Chapter 19

She chuckled shakily. "That's a bit direct. Why that all of a sudden?"

He shrugged. "Humor me."

"I honestly don't know," she said. There was a faraway look in her eyes