Between two hearts

Sebastian's POV

The sunlight from the early morning sun penetrated through the glass walls of my penthouse, casting an artistic image on her beautiful face. She stirred slightly, clutching the sheets as if they could shield her from the world. I watched how peacefully she slept from the doorway, my cup of coffee almost forgotten in my hand.

Lila, my new nightmare.

Her name rolled uncontrollably around in my mind, soft, sweet yet sharp, just like the edge of a blade. She was trouble itself, the kind would burn without taking permission through your carefully organized walls. Last night was just the proof I needed to ascertain who she truly is.

I carefully set the coffee down and made my way inside. She looked totally different, vulnerable, though not entirely quiet, but can't be compared to been wild, she was a drunken mess from the night in the club. I clenched my jaw, as the memories of how she clinged to me came flashing back uncontrollably. The way her words sounded so incoherent, her laugh slurred greatly.

"Do well to control yourself," I muttered under my breath, to play safe, I gripped the edge of the tray tighter than intended.

It was still shocking how I managed to hold myself back when we returned from the club last night. When she stumbled and collapsed into my bed, her scent-vanilla filled everywhere and something peculiar about her, everything about her had messed with my head. I hadn't felt anything close to this, like living, this reckless, in years.

I set the tray of coffee in my hand on the nightstand and sat quietly on the edge of the bed. My hand hovered lustfully near her shoulder, but I dared not touch her. She shifted uneasily, her lips slightly parting as she murmured something funny in her sleep.

Just seeing her in this manner, completely unaware of her surrounding or what is happening to her, made it even more difficult to get in character.

But it wasn't long bfore I got betrayed, I didn't think twice, before I leaned in.

Her scent was intoxicating, wrapped dangerously around me, drawing me closer. I brushed her curly hair back, my fingers affectionately grazing her cheek. Her skin was soft, very warm, and my restraint for no reason started to crumble. I could not guide myself.

What exactly are you doing to yourself, Sebastian? my mind screamed in horror. But the part of me that craved deeply for affection, the part that had spent years locked in emotional isolation didn't check the consequences.

My lips landed on hers, softly brushing hers-light, tentative, just like when testing the waters. She stirred, and of course, her reaction was expected. Ber breath hitching slightly as my body made contact with hers, and that alone was enough to surge electricity from me.

Then, I managed to pull back, but my breathing was already heavy.

What the hell was I thinking when I initiated that kiss?

I stood abruptly, not knowing how to calm myself down but to run a hand through my hair. My disorganized reflection in the glass wall stood staring back at me, cold and accusing. I was never like this, this can't be Sebastian Knight, the man who didn't feel, and doesn't want to care.

But I wasn't prepared for the danger she was bringing. She was just the storm I hadn't prepared for.

The silence in the room was defeaning, but the sound of her phone buzzing brought a new light. She tossed tiredly as she made to get it.

Her eyes shot open, but still hazy with sleep. I look it that she was still trying to get used to the room, but her stares shows she was still confused of her surrounding.

"Good morning beautiful," I said, carefully leaning against the wall, forcing myself not to alarm her, but my lips was already curling into a smirk.

"Where the hell am I?" she asked, her voice groggy and commanding.

"You're in no other place, but my penthouse," I replied, trying so hard to keep my tone casual. "I figured out that you weren't exactly in a state to go home last night after the clubbing."

Her eyes widened, darting around the room, then it returned down at herself, realization dawning on her immediately. Out of embarrassment, hercheeks flushed a deep red.

"Did we do the...?" she asked, her voice breaking from horror.

I couldn't contain the laughter threatening to burst out from my mouth, a small smirk perfectly displayed at my lips. "No, nothing of that nature. But you succeeded I ruining my shoes."

Her face became even redder, and she covered it with her hands, groaning. "Oh my...God."

I chuckled softly, a low sound that even surprised me that made it. "You're very much welcome, by the way."

"For what exactly?" she shot back in confusion, her embarrassment quickly transforming into defiance.

"For going against my principle to save you," I said, crossing my arms and waiting for her reply. "If I hadn't been a gentleman enough to step in, you'd probably still be stuck against your wish with that guy from last night."

Her eyes widened from the revelation, and for a moment, I could sense she was genuinely grateful. But then, there was an interruption, her phone buzzed again, and her expression changed into panic.

She grabbed it in a hurry from the nightstand, but didn't answer immediately.

"Hel...llo?" she managed to say tentatively, her voice already shaky.

