Chapter 5: Forbidden Desires For My Best Friend’s Dad

Isabella’s POV

My entire body froze the moment I heard Sebastian’s voice behind me.

Slowly, I turned around.

He stood near the staircase wearing black sweatpants and a fitted dark shirt that made him look unfairly attractive this early in the morning.

His dark hair looked slightly messy like he had just woken up.

And somehow…

That made him even hotter.

God.

This man was dangerous without even trying.

His eyes moved slowly toward the suitcase beside me before returning to my face.

“Leaving already?” he asked calmly.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay composed.

“Yes.”

Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest while staring at me carefully.

“Why?”

The simple question somehow made me nervous.

“I just think it’s better this way.”

His expression didn’t change.

“Better for who?”

I gripped my suitcase handle tighter.

“For both of us.”

A small silence filled the room.

The ocean waves outside crashed softly against the cliffs while morning light entered through the large glass windows.

But despite how peaceful everything looked, my heart was beating wildly inside my chest.

Because Sebastian Blackwood looked entirely too calm for a man who kissed me like he wanted to ruin me last night.

He slowly walked closer.

Not too close.

But close enough to make my pulse quicken.

“Did I do something to offend you?” he asked quietly.

“No.”

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

I shook my head immediately.

“No… You didn’t.”

And that was the problem.

If anything, he made me feel too comfortable.

Too aware.

Too tempted.

I looked away from him nervously.

“I just don’t want to invade your personal space,” I explained softly. “And honestly… I think I need some space too.”

Sebastian studied my face for a few long seconds.

Then suddenly, one side of his lips lifted slightly.

“You don’t have to pretend, Isabella.”

I frowned lightly.

“What?”

“If you don’t want me here, I can leave instead.”

My eyes widened.

“What?”

He shrugged casually like he wasn’t casually offering to leave his own mansion for me.

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Not really.”

His voice remained calm and steady.

“All you have to do is ask.”

I stared at him speechlessly.

Was this man serious?

Sebastian stepped even closer now.

Close enough that I could smell his cologne again.

Fresh.

Warm.

Dangerously masculine.

“I have never forced any woman to be around me,” he said quietly while holding my gaze. “And you wouldn’t be the first, Isabella.”

The intensity in his eyes made my stomach tighten.

God.

Why did everything he said sound so intimate?

I looked away quickly before my body betrayed me again.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.”

Silence settled between us briefly.

Then Sebastian sighed softly and rubbed the back of his neck.

“As much as I would love to leave and make this easier for you…” He paused slightly. “We’re stuck together, princess.”

I blinked in confusion.

“What?”

“The roads are flooded.”

My brows furrowed instantly.

“What do you mean flooded?”

“The rainstorm last night caused flooding across the area.” He nodded toward the large windows. “Nobody can leave town right now. And nobody can enter either.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

My heart dropped instantly.

No.

No no no.

This couldn’t be happening.

I quickly walked toward the nearest window and looked outside.

Only now did I notice how bad things actually were.

The roads near the property were almost completely covered in water.

The storm last night had been far worse than I thought.

“Oh my God…”

Sebastian walked up beside me quietly.

“The police already blocked most exits this morning.”

I turned toward him quickly.

“For how long?”

He shrugged lightly.

“If the rain doesn’t start again, maybe two days.”

“Two days?”

“But if it rains again…” His gaze locked with mine slowly. “We could be here for almost a week.”

A whole week?

Alone?

With Sebastian Blackwood?

My stomach flipped instantly.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Because one kiss was already enough to destroy my self-control.

A week with this man?

Absolutely impossible.

I crossed my arms tightly.

“Well… this is great.”

A low chuckle escaped him.

“You look terrified.”

“I’m not terrified.”

“You sure about that?”

I glared at him slightly while he looked entirely too amused.

God, this man enjoyed teasing me far too much.

“I’m perfectly fine,” I lied confidently.

“Mhm.”

His eyes traveled slowly over my face like he could see directly through my lies.

Then suddenly his expression softened slightly.

“You don’t have to worry.”

I frowned lightly.

“About what?”

“About me.”

Heat instantly rushed into my cheeks.

Sebastian noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

His dark eyes became even more intense.

“I want you,” he admitted calmly.

My breath caught instantly.

There he goes again.

Just casually saying things that completely ruined my ability to think.

He stepped closer slowly.

“I will make you a promise.”

My heart started racing again.

“About what exactly?”

“That I wouldn’t touch you again.”

His voice dropped lower.

“Until you beg me for it.”

The air left my lungs completely.

I stared at him in shock while warmth spread embarrassingly fast through my body.

This man—

The confidence.

The arrogance.

The way he said it was like he already knew the outcome.

My pride immediately reacted.

“That’s never going to happen, sir,” I said firmly.

Sebastian’s eyes darkened slightly at the word sir.

And somehow…

That made me even more nervous.

A slow smile spread across his lips.

Not mocking.

Not amused.

Dangerous.

“Okay,” he said simply.

The confidence in his voice irritated me instantly.

Like he knew something I didn’t.

Like he already knew I would lose this battle eventually.

I lifted my chin stubbornly.

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

“You’re very confident for someone who just got rejected.”

His smile widened slightly.

“I wasn’t rejected, princess.”

My stomach tightened again.

“Then what do you call it?”

“A delay.”

I opened my mouth to argue again but no words came out.

Because honestly?

The way he looked at me right now made it very hard to think clearly.

His eyes slowly moved over my body again.

Not rudely.

Not carelessly.

But intensely enough to make heat rise beneath my skin.

I suddenly became hyperaware of everything.

The thin fabric of my shirt.

My bare legs.

How close he stood.

How easy it would be for him to touch me again.

God.

I needed distance.

Immediately.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and stepped away from him.

“Well… since apparently I’m trapped here now, I’ll just stay in my room.”

Sebastian raised one eyebrow.

“You plan on hiding from me for a week?”

“I’m not hiding.”

Another amused look crossed his face.

“Of course not.”

I ignored him and grabbed my suitcase again.

But before I could turn away completely, his voice stopped me.

“Breakfast first.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“That wasn’t a question.”

I blinked at him.

Did he just order me around?

Sebastian casually walked past me toward the kitchen.

And annoyingly…

He looked incredibly attractive doing something as simple as making coffee.

I watched him silently for a second before quickly looking away.

Dangerous.

Everything about this man was dangerous.

“You stare a lot,” he said without turning around.

My face burned instantly.

“I do not.”

“You do.”

“I’m literally not even looking at you right now.”

A deep laugh escaped him.

God help me.

Even his laugh did things to my body.

I needed serious help.

A few minutes later, I reluctantly sat at the kitchen island while Sebastian prepared breakfast as if this were completely normal.

Like we hadn’t kissed passionately less than twelve hours ago.

The comfortable feeling of it all somehow made things even more intimate.

And more terrifying.

I watched silently as he moved around the kitchen effortlessly.

Strong hands.

Calm movements.

Controlled energy.

Everything about him screamed power.

Then suddenly he looked up and caught me staring again.

This time, his smile was slow.

Knowing.

My cheeks heated immediately.

“Careful, princess,” he said softly.

My heartbeat quickened.

“Careful of what?”

His dark eyes held mine completely.

“Eventually,” he said quietly, “you’re going to stop pretending you don’t want me too.”

The spoon in my hand slipped from my fingers and hit the counter loudly.

And judging by the dangerous look in Sebastian’s eyes…

He knew exactly what effect he had on me.