11. Sebastian

11

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian approached Mila in front of town hall, James at his side. Maybe he should have forced himself to stay as the meeting let out to get a better look at who was there. If he'd known Mila had been among the crowd, he'd have gone to her.

"I've been trying to talk sense into people," she said by way of greeting.

Sebastian stopped short. "What?"

Mila shook her head at him like she used to when he was young. "Come on, let's talk in the library. I closed up early, but I don't want to do this out here." She waved them over to the library entrance and unlocked the door.

Sebastian and James followed her inside. Half the lights were off, making the place dim and shadowy.

"You were at the meeting?" James asked.

Mila nodded grimly before turning to Sebastian. "Why don't you tell me the real story. I imagine I've only heard the smallest part."

Sebastian collapsed into a chair at a nearby table. "Who told you?"

Mila sat across from him. "My neighbor. She said there were veins of power out at Storm House set to explode because you abandoned watching over them. I wanted to tell her it was nonsense, but…" Hurt and fear lined Mila's face. "Was that really the reason you were out there?"

Sebastian explained everything. He felt like he was getting more efficient at telling the tale after so many repeats, not that it made it easier in this case.

"Stephen," Mila whispered once Sebastian had explained the curse and how it passed through his family. She covered her mouth with a trembling hand, then lowered it, balled into a tight fist. "That's why he never gave us a chance to be together. What a stubborn fool."

"I'm sorry?" Sebastian glanced sidewise at James. It wasn't exactly what he'd expected her to say.

"According to you, Stephen's parents and grandparents had families and fairly full lives even with this curse. Why couldn't Stephen have done that? Why not let me in? I'd have worked through a relationship with him even if he never left the house. Even if I didn't know why. He didn't have to be there alone."

Sebastian didn't know how to answer.

"He must not have seen it that way," James said gently.

"Apparently." Mila sighed. "I suppose I don't know exactly what I would have done. Maybe I wouldn't have wanted to work through it, not knowing what he was hiding. I'll never get the chance to find out." She paused, shaking her head. "I can understand Stephen not wanting to have children given the curse, and who knows, maybe he never wanted a family. I just don't know what to think now. I went through my whole adult life not knowing half of what was happening between me and him."

Mila stared off into space for a long moment. Sebastian let her process, wondering if learning this was harder than thinking Stephen had rejected her and pushed her away due to his reclusive tendencies.

The librarian shook herself, looking at Sebastian and James almost like she'd forgotten they were there. "I'm so glad you got out of there, Sebastian. You poor thing."

"I just wish it had ended when I left Storm House," Sebastian admitted.

"Of course, but your leaving didn't really make things more likely to explode, did it?"

Sebastian explained the rest of the story and how the darkness had impacted everything. "I'm sorry you've gotten sucked in. I hate to think that if we can't solve this, you won't be able to get out of town."

Mila waved him away like it was a minor inconvenience. "No need to be sorry. Not everything falls on you. And honestly, even if the worst happens, understanding why my past was the way it was is worth it. Something always nagged at me about Stephen, and now I know why. I can make peace and move on."

"I'm glad you see it that way." Something loosened in Sebastian's chest. He still hated that this could get Mila killed after everything she'd done for him, but he was glad she could find peace in the situation.

They hugged, and Sebastian relaxed even more. It felt good not to have secrets between them. They could rebuild their relationship in a more meaningful way now than if Sebastian was stuck lying forever.

They said goodnight, and Sebastian promised to see Mila again soon and keep her updated.

James took Sebastian back to his house rather than the duplex. Eli and Parker weren't there when they arrived, and despite the early hour, Sebastian was more than happy to retreat to James's room.

Perched on the edge of the bed, Sebastian tried calling his mom again. He called three times in a row to see if annoying her prompted her to pick up. It didn't. He thought about calling Kira just to rile everyone up, but he didn't have her number. It'd been over ten years since he'd seen or spoken to his sister. He never saw her or his mom again after moving in with Stephen permanently. He'd spoken to his mom periodically, but never Kira. She could be married with kids for all he knew.

