Snowflakes and Second chances

HEATED WHISPERS

“If I didn't know better, I'd say you've got my daughter on some sort of spell. She hasn't stopped talking about you since yesterday.” Sebastian says cutting through the silence as we do the dishes.

“Well I'm just as enchanted as she is as the case happens to be! She's a doll, such a sweet little kid.” I reply handing him the last washed glass, pleased that his little girl found me that interesting.

“Sometimes, she acts so smart I begin to wonder if all kids are like that or if I'm just being over amazed because I, for one, wasn't the smartest of kids.” He jokes, and we laugh as I give him a look.

“You? Not smart? Quit being so humble, you're going to make me puke. You're not forgetting we literally grew up around each other and I saw you receive all those awards over the years?” I reply teasingly and he shrugs with a smirk.

“She's much braver than me, though, and she's not afraid to say things as she sees it and go for whatever she wants… something I can't quite grasp.” He replies drying his hands as we were done with the dishes and returning the dishcloth and I feel like we're no longer talking about little Sophia.

“Uhm… I-it's getting pretty late, isn't it? Might as well just say goodnight to our lovely hosts and be on my way…" I make to move from the sink and walk off, but his hold on my hand stops me.

His grip is warm and sends tingles right from my fingertips to my toes, and I gasp softly as goosebumps paint my skin.

“It bothers me that you're so on guard around me, I miss the days when you'd laugh, and we'd joke around without you trying to run off the next second, what happened to you Amelia?” Concern laces his voice heavily as I turn back to meet his intense gaze.

“I-I… I'm fine Sebastian, thanks for the concern, but I'm not trying to run off, it's just late, and I need to be heading home now.” I stutter nervously, his contact with my skin making my insides begin to tingle.

I had fought so hard throughout dinner tonight to not steal too many glances at him, so difficult to not scoot my chair closer to his as he had been seating beside me and breathe in more of his heady cologne, so challenging to not reach over and bury my hands into his full curls and run them across his chiseled face and fit form.

And now here he was, grabbing onto my hand and keeping from leaving while I still had any self-control left, and before I'd do anything I'd regret later. Why was he trying to complicate my life further with his intense stares and good looks?

“When I say Sophia speaks her mind better than I do, tonight alone proves my point better. Earlier, I listened to her tell you innocently how pretty your dress was and how your hair looked good, do you want to hear what I thought?” His voice drops an octave and I swallow taking steps back until I find myself trapped between his build and the counter.

“I-I- Sebastian- I'm…" I can't form a coherent sentence as I flush from head to toe from the way he was intently staring into my eyes as he leaned closer.

“Please…let me finish. From the minute I pulled that door open, the only picture that stayed in my mind after then was how it'd feel to run my hand through your hair and see if it was just as soft as I've always imagined, bury my face into the soft curve of your neck and line it with kisses while my hands work through releasing the buttons of your dress which I must say is a stunner, but we're talking about you Amelia, you can make anything look good…do you need me to go on? Because I'm only just getting started.” With every word that leaves his mouth, my body grows warmer and pleasant tingles spread out everywhere.

He rests both hands on the counter beside me, his face mere inches away from mine as his breath tickles my face, and I'm breathing in small rapid breaths through my mouth as our eyes remain locked.

“Daddy? I'm sleepy, are we going to sleepover?” At the sound of Sophia's voice, we jump apart the spell broken immediately, and I hurriedly pour myself a glass of water gulping it down.

Sebastian clears his throat moving to where she stood by the door as he scoops her up, and she yawns rubbing her eyes before resting her head on his shoulder.

“We'll sleep over some other time, say goodnight to Amelia.” She gives me a sleepy smile and waves softly yawning some more and I avoid Sebastian's gaze as I wave back at her, my face still flushed as I try to regain composure.

“Did you drive here? We can drop you off if you didn't.” Sebastian says forcing me to look at him, but I shake my head frantically, not trusting either myself or him for us to be in the same space again tonight after the heated moment that Sophia had thankfully interrupted because heaven only knows what would have happened if she hadn't shown up.

“Dad called, I told him you'd stay the night, that's okay with you, right?” Julian's voice just before I can come up with a lie notifies us of his presence, and we turn to him.

“Yeah yeah, completely fine with me, uhm we'll see you out?” I suggest and Julian nods as we escort Sebastian who was carrying a now sleeping Sophia to their car parked outside.

We wave them goodbye, although it seems like Sebastian has something he wanted to say, he doesn't, and after they drive off, we return inside.

Julian shows me to the guest room and gives me some clothes to change into before telling me goodnight as he goes to join his wife, who had long slept off.

This time when I can't sleep though, it's not because I'm nervous but the image of Sebastian and our little moment in the kitchen keeps me up and when I do find myself finally dozing off, it's with a giddy smile on my face.