Sebastian's gaze was intense, his pupils dilated with desire. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Anya's cheek, sending shivers down her spine. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice brimming with sincerity.
Anya's heart pounded in her chest, her cheeks flushing red. No one had ever looked at her the way Sebastian did, like she was the only thing that mattered in the whole goddamn world. She felt seen, understood, and desired.
The fire burned in the fireplace, casting a warm glow over the room. The storm raged on outside, but inside, the atmosphere was cozy and intimate. Anya felt like she was home, wrapped in Sebastian's arms, surrounded by the warmth and comfort of the suite.
Sebastian's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "I want to spend more time with you, Anya, he said, his voice low and husky. "Get to know you, really know you." He couldn't remember saying such intimate things to anyone, and it all scared him to no end.
He was definitely sailing in unfamiliar waters here, but he couldn't stop himself. Shit, what was he getting himself into?
Not that he even knew how to be a part of a relationship. Couldn't even remember the last time he'd been part of one. Could he manage to be a gratifying part of one? With his complex work schedule, he highly doubted he could manage to make a descent, lasting relationship with anyone, leave alone Anya; who was sure to flee so far away from him the mere second she learned that his father so arrogantly stole her dream.
Anya's heart soared, her pulse racing with excitement. She felt the same way, like she was ready to take the next step, to explore this connection between them. "I'd like that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Really?" Sebastian said hopefully,his face lighting up with a smile. Anya nodded,a warm smile dancing at her lips. "I feel drawn to you,too. I don't know what the future holds,but I know I want to explore this thing with you. See where it gets us."
"So do I," Sebastian said,his voice filled with emotion. "I want to know everything there is to know about you, Anya," he added,his thumb tracing her bottom lip. "Everything."
Relinquishing her, Sebastian got up and stepped over to the fridge. "Want something to drink?"
"Water I'll be fine," she said, because her mouth felt as dry as Sahara desert.
Sebastian got a diet coke for himself and a glass of sparkling water for her,and they got busy for a while. Anya with a book on her lap and Sebastian sitting at her side,his laptop open on the coffee table, his fingers flying across the keyboard. They got engrossed for a while, only stealing glances and smiles, but mostly just enjoying each other's company.
The kiss still lingered in the air, a sweet and tantalizing promise of what could be. Anya's mind kept wandering back to it, replaying the feel of Sebastian's lips on hers, the way her heart had skipped a beat;the way her blood had raced,searing through her veins.
Should they have kissed? Had it complicated things? Had it been a mistake?
Her doubts were quickly overridden by the memory of the kiss. It had felt too good to be wrong. Her grin widened, her eyes scanning the page without really reading the words.
Sebastian looked up, caught her eye, and smiled. "Everything okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.
Anya nodded, feeling a flutter in her chest. "Yeah, just enjoying the book."
Sebastian smiled and went back to his work.
Anya tried to focus on her book, but her mind kept wandering. She was aware of Sebastian's every movement, every click of his keyboard, every soft sigh.
Eventually, she gave up trying to read and set the book aside. "Hey, want to watch a movie?" she asked, nodding towards the TV.
Sebastian looked up, his eyes lighting up. "Sounds perfect."
Grabbing the remote, Anya clicked through the channels, and caught a descent-looking movie on channel 8, just as the opening credits rolled. It was a thriller, and she loved those kinds of movies.
They snuggled up together, Anya's head resting on Sebastian's shoulder, his arm snaked around her.
The movie wasn't bad for a thriller:a former CIA agent who had lost his memory and his former bosses were trying to eliminate him,to cover their asses. It had a lot of gunfire and a descent car chase, and it got both Anya and Sebastian busy cheering the former agent for a long while.
As they watched, Anya's stomach suddenly growled, loud enough for Sebastian to hear.
He looked at her, concerned. "Hungry?"
Anya's cheeks flushed. "A bit, yeah," she answered, feeling like a child.
"Should we head down to the restaurant?" he asked.
"I'm way too warm and comfortable right now to get out there," she said. "Besides, I ain't going nowhere till this movie's done."
"What sounds good to you?" Sebastian asked.
Anya thought for a moment. "Hmm, I was thinking pizza?"
Sebastian grinned. "Perfect. I'll order room service."
When the food arrived, Sebastian got up to answer the door, wheeling in a cart laden with pizza, salads and a bottle of wine. As they ate, Anya couldn't help but feel grateful for the impromptu dinner date. It was so... domestic. And nice.
They settled back onto the couch, full and content, to finish cheering on their agent.
And the lights flickered and died. The only light left in the room was the soft flickering glow from the fireplace.
Anya let out a soft gasp as Sebastian's arm wrapped around her, pulling her close.
"Don't worry, I've got you," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
Anya smiled, feeling a bit silly. "I guess we aint finishing our movie," she pointed out, trying to sound calm. "Jesus, it was just about getting to the climax."
Sebastian chuckled and pulled her closer. "Looks like it. They can't kill him, though. That's for sure."
"They better not," Anya quipped, and they giggled at that, like two teenagers, and sat there for a while, watching the flames dance, the only sound the howling wind outside and the ticking of the clock on the wall.
