Chapter 11: "I-Indeed"

One week.

Sebastian and Lucia had been in Zuzu for one whole week. They'd been having a grand old time. Thanks in part to money from a couple of huge jobs he'd coded, he was able to bankroll not only this little adventure of theirs, but paid Shane to manage Lucia's farm chores for the week. He'd be spent after all this, but he couldn't seem to find a single regret in the time they'd spent together. He'd never felt more kindred to anyone than he did in this week.

They'd partaken in more pizza, beer, hard liquor, and cigarettes than any two healthy people should have. But they'd both promised to kick the smokes when they made it back home. For now, it was time for fun, not worries.

And god was it fun. Sleeping in late. Staying up all hours of the night drinking and talking about anything and everything. Well, everything except that. Sebastian didn't say a damn thing about the problem with Sam. As far as Lucia knew, his knuckles were wrecked from hitting Alex. And he was intent to leave it that way for just a bit longer.

Sebastian knew that Lucia had talked to Sam at least a couple of times over the phone. And she didn't look distraught, so he could only assume Sam hadn't admit to anything yet. Which he was glad for. Soon, Lucia would find out soon enough, he was sure. Secrets like that never stayed secret. But for now he wanted to show her a good time. Make her happy.

And it seemed she was. The last day of their little adventure, she was laid out over her bed, crimson locks splayed over the dingy, cheap motel sheets. She was wearing a tee shirt of his (due to a party foul in her own nightshirt) and a pair of short pajama shorts. She was basking in a patch of sun filtered through a grimy window, wearing over the ear headphones, blasting music from his phone.

And honestly? He didn't think she could be more beautiful to him than she was in that moment. Not dressed in the finest clothes. Not with her makeup done to a tee. She was positively, unbelievable perfect to him in this moment. He stood by the window, smoking out of it because it was just too damn chilly to want to be outside. Between drags, he watched her body shift in time to the music, and her head bob.

Goddamnit, everything about her drove him wild. This week had exhibited many moments of sexual tension, but they had all been easily enough worked past with a stupid joke or another shot of cheap whiskey. But this? This feeling was raw, and intense, and it demanded something of him he wasn't sure he should give in to. In fact he was certain he shouldn't.

Finally he couldn't handle it anymore as he snuffed out the butt on the side of the exterior wall, then closed the window. Quietly he strolled his way over and took up beside her, considering carefully his next move. There were so many ways it could go wrong, and only one perceivable way it could go in his favor. The odds certainly weren't good, but...

Sebastian decided that today, he was a gambling man.

In a stroke of boldness unparalleled in his entire life, he sat up and leaned in, planting a kiss to her lips. Before she could stop herself, the electricity in her spine left her reciprocating. And boy, was she. Soon he was over top of her, his hand grasping her wrist tenderly.

They were both veering dangerously towards the same territory they'd first tread that night at the Saloon, and both of them probably knew this fact.

Finally they broke away, and she was breathless, and his world was spinning. But the guilt was immediate on both ends. "I… Shit…" He managed, wincing.

She nodded. "I-Indeed."

He groaned. "We're about to do something very, very stupid…"

She nodded again. "I-Indeed."

He groaned again. "Just.. Please. Tell me no? If you don't I'm not going to stop, and you're dating Sam, and he's my best friend… And this is a really, really bad idea…" He whispered, his voice thick and heavy with longing and ache that he just couldn't shut down.

It was Lucia's turn to let out a frustrated groan. "Fuck… You're not wrong…" She muttered as she put her hands on his chest and pushed him back. He rolled back onto his back, grabbing a pillow to hide the after-effects of their bad decision. Sometimes he cursed the male anatomy in all it's impulsiveness.

