ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ

Chapter 24

Sebastian

"What the hell are you doing here Max?"

I watched him standing confused on the threshold in front of my front door.

"Good evening to you too. Aren't you going to let me in?"

He pointed to the space behind me with his head, while I stubbornly stood in his place without letting him in.

"I won't. I have work to do."

Max raised his hands in the air as a sign of annoyance, which was slowly but surely starting to show on his face.

"Come on man, what's wrong with you tonight? Relax a little."

"I told you I have work to do. I'm not in the mood for this bickering and persuasion right now. Now leave, we'll talk tomorrow."

Somewhere at the end of the sentence, my gaze wandered over Max's shoulders, while the two headlights became more and more visible in the darkness of this night.

I was waiting for Amelia, she was already late and sounded anxious on the phone. I don't need a drunken Max at the door, at the worst possible time and place. I was in no mood for his judgmental look and bullshit he prepared for me.

Seeing that I wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying, his gaze snapped to the car that had just parked on the driveway in front of the house.

Her long, slender legs in high heels were the first thing I noticed, and looking up, the sight was even more magnificent.

Her thick hair, carried by a gust of wind, revealed the gentle features of her face and hypnotizing eyes, which could not be hidden even by this darkness that embraced her like a mysterious lover.

"Work to do, right? Seb, what you're doing doesn't bode well. You have to always keep in mind why are we doing all of this. You can't. . . ."

Not sparing him a glance, still captivated by her appearance, I growled, loud enough that only he could hear me.

"Don't fucking tell me what to do. Never again. I'm warning you one last time."

Now my gaze was all over him, burning holes through his face.

"If anyone is sacrificing his life for what we are doing here it's me. Do you understand? So don't ever tell me what to do or not to do with her."

Max clenched his jaw so hard I could hear his teeth grinding. Annoyed but also aware that he is powerless when it comes to me, with a sigh he turned his gaze towards her and spoke to me, just when her steps had already become louder and closer.

"Okay, but remember one thing - the whole team depends on you. If you go down because of her - you'll drag us all along with you. To the very bottom."

Her perfume has already begun to fill my nostrils with its floral notes and the warmth of her body, even though a meter away from me was a contrast to the freshness of this evening. Our eyes came together like magnets and I saw the silent question of who is this person standing next to me.

"Max I think it's time to go now,"

The tone of my voice told him that his time was up and that he was no longer welcome.

The wicked smile that reached his alcohol-intoxicated eyes challenged me, knowing that I would not react in front of her.

"Of course, I know when I'm no longer welcome. But won't you introduce me to this beautiful lady before I leave?"

Max turned to her, drunken playfulness echoing in his voice. He didn't even wait for one of us to say something, he already took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, leaving a light kiss on them. Amelia looked at him in surprise, while her hands hung lifelessly in his.

"Amelia, nice to meet you."

"Maxwell, Sebastian's business partner, best friend and his conscience."

He said, emphasizing the last word while giving me a sideway glance.

Although I looked composed and cool on the outside, my blood was boiling like a volcano that threatens to melt everything in front of it with its cruel and devastating eruption. It didn't sit well with me fact that anyone's lips, hands or even gaze were on her skin, marking her body.

Max's gaze lingered on her longer than I liked, more than I was ready to admit.

I didn't even like the very thought of having such a possessive feelings for her at all, but every cell in my body reminded me of the exact opposite. That there is a place in me that is reserved only for her. It didn't matter at all if that feeling came from hate, lust, liking or something else - each of them had her image etched in front of my eyes even when they were closed.

"Max."

I addressed him, saying his name more like a threat.

"I'm leaving now. Nice to meet you Amelia. I hope we'll see each other again."

He raised his hands in surrender, while his words were anything but.

While his departing figure slowly merged with the surroundings and became a faint dark spot among the blackness, Amelia wrinkled her nose and turned to me.

"Your tipsy friend is quite interesting. I wonder how you two met in the first place."

"Are you saying I'm not interesting?"

I slowly approached her, while she stood motionless, looking me in the eyes the whole time.

"You're interestingly dark."

"Sometimes darkness is the only place where you will find your light."

I stood right next to her, towering her smaller frame. Her jacket was hanging on her shoulders, while she was clutching the hem of her dress with the fingers of both hands.

It was only when I got this close that I almost missed the imperceptible traces of smeared mascara that was etched into the tiny lines around her eyes.

She looked at me in amazement as I lost myself in her features. Her lips. Eyes. Her.

I sneaked one hand at the bottom of her back, forcefully but at the same time somehow gently pressing her against me. She let out a soft moan from the collision of our bodies. I put my other palm on the side of her neck, feeling the warmth of her skin and the rapid pulse of her artery.

"And I'm ready to black out your whole world."

I lowered my lips to hers, feeling all the softness. She wrapped her arms around my waist, her warm palms spreading their impulses along my body.

Our lips moved lazily, slowly, savoring every movement and sensation. Our kiss lasted a long time. Too long and too slow for two people who claim that the only connection between them is physical.

Bringing this kiss to the end, after leaving the warmth of her tongue that worked wonders on mine, I ran my fingers over her cheek.

"You cried."

The carelessness in my actions surprised me, reminding me of the person I once was. Long ago. I immediately regretted it. This is not who I am. At least not now.

My words and the soft feeling of my fingers on the cheekbones jolted her out of the state she was in until a few moments ago, and looking me straight in the eyes, she did what I needed her to do. What I needed to do. From the beginning. She broke the tenderness with a iron sword.

"If I remember correctly, on the tonight's menu you didn't offer conversation and bonding, but good old eating."

Not waiting for my answer, she just bypassed me and went inside. I put my hands in my pockets and I grinned, going in behind her and closing the door.

I have a lot more on the menu for you Amelia, just wait.