the pull toward her never dulled. My hand drifted over her bare shoulder, tracing lazy patterns along her skin as I listened to her breathing slow, deepening into a rhythm that almost calmed me. Almost.
I never really wanted to let her go, even in my sleep. And I didn’t plan to. With each day, the love I felt for Sasha took root, deeper than before.
I was done pretending my feelings were anything less than what they were. I wanted to hold onto her like this forever, wanted her to know no, to feel that I was hers in every way that mattered.
She stirred, stretching a little, her lashes fluttering as she blinked herself awake. I smiled, catching that brief look of surprise that melted into a lazy smile. She glanced up at me, sleepy yet curious.
“Good morning, love,” I murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.
“Good morning,” she replied, her voice still husky with sleep. A faint blush rose to her cheeks, her expression softening as her hand found mine, fingers threading together.
In that moment, a thought struck me, a quiet certainty in the back of my mind. I was ready to do this, to show her what she meant to me.
I tightened my grip on her hand, my thumb brushing the back of her palm as I tried to put into words what I felt.
“Sasha,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. She looked at me, and something shifted in her gaze-a quiet understanding.
“Yes?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
There were a hundred things I wanted to say, but instead, I just looked at her, hoping she’d see the unspoken promise in my eyes.
She waited, her gaze unwavering, her fingers still tangled with mine. Then, slowly, she nodded, as if she understood without me having to say a word.
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “Come with me,” I said, my voice low, inviting.
Before she could respond, I pulled her into my arms, lifting her effortlessly as I made my way toward the bathroom.
She laughed softly, her arms wrapping around my neck as she clung to me, her eyes alight with something I hadn’t seen before-trust, excitement, and maybe a hint of surrender.
The cool tiles met my bare feet as I stepped into the bathroom, the morning light casting a soft glow around us. I set her down gently, but kept my arms around her, watching as she looked up at me with a quiet intensity.
She didn’t pull away, didn’t say a word-just waited, her lips parted, her breath catching as she searched my face.
I leaned down, close enough that our foreheads touched. “Sasha,” I breathed, my voice barely audible. “Tell me what you want.”
Her eyes searched mine, wide and vulnerable, before she bit her lip, nodding. “Whatever you want,” she whispered.
I exhaled, barely keeping myself in check as I brought my hands to her face, cradling her gently.
“Are you sure?” I asked, not quite trusting that this moment was real. I wanted her permission, her understanding-wanted her to know that this was about more than just desire. It was about us.
She nodded again, her gaze steady, giving me the reassurance I needed. “Yes, Sebastian. I trust you.”
The weight of those words hit me harder than I’d expected. I breathed in, trying to steady myself as I ran my fingers through her hair, feeling the softness of each strand as it slipped through my hands.
My thumb traced her cheek, brushing against her skin, as I searched her eyes for any sign of hesitation.
But there was none. She stood there, her hands resting lightly on my chest, her gaze unwavering. I leaned down, closing the distance between us, and kissed her-a slow, deliberate kiss that said everything I couldn’t put into words.
She melted against me, her fingers curling into my hair as I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss until we were both breathless.
When we finally broke apart, I pressed my forehead against hers, inhaling deeply as I tried to ground myself. “Sasha,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. “I… I need you.”
She reached up, her hand resting gently against my cheek as she looked at me with a soft, almost reverent expression.
“I’m here, Sebastian,” she whispered, her voice steady. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
The honesty in her words, the vulnerability it was more than I could’ve asked for.