She sat up. "I… I need a cold shower. Like polar bear's ass, cold." She muttered, running her fingers through her mussed hair as she slung her long, shapely legs over the edge of the bed and planted her feet on the floor

Sebastian stared at the ceiling, and nodded. If he looked at her this way anymore, all hope was lost of doing what was right. "Y-Yeah… Go for it." He said in kind of a fog. "I-I'll be here…"

Lucia took off for the bathroom, and he thought he was in the clear. But of course not. Nearly the moment he heard the buzz of the water start running, his imagination ran out of control imagining what it would be like to be in there with her. Not cold water. A steaming hot shower. And her body pressed to his…

He let out an exasperated groan. No. Bad Sebastian. She was dating Sam. She liked Sam. But maybe she liked him too? That kiss left much in question right now.

No. Stop that.

But Sam had slept with Abi. Of that Sebastian was sure. He couldn't think of anything else that conversation he'd overheard could mean. And Sam's reactions kind of confirmed it. Was he really good for Lucia, if he could sleep with someone else the night before their first official date?

The one benefit of his line of thinking is that the anger at Sam more than killed the physical embodiment of his desire.

Something had to give though. Sebastian thought it through and decided that if Sam didn't say something to Lucia after they got home, then he would. Lucia deserved better than this. Sam didn't deserve a girl like her if he couldn't be good to her. At least, that was his justification. But the little part of his brain that was pettier than the rest kept nagging about how Sebastian could be there to give comfort. And that little thought wasn't a bad one. Even if it left him feeling a little too opportunistic for his likings.

In the bathroom Lucia tried to drown out the blazing fire in her belly with the icy chill of the shower spray. She and Sam hadn't been terribly physical just yet. Just innocent kisses and hugs. But that kiss with Sebastian? It was far from innocent. It had waken a sleeping beast that was impulsive and consuming. Something that was clawing at the back of her mind again, demanding in the same way it had been in the week following their first session. How easy would it be to stroll out of the shower, saunter over to the bed, straddle his lap, and show that man the heaven and stars?

Lucia shook her head. It'd be easy. But totally, and completely wrong.

And she loved every minute of how that felt. Sam was nice, but the chemistry was average. He was loyal and sweet, but she couldn't see herself spending a week locked up in a hotel with him, feeding her vices. He was funny, but he wasn't deep, and conversation didn't come as easily. But were any of those things reasons to call off a relationship that in its essence wasn't bad? She just wasn't sure.

All Lucia was certain of, is that it was time to go home. If she and Sebastian stayed here any longer, they were in imminent danger of going unforgivably far.

The cold shower an absolute practice in futility, Lucia stepped out and toweled off, drying her hair to damp before redressing. She stepped out and towards her bag to collect a pair of clothes.

Sebastian was once again lost with his gaze on her. The way her hair hung in tousled, damp waves. Goddamnit, not this again.

However, all that intense distraction came crumbling down when she spoke next. "We really should head back home… I'm sure Sam's worried he's out a girlfriend. And the farm calls." She said with a sigh that underlined what wasn't being said. That this adventure was too risky to continue.

Sebastian knew she was right about everything she said, and the one thing that she didn't say. But it still sucked. "Yeah, yeah. Okay." He muttered as he got up and moved to his own bag. She popped back into the bathroom to change, and he used the opportunity to do the same, getting into some more travel worthy attire.

About a half hour later, they were loaded up, and her on the back of the his bike, holding on tight. He reveled in the feel of their closeness, knowing that in their day to day life it wasn't appropriate.

At a gas stop she got a text. "Hey, Sebastian. Sam says band practice as soon as we're back in town. They missed the last show, and he says you all need to put in double the effort to repair the blow to your reputations.

Sebastian winced. "Fair enough. Come with? I'm sure Sam would like to see you…" He said, knowing she needed to be there and get the truth.

Lucia blocked her eyes from the sun. "I guess Shane's probably gonna be done with the chores by the time we make it back, so that's fine." She said, pulling the jacket he'd loaned her around her righter. It was a blustery day, and the jacket did well to keep her insulated.

He nodded. "Alright. Well, we're good here. Let's go then."

And so, they took off, the home stretch rapidly finding itself behind them, as they returned to Pelican town.

Sebastian dreaded the hurt he knew as coming for Lucia. But she deserved more than this.

If only he'd known what was waiting for them back home.