Sebastian flopped back on the bed, lying on his side watching James as he rooted around in his closet. He let his mind go blank. He needed rest, not just sleep, but to not worry or do anything. He wanted a break from everything, even thinking.

James glanced over his shoulder, studying Sebastian. "Ready for bed?"

Sebastian scrunched his nose. "No, I'm just trying to turn my brain off."

James smiled, and it was positively evil. "I might have an idea to help with that."

"Oh?" Sebastian sat up, intrigued.

"Come here."

Sebastian was at his side in an instant.

"I've got something I thought you might like to wear."

"In a sexy, fun way?" Sebastian hoped.

"Yeah." James pulled Sebastian's shirt over his head and tossed it aside. "Remember when you said we could role-play losing our virginities to each other."

Excitement built low in Sebastian's belly. "How could I forget?"

James snorted. "Right. Well, I've got a counteroffer for you. Instead of that, because I don't think I need your virginity for you to be mine, how about this…?" He reached into the closet.

Sebastian hung on James's every word. He loved this. Affection overtook his excitement as James extracted a familiar, brightly colored jacket from the closet.

"Put it on." James handed Sebastian his old letterman jacket. "We might not have figured it out back then, but we belonged to each other, even when we weren't together. Even when we didn't speak or do more than stare from afar. You should have been walking around school in this, so let's make up for lost time. "

Sebastian pulled the jacket on, grinning. It fit about as well as James's leather jacket, though this one was slightly smaller in the shoulders.

James gazed at him tenderly. He ran a hand up Sebastian's arm, caressing the fabric. "Come see how you look."

Sebastian followed James into the bathroom. He looked funny in the ill-fitting jacket without a shirt, but James's expression said he thought otherwise.

He crowded Sebastian up against the counter, pressing into Sebastian's back, and nuzzled his neck, sending tingles up and down Sebastian's spine. "Perfect."

Sebastian leaned against James. "I like thinking I was always yours." It warmed him to imagine that even when he'd felt alone, he'd belonged to someone.

"Me too." James ran his hand under the jacket, around Sebastian's waist, and down to the front of his jeans.

Sebastian's breath hitched as James popped the button and slid the zipper down.

He pulled down Sebastian's pants, followed by his underwear. "I'm not so interested in pretending we're young again and doing this for the first time. I'm interested in being with you now and rewriting your past so you know someone was always waiting to love you."

"James," Sebastian gasped as his heart all but burst with tenderness. He gripped the counter, steadying himself, and their eyes met in the mirror.

"I've got you." James caressed Sebastian's bare skin, his gaze full of deep affection as he kissed Sebastian's neck. He had to know how much this meant. What a gift his words were.

After such a draining day, Sebastian needed this. James knew just how to take care of him.

"Bend forward for me?" he murmured in Sebastian's ear.

Sebastian braced himself and stuck his ass out. He'd do anything to have this. To feel claimed and loved .

James cupped Sebastian's fully exposed rear, then reached into a drawer, barely breaking eye contact in the mirror as he did so. He found lube and squeezed some onto his fingers before pressing between Sebastian's ass cheeks, finding his hole.

Sebastian groaned at the contact, spreading his legs wider. He watched James's reflection as James massaged his rim and James watched him back, their eyes locked.

Something about the mirror intensified the connection. They'd looked into each other's eyes during intimate moments plenty of times but none had felt like this, like they were seeing something new unfold between them.

As James breached Sebastian with a finger, his gaze fell, watching Sebastian take him. Sebastian took in the scene reflected before him, becoming more aware of his own body as he caught his own reactions in the mirror, the way his cheeks flushed and chest heaved.

Their eyes met again, and James's cheeks darkened. He worked Sebastian open, getting him ready with efficient, practiced motions, giving Sebastian what he needed without making him wait.

