Tempted Attraction

Chapter 7:

I shifted uncomfortably, deciding to let it drop. Clearly, whatever had happened wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. The rest of the ride was silent until we finally pulled up to his penthouse.

I blinked in surprise. “Your penthouse calms you down?”

___________

We reached the top floor, and as we stepped out, I noticed the massive wooden door with intricate carvings. He definitely had an eye for art, and the attention to detail here was impossible to miss.

He used his card again, along with a pin code. Seriously, all this security?

"Velkommen til mitt hus," he murmured as he took off his jacket, stepping behind me to gently remove mine. The gesture was smooth, almost too familiar.

"Wow, this place really is beautiful... I barely remember any of it from last time," I said, wandering inside. The space felt overwhelming, a mix of sleek modernity and subtle elegance.

"Mhm," he hummed, his eyes tracking my every movement. "The best part is out here." He motioned toward the balcony. I followed, my breath catching as I stepped outside.

"Wait, is that a pool?" I asked, mesmerized by the sight of the shimmering water under the skyline.

"Ja, I come here to clear my head. The view is amazing, right?" he replied, already unbuttoning his shirt like it was no big deal.

"What are you doing?" I asked, taking an instinctive step back. My voice wavered between curiosity and discomfort.

"Geez, why are you acting like such a virgin Mary? I'm going for a swim. You can change in there," he said with a grin, pointing to a nearby room. "Or just wear one of my shirts if you're shy."

I rolled my eyes at his teasing but still felt a flicker of hesitation. I pulled out my olive bikini from my bag-it was flattering, but showing up in just that felt...awkward. My scars were visible after all.

After debating, I threw on a towel, wrapping it tightly around myself.

When I came out, Sebastian was already sitting on the edge of the pool, staring at the city view like he owned it. He turned when he heard me.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes sweeping over me.

"Uh, yeah," I mumbled awkwardly. Despite the towel, I still felt overly exposed under his gaze.

Sensing my discomfort, he got up and walked over. "Hey, relax," he said softly. "You look good. Don't worry about it."

I bit my lip, feeling slightly better. He always had a way of putting me at ease, even though his presence constantly set me on edge.

"Come here," he said, holding out his hand. I hesitated, then took it. "I'm not a good swimmer," I admitted as I dipped my toes into the cool water.

"The pool's only six feet. You won't drown," he said with a playful grin.

"Well, I'm only 4'11. I think I could," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

He smirked, his grip tightening slightly on my hand. "I won't let you."

His words sent a shiver down my spine. I let him pull me into the water, the chill immediately calming my racing thoughts. The cool breeze and the view from the twenty-story height made the moment feel surreal.

"It's nice, isn't it?" he murmured, moving closer until his chest was pressed lightly against my back. His body heat contrasted sharply with the cold water.

"Yeah, it is," I whispered, suddenly hyper-aware of just how close he was.

I tried to swim away, but he caught my waist, pulling me back. I turned to face him, and his eyes locked onto mine, dark and intent.

"You know," he said quietly, his breath warm on my neck, "You really are something else."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as he closed the distance between us. His hand slid down to my waist, gripping me firmly, and before I knew it, he leaned in. The kiss was sudden, rough, and demanding. His lips crashed into mine with a hunger that caught me off guard. I could taste the faint hint of watermelon bubble gum on his breath, mixing with the scent of whiskey that clung to him.

His other hand cupped the back of my neck, holding me in place as he deepened the kiss. I gasped against his mouth, the intensity leaving me breathless. His hands roamed lower, resting on my hips before pulling me even closer. My mind screamed at me to stop, to push him away, but my body betrayed me, melting into his touch.

Just as quickly as it began, I pulled away, gasping for air, my chest heaving. I pushed him off, creating some space between us, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn't done yet. His dark gaze smoldered as he watched me, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.

"Fuck, Flora... you're so hot," he whispered, his voice low and rough as he rested his forehead against mine, his grip tightening possessively around my waist.

I felt my cheeks flush, unsure of how to respond. Part of me was embarrassed, but another part-the part I wasn't used to-was drawn to this dangerous energy between us.

"I'm sorry- I'm not exactly comfort-" i was about to talk until he placed his thumb on my lips. "I'm sorry" he swam away.

After a few more seconds of thick silence, he took a step back, giving me a moment to breathe. "Come on, let's get out. We should eat something," he said, handing me a towel.

I was still breathless from the kiss, my mind spinning from everything that had just happened. It wasn't my first kiss, but damn, it might as well have been.