Page 50 of The Bittersweet Bond

Where was this conversation even going? Evin hadn’t expected this. Was this something they should’ve talked about long ago? But how could she have this kind of conversation with someone who didn’t even officially give her a place in his life?

“Desperate? Wow…” she said, collecting her thoughts. “No. You’re wrong.” His eyebrows rose in anticipation.

“Of course, I want to get married someday, but not in two years.” Evin swallowed hard.

“And what’s so bad about wanting something serious in my life?” Bas dropped his gaze, his shoulders slumping as he exhaled deeply.

“Nothing.” For the briefest moment, something flickered in his ice-blue eyes—something she didn’t recognize. Evin’s anger dissolved. Somehow, the fact that he’d embarrassed her in front of everyone didn’t seem to matter anymore.

Bas wandered over to the fridge.

“I’m hungry. What about you?” he asked. The light from the fridge illuminated his broad, defined shoulders, making him look even bigger than usual. Evin exhaled deeply.

Bas stared into the fridge, not really looking for anything.

“Weren’t you gonna cook me something?” Evin asked playfully, heading toward the stove.

“I thought that was your job,” Bas shot back. Evin smiled, letting him have his fun. She didn’t like seeing him so dejected. He closed the fridge and turned to face her.

“Well, you’re already in your spot,” he added, nodding toward the stove beside her. Bas took a few steps closer, standing less than a meter from her now. Her chest tightened. With every step he took toward her, she stepped back slightly until her back pressed against the counter. Her legs felt weak, so she braced herself with one hand on the counter. Her lips tingled just from looking at him.

"Maybe I could teach you," she murmured, surprised at how suggestive it sounded.

"What are you going to teach me?“ Bas whispered. As he spoke, there was barely a sliver of space left between their bodies.

Overwhelmed by his closeness, Evin’s breath turned shallow. His gaze wandered to her lips, almost hypnotized. Every fiber of her being honed in on him, and even the faintest brush of his clothes against her skin sent shivers down her spine.

With one arm, he braced himself against the counter, lowering his head toward her. The tingling sensation spread from Evin’s lips to the tip of her tongue, leaving her unable to respond. She liked how much he desired her. Thankfully, the darkness concealed the blush creeping across her cheeks.

“Maybe I could teachyousomething,” Bas continued, his voice soft yet charged. In one swift move, he lifted Evin onto the countertop. Her breath hitched, and a wave of heat spread across her skin. As a grin crept across his face, Bas grabbed her slim waist and pulled her hips sharply against his.

“Bas,” Evin whispered. She could feel his warm breath on her lips.

“I know,” he murmured, and in the next moment, his lips met hers in a touch so soft and tender, like a whisper, that it made everything else around her fade away. The kiss was filled with so much affection that she melted into its quiet warmth, unable to pull away. Each movement of his lips felt like a story of deep longing and restrained passion.

She had expected fiery intensity, but instead, he enveloped her in a tenderness so deep, it completely consumed her.

One arm encircled Evin, pulling her tightly against him, while his other hand gently traced from her prominent cheekbones down to her heart-shaped lips with his thumb. She melted in his embrace, savoring his affection to the fullest.

After a day of being ignored and pushed aside, this moment felt like it was long overdue.

__________

Sebastian

There was something devastating about the way she let him have her.

After everything he’d said, everything he’d done—she was still here. Still looking at him like he was something she wanted. Something she craved.

In the way her breath hitched as he leaned in, the way her fingers dug ever so slightly into the fabric of his shirt, as if anchoring herself. The way she tilted her head just a fraction, wordlessly inviting him closer.

Please stop and push me away.

Please hate me.

Butinstead, she was melting right into him. And God, it wrecked him.

His hand trembled slightly as he ran it up her bare thigh, feeling the soft heat of her skin beneath his fingertips. He wanted to be careful, wanted to take his time, but the way she looked at him—like she was waiting for him to make the next move—had every ounce of restraint inside him snapping like a fraying thread.

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