13:
The soft light of the evening filtered through the large windows of Sebastian's apartment, casting a warm glow over the room. The space was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the desk lamp where Amelia had been working diligently on her notes.
Sebastian, however, was less focused on the experiment and more on the woman before him. He had been watching Amelia for the last few minutes, his gaze intense and filled with a hunger that had only grown since their arrival.
Without warning, he closed the distance between them. His lips met hers in a kiss that was both urgent and tender, pulling Amelia into his embrace. She gasped softly against his mouth but quickly melted into the kiss, her hands finding their way around his neck as she clung to him.
Her fingers gripping his shirt as their eyeglasses lay forgotten on the table as Sebastian’s hands roamed over Amelia’s lab coat. His kisses were heated, traveling from her lips to her cheeks, his lips brushing over her skin with an intensity that made her shiver.
Amelia, though initially taken aback, pushed him away gently, her breath coming in quick bursts. “Sebastian,” she said, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. “I need to finish writing this down.”
She pulled out her notepad, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to focus on her observations. Sebastian, still caught up in the moment, leaned closer. His kisses turned into soft nuzzles as he pressed his lips to her forehead, his breath warm against her skin.
“Amelia,” he murmured, his voice husky. “You’re incredible.”
Amelia looked up from her notes, her eyes meeting his with a mix of surprise and affection. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Sebastian’s lips found hers once more. The kiss was soft but filled with a promise of something deeper, his hands gently cupping her face.
She managed to pull away, her cheeks flushed, and gave him a pointed look. “I really need to get this done.”
Sebastian’s eyes darkened with a mix of desire and frustration, but he took a step back, allowing Amelia to return to her notes. He watched her with a hungry gaze, his mind still reeling from the intimacy of the moment.
Amelia, her fingers still gripping the pen, glanced up to see Sebastian’s intense expression. The tension between them was palpable, but she remained focused on her task, trying to ignore the effect he was having on her.
As she wrote down her observations, Sebastian continued to kiss her forehead, each touch a reminder of the heat and passion that simmered beneath the surface. Despite the interruption, the connection between them was undeniable, and Amelia found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions she wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge.
The room was filled with the soft sound of Amelia’s pen scratching against paper and the gentle hum of Sebastian’s breathing. The intensity of their previous encounter had left a lingering heat in the air, one that neither of them could easily ignore.
Sebastian’s gaze remained fixed on Amelia, his desire clear in the way he looked at her. For a moment, they were suspended in a bubble of intimacy, their roles as scientist and subject momentarily forgotten in the heat of their passion.
Sebastian, unable to resist the pull any longer, effortlessly lifted Amelia and carried her to his sofa. The TV, casting a soft glow across the room as they settled into a comfortable position. Sebastian wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and Amelia nestled against him, feeling the warmth of his embrace.
As the minutes ticked by, Sebastian's fingers traced gentle patterns on her arm, his lips occasionally pressing light kisses to her hair. The intimacy of the moment was undeniable, and Amelia found herself relaxing into his touch. However, when she turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his, she saw a sudden shyness in his expression that seemed out of place.
Confused, Amelia tilted her head slightly, searching his face for an explanation. Before she could voice her thoughts, Sebastian leaned in and kissed her on the lips, the intensity of his kiss taking her by surprise. It was as if he was consuming her, every movement of his mouth conveying a depth of feeling that left her breathless. Yet, despite the passion of the kiss, there was a strange tenderness in the way he held her, a vulnerability that made her heart race.
When the kiss ended, Sebastian's face flushed, and he looked away, almost as if he were embarrassed by the raw emotion he had shown. Amelia, still catching her breath, stared at him in bewilderment.
"Sebastian," she said softly, "what's going on? One minute you're... well, you, and the next you're all shy and... cuddly."
He glanced back at her, his eyes filled with a mix of desire and uncertainty. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice low. "Being close to you like this... it makes me feel things I haven't felt in a long time."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "So, you're saying you're shy when we cuddle, but not when you're... well, you know."
Sebastian chuckled, a hint of his usual confidence returning. "I guess so."
She shook her head, still smiling. "You're a weirdo, Sebastian."
"And you're a puzzle I can't quite solve," he replied, his tone affectionate. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
They settled back into their comfortable silence, the TV playing in the background as they held each other close. Amelia couldn't help but feel that, despite all the confusion and chaos, there was something undeniably right about this moment.
As they cuddled, Sebastian couldn't help but ask, "What did you do these past years? Did you... have a boyfriend?"
Amelia shook her head, a small smile on her face. "No, I didn't. The only thing I had was a kitten back then. She’s a cat now."
Sebastian nodded, but his curiosity pushed him further. "Why did you agree to marry me back then? We were just kids."
Amelia's eyes softened, and she looked away, a hint of sadness in her voice. "My life was kind of... lonely. I didn't have any friends. My parents asked me during a dinner with their friends who I'd want to marry if ever, and I just... pointed to the boy in front of me. That was you, Sebastian. I was just looking for some company."
Hearing this, guilt washed over Sebastian. He had neglected her, left her feeling isolated when she was seeking companionship. The weight of his past actions bore down on him, and he felt a pang of regret. Without thinking, he pushed Amelia down onto the sofa, hugging her even tighter. His face nuzzled into her neck, as if trying to make up for all the years he had failed to be there for her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. "I should've been there for you."
Amelia blinked, surprised by his sudden intensity, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she let him hold her, his warmth seeping into her.
Sebastian held Amelia close, feeling the warmth of her body against his. The silence between them was comforting, almost as if they were both lost in their own thoughts. But Amelia, ever the scientist, broke the quiet with a question.
"How about the experiment? We're here now and I think, we're wasting time," she asked, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
Sebastian chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "We shouldn't do some kiss experiment now," he said, his tone teasing. "Because in my eyes, Amelia, you're undeniably beautiful. If we start, something more might happen."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his words but also slightly skeptical. "What do you mean, 'something more'?" she asked, her analytical mind already working through the possibilities.
Sebastian sighed, his playful demeanor giving way to something more serious. "I mean that it wouldn’t just be about science anymore. It would be... personal."
He looked down at her, his expression softening. "You know, I haven't been with anyone for years. No hook-ups, no girlfriends, nothing. I just focused on my work, on Math, on Science. I took that path because..." He paused, searching for the right words. "Because I saw the resemblance to you. You left, and I guess, in a way, I was chasing after you, trying to fill that void."
Amelia blinked, processing his confession. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the way he was opening up to her in a way he hadn't before. It was unexpected, this vulnerability from the man she had known as detached and aloof.
"But why?" she asked softly. "Why would you do that?"
Sebastian smiled, a small, almost sad smile. "Because even after all these years, I realized that you were always there, in the back of my mind. You were the one I compared everyone to. And no one ever measured up."
Amelia felt a strange warmth in her chest at his words. She had never expected this, had never imagined that he might have felt something similar to what she had once felt. But here they were, years later, and everything was... different.
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