Even without the speaker, I could hear the sharp voice on the other end, scolding her like a child.

"What the hell did you get yourself involved in, Lila?"

Her face instantly went pale. "Mom, I can-"

"There are horrible pictures of you all over the internet, you were seen stumbling out of a nightclub with a ruthless billionaire! Do you by chance, have the slightest idea of how this could ruin my campaign, my political career?"

I frowned in annoyance, stepping closer to get a clearer view. They had mentioned my name in their conversation, and that drew my attention.

"With who exactly?" Lila asked, trying to keep her voice low.

"With the ruthless billionaire, Sebastian Knight," the voice snapped from the other end. "The selfish billionaire! Fix this immediately,Lila. I don't care how you would do that. Just fix it your mess!"

The call ended without waiting for a response from her, not even a defense, and she stared at her phone in her hand speechless, frozen.

I sighed confused, walking over to the bed where she sat and tossing a newspaper carrying the news onto her lap. The headline was bold, cold and terribly unforgiving: "Mystery Woman in tiny body Spotted with the Ruthless Billionaire, Sebastian Knight-Great Scandal Brewing?"

She glanced up at me, her eyes widened with panic and shock.

"You're highly welcomed to my world now, Lila," I said, my voice low, calm, but not encouraging. "And trust me, it's not one of the things you should wish for an enemy."

Lila's POV

The bass in the club was so loud I could feel it right in my ribs. I hated every bit of it. I hated being here, in this chaos of flashing lights and sweaty smelling bodies. But most of all, I hated the reason that pushed me here in the first place.

"Lila, will you stop looking like someone dragged you to the funeral of a relative?" Diana shouted over the music, pulling me forward by the wrist. "It's a club! You're supposed to have fun, get a life!"

Pleasure, I should get much of it as much as I want. It's true. The fun was finding your trusted boyfriend of three years in bed with no other but your best friend. The pleasure was being humiliated and left alone with the pieces of your self-esteem shattered before you, with no attempt of repair. I didn't want to be there, but Diana insisted and I was too numb to argue or go against her wish.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," I said, rising a little on my heels.

"Oh, don't complain anymore," Diana cried, pouring a funny looking cocktail into her hand. Her lipstick spread in a sly smile. "Drink enough of this. You need much of it to relax."

I looked at the glass like a time bomb, everything about it looked suspicious. "I don't drink."

There's always a first time, you'll drink tonight." Diana clinked her glass with mine. "Trust me, one sip won't kill you." I hesitated, but the words "trust me" did something funny to my pride. I didn't want her to think I was weak, not capable of making choices, not after everything I'd been through. So I took a sip.

The bitterness from a single sip burned my throat and I grimaced, but Diana was already putting another glass in my hand. "Come on baby girl!" she shouted at me.

On the third glass, the room began to tilt dangerously. The lights dimmed and my thoughts became unclear, unhealthy and shattered. "Diana," I managed to murmur, trying to calm every bit of myself down.

"I think I probably should sit for a moment..."

"Okay, then!" she interrupted, leading me towards a group of men seated in a VIP area enclosed by ropes. "Come on, sister, let's meet real men that make things happen. Forget about that cheating loser of yours! It's time to wine and dine with the happening men."

"Wait, I don't...I can't..." I stammered as my legs flopped under me. Before I knew it, a man smelling of sweet cologne pulled me into his hairy lap. "Hey, pretty girl," he said, his smile stretching too far.

I tried to pull away, but my arms felt like jelly. "No, I don't...I can't..."

"Relax," he said, running his rouyhand up my thigh.

"Keep your silly hands off me!" I tried to scream with my whole strength, but it was weak. Panic gripped my throat. And then, suddenly, I was pulled to my feet miraculously.

"What are you planning to do to her?" a cold, loud voice cut through the chaos.

I closed my eyes, my vision flickering, until my gaze landed on the man standing before me. He was tall, with a jaw so sharp it could cut glass and eyes the color of ice. His tailored suit clung to him like a second skin, and his presence was so imposing that the fat man retreated.

"Knights," the man sneered, his confidence wavering. "She's just about to consent to..."

"She's clearly not interested in what you want to offer," the stranger snapped. "Now leave before I descend heavily on you."

The man muttered something under his breath, but left. "Are you okay?" the stranger asked, his voice softer now, a gentleman to the core. I tried to nod, but the room spun and my knees buckled.

