Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Twenty-Five***

***Warning: This chapter contains sexually explicit adult content.***

I felt all fuzzy. My head was throbbing lightly. My body felt... different. Tired. But good. I didn't want to open my eyes. I was extremely comfortable. I couldn't remember the last time I slept so well and so peacefully.

There was a small movement behind me. Then I remembered I was in Sebastian's bed with him! And I was totally naked. I could feel my face reddening with embarrassment.

I opened my eyes slowly. A soft yellow light was filling the room gradually from the oncoming sunrise. It bathed everything in a soothing morning glow. There were little dust motes on the air.

I rolled over onto my other side to face the culprit of last night's tryst.

He lay there on his back, his exposed chest moving up and down slowly with his deep sleep breaths. One arm casually thrown over the back of his head and the other stretched toward me, but I must have rolled out of it at some point.

I remember the last time I shared a bed with him, after curing Anne, and how dreadfully hot he was to sleep next to, so I guessed I had scooted away for relief at some point. The thought put a grin on my face.

I lay there studying his sleeping form. The way his hair had fallen into his eyes while he slept, his mouth slightly open, breathing deeply. The freckles all over his chest were gloriously beautiful in the morning light. There were more than I thought!

I reached over slowly to push his hair out of his eyes. His hair was so soft, like feathers.

He stirred slightly and I pulled my arm back quickly, trying not to wake him.

He seemed to drift back off to sleep. I slowly scooted into the circle of his arm, trying not to shake the bed and curled up in the crook of his armpit, putting my head gently on his chest. I could hear his relaxed, rhythmic heartbeat against my face. It filled me with comfort.

His arm gradually snaked around me, pulling me in close as he exhaled deeply.

God, I love this man. I thought wildly to myself. I felt stunned with the shock of my self-revelation. I guess I had always known. Even Ominis knew. But did Sebastian know?

He "mmm" -ed softly in his sleep. I listened raptly.

"Rachel..." he whispered. Was he awake? I opened my eyes to see he was still asleep with his eyes closed and mouth slack.

"I love you." He said ever so softly, his voice cracking slightly.

I couldn't breathe. He loved me too!

He rolled slightly to the side and wrapped his other arm around me protectively, enclosing me to his chest. Arm Prison again. I thought wryly. But this time, I didn't mind it.

I felt a wash of love, affection, warmth, comfort fall over me. I couldn't believe this was happening!

And he was completely unaware, still breathing deeply, exhaling into my hair on the top of my head.

I put my hands flat to his chest, feeling that familiar heartbeat and letting it lull me back to sleep, a big smile on my face.

--

The heat was back. I was sweating. I felt sticky and like I couldn't breathe. I opened my eyes to see a freckled chest in my face. I turned my head up slightly and looked straight into a pair of soul-searching, dark chocolate eyes looking right into my light green ones.

"Good morning." He spoke. His voice was dewy with sleep.

"Good morning." I replied. I sounded crackly, my throat dry, from the heat I expected.