The Line Is Crossed

Sebastian’s POV

She was a godsend, Liora Bennett.

I gazed at her as she slept, her head dropping to one side of the chair, her shoulders sagging.

Stress masked her face, but it couldn’t hide the beautiful innocence her face radiated. I was aware of everything that had happened last night; how she had stayed up all night taking care of me, not blinking an eye.

It touched a part of me that I didn’t know existed. And now, seeing her here sleeping so peacefully, I couldn’t deny that this woman had gotten under my skin.

Her lips I couldn’t ignore; so full and pink, I wondered what it would be like to plant a kiss on them, plant prayers on them as Shakespeare would say.

And so I did.

Gently; quietly, I moved towards her and stole a kiss from those tempting lips. It was innocent at first, but it ignited something raw and dangerous inside me.

Something I had never felt before.

And it woke her up. Her eyelids fluttered sleepily, but then they jerked awake once she saw me. We didn’t say anything to each other at that moment, but we both knew what we felt- sleeping or awake.

It terrified her, as it did me. I could see it in her eyes.

‘You’re…you’re well,’ she stuttered, her hands racking through her hair.

‘All thanks to you,’ I gave her a warm smile.

She returned the smile, and my body roared in response to it. I wanted more, wanted to know what she tasted like again and again until I had had enough.

But I didn’t want to scare her; I didn’t want her to leave, ever.

For the first time in weeks, I could stand upright and take a bath myself. After Liora confirmed that I was stable enough to walk without aid, she went to her room to freshen up.

We both had breakfast on the dinner table, and it felt so good walking and sitting like every normal person. Sometimes we don’t appreciate the things we have or can do, until we lose the ability to do them.

Even something as simple as sitting and walking.

I looked at her as she ate, trying so hard to ignore the way she made my body stay on full alert.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ She looked up at me, her tone teasing.

‘How am I looking at you?’ I cocked my head.

‘Like I’m edible.’

‘Of course you are edible. The sweetness is in your genes.’

I chuckled, knowing fully well I had gotten that line from the Impulse book she read to me some nights ago.

Later on, we took a stroll around the garden. I needed to get some fresh air and feel my legs again. Even if the pain hadn’t completely subsided, it was better than lying in bed all day.

I paused and turned to look at her.

‘If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’

She stopped and turned to me.

‘Since when did you read Romeo and Juliet?’ She asked me.

‘Since I knew you adored Shakespeare,’ I replied.

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head, but she was smiling. That soft, unguarded smile she rarely gave to anyone.

It did something to me.

I moved closer toward her. The space between us shrank until I could feel the warmth of her body, could smell that faint floral scent she carried.

I lifted my hand, hesitated, then brushed my thumb tracing her jawline. She stiffened at first, but didn’t pull away.

‘Sebastian,’ she whispered, ‘this is a bad idea.’

‘I know,’ I said softly before I leaned in. I stopped short of her lips, giving her enough time to stop me.

She didn’t. Her breath hitched, making her gasp; that sound snapped whatever control I had left.

I kissed her.

It wasn’t gentle this time. It was desperate, like I had been starving for her and had just realized it. Her hands came up to grip my shirt instinctively, but then she froze like she remembered everything that stood between us.

She pulled away first.

‘We shouldn’t,’ she said between pants. ‘Vivienne…this house… I need air.’

She turned and walked back to the house, not looking back.

I stood there alone, fists clenched, every instinct within urging me to go after her, but I didn’t.

Because if I touched her again, I wouldn’t stop.

We didn’t see each other for the rest of that day. I stayed in my bedroom at night, working on my laptop. Once I felt exhausted with work, I stood up and headed to the bathroom to shower.

As I came out, my towel loosely draped around my waist, I saw her peeking from the door.

‘Oh! I’m sorry,’ She tried to go away.

‘Liora!’ I called her back immediately. ‘Come in,’ I darted across the bedroom towards her.

She hesitated before coming in. ‘I just wanted to check on you. When you didn’t reply after I’d knocked. I was thinking something was wrong…’

I strode towards her, each stride betraying my confidence. She backed away as I walked closer, until her back hit the wall.

I didn’t stop moving until I was just an inch’s breadth away from her, catching a whiff of that fantastic floral scent again.

‘Sebastian,’ she called out, her hazel eyes staring up at me so full of innocence.

I loved it when she called my name like that. My body responded to her voice; it was spectacular.

‘We can’t,’ she put her hands on my chest, but didn’t push me away.

‘You shouldn’t be here,’ I muttered. ‘But if you leave now, I won’t be strong enough to pretend I don’t want you.’

She didn’t reply, and I lowered my head, my lips matching hers.

‘Tell me to stop,’ my voice dropped. ‘Say it, and I will.’

She didn’t say anything, and she didn’t push away either.

And that was all the permission I needed to take her. Our lips drew prayers while our hands made sinful gestures.

All the thoughts I’ve kept locked in my head were released that night, and I took her, gently at first, but with mounting desire.

And how I fit so well in her, her soft moans and gasps were music to my ears, igniting the passions I’ve had to restrain every time she was near me.

I had never felt that way with any other woman, claiming an innocence that was already driving me crazy. It was so ethereal.

By morning, we still lay cradled in each other’s comfort.

I stayed up in bed, watching her sleepy eyes open at me. Those hazel eyes …they were angelic.

The rest of the morning was filled with lazing in bed and making passionate love, her soft moans and giggles filling the entire room with joy.

The evening was spent in the garden, talking about books and chatting. I loved her laughter, her smile, her squeals when I held her around her waist. I loved the way her lips tasted, our tongues intertwining like they’ve known each other for a long time.

She was intoxicating, and so caught up were we with each other that I ignored the slamming of the patio door when we kissed each other again and again in the garden.