"Wow." He caught me before I hit the ground, lifting me up as if I weighed nothing. "Where are you taking me to, stranger?" I said confused, my head on his broad chest.

"A safe place, stranger," he said dryly.

When I opened my eyes, the sun was shining through the large windows, making me shiver. My head hurt and my mouth felt like a desert. I sat up slowly, realizing that I was in an unfamiliar room. The bed was large, the sheets silk. My heart sank as I looked. I discovered that I was wearing nothing but an oversized shirt. I'm panicked greatly, my heart rate increased. What happened last night that I wasn't aware of?

The door opens and the man from the club walks in. His black hair was wet and the top buttons of his shirt were crazily undone, revealing a hint of muscular chest. He brought a tray of coffee and toast, placing it on the dresser as if it were a normal breakfast.

"You're finally awake," he said evenly, but his sharp eyes seemed to be assessing me.

"Where exactly am I?" I asked, hugging the sheets to my chest.

"My expensive penthouse," he answered slowly, pouring coffee into a cup. "You couldn't go home last night because of your state. I couldn't risk it."

I watched him, my cheeks burning as the pieces of the night rushed back. "Are we...did we..?"

He smiled, lifting a corner of his mouth. "No, nothing of that nature. But you made a mess of my shoes by throwing up."

"Oh my god." I groaned, burying my face shamefully in my hands.

"You're highly welcome," he said, leaning against the wall with an expression of insane smugness.

"Why the welcome?" I replied.

"Because I saved you in your distress," he simply said. "If I hadn't intervened, things could have been a lot worse."

I played nervously with my fingers. "Why are you helping me then? Not like I would repay you."

He stood up, his smile widening dangerously. "Let's just say I have a thing for damsels in distress. It's now of those things I enjoy doing."

"I'm not a sample for your experiment," I replied.

He raised an eyebrow. "You were everything damsel in distress and more last night."

Before I could protest, my phone vibrated on the nightstand nearby. I picked it up, my stomach churning as I saw dozens of missed calls and texts from no other but my over ambitious mother.

"What have you done this time around, Lila? Mom hissed as soon as I answered.

"Mom, I... "

"There are pictures of you all over the internet, and none speaks good of you. You were seen leaving a nightclub with a strange man! Any idea how this could ruin my campaign and destroy all I've labored for?

"With who exactly? I asked, horror gripping my stomach.

"Sebastian Knight," she shouted over the phone. "The ruthless billionaire who never cares about anyone! Fix this immediately Lila. I don't care how you would pull everything through. Just fix it!"

The call ended and I looked at my phone in horror, stylishly glancing at Sebastian. He leaned over and threw a newspaper on the bed. "Now you're trapped in my scandalous world, Lila. Things are about to get much interesting, filled with fun."

Chapter 3

Sebastian's POV

I couldn't stop myself from thinking about her. All I concentrated on was Lila. The very way her presence seemed to occupy the room, the way I her bright eyes sparkled with a great mixture of pain and uncertainty. It was too insane how quickly everything had spiraled from just a night out to... well, this awkward moment now.

I hadn't intended for things to go far, not even this far at least. But when she had weakly stumbled into my arms, heavily drunk and fragile, I couldn't help it but feel the every pull between us. There seem to be something unique about her-the very way she gazed at me, the way she was undeniably lost in her own world, even while trying so hard to keep track of her new environment. It made me defy all odds, wanting to protect her, to do everything possible to make her feel safe, even if it would only be for a moment.

"Sebastian," she whispered, her voice resembling that which is a little slurred, but in all, still carrying that quiet intensity.

I wasted no time in catching her as she swayed, steadying her on her feet. "Are you sure you would love to do this?" The words left my mouth in a blink before I could stop them from coming out. I should've been the stronger one, told her to her face to go home, to get some sleep. But something captivating in her eyes made it hard to walk away without a taste.

She nodded in affirmation, her soft lips magically brushing mine in a gentle, almost hesitant kiss manner. There was no urgency, yes, there was no force propelling it-it was just two people caught in the moment, trap by emotion. I had no luxury of thinking straight. I myself didn't even desire to think straight.

And sooner than expected, we were right in my room, the world outside feeling like it had ceased to exist, we transited to a different realm. It was strange as was supposed to be-everything felt so natural, but even at that, so foreign. I wasn't used to experiencing this kind of vulnerability, especially not from her gender. Lila, from my judgement wasn't the type to let her guard down easily, but in a blink, in a moment of vulnerability, we both did.

