Athena
When I woke up, I found the side of my bed empty. A frown settled on my face—I had hoped to cuddle with him a little longer. A single night of being entwined with each other didn't seem like enough when all I craved was his closeness. It hadn't been more than two seconds since I opened my eyes, and already I longed for the warmth of his heavenly scent.
I got out of bed and made my way downstairs. There was a chance he might be in the living room or tending to the garden he had promised to take care of after getting an earful from Shelly.
As I entered the living room, the frown returned to my face as I failed to spot any sign of him. Letting out a sigh, I considered heading to the garden, but for some reason, my gaze fell upon the path to the kitchen. A fresh aroma wafted through the air, drifting directly in my direction.
It smelled like pancakes.
Without a doubt, I knew it was Sebastian. He had a talent for one thing—cooking pancakes.
I made my way to the kitchen, and as soon as I stepped in, my eyes landed on him, fully engrossed in his culinary experiment. He expertly flipped the pancakes and set them aside one by one. However, the longer I watched him, the less appealing the food became with each passing second.
Like an exotic blend of spices that awakened the senses, his very presence carried an irresistible allure.
He stood there shirtless. His trousers, loosely hanging on his hips, added a hint of tantalising mystery, enticing imaginations to wander into uncharted territories. As his messy hair cascaded effortlessly, it framed a visage where his piercing blue eyes gleamed like shards of sapphire. His muscular arms flexed as he worked, stealing the spotlight, while his perfectly sculpted abs demanded attention just by existing.
God! What a beautiful creature he was!
I could have silently observed him all day, but his eyes met mine, and a smile tugged at his lips as he acknowledged my presence. "You're up early today," he remarked, pausing momentarily to turn off the stove. He walked over to me, slipping his hand around my waist and pulling me close, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead before capturing my lips.
"What's the matter? Why did you come down here?" he asked, his fingers gently brushing my hair back. "Do you need something?"
"Yes. You—I need you on the bed or else I can't sleep," I confessed, feeling my lips pursing on their own.
A mischievous chuckle escaped his lips, infused with anticipation. "Oh, really? Now that's some intriguing news."
"Why is that?"
His eyes sparkled with affectionate amusement. "Because, my dear, if you're on the bed, I can hold you in my embrace throughout the day."
In one fluid motion, he effortlessly scooped me up, spinning us around, catching me off guard and evoking a gasp.
"You are absolutely crazy," I giggled.
"Yes, crazy for you," he whispered, his lips brushing against mine in a series of tender pecks, his unwavering affection filling the room. Then, gently placing me on the kitchen counter, he suggested, "Would you mind accompanying me in making breakfast?"
I couldn't help but laugh, charmed by his enthusiasm. "And how much assistance does a chef need to bake pancakes?"
He grinned, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "A lot, if you had asked me a few days ago, but now I'm an ace at it." he continued, "Shelly taught me, and I've even improvised the recipe. I've added cinnamon and banana."
"Wow, what a great discovery!" I couldn't hold onto my laughter.
"Hey, that's mean," he playfully protested, a hint of a pout on his lips. "You shouldn't be like that."
I couldn't help but laugh, his reaction infectious. "Okay, fine, I won't tease Chef Sebastian anymore," I said, playfully relenting. "Now, get back to work. I'm actually starving."
"Alright," he replied, stealing a quick kiss before turning his attention back to the task at hand.
God, how I wished everything would stay just like this!
****
We were currently in his study, seeking solace from our boredom with nowhere else to go. He settled into his chair while I found my place on his lap, lightly playing with the stray strands of his hair as he delved deeper into the magazine in his hand, searching for suitable baby names—for both boys and girls.
"What's for lunch?" I asked, using the question as a subtle way of seeking his attention.
"I'm not sure. I told the maid to prepare something healthy, and oh, your favourite custard for dessert," he replied, catching on to my unspoken request. Setting the magazine aside, he pulled me closer. "Is there anything specific you want? I can add it to the list."
A smile tugged at my lips involuntarily, and I trailed my index finger from the side of his face to his chin, then down to his neck. "A piece of you would be more than enough."
Disbelief washed over his face, but it quickly transformed into a breathy chuckle, "Pregnancy has certainly changed you a lot."
"Shut up and kiss me," I moved closer, whispering against his lips.
Without another word, he obliged, pulling me closer by the back of my head and pressing his lips to mine.
What began as a gentle kiss quickly intensified into a fiery encounter. We both wavered on the edge of desire, where a single push or an unchecked movement could send us spiralling into a world of passion. His lips felt like they were made exclusively for mine, igniting a craving that consumed us both. So good and mine only.
Once we caught our breath, we gazed into each other's eyes. In his eyes, I saw nothing but love, and in mine, he saw the same. As much as the desire to delve deeper consumed us, I knew it required time. I wasn't sure why—I hesitated, perhaps still nursing old wounds that hadn't fully healed—but I needed time. I simply needed it.
Instead of pulling him in for another passionate kiss, I planted a gentle peck on his lips. "I love you."
"I love you too," he smiled, but his expression quickly faltered. "Athena, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Actually, I called Aaron yesterday. I know you've been missing him, and as your mate, I felt it was my responsibility to—"
"Why did you do that, Sebastian? You didn't have to," I interrupted, my eyes softening yet my voice remained firm. "It's true that he's been a good friend to me, but I know he's hurt you. I don't expect you to forgive him in an instant just for my sake. That wouldn't be fair to you."
"It doesn't matter, Athena. The only thing that matters to me is your happiness. I want nothing more than that," he said, "Trust me, love. You are the only one I need to be happy. I know Aaron has been an unfair friend to me, but he has also taken care of someone so precious to me—you, love. So, asking him to meet you once is the least I could do."
"Sebastian..."
"No, love," he gently pressed his finger against my lips, silencing me. "I know what I'm doing, and trust me, I'm happy to do this for you. Okay?"
He possessed an uncanny ability to leave no room for argument, a skill that both frustrated and fascinated me. I marvelled at his newfound selflessness, wondering if it had always resided within him, hindered only by the chains of a curse.
"You're so unfair," I murmured, snuggling even closer, my nose nuzzling against his neck, savouring his captivating scent.
A playful laugh escaped his lips. "Now, that's just cruel."
"What did Aaron say? Will he come?"
"At first, he was hesitant but this morning, I received a call from him. He promised to show up."
"You threatened him, didn't you?" I couldn't contain my amusement, a soft chuckle slipping through.
He shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of deception tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Not exactly. I simply made him aware of the consequences if he dared betray your friendship."
"Just that?"
"Umm...Yeah."
"Such a liar!"
His retort came quickly, "Hey, I'm not lying. I'm just summarising what I said to him."
"And I'm sure that 'summary' contains a plethora of hidden details, doesn't it?"
"Well...not really." His voice wavered, betraying his attempt to conceal the truth, while I effortlessly saw through his facade.
"You're terrible at lying," I laughed, "So, Aaron is really coming today?"
Sebastian nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, your friend mentioned that he has something important to discuss. He sounded serious."
"What things?"
He shook his head. "I honestly have no idea. He hasn't disclosed anything to me. It's probably just as pointless as he usually is."
"That's mean, Sebastian," I playfully slapped his chest, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
Mending the rift between Sebastian and Aaron would undoubtedly take time. I held onto hope. He had been a loyal beta until his emotions clouded his judgement. Considering the alternatives, his mistakes could have been far worse.
I wished for Sebastian to forgive Aaron and for Aaron to realise his mistakes. In that way, at least, we'd be able to save at least one friendship.