Sebastian Knight

18. Liliana

When I wake, Sebestian is nowhere to be seen. The sun is blazing through the windows, and I can now really appreciate the room. I have flowers! I didn’t noticenthem the night before. Several bouquets.

I wonder idly who they’re from.

A soft knock distracts me, and Eduardo peeks around the door. He beams when he sees that I’m awake.

“May I come in?” he asks.

“Of course.”

He strides into the room and over to me, his soft, gentle blue eyes assessing me shrewdly. He’s wearing a dark suit—he must be working. He surprises me by leaning down and kissing my forehead.

“May I sit?”

I nod, and he perches on the edge of the bed and takes my hand.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better. Sore.” I say, for honesty’s sake.

“Have they given you meds for the pain?”

“Lor . . . something.”

“Good. Where’s Sebestian?”

“I don’t know. When I woke up, he was gone.”

“He won’t be far away, I’m sure. He wouldn’t leave you while you were unconscious.”

“I know.”

“He’s a little mad at you, as he should be.” Eduardo smirks.

Ah, this is where Sebastian gets it from.

“Sebastian is always mad at me.”

"Well, he means well and I'm a little angry at you as well." His smile is infectious.

He sighed and fixed his suit as he looked at me, “I’d better go. I need to talk to Patricia.” He smiles and rises. “I’ll check in on you later."

He leaned down and kisses me once more on the forehead. I look up at him, blinking back tears, suddenly overwhelmed, and he strokes my cheek affectionately. A few moments later, Eduardo turned on his heel and left the room.

Oh my. The fatherly touch. It felt so good, like I am wanted. I'm reeling from his gratitude. I shake my head and gingerly get out of bed. I’m relieved to find that I am much steadier on my feet than yesterday. In spite of Sebestian sharing the bed, I have slept well and feel refreshed. My head still aches, but it’s a dull nagging pain, nothing like the pounding yesterday. I’m stiff and sore, but I just need a bath. I feel grimy. I head into the en suite.

“Babe!” Sebastian shouts, panic clear in his voice.

Fear he lost me again, “I’m in the bathroom,” I call as I finish brushing my teeth.

That feels better. I ignore my reflection in the mirror. Jeez, I look a mess. When I open the door, Sebestian is standing by the bed with a tray of food. He changed, he was dressed, shaved and showered. His cinnamon cologne filled the room, the one that I like the most, he also looks well rested.

Sebastian smiled warmly at me, "Good morning, beautiful-" I couldn't help but scoff at that comment. His jaw clenched, but he let it go. "I have your breakfast."

Wow. I smile broadly as I climb back into bed. He pulls over the tray on wheels and lifts the cover to reveal my breakfast: oatmeal with dried fruits, pancakes with maple syrup, bacon, orange juice, and Twinings Earl Grey tea. One of my favourite teas.

My mouth waters; I’m so hungry. I down the orange juice in a few gulps and dig into the oatmeal. Sebastian sits down on the edge of the bed to watch. Hearing him chuckle made me smile as I looked at him.

“What?” I ask with my mouth full.

“I like to watch you eat,” he says. But I don’t think that’s what he’s smirking about. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” I mutter between mouthfuls.

I heard a sniffle coming from Sebastian's mouth, a small tear running down his cheek, "Oh Lily." His voice was barley a whisper. It was filled with anguished and pain. “I thought I’d lost you. Then I thought I’d lost you again. Seeing you lying on the ground, pale and cold and unconscious. It was all my worst fears realized. And now here you are, brave and strong, giving me hope. Loving me after all that I’ve done.”

“Yes, I do love you, Sebestian. I always will.”

Gently taking my head between his hands, he wipes my tears away with his thumbs. He gazes into my eyes, brown to hazelnut, and all I see is his fear and wonder and love.

“I love you, too,” he breathes. And he kisses me sweetly, tenderly like a man. “Much as I’d like to kiss you all day, your breakfast is getting cold,” Sebastian murmured against my lips.

He gazes down at me, now amused, except his eyes are darker, sensual. Holy cow, he’s switched again.

“Eat,” he orders, his voice soft.

I swallow, a reaction to his smoldering look, and crawl back into bed, avoiding snagging my IV line. He pushes the tray in front of me. The oatmeal is cold, but the pancakes under the cover are fine—in fact, they’re mouthwatering

There’s a knock on the door. Detective Allen makes an apologetic entry into the room. He’s right to be apologetic, my heart sinks when I see him.

“Mr. Knight, Mrs. Torres. Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” snaps Sebastian.

Franco Allen ignores him. “Glad to see you’re awake, Mrs. Torres. I need to ask you a few questions about Thursday afternoon. Just routine. Is now a convenient time?”

I gulped reaching for Sebastian's hand which he grabbed, “Sure," I mumble, but I do not want to relive Thursday’s events.

"Liliana should be resting.” Sebestian bristles, feeling my fear.

“I’ll be brief, Mr. Knight. And it means I’ll be out of your hair sooner rather than later.”

Sebastian huffed and stood up, offering Franco his chair, before Sebastian sat down beside me, taking my hand again and squeezing it.

Half an hour later, Franco is done. I’ve learned nothing new, but I have recounted the events of Thursday to him in a halting, quiet voice, watching Sebastian go pale and grimace at some parts.

“I wish you’d aimed higher,” Sebastian mutters, not caring that Franco had heard what he said.

Honestly I was training to aim higher but I couldn't.

“Might have done womankind a service if Mrs. Grey had.” Franco agreed.

“Thank you, Mrs. Torres. That’s all for now.”

Sebastian frowns, but I think he has his suspicions.