"Now," Sebastian breathed.

James pulled his fingers out, tore off his shirt, and shoved his jeans and underwear out of the way. He slicked himself and pressed against Sebastian's hole.

"I love you," he said, gaze locked on Sebastian in the mirror.

"I love you too." Sebastian arched his back, unable to miss how desperate he looked, blushing all the way down to his neck, mouth parted as he waited eagerly to be filled.

James didn't break his stare as he pushed in. Sebastian accepted him with a moan, getting everything the lonely boy with a hopeless crush that still lived inside him needed.

Sebastian may never have worn the letterman jacket back when he was that boy, but it didn't matter. James was right. They hadn't figured out what to do with their feelings for each other or been each other's firsts when they were young, but that didn't mean the two of them weren't always meant to be. Sebastian could look back, knowing good things were coming. He could look at his past, knowing James was meant for him and that his loneliness was destined to be temporary.

James gripped Sebastian's hips and thrust, starting slow and firm, making Sebastian crave more. Sebastian was hot with lust, skin tingling and cock aching. A knowing look passed between them, and James began fucking Sebastian at the hard pace he lived for, James's muscles tensing and flexing as he pounded into Sebastian, his face displaying his utter devotion.

"I love you, Sebastian. You've always been mine."

"Yes," he answered, thrusting back into James as the reality of James's words sunk into his soul.

"Look how beautiful you are." James gripped Sebastian's shoulder with one hand, the other still clutching his hip. "Look how perfectly we fit together."

James's cock slid in and out of Sebastian, dragging along his prostate. Sebastian felt consumed. Watching James fuck him like this was as intense as the physical feelings. Sebastian loved seeing the needy look in his own eyes as well as James's.

Sebastian reached for his dick, unable to resist.

"Wait." James caught his arm. "I promise it'll be worth it."

Sebastian groaned in frustration but put his hand back on the counter. "Okay, I trust you."

James moaned and picked up his pace.

Sebastian wondered if he'd come without needing to touch himself. It felt that good. He couldn't get enough of the way their skin slapped and their heavy breaths filled the small room.

"Fill me, James. Claim me," Sebastian begged.

James's gaze raked over their reflections, settling on Sebastian's face. He gripped Sebastian's hair, tilting his head back, and thrust once, twice, then stiffened as he came .

Sebastian whimpered. He was so keyed up, so ready to come, and James filling him only made him more desperate.

James pressed his hips tight against Sebastian's ass, cock twitching inside him. He kept his gaze focused on Sebastian in the mirror like he was trying to memorize him.

"Please, James," Sebastian moaned. He ached to touch himself. James had never denied him before.

"You feel so good, sweetheart." James let the hand in Sebastian's hair trail down his neck in a gentle caress, taking a moment to catch his breath. His eyes dropped to where they were joined, and he watched himself pull out.

Sebastian whined at the loss. Before he could start begging again, James pulled him up and spun him around.

James sank to his knees, Sebastian's neglected cock level with his mouth. "Spread your legs wider."

Sebastian adjusted his stance. James ran his hands up Sebastian's thighs. He tugged on Sebastian's balls as his other hand slipped between Sebastian's cheeks and filled him with three fingers.

" Uh ." Sebastian gripped James's head as his knees went weak.

"I can feel my cum inside you." James pushed his fingers deeper. "Fuck, sweetheart."

"Oh my god, James." Sebastian trembled, cum running down his inner thighs.

James sucked Sebastian's cock into his mouth, swirling his tongue. He bobbed his head and thrust his fingers. James had been right. This was worth the wait, but Sebastian was too close to last long. It was all too good. He let out a cry as James found his prostate and started to come.

With James's name on his lips, Sebastian thrust through his orgasm, lost in the heat of James's mouth. James swallowed, looking up as he worked his fingers, sending Sebastian higher.

Sebastian had never seen so much love in someone's eyes, and it was all for him.