A short moment later, there was a knock at the door. Sebastian got up to answer it, and Anya heard a low murmur of voices.
When he returned, he was accompanied by a short, balding, overweight man with a neatly trimmed beard, a warm smile, and a flashlight in hand.
"Anya, this is Rollo, the hotel manager," Sebastian said, gesturing to the man. "Rollo, Anya."
Rollo bowed slightly. "Sorry about the inconvenience, Ms. Anya. We're having some mechanical issues with the generator, but uh...Sloan-the guy at the door- is working on it."
Anya smiled and nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's okay, these things happen."
Rollo turned to Sebastian. "Sloan told me you were in the presidential suite, Mr. Wolfe, so I decided to come say hi."
Sebastian grinned and clapped Rollo on the shoulder. "Good to see you, man. How's business?"
They chatted for a bit, talking about the hotel and its occupants. Rollo mentioned a few VIP guests and some upcoming events. Anya listened, feeling a bit like she was eavesdropping on a private conversation. The hotel belonged to Sebastian,she realized. Damn,the man was as rich as he was good looking.
And as they caught up with Sebastian, Rollo stepped over to the fireplace and pressed on something. The flames surged, casting a bigger, warmer glow over the room.
"Ah, that's better," Rollo said, smiling. "I hope you two have a good night."
With that, he bowed and exited, leaving Anya and Sebastian alone once again.
Anya waited until the door closed behind Rollo, then turned to Sebastian. "That was... interesting," she said, raising an eyebrow.
Sebastian chuckled. "Yeah, Rollo's a good guy."
But Anya wasn't paying attention. She was thinking about the fireplace. Specifically, how the fire had increased when Rollo touched...something.
She got up and walked over to the fireplace, running her hand over the stones. Sebastian joined her, curious.
"What's wrong?" he asked, as she pressed a few stones, trying to figure out how Rollo had done it.
And then, suddenly, she felt the button. She pressed on it,and the fire surged again.
Anya's eyes widened as she turned to Sebastian. "This isn't a real fireplace, is it?" she asked, surprised.
Sebastian's expression turned sheepish as he leaned closer, his front pressing against her back. "I... I don't think so," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Together, they examined the fireplace, their eyes scanning the carefully crafted wooden logs and stonework. Anya's fingers probed the logs, and she discovered a small gas jet hidden within one of them. "Look," she said, pointing it out to Sebastian.
Sebastian whipped out his phone and shone the flashlight on it, illuminating the intricate mechanism. "It's a fake fireplace," he said, his voice full of wonder. "The gas jets are hidden in the logs. It's... ingenious."
Anya brightened up even more, a look of realization on her face. "I should have guessed the hotel belonged to you," she said, her eyes shining with amusement. "The manager's visit was a bit too... solicitous."
Sebastian chuckled. "Yeah, Rollo's a bit of a character. But I guess I underestimated you, Anya. You're too...curious for your own good."
Anya smiled. "So, the hotel is yours?"
Sebastian nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah, it is, a pass-me-down from my father."
Anya's eyes narrowed. "And I'm guessing he was a bit of a... character, too?"
Sebastian's smile was tight. "You could say that. He was a man who liked his secrets and his luxuries. This hotel was one of his... indulgences."
Anya's gaze lingered on his face, sensing there was more to the story. "And you've never been here before?" she asked, her voice soft.
Sebastian shrugged. "I have. Only once after my father died. But I just kind of stopped by to see how things were going. I never had the reason to spend a night in here. And, my father and I... we weren't exactly close. I never really knew him, to be honest. He was always... distant. More so after the accident. He became even more...mysterious, and different."
Anya's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian shrugged again, his shoulders tense. "Don't be. It's just... he's not someone I'd want to talk about right now."
Anya nodded, her eyes understanding. She turned back to the fireplace, her fingers tracing the intricate stonework. "So, what do you think he used this for?" she asked, her voice light.
Sebastian's expression turned thoughtful. "I don't know, but I'm starting to think it wasn't just for ambiance."
Anya's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You think it was a... hiding place or something?"
Sebastian's smile was slow. "I think that's exactly what I'm saying, Anya." He leaned into her,his front pressing against her back again, feeling the warmth her body radiated. "Want another drink before the night ends?" He asked, eager to change the topic.
"I think I've had enough for tonight. But thanks," Anya said.
Sebastian smiled, his arm snaking around her, pulling her back into him. "Anytime," he said, his voice low.
Anya smiled,feeling her eyes growing heavy, and she pushed back into Sebastian. He smelled so good, a mix of colone and something uniquely him.
She felt him press a soft kiss to the back of her head, and her grin widened, her heart swelling with pure glee.
Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the company, but Anya couldn't help but feel like this was exactly where she was meant to be.
"You wanna go to bed?" Sebastian inquired.
"Yeah, we could call it a night and go to bed, together," she said, craning her graceful neck to stare at his face.
Sebastian shrugged. "I'll use the couch."
"You don't have to," she insisted. "Let's go to bed."