Allen rasied to leave just as Dr. Rachel and two interns enter the room. After a thorough examination, Dr. Rachel declares me fit to go home. Sebastian sighs with relief.

“Mrs. Torres, you’ll have to watch for worsening headaches and blurry vision. If that occurs you must return to the hospital immediately.”

I nod, trying to contain my delight at going home. As Dr. Rachel leaves, Sebastian asked her for a quick word in the corridor. He keeps the door ajar as he asks her a question. She smiles.

“Yes, Mr. Knight, that’s fine.”

He grins and returns to the room a happier man.

“What was all that about?”

“s*x,” he says, flashing a wicked grin.

Oh. I blush. “And?”

“You’re good to go.” He smirks.

Oh, Sebastian! Of course. But to be fair I have missed him.

“I have a headache.” I smirk right back.

“I know. You’ll be off limits for a while. I was just checking.”

Off limits? I frown at the momentary stab of disappointment I feel. I’m not sure I want to be off limits. Nurse Bianca joins us to remove my IV. She glares at Sebastian. I think she’s one of the few women I’ve met who is oblivious to his charms. I thank her when she leaves with my IV stand.

“Shall I take you back to Eduardo's?” Sebastian asked, with a sly smirk.

****

Fred pulled into the driveway of Eduardo's house, stopping by the front door. Being careful of waiting photographers who must of heard something about what happened. Sebastian was a famous man in most people's eyes.

Sebastian ushered me out of the car. Keeping his arm around my waist, he leads me to the door where the housekeeper Mariana opened the door, helping us into the house.

“Glad to be back?” Sebastian asked

“Yes,” I whisper.

But as I stand in the familiar surroundings of the hallway, the enormity of what I’ve been through crashes over me, and I start to shake.

“Hey” Sebastian wrapped his arms around me gently as he pulled me close to him, "You’re home. You’re safe,” he says, kissing my hair.

“Oh, Sebastian.” A damn. I didn’t even know was in place bursts, and I start to sob.

“Hush now,” Sebastian whispered, cradling my head against his chest.

But it’s too late. I weep, overwhelmed, into his T-shirt, recalling Thomas' vicious attack, “That’s for leaving me, you f*****g b***h!”

When we made our way to the stairs, Sebastian picked me up carefully and carried me like a child up the stairs and towards the upper hall. My arms wrap around his neck and clung to him. Sebastian carried me into the bathroom and settled me down onto the chair.

“Bath?” he asks.

I shake my head, I couldn't trust my voice.

“Shower?” His voice is choked with concern.

Through my tears, I nod. I want to wash away the grime of the last few days, wash away the memory of Thomas' attack. “You gold digging whore.” I sob into my hands as the sound of the water cascading from the shower echoes off the walls.

“Baby,” Sebastian croons. Kneeling in front of me, he pulls my hands away from my tearstained cheeks and cups my face in his hands.

I gaze at him, blinking away my tears.

“You’re safe. It's going to be okay," he whispers.

My eyes brim with tears again.

“Stop, now. I can’t bear it when you cry.” His voice is hoarse. His thumbs wipe my cheeks, but my tears still flow.

“I’m sorry, Sebastian. Just sorry for everything. For making you worry, for risking everything.”

“Hush, baby, please.” He kisses my forehead. His hazelnut eyes are bleak but penitent. “Let’s get you undressed.” His voice is soft.

I wipe my nose with the

back of my hand, and he kisses my forehead once more. Briskly he strips me, taking particular care as he pulls my T-shirt over my head. But my head is not too sore. Leading me to the shower, he peels off his own clothing in record time before stepping into the welcome hot water with me.

Pulling me into his arms, he held me for the longest time, as the water gushes over us, soothing us both. He lets me cry into his chest. Occasionally he kisses my hair, but he doesn’t let go, he just rocks me gently beneath the warm water. To feel his skin against mine, his chest hair against my cheek, this man I love, this self-doubting, beautiful man, the man I could have lost through my own recklessness.

I feel empty and aching at the thought but grateful that he’s here, still here, despite everything that’s happened. Eventually I stop crying and step back.

“Better?” he asked.

Nodding my head.

Sebastian gave me a small smile, "Good. Let me loom at you," He spoke, for a moment I don't get wheat he meant, until he took my hand and examined the arm I fell on when Thomas hit me.

There are bruises on my shoulder and scrapes at my elbow and wrist. He kisses each of them. He grabs a washcloth and shower gel from the rack, and the sweet familiar scent of jasmine fills my nostrils.

"I want to kill him," He whispered under his breath, taking a deep breath, "Turn around plese baby."

Gently, he proceeds to wash my injured arm, then my neck, my shoulders, my back, and my other arm. He turns me sideways, and traces his long fingers down my side. I wince as they skate over the large bruise at my hip.

Sebastian's eyes harden and his lips thin. His anger is palpable as he whistles through his teeth.

“It doesn’t hurt,” I murmur to reassure him.

Blazing gray eyes meet mine. “I want to kill him. I nearly did,” he whispers cryptically.

I frown then shiver at his bleak expression. He squirts more shower gel on the washcloth and with tender, aching gentleness, he washes my side and my behind, then, kneeling, moves down my legs. He pauses to examine my knee. He lips brush over the bruise before he returns to washing my legs and my feet.

Reaching down, I caress his head, running my fingers through his wet hair. He stands, and his fingers trace the outline of the bruise on my ribs where Thomas kicked me.

“Oh, baby,” he groans, his voice filled with anguish, his eyes dark with fury.

“I’m okay.” I pull his head down to mine and kiss his lips.

He’s hesitant to reciprocate, but as my tongue meets his, his body stirs against me.

“No,” he whispers against my lips, and he pulls back. “Let’s get you clean.”