Chapter 278

Sebastian couldn’t stand it any longer. He pulled her into his arms and rolled her beneath him.

Abigail’s eyes flew open, wide with surprise.

She stared up at Sebastian, his breath growing heavier. “You told me to touch them,” she reminded him, breathless.

“I said over my clothes…” His voice was hoarse as he lowered himself toward her, his lips brushing her ear. “What if you head to the office a little later today?”

She knew exactly what he meant. Her heart was racing, thoughts turning to static.

“Forget it,” he muttered, voice thick with restraint. “Just let me hold you for a while.”

A cold shower could take care of the rest.

Abigail raised her hand and gently tangled her fingers in his hair. “Is it so bad?”

“It’s bearable.” He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring her touch. The way she stroked his hair calmed him, softened even the corners of his temper.

“Then take a deep breath. Don’t think. Don’t move. Don’t do anything. I’m not ready.” She meant it. The thought of baring herself to him, not just physically, but emotionally, was something she hadn’t allowed herself to consider, not seriously.

Sebastian didn’t want to let go. He held her like she might vanish.

After a beat, Abigail gave him a light smack on the back of the head. “Get up already.”

She realized then that the intimacy of the night had changed something between them.

The distance that once stood, formal and polite, had thinned. She’d never touched him so casually before, never felt entitled to.

In her heart, Sebastian had always been the one above, the unreachable.

Even though he had bent for her and humbled himself in ways no man of his position would, she still found it hard to treat him as anything other than the man on the pedestal.

Sebastian gave a soft murmur, still holding her, his tone unusually sweet. “Just a little longer…”

Abigail rolled her eyes and gently pushed him off. “I’m going to be late. If you have time later, go check out some apartments. A one-bedroom is fine. Oh, and… are you taking the cats?”

“No. They’ve lived here for years. The place is big, they’ve got space to run. We’ll just come visit them now and then.” He flopped back on the bed, lazily dragging the blanket over his lower half.

Abigail shot him a glance.

Sebastian caught the look and let out a dry chuckle, “Still checking me out?”

“I heard some guys look good, but… fall short where it counts,” she said with a teasing smile, then hopped out of bed before he could respond.

Sebastian threw off the covers and jumped up, catching her in just a few steps as she tried to escape.

With one hand he caught hers, and with the other he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her back into his embrace. His voice dropped, serious now. “I’ve been training for years. I eat clean. I’m very much not lacking.”

He pressed her hand firmly against his waist.

He was holding back, but only just.

Their shadows fell against the wall, a single silhouette.

Sebastian’s height made him loom over her, his body curved protectively around hers.

Abigail’s hand was locked in his, unable to move. She laughed softly, admitting defeat. “I was only kidding.”

“Not funny,” he said, voice low. “No matter what you meant by it, I want to make you happy, in every way.”

What rattled him wasn’t the joke itself, but the possibility that she might actually doubt him.

He had held back this long so as not to scare her, but he couldn’t allow himself to be misunderstood.

“Okay… I need to shower and go to work,” she murmured, cheeks pink as she changed the subject.

“It’s big,” Sebastian said under his breath.

She didn’t catch it at first. Only when he let her go did she realize what he meant, and her entire face turned red.

“Got it,” she mumbled, hurrying to the door. “Go look at apartments today.”

After Abigail left for work, Sebastian was about to head out himself when James and Warren arrived in their car.

James wasted no time. He stepped out, grabbed Sebastian by the shoulders, and demanded, “You asshole. One text last night and nothing after? We waited half the night! She slept in your bed? Then what?!”

Warren was just as eager, holding his breath for an answer.

“We just slept. That’s it. But it brought us closer. She even smacked me.” Sebastian chuckled, recalling how she’d tapped the back of his head. It was oddly sweet.

At least they weren’t walking on eggshells anymore.

James groaned and shoved him away. “Unbelievable! You had her right there and did nothing? Are you even a man?”

Sebastian shot him a look. “Exactly because I’m a man, I knew not to push it. What the hell do you know?”

“You spent the night like that? Ended up with dark circles and not even a word to her? You’re in your twenties, man. What if something breaks down there?” Warren teased, shaking his head before bursting into laughter.

“Feelings need time,” Sebastian said simply. “Sure, going all the way might accelerate things, but it has to be on her terms.”

He didn’t mention that Abigail had asked him to get a place of their own with one bedroom.

There would be time, time enough for them to really get to know each other.