Chapter 43: Chapter 43

The days before Carol and Sebastian were set to go on their trip were very awkward ones, especially for Carol. She did not know what it was that she had done the night when she and Sebastian had drunk together, but she knew that it was most likely not good. It wasn’t as though Sebastian said anything, but she could see it in his eyes. Carol was horrified and hoped that she had not tried to seduce him or something like that, but she could not bring herself to ask him. He talked to her normally anytime they had reason to talk to each other, but there was something different about him.

Right now, she was sitting with her legs in the swimming pool, just swinging it in the water and enjoying its coolness against her legs. She wasn’t going to swim, but she was just sunning and trying to get a tan or something. Suddenly, she heard footsteps and turned around to smile at whoever was coming, thinking that it was one of the maids or gardeners, only to see that it was Sebastian. The smile froze on her face, and she turned back to face the water, wishing that she had left before he came there. He was putting on only shorts and was obviously coming for a swim.

“Carol.” He sent in a deep voice that sent shivers down her spine in a good way.

“Sebastian. Nice day for a swim, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. That’s why I came to have one. Why aren’t you swimming though? Or don’t you know how to do so?”

“Oh, I do know how to swim.”

“Are you sure? I could teach you if you do not know how, you know. Anyway, has my uncle called you yet to give you details about this so-called vacation?”

“Yes, he has. Everything is set. We finalized it this morning. We’re leaving in four days' time. I was going to inform you later.” She informed him.

“That’s good.”

They lapsed into silence for a while, enjoying the cool breeze that rustled the leaves of the trees around.

“I like your estate. It’s so natural. You know, the trees, garden, and everything.”

“Yeah. I love nature so much, so that was why I had all those things included. I'm glad you like it.”

“Nice.”

“Okay, I have something to say.” Sebastian began, taking a deep breath and glancing at her to see if she was listening. Carol’s heart began to beat faster. This was it. This was the moment where he would tell her that she had done something stupid that night and crossed a line. Color flooded her face immediately.

“Yes, Sebastian.”

“Look, I love my uncle very much, but you have to know that he can be a big bully. What I’m trying to say is that you should not let him bully you into doing anything that you do not feel comfortable doing, okay?”

“Uh, sure. Thanks.” Was that what he wanted to say? That was not what she had been expecting at all and she was surprised, but she was also relieved.

“You’re welcome. Also, I want to apologize.”

“Huh?” Carol asked, wondering if she had heard him right.

“Yes. I know I have been the most awful host or pretend husband or whatever. But I want to inform you that I’m not always like this. It’s just that I’m going through a rough patch, what with the disappearance of my ex-fiancee, whom we still haven’t found and do not know whether she is alive or dead. So I decided to drown my anger and uncertainty with work. Anyway, there is no excuse for my rude behavior when we newly met and I just wanted to apologize for that. You’re a nice person and you do not deserve how I treated you.”

“Um, is there a favor you want from me, Sebastian?”

“What? Why did you ask that?”

Carol burst out laughing. “I’m just pulling your legs. It’s fine. You don’t really need to apologize, but if you feel that you need to, no problem. Apology accepted.”

He smiled too, a wide smile that showed his pearly white teeth and his deep dimples. Carol smiled along with him, her gaze firmly fixed on his lips. He had never looked as handsome as he was to her at that moment, and it was all that she could do not to lean in and place a kiss on those succulent-looking lips. Sebastian must have felt the same way too because she saw his gaze leave her eyes and drop to her lips and saw his eyes turn a shade darker with what she could only term desire. Carol moved a little closer, and she could have sworn that Sebastian did too because suddenly, they were only inches apart, but then he seemed to recover himself. He drew back in what looked like surprise, cleared his throat, and got up.

“I think I’ll go and take that swim now.” He said, and in one swift and fluid motion, got up and dove headfirst into the pool to begin his swimming.

Carol remained sitting there, her lips tingling from the thought of the ‘almost’ kiss that she had nearly shared with Sebastian. What wouldn’t she give to kiss those lips of his? Her traitorous body began to tingle at the thought of it and warmth flooded her core, so much so that she had to clamp her legs together to quell the sudden ache between them. She just had to accept the fact that she was becoming increasingly attracted to her handsome husband, who was not really her husband when you looked at it.

She watched as he swam and his strong muscles rippled. Oh, how she longed to use her fingers to trace those muscles and have those strong arms hold her tight as they did unspeakable things to each other. Her nipples hardened of their own accord, aching to be touched, sucked, or licked. Realizing that her traitorous thoughts were not helping the ache in her core one bit, she looked away and tried to think of other things that did not involve Sebastian and his lips, body, or muscles.

“Ma’am.” A voice said sheepishly, cutting into her thoughts.

Carol whirled around to see the butler standing there and waiting for her to acknowledge his presence.

“Yes, Tom?” Carol replied, hoping to high heavens that the man would not notice her erect nipples under her shirt.

“Um, I’m afraid that we have a little problem.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Well, a man and two women claiming to be your father, mother, and aunty are here. They say they have come on vacation and are making quite a fuss at the gate.” He delivered his bombshell.