Page 42 of Justice

I bit my lip as I waited for him to reply. This time, the bubbles appeared and disappeared several times before his response came through.

It’s a strange coincidence.

I huffed.

Okay, well if you aren’t going to admit to it, at least let me cook you dinner tonight as a thank you.

Aren’t you full from your lunch date?

Had I told Sebastian about that? I thought I’d arranged it after he’d left. I must’ve mentioned I was thinking about it while we were watching the film.

No, so come on over and I’ll feed you dinner.

I held my breath as I waited for him to reply, and I knew it didn’t matter what my brain wanted. It didn’t matter what was logical, or sensible, or the right thing to do.

My heart and body wanted Sebastian. It was probably the most foolish crush I’d ever have, but I couldn’t deny it any longer.

If there was to be any distance between us now, it was going to be down to Sebastian to enforce it.

His message came through, sealing my fate.

Fine. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes wasn’t long, but I made the most of every second.

By the time Sebastian was rapping on my door, I’d showered and changed. My makeup was flawless, my hair styled perfectly.

My nerves were jangling as I opened the door. Now that I’d stopped denying my attraction to Sebastian, my body wasn’t holding anything back.

I wasn’t the only one who’d dressed up for the evening. Sebastian’s hair was pulled back in a stubby ponytail, dark suspenders over his crisp white shirt. He’d trimmed his beard close, showing off his sharp jawline.

He was leaning on the doorjamb, his green eyes smouldering at me with an intensity that dried my mouth out.

“Hi,” I squeaked.

Sebastian prowled forwards, his brows drawn tight. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Heavens, he was downright sinful when he was glowering down at me like that.

“Then why do you look nervous?” Sebastian demanded. My back hit the dining room table as he crowded closer. “Did that piece of shit you had lunch with say something to upset you?”

Murder flashed in his eyes. Sebastian’s chest was rising and falling rapidly, his hands in fists at his sides. Why was he so angry?

I lifted my hand, resting it against the crisp cotton covering his heart. “Seb…breathe. Everything is fine.”

He stilled at my touch. I could almost see the war between rationality and his temper playing out in his eyes.

Acting on instinct, I reached up to grab the back of his neck. I pulled his head down until his forehead was resting against mine. “Everything is fine. I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

Sebastian took several deep breaths. Our mouths were mere inches apart, but that wasn’t what I was thinking about.

At least…not until Sebastian pulled back an inch. His gaze turned from furious to heated as he glanced down at my lips.

The line of friendship between us was drawn taut. One of us just needed to be brave enough to step over it.

I could do it. I could do anything if it meant feeling his lips against mine.

Even for just a second.

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