Drunken Confession

“I'm exhausted. I need to go to bed.” Daisy announced, getting out of her seat.

“Me too,” Arian adds. “I think Celine has something planned for tomorrow."

Thea pulled away from Seth, her warmth leaving his body instantly. He wanted to pull her back in, he wanted this to last just a little bit longer. Seth glanced at his wristwatch and sighed, it was pretty late.

“It's past midnight,” he announced.

“Yup! That's my cue. See you all later, I guess.” Arian said, getting out of the seat.

“Goodnight,” Daisy announced, a yawning escaping her mid-sentence.

They all made their way to their separate cabins. They had fun hanging out with each other but it was time to rest.

Thea and Seth were left to walk back to their cabin alone in silence, something she was starting to dread.

Thea shuts her eyes as she takes careful steps through the grass, a feeling of content washing over her. She didn't have to think about her problems; she left them at the entrance to the resort, and it felt amazing.

Seth watched her. Thea seemed to be enjoying the quiet stroll, her face tilted up to the stars, a soft smile on her lips. Seth walked beside her, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on her. The night air was cool, but the atmosphere between them was anything but cold.

It was a comfortable silence. Not tense, not stiff, just comfortable. They walked in silence until they made it to their cabin.

Seth opened the door and gestured for her to go in first. Thea paused, her eyes scanning the cabin in silence. Stepping in here, she knew all that feeling of bliss would disappear and a part of her hated that.

“You okay?” He asked, face full of concern.

She nodded as she walked in and Seth followed, closing the door behind him.

Thea hands him his jacket which he took from her, his fingers brushing over hers slightly.

“Thank you. Even though that was a show for Celine..” Thea blurted out before she could control herself.

She shuts her eyes, biting her lips, this only seems to make her look desperate. That wasn't what she was going for but she could deny the part of her that hoped he did that out of genuine concern, not just to give Celine some kind of impression about their relationship.

“Forget I said that.” She said, turning away from him and walking towards the bed.

“It wasn't a show,” Seth said, as he dropped his jacket onto the armchair.

Thea froze. She turned towards him slowly, arms crossed across her chest with a questioning look in his eyes.

“You were cold and you needed a jacket.” He said simply but his tone wasn't guarded as it always was, it was calm and….sincere.

“And the kiss on my….”

"It wasn't a show either.” He cuts in, taking a step towards her and then another until he is close enough.

Thea glanced up at him, does he mean that?

"I'll take the chair tonight," he said, moving to sit.

“What was it then?” Thea pressed. She wasn't going to let him off so easily.

Seth froze, his hand hovering over the chair. He hadn't expected her to bring it up, he hoped she wouldn't ask. And knowing he was drunk and liquor tends to make his tongue loose, he knew he was done for.

Thea shook her head, taking a step away from him. “Never mind. We…put on a good show tonight. I'm sure Arian and Daisy were very convinced too..”

She turned away from him, heading towards the bed. Two long strides and Seth grabbed her arm, twirling her towards him.

Their faces were close, lips almost touching. Seth was breathing heavily, his eyes staring down at her lips. “I don't know about you but it wasn't a show. I was worried you'd catch a cold so I gave you my jacket.”

“Let go of me,” Thea warned, trying to wiggle out of his firm grip around her waist but it only got tighter.

“Look at me,” Seth whispered.

“No! Let go.” Thea warned, struggling even harder but he was way too strong.

“Thea.”

She paused, the way her name rolled off his tongue. It didn't sound strained or forced…it sounded like the one word he was desperate to call every day..

“Look at me.”

Hesitant, she met his gaze and the man in front of her was very different from the Seth she had met months back.

“I hugged you and kissed your hair not because Celine was there but because I wanted to touch you.”

“You're drunk Seth,” Thea replied, trying to look away but she failed. She's never seen him since calm, so vulnerable.

“When you leaned on me earlier, just staring at the stars..I wish we could stay that way forever.”

Thea froze, seeing the look in his eyes, she knew he meant every word. Could it be the liquor? For some people, getting drunk only brings out their true selves. Could that be the case with Seth?

“Why?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Why did you want it to last forever?"

Seth looked at her, his mind reeling. He could see the vulnerability in her eyes, the genuine desire to know.

The alcohol had loosened his tongue, made him more honest than he had been in months. But there were still some things he couldn't say.

He couldn't tell her that he was falling for her, that he was starting to feel something more than just a business arrangement.

Not yet. He didn't know how to.

He shook his head, a look of frustration crossing his face. "I don't know," he said. "

Thea’s shoulders slumped slightly, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. She took a small step back, creating a physical barrier between them.

“Why are you telling me all this if you don't know why?” She asked.

“It's complicated,” Seth admitted. “We have a contract..”

Thea scoffed. “It's always about the contract! This isn't some business arrangement, Seth! This is about us!!”

“Thea, I... “

Thea covered the distance between them, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. The slight tremor in her hand was the only sign of her nervousness.

She was feeling very brave tonight for some reason. Their so-called contract has dictated everything and tonight, she was sick of it.

"Then don't say it," she whispered, her gaze locked on his lips. "Show me."

Seth's breath hitched. He didn't move. Thea took it as her cue. She rose on her tiptoes, her lips meeting his in a soft, gentle touch.

Seth remained still and Thea's heart almost sank. Here she was, trying to make things easier but he doesn't seem to feel the same way.

Just when she was about to pull away from him, his lips moved against hers. He brought a hand up to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

Seth deepened the kiss, it was his way of showing her how he felt even when words had failed him. It was his silent confession, his desperate way of releasing all the feelings he couldn't put into words.

Thea’s arms wrapped around his neck, holding on as if to ground herself. The kiss was all-consuming, barely giving her time to catch her breath..