Piece by Piece

Chapter 40

Aliena

The man wakes up right as I'm getting to my feet. "Oh, good morning," he mumbles with a yawn. I look at him over my shoulder and make a move to leave his room.

"Morning," I reply. His brows are drawing together, no doubt at my hurried comportment but I speak some more before he can question me. "Thanks again for letting me stay here, really. I have to get to work now," I tell him, unsure whether that's true since I don't know what time it is.

Sebastian gives the clock on my nightstand a pointed look before bringing his disbelieving eyes back to me. "It's five am, Aliena. You slept for barely three hours. Come back to bed."

Oh. My shift doesn't start until eleven. My steps slow but I don't halt. I might as well go home already and do some chores. It's not like I will be able to sleep again.

While I contemplate my next move, Sebastian climbs out of bed and walks toward me, his face neutral. I watch him come closer, trying not to make my ogling of his bare chest too obvious when really, it is a sight to see.

"What are you doing?" I finally ask when he stops right in front of me. He laughs softly.

"I told you to come back to bed," he tells me.

"Well, I told you I had to get to work," I retort. He doesn't buy it.

"What time does that start?"

"Eleven," I mumble, looking away. He tsks. Then, with a smile of angelic innocence, he ducks so his head is near my waist and throws his arms around my middle. I squeal and try to step away but before I can escape, my feet are off the ground and I'm horizontally in the air.

"Sebastian! What are you doing?" I exclaim, clutching onto his back. His muscles flex beneath my touch and hold on a little tighter. Accidentally.

"Taking you back to bed," he replies and starts walking to the four-poster as if I wasn't slung over his shoulder like a heavy bag of potatoes.

"I told you I had to go, you caveman!" I protest, slapping his back softly. The next thing I know, I'm flying through the air and bouncing off the fluffy mattress. Once I still, I wipe the hair from my face and glare up at the man, who's now triumphantly smiling down at me.

Then he jumps onto the bed next to me, saying, "Much better." He pats the space right next to him and opens his arms invitingly. "Come back, now, will you?"

I stare at him. "Just go back to sleep, Seb. I should start my day," I tell him seriously. His smile fades and he shakes his head.

"When's the last time you got eight hours of sleep?" he asks.

"No one needs that many hours," I protest. He gives me a look.

"What about six hours?" I just roll my eyes. "Aliena, when's the last time you slept?" he finally asks.

"Just now," I huff. "It's about quality, not quantity and these three hours just now were great. Really relaxing."

"Good, let's repeat it now," he argues, patting the mattress again. Oh, and it's tempting. It really is. Still, I hesitate because I already granted myself such a long break from reality and I'm scared to drag it out. I don't even remember the last time I checked my phone. It must've been at the party at some point.

I'm sure Lily texted me by now and my heart beats a little heavier at the thought. I'm afraid to have received a message from my best friend. Christ. I just really, really don't know what to say to her.

Sure, Sebastian was right last night when he said that it's her choice what she does to her body and that it might only have been a one-time thing. Still, I'm really disappointed in her. And scared for her.