Page 44 of Reckless Hearts
Seb’s curls are like a halo around his face as he looks up at me.
His smile is hesitant. “So, I got that summer internship I told you about.”
“Hey, that’s great. Congratulations.”
It’s his proper smile now, the one with dimples, and I find myself mirroring his expression.
Being with Seb, making Seb happy, makes me feel like I’m a good guy. That I can be the hero of the movie instead of the villain.
And I seldom feel like that in my life, which must be why I find it so…intoxicating.
“What are you going to be doing?” I ask.
“It’s a project monitoring the growth rates and fledging success of albatross chicks.”
“I’ve never seen an albatross,” I admit.
Seb’s forehead furrows. “You’ve never been down the peninsula to the albatross colony?”
“No. Going to Larnach Castle for Saskia’s party was my first time on the peninsula.”
He looks at me like I’ve just admitted I believe Santa Claus is real and is in an explicit relationship with the Tooth Fairy.
“We need to rectify that. Immediately. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Studying.”
“Can you take a break for a few hours so we can go down the peninsula?”
I hesitate.
Seb and I’ve never intentionally hung out just the two of us without sex being on the table.
But I can’t shoot him down. Not when he’s clearly so excited and passionate about the prospect of showing me the albatross colony.
Besides, nearly everyone I know is busy studying for exams. What are the chances of running into someone who will recognize Seb and me and report back to Saskia?
Low.
And I’m willing to take that chance if it makes this man happy.
“Okay, let’s do that,” I say.
And we’re kissing because, for some reason, I can’t resist kissing Seb, especially when he’s smiling that shy, happy smile.
But kissing Seb leads to another round of sex.
And after our heartbeats slow, I realize Seb’s breathing has evened out.
When I glance at him, his eyelids have closed.
I never let guys stay the night. It’s the one and only thing I’m consistent about in the bedroom. My trademark Marcus hookup rule.
But tonight, I can’t bring myself to wake Seb and ask him to leave.
Instead, I watch him sleep, watch how his eyelashes fan out on his face, the way his nose twitches slightly as he dreams.
I find myself fighting sleep because, for some reason, watching Seb sleep beside me stirs a feeling unfamiliar to me.
