18:
The credits of the movie rolled across the screen, but Amelia remained on the sofa, flipping through channels until she landed on a documentary about Mathematics. The flickering light from the TV cast a soft glow in the dimly lit room.
Amelia got up and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Sebastian alone with his thoughts. When she returned, she carried two bottles of beer. She handed one to Sebastian, who accepted it with a silent nod, his eyes following her every move. There was something in the way he watched her—a gaze that was both intense and undeniably seductive.
Amelia set the other bottle on the coffee table and then walked away again. When she came back, she had changed into a loose T-shirt and shorts that revealed her long, smooth legs. The casual outfit contrasted sharply with the earlier image of her in the white turtleneck dress, but it made her look effortlessly alluring.
Sebastian took a swig of his beer, still watching her as she settled back onto the sofa, her attention now focused on the documentary. The topic was Math—a subject that fascinated her and, coincidentally, one that Sebastian had devoted much of his life to studying.
As the documentary played, the numbers and theories flashing across the screen, Sebastian couldn’t help but steal glances at Amelia. The way she was so absorbed in the content, the way her brow furrowed slightly in concentration—it all made him feel something he hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge until now. He wasn’t just drawn to her beauty; he was captivated by her mind.
Amelia, seemingly unaware of Sebastian's intense gaze, sipped her beer and leaned back against the cushions. The documentary was complex, discussing abstract mathematical concepts that would have been dense for most, but she followed along with ease.
Sebastian finally turned his attention to the TV, trying to focus on the documentary, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the woman beside him. The quiet intimacy of the moment, the shared interest in a subject so close to his heart, and the casual comfort of just being there together—it was all too much and yet not enough.
As the documentary went on, the air between them felt charged with unspoken tension, a quiet storm brewing in the dim light of the room. And yet, they both remained silent, each caught in their own thoughts, sipping their beers as the night slowly ticked on.
The low hum of the documentary filled the room, the only other sound being the occasional clink of bottles as Amelia and Sebastian sipped their beers. The atmosphere was relaxed, but there was an undercurrent of tension that neither of them seemed willing to address.
Sebastian’s eyes kept drifting toward Amelia’s long, bare legs, her smooth skin catching the dim light from the TV. Unable to resist the pull any longer, he reached out and gently touched her thigh. His fingers lightly traced a path along her skin, warm and soft under his touch.
"Let’s see," Sebastian murmured, his voice a low, playful rumble. "If I had to measure the length of your legs, I’d say… x equals infinity."
Amelia turned her head to look at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and mild amusement. She expected a teasing remark, but instead, she found Sebastian staring at her with an intensity that made her breath catch. His eyes were glassy, clearly affected by the alcohol, but there was something more—something that made the air between them thick with unspoken emotion.
She didn’t say anything as his hand continued to rest on her thigh, his thumb brushing her skin in slow, deliberate circles. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up her spine, but she remained silent, her eyes locked with his.
Sebastian leaned in closer, his face now just inches from hers. His breath was warm against her cheek, and she could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy with longing and something else she couldn’t quite place. The playful banter from moments ago had evaporated, leaving only this charged moment between them.
As he leaned in even further, his lips hovered just above hers, and for a heartbeat, everything else in the world seemed to fade away. The documentary played on in the background, but neither of them paid it any mind. Amelia’s heart raced, her mind a swirl of confusion and anticipation.
Just as their lips were about to meet, Sebastian paused, his breath hitching as if he were battling with himself. He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers, as if asking for permission or forgiveness—she couldn’t quite tell.
Sebastian’s eyes held a deep, burning intensity as he leaned in closer. His lips barely brushed against Amelia’s, and when he asked, “Can I kiss you?” his voice was a hushed whisper laden with desire. Amelia, her heart pounding and her thoughts a jumbled mess of anticipation, gave a subtle nod. The gesture was almost imperceptible, but it was enough.
Sebastian’s lips met hers, and the kiss was soft at first, a gentle exploration that quickly deepened. Amelia could taste the faint bitterness of the beer on his lips, mingling with something more intoxicating—a raw, undeniable longing that left her breathless. She felt herself sinking into the sofa, her body becoming pliant beneath him.
When Sebastian finally pulled away, his eyes were still locked on hers, filled with a mix of determination and affection. His fingers deftly worked at the buttons of his white polo shirt, slowly undoing each one with deliberate precision. Amelia watched, captivated, as he removed the polo entirely, revealing his toned chest. Her gaze traced the contours of his muscles, her fingers reaching out to touch his abs.
The contact sent a thrill through her, and Sebastian’s expression was one of raw, unfiltered desire. His eyes bore into hers with a heat that seemed to melt away any last remnants of resistance. “Continue touching me,” he whispered, his voice low and husky. “Tonight, I’m yours. I’ll grant you every wish, whatever you like.”
The room seemed to shrink around them, the documentary forgotten as Sebastian’s words hung in the air. He moved closer, his body pressing against hers as he laid her back on the sofa. His gaze never wavered, holding her captive in its intensity.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, his breath warm against her skin. “We can lose ourselves with each other now.”
He leaned down, his lips close to her ear, and with a voice barely above a whisper, he added, “I’ll marry you anyway.”
*******