It hurts to hear that, especially when he says it. I know he did not say it with the intention of hurting me. I know he said it for me and for us.
Seth is right. They are not my family. Even if they are the closest thing to it right now.
“You shouldn’t have risked your career for us.”
“I would do it again,” I confess to him. I stroke his lips with my fingers. Seth breathes out softly against my skin. “For you. I would do it again only for you.”
“Don’t say things that…” I take his face in my hands, his frightened eyes moving quickly over my face, searching for confirmation that this is not another lie.
“Come here, come back to me.” I invite him to lie down beside me again. Seth nestles against my body, his warmth, his smell, his fingers brushing against me, his lips caressing me, it all feels so good and so deep that I can’t help but close my eyes and for the first time in my life let myself go completely, knowing that I’m safe with him.
Seth
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the kids’ voices coming from the kitchen. I slowly get up, still sleepy, and put my feet on the floor. I walk barefoot to the kitchen. It’s only when Rowan’s eyes lock with mine that I realise that last night had actually happened.
Oh my God.
I slept with my lawyer.
What about the case? Of the kids? My already fragile heart?
Could I be any stupider?
“Good morning, Uncle Seth,” Emily greets me. “Come and sit down. Rowan made pancakes pro… What do you call them?”
“Protein pancakes,” Rowan suggests before joining me. “But these are regular pancakes.” He hands me a cup, then gives me a mischievous smile. “There’s some for you too.”
“T-Thanks.”
He comes close to my ear. “Don’t panic, please.”
Easy for him. I was born to panic.
How can I stop now?
“I have to go,” he says, looking at his watch. “I’m already late.”
He walks away, leaving me lingering in his perfume. He picks up his jacket and briefcase and turns to the kids. “See you tonight.”
The kids wave to him as he walks past me again and pauses for a moment. It's clear he intends to give me both a heart attack and a panic attack. He leans in and whispers in a husky voice, “See you tonight.” To me, it sounds like a promise and ignites a thrill of pure lust within me.
I stand in the kitchen doorway for a few moments, the kids thankfully returning to their pancakes.
“I must... I forgot...” I slowly back away, joining Rowan on the landing before he descends the stairs.
“Hey, Mr Kennedy!” Rowan turns. “You’re not running off again, are you?”
“I have to go to the office. I got up late this morning.”
“Oh yeah? How come?”
He comes back to me, his hand on the wall above my head.
“I spent the night with a man.”
“Oh, really? I hope it was a… uhm… pleasant night.”
“The best of my life.”