The night went by faster in a blur, neither of us making an effort to talk, just existing in each other's presence quietly. There were of course, no expectations, no promises made. Just two people connected in vulnerability, for a brief moment.

Afterward, we lay sideways in the quiet darkness, the weight of what had just transpired hanging between us. I wasn't patient enough to keep waiting, I was the first to break the silence, my voice very low. "What happens now?"

Lila shifted uncomfortably beside me, pulling the covers up over her shoulders, in an attempt to to hide from me. "I don't even know," she murmured. Her voice was soft and soothing, but I could dictate the uncertainty in it.

I ran a hand through my rough hair, trying so hard to gather my scattered thoughts. "I didn't plan for this to happen, Lila. I had no intention of messing things up for you. I was overpowered by the vulnerablity of the moment."

She turned around to face me, her sparkling eyes meeting my gaze. "You didn't contribute to this, you had no intention of messing anything up. I pushed you to this limit, I should be the one who-"

"Don't, please" I interrupted, my voice very firm. "Don't utter such again. This... this wasn't in any way how I imagined it would happen. I had no intention of desiring you to feel like this."

She sighed, switching to her former position of backing me, her attention on the wall. The distance between us was obvious, I could sense how she viewed everything. It was like something irreversible had happened, something beyond our control. I desired to reach out, to reassure and comfort her,, but the words didn't come, the right words to be used refused to form.

"I expected our night together to bring a solution, and not become this complicated," I said after a long defeaning pause, my voice a whisper as I spoke.

Lila made no effort to respond immediately. I could sense she was in deep thought, greatly weighed down by her own feelings. "You shouldn't be blaming yourself, it's not your fault," she said finally. "It has happened. It just took place. And right now, all we have to do is find ways to handle the consequences. This isn't time for blames."

The deafening silence stretched on, thick and heavy this time. Neither of us seem to knew what to say or how to to handle the situation. It was no more a secret that we both regretted something, but neither of us was ready or brave enough to admit that.

"I don't want you to be occupied with different thoughts that would weigh you down. You have passed through a lot in a short time, this shouldn't add to it, it shouldn't change anything," I said, trying hard to brighten the room. "It wasn't some grand mistake, and shouldn't be viewed in such manner. It was just...just.."

"Just what exactly?" she asked, her voice obviously laced with bitterness. "You think this would be that simple as you planned?"

"I don't know what I think again," I admitted truthfully, frustration evident in my voice. "But I am sure of something, I don't want you to at any point, think that I regret it. I just... I do hope, and I do want things to remain normal, no weird moments between us."

Lila was quiet for a moment, it was as if she was collecting her thoughts, then she turned back to face me. "I don't know exactly what to think either. I'm not sure of what to feel about all that had happened."

I could see how she hesitated from her eyes, the uncertainty which obviously mirrored my own. Neither of us had been able to gather any clear answers, and it felt like we were both trapped in something we weren't sure we were ready for, none of us could stand it.

"I never planned for us to be trapped in this web of emotion, I never even imagined myself being in such situation," I said, my voice becoming a little softer now. "But I would love to announce to you that I don't regret it, Lila. I just... I don't want it to backfire, for this to be used against us."

She gave a small nod, still not ready to say much. The room felt very cold despite the warmth the covers around us was supposed to emit. The intimacy that we enjoyed that moment had faded, and now, we are left with an uncomfortable distance.

"I don't want us to experience awkward moments either," she murmured barely above whisper. "But my only problem is that I don't know how things like this is been done, I have no idea how we're supposed to act after... after moments of vulnerability like this."

I pained me that I didn't have an answer for her. How could I say anything? I didn't know how to handle this situation myself. It wasn't like I had a layed down grand plan for what was supposed to happen after a night like this, a night of vulnerability.

"I think the best thing to do is to just take it one day at a time," I said, trying to steady my voice but unsure how to go about. "We don't have to rush and figure it all out tonight."

Lila nodded again but quietly, though I could tell she wasn't entirely convinced with what I just said. There was still a lot left yet to be discussed between us, things neither of us was ready to admit and face.

"I think you're totally right," she said, her voice very soft. "We'll definitely figure it out... somehow, anyhow."

With that, the room became dead silent once more. We lay there not talking to each other, side by side, neither of us was asleep but neither of us was willing to speak again. The one night we had together has changed everything between us, and neither of us knew where to go from here, or how to handle it.

But for now, we could do nothing but wait for morning to come and face whatever it would bring.