Dance Me To The Moon [Sebastian Vettel]

3. Fever

Standing barefoot on the lawn at the exit of the venue, Stella watched the starry night sky, letting the Mediterranean breeze carry some clearance over to her mind. She couldn't be bothered with high heels anymore, holding them in her hand instead, but most of all, she was frankly surprised she could still manage to stand in an upright position.

Sebastian also seemed slightly more sober now, although his face still looked a little hot and sweaty, and he was holding the phone to his ear as he placed a call.

"I was going to drive you myself but that's out of the question after all that alcohol, we'll get someone to take you. Where are you staying?"

An Alfa Romeo pulled over to collect them and they slid onto the leather back seat with all the grace of someone who'd spent the whole night partying. Chattering and giggling for the entirety of the ride, the car had been parked for a few minutes in front of her hotel when the pair noticed they had arrived at their destination. Sebastian insisted on accompanying her to her room and dismissed the driver, since his own hotel was within walking distance.

The sterile lights and quietness of the hotel as they made their way across the foyer, Stella still barefoot and wearing Sebastian's jacket, came as a sudden reminder that the night was rapidly nearing its end. Conversation dwindled in the lift and for some reason Stella's heart was pounding as they walked down the corridor to her room. She unlocked the door and finally returned his jacket. Leaning against the doorframe in the bright light of the hallway, she was all too aware of her revealing neckline, of the form fitting gown clinging to her silhouette.

"I know that wasn't exactly the point of it but..." She wasn't even sure where to start. "I really want to thank you because I had so much fun tonight. Usually it's not... not like this. You were a perfect gent."

"Good." He nodded, pursing his lips. They were a little chapped and Stella tightened her hold on the clutch bag, fighting a sudden urge of running her thumb along the fullness, smoothen them out. "I'm glad you did. My pleasure," he added.

With his hands in his pockets, the shirt unbuttoned at the collar and the undone bow tie hanging loosely around his neck, Sebastian looked so much lighter than before, almost boyish.

"Glad you stayed, too."

"Yeah, I'm very happy I did, it was a good party. I... I had a blast, too."

She nodded and there was an awkward silence.

"It was nice to meet you," he looked down at his feet. "Take care."

"You too."

He lifted a hand in farewell with a small smile and slowly turned around, making his way back to the lifts.

Tossing her shoes to the floor, Stella closed the door and instantly leaned on it, a lump in her throat. A strange emptiness took over, the adrenaline and excitement from just a few minutes earlier quickly fading. It felt like the night had somehow been cut short abruptly.

Of course that the one time a client seemed a decent guy - and in this line of business this was as decent as it would ever get - she was not required to do anything. But that was the way things worked. The good ones didn't really do this sort of thing, it was always the wankers.

She wouldn't have minded doing this for him. At the start of the gala maybe not, but now there was no doubt in Stella's mind that he wanted more. She could see the longing in his eyes at the party, or in the way his hands lingered on her body every time they touched. He had bought the agency's services after all and had taken his time negotiating the terms so it wasn't as if the notion of sleeping with the girl he picked had never crossed his mind, no matter what he told her at the beginning of the night.