Chapter 34

Stephanie

It seems to take forever to get wherever it is we’re going. Finally, I feel myself being lowered to a bed or a table or something. I hear voices but don’t recognize any of them. I try to open my eyes but blink against the light. My hand reaches for...I don’t know what. Suddenly, a large hand envelopes mine. “I’m here.” Sebastian’s voice is my saving.

I’m not clear about what happens over the course of the next chunk of time. I am aware of voices coming and going, of being carried, of moving. And then blissfully, the pain begins to recede. I think that’s because of the pain pills. And then finally, I’m in a soft bed. I feel a kiss on the top of my head. “Sleep, Love. I’ll be right here when you wake up.” I think that’s what I hear, or maybe I dreamed it. Either way, my body obeys.

___________

I open my eyes and blink. I stare at a wall for a moment while my brain tries to process. I feel something heavy over me and realize it’s an arm…not mine. I roll over slightly and see Sebastian right behind me, sound asleep. My movement must wake him because he opens his eyes. When he sees I”m awake, he immediately props himself up on his elbow. “Hey, how are you feeling?” he asks gently. I frown as I try to piece together why I’m in bed with Sebastian. He must see my confusion. “You’re at my house,” he says softly. “I put you in my bed so I could wake you often during the first twenty-four hours.” He studies my face. “Do you remember hitting your head on the ice?” Suddenly, memories come flooding back--shooting the puck and then colliding with the ice.

“Did I make it?” I ask, my voice raspy.

“That’s what you want to know first after being out of it for two days?”

“Yes. Did I make the shot?”

He smiles and shakes his head. “Yeah, you did.”

”Yes!” I immediately follow that up with, “Ouch.”

He smiles again. “Come on. Let’s get you out of bed and see how you’re feeling. You have to be starving. I haven’t been able to get you to eat much.” He leans towards me like he’s going to kiss me, and I back up.

“What are you doing?” I ask in alarm.

He gives me a weird look. “I was going to kiss you.”

“Nope.” I’m already moving slowly toward the edge of the bed.

“Why not?” he nearly growls.

“Morning breath,” I say as I stagger out of bed. The room spins for a minute.

“Whoa.” Strong arms come around me from behind. “Easy,” he murmurs in my ear. “Just give yourself a minute; you haven’t been vertical in a little while.” I close my eyes and let myself rest against his strength a few minutes.

“I’m good now,” I tell him, and he releases me slowly. “Wait,” I say, turning around. “Did you say two days?” He nods. “So, it’s Monday morning?”

“It is.”

I shriek. “What time is it?”

“It’s almost seven-thirty.”

“I have to get ready for school!”

“Stephanie, Love,” he says, pulling me back to him. “Bri told your principal what happened; you have a sub for today.”

My panic melts. “Oh. Good. Phew. Then is it okay if I take a shower?” I glance down at myself. “Um, what am I wearing?”

“You are currently wearing my t-shirt and shorts, and no, I didn’t change your clothes. Yes, I wanted to; but Brielle wouldn’t let me. And yes, I love you in my clothes.”

I frown. “Okay, that’s a lot to process. I think I’m just going to shower.”

“Go ahead, Baby. I made sure you have products in there.” He walks ahead of me and turns on the light to the bathroom. When I walk inside, I stop and stare at the huge Jacuzzi bath.

“Oh,” I breathe. “Scratch that; I’m taking a bath.”

He chuckles. “Good.” He stops in front of me, puts his hands on my upper arms, and bends low as he looks into my eyes. “Your eyes are clear. That’s good. I’ll start the water for you.”

“Can you make it hot? I like it really hot.”

“Will do.” He stands up and walks back over to me. “You need help?” he asks hopefully.

I smirk. “I think I’ve got it.”

“Are you sure? I’m just looking out for you.”

“Positive.”

His face turns serious. “Seriously, though, if you need me, just holler. I’m going to work on something to eat. You have to be starving. Anything sound good?”

“Coffee,” I tell him, sounding desperate.

He smiles. “Got it.” He kisses me on my forehead. “Take your time.” He disappears a moment later. But before I can start undressing, he knocks on the door. “Hang on a second, Babe.”

“You can come in.”

He opens the door. “I brought my clothes for you. I realize they’re going to be big, but that’s all I’ve got for now.” He puts clothes on the sink. “I don’t have any underwear for you. I was going to go out and buy some for you, but I didn’t know if we were to that stage of our relationship yet.” He turns around and faces me hopefully. “Are we?”

“No.”

He grins. “That’s what I thought.”

“Out, Sebastian.”

“Just so you know, when you’re ready of course, I have some really great ideas for underwear for you.”

“Out, Sebastian.”

“I’m thinking hot pink, black, lace. Oh, I saw—”

“Out Sebastian.”

He laughs. “Fine. I’ll leave. But I can’t wait until we get to that part of our relationship, Baby,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows. He winks at me and closes the door.

Only when I’m sure he’s not going to come back in, do I strip down and climb into the hot water and sigh when I sink into the bubbles. I let the jets do their work as I relax. I can’t believe he’s even thinking about anything like that when I look as rough as I do. I put my head against the wall of the tub, but quickly nix that idea when it hurts the back of my head. My mind wanders to the events of Saturday. I scowl when I think of William showing up. I haven’t had a chance to talk to my parents about it yet, but that will be on my agenda for today. I wonder if I should just drive down to talk to them in person. Actually, I don’t wonder. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to nip this in the bud right now. With that thought firmly in mind, I wash my hair and body and shave. A few minutes later, I step out and dry off. I look at Sebastian’s hoodie and know it’s going to be way too big, but it will have to do. I put my bra on and then the sweatshirt. When I hold up the pants, I realize they are just not going to work. He”s too much taller than me. I decide to just wear my jeans from Saturday, only I can’t find them. I look down and realize Sebastian’s sweatshirt is plenty long. I head out into the hallway to track him down and find him in the kitchen. “Hey, have you seen my jeans?”

Sebastian turns to me and freezes. His eyes scan me from head to toe, and I fight the urge to squirm under his perusal. “Is there a reason you’re standing in my kitchen looking incredibly hot in my sweatshirt and no pants?”

I wave him off. “It’s not that big a deal.”

His eyebrows raise. He puts down the spoon he was using and walks over to me. There’s something in the way he walks toward me that makes me feel like prey. I fight the urge to back up. “I don’t think you understand how a guy’s mind works, Baby.” His voice is hoarse. “You can’t walk in here in just my sweatshirt, and not think it’s not going to be a big deal.” He closes his eyes. “Okay. Let’s just have this conversation at another point, preferably when you’re completely dressed—head to toe. But for now, Bri dropped off clothes for you while you were in the shower.” He nods towards a bag on the counter.

“Thanks. I’ll be right back.” Once I’m dressed, I head back to the kitchen. “So let me get this straight. I shouldn’t wander into the kitchen in just a sweatshirt anymore? I should be fully dressed at all times?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.

“Exactly.”

“Like in a turtleneck and jeans?” I ask.

“Perfect.”

“And a parka?” I add.

“Even better.”

“So not a silk robe then?” I ask.

“Yes. Wait, no,” he stumbles over his words.

“With a silk sash that unties the entire thing in one go?” I ask innocently.

His eyes narrow. “Are you messing with me?”

I blink innocently. “Who me? I have a concussion; I’m not responsible for anything I say or do.”

“Oh, you are completely responsible, Baby,” he says in a low growl. He moves towards me, but I retreat until I’m back against the wall. He closes in on me and puts his hands on the wall on either side of my head and lets his body weight fall against mine. “You have absolutely no idea what you do to me,” he says in a low voice as he nuzzles my neck.

“Oh, I think I have some idea,” I say right back. “It’s not my fault you have no self-control,” I taunt.

He sputters and pulls his head back. “No self-control? Is that what you think?” He growls at me, like legitimately growls at me.

My eyes widen. “Did you just growl at me?”

“I have the patience of a saint, no a eunuch,” he says. “Do you know how hard it’s been for me not to touch you, to kiss you like I’ve wanted to since the first moment I met you? I’ve had to wait forever.”

“Oh, poor baby,” I say with a grin.

He stares down at me. “You’re a vixen, you know that?”

“I know,” I say in a voice that sounds much more sultry than I’m used to.

“I think turnabout is only fair play,” he mutters, staring at my lips.

“What?” I ask, momentarily confused. And then his lips are on mine, and I forget everything and anything else. When I open for him, he chases my tongue and I’m lost in a sea of feelings and emotions. He groans low in his throat and pulls me closer, running his hands down my back, my sides, my hair. Everywhere his hand touches leaves a feeling of fire behind. I’m consumed with him. He’s all around me in the very best way. My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. He starts a path down my neck, my jawline, my ear, my collarbone. This time, it’s me moaning loudly.

“Ah,” he kisses me again. “That sound. Baby, all those sounds are for me alone.” He kisses me again. My legs feel like jelly, but he keeps me propped against the wall. My hands snake behind his neck and into his hair. I tug, and he groans low again. I love that I have that control over him. I pull on his shirt, trying to get him closer. He responds by putting a hand around my upper back and pulling me closer, keeping our lips locked together. He deepens the kiss at this new angle, and I’m about to come out of my skin. He finally slows the kiss. Eventually, he kisses me one more time and then pulls back. He rests his forehead against mine and tries to catch his breath; I’m doing the same thing in his arms. “I...you...”

I smile. “I...you too.”

He smirks. “Shut up.”

“You shut up.”

He kisses me again. “You are such a brat.”

I beam up at him. “Thank you.”