Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Seventy-Five

"Mmmm." A soft noise into my neck, radiating through my body, woke me.

We were both stirring at the same time. The windows at the far side of the room had streaks of pink in them. It must be just before sunrise. We had slept together on the couch all night.

"Seb... good morning." I cooed, running my fingers through his hair. He was still collapsed on top of me. Our bodies still an entangled mess with each other, arms and legs twisted around every which way.

"No." He said, and I thought he was rejecting the wake up, but he added, "Great morning." And I could feel his smile on my neck. My own smile pulled at my lips as his head slowly lifted and his dark, sleepy eyes met mine.

His lips moved slowly until they met mine in a soft kiss. And then he playfully laid kisses all over my face, eyes, forehead, cheeks, any part of skin he could find. I giggled and pushed him slightly off me.

"We probably need to go clean up and... assess what's going on today." He said, throatily.

"Yes. I agree. But..."

"But?" He asked, stroking my hair behind my ears.

"I ... don't want to. I just want to stay here. With you."

He grinned widely. "I know, love. But... life goes on and we must, too." He sighed deeply and started to pull himself up off me. We were slightly stuck to each other since we had fallen asleep immediately following our escapade.

"Ouch." I uttered as our skin pulled apart. "Ugh. I need a bath. So bad." I chuckled.

"I don't know why but that's hot. The thought that I've dirtied you all up." His Sallow Smirk in place. I smacked him on the arm.

"Gross, Seb." I admonished him.

We dressed in relative silence and started toward the exit of the Room. As we walked, he sighed deeply and asked me, "Are you going to break up with Weasley, now? Please? It's killing me."

I stopped and turned to face him. His real anguish written all over his face. He had been so good at hiding it, I hadn't realized how my relationship with Garreth was hurting more than just me and Garreth.

I grasped his hand tightly. "Yes. I will. I'm sorry that I caused you pain."

"You didn't know. You were just... trying to move on with your life. I understand. But... You can't be with someone else. I... don't care about anything else anymore. I just need you to be mine."

I was a little stunned. "Are.... Are you sure? I mean, everything you predicted would happen, is happening and you made it really clear you didn't want any part of it. And now, you want in? I mean... you realize how much you're taking on here, right?"

His face dropped and his look was scolding. "Rachel. I killed someone for you last night. I think we're quite beyond my not being involved."

I would have smiled but it was a heavy statement. And true. "You're right." I sighed. "I'm in if you're in. If you're not in, nothing else matters anyway."

He moved close to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. And then he lifted me slightly to place me on his feet. Like he had a thousand years ago. In a completely different life.

"I love you, Rachel. I'm in."

I smiled and he kissed me deeply, passionately, reminding me of everything I had been missing for the last almost four months.

When he released me, I didn't want to let go. But until I officially broke it off with Garreth, I couldn't risk him seeing us clutching each other in the halls.