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Sebastian pours himself a glass of apple juice, listening to Grace and her lady friends speak of trivial things in the suite's kitchenette. Topics that he as a man, didn't find all too interesting. Nor did he find the need to chime in, luckily Grace had dragged all the women from the room. Leaving Sebastian and River in an awkward silence- all by themselves in the seating lounge.
River's hands clasp together, and he lets out a hefty sigh as he nestles both hands between his closed thighs. Sebastian watches with curiosity, waiting on River to spark up a conversation, yet minutes pass. Sebastian could still hear the women laughing and speaking loudly as glasses clink noisily from the adjoined kitchen.
"You seem distracted." Sebastian regards River, who purses his lips upward.
-After Sebastian's impulsive forgetting of himself, he'd left the hotel with a heavy heart and the start of the alcohol's subtle effects. With nowhere left to turn, he contacted the one person he figured he could speak to- Russell Adams. A man who spoke openly about his troubles with romance, and how he'd become happily married."You kissed him?" Russell is wide-eyed after Sebastian conveys his mistake, or rather the one thing he wanted to do again.They sit in a warm, welcoming ambience of the hotel's bar and restaurant, at a more private area with a round table and plush seats. Waiters, waitresses, and patrons all enjoy the scintillating tones of the soft-jazz being played by a local band. Women dressed in all kinds of attires, from skimpy to moderate and flattering moved to and fro like bees in a colony. The men all had one desire,
-"You wanna tell me what's going on?" Grace asks after moment of watching Sebastian clamor over the mess."I dropped a bottle, nothing serious." He assures, frowning at her skeptical glance he can feel through the back of his head."We got a little too frisky." Kellie comments, letting out a painfully nervous chuckle."I see." Grace responds then turns to face an embarrassed Sebastian- red in the face."I have to run." Kellie states and Grace nods, unable to form the words to reply."Yeah." Sebastian says awkwardly and Kellie raises an eyebrow.She then scoffs, leaving, bitter in
-- Two Days Ago -Grace Keller stands at River's doorway, with a worried look and tight smile. Dressed in her casual ensemble of a figure fitting white dress, matched with pearls and retro pumps. Her hair is caught up in a messy, neat bun, which reveals the slight chubbiness of her face."Mrs. Keller?""River, dear. I'm sorry to just drop in on you like this." Grace says apologetically and River shakes his head."It's f-fine, I'm not busy anyway." Grace regards him somberly, for she could see something in his eyes- Something about Sebastian."May I come in?" She asks, and River hesitates.
-- Three Months Later -After weeks of not returning to Black Co. Sebastian began thinking about his return. He felt it arduous to face anybody after Caleb's almost fatal diagnosis. Once again he was shaken with fear of having to grieve someone he truly loved and cared for again. He could've put on a brave face, toughed it out like everyone expected him to, but it was a task he wasn't up for.Cairo was equally saddened by the whole ordeal, and had burrowed down into his own sadness. Because almost losing half of him was never what he could ever anticipate, but luckily Sebastian was there. For the boy he could be strong, but it wasn't easy to face the reality. Caleb was a part of their team- the family they'd inadvertently built. Sebastian was a beacon, even more than Cali, who couldn'
-River pulls into his parking spot, below the apartment building and lets out a sigh of relief. He hurriedly hops out of his car, and make's sure it is safely shut. He quickly walks up to the entrance stairs, and halts when he spots Sebastian Black standing at the double, glass doors.Surprised, River doubles back, panicking for he'd only left the man's penthouse just two hours before. Sebastian turns and his face is illuminated by the lights above that shines down on him like a spotlight. River grimaces at the thought, of finding Sebastian attractive. For it was the one thing he tried not to do, only he was failing as the days swept by.Sebastian was a man of poise, who rarely smiled unless necessary. The few times that River had the honor of witnessing Sebastian smiling, carved at his soul desperately. For the man was the epitome of
Sebastian's hands wrap around River's back, and their chests press together. A small gasp escapes River's lips, as Sebastian just glares down at him, with desire in his eyes so potent River is infected by the contagion of raucous desire. Their lips come closer and closer. Slowly closing the distance between them, with an eagerness that had them clinging. At once they touch, and nothing had felt more right to Sebastian. A magnitude of emotions rattle through River, and he wanted to stop. He wanted to push Sebastian away, but he couldn't bring himself to do something so stupid. For it was much too beautiful, and sensual to dismiss or ignore. It would be a sin,
- One Month Later -After an awkward month, River needed a night out. Something fun to do in his misery, and it surely was a needed distraction after a week of dealing with it alone. To his fortune, Cali, who was grieving the loss of the fostering of Caleb and Cairo, called to invite River out. Without hesitance, he agreed to be her plus-one at some fancy, formal-wear party at one of Manhattan's hottest clubs.After getting off the phone with Cali, River proceeds to find the perfect outfit to wear. Glitter was a local spot, smack in the middle of Manhattan. Where the city was ablaze with its lights, and never-ending activity. Of course, River didn't know what or where it was, but luckily there was GPS and ride-share services."I'm glad you could make it." Cali greets him with a hug, and a light kiss on the right cheek- genuinely excited as she greets River at the entrance of the club."Took some convincing," he sh
-Swearing under his breath, River tries to stuff the last comforter set he purchased on a shopping spree into the full boot of his car. Moving into a new place brought a certain joy to River because it gave him his own space to mourn and grieve."Whew!" River yells as he pulls down the door- Patchy, dented, and now older than it last appeared just a month before.He leans against the back of the car and closes his eyes, sighing in content as his face is warmed by the air. He presses his right leg back, but it bumps into the askew bumper begging to be tapped once more to fall off."That's it, I'm buying an SUV with so much freaking space!" He whispers shouts, still heaving in dry breaths.River finally looks down and fishes his phone from his pocket, sighing when the screen brightens. His notifications pad is empty, void of any communication besides emails from marketers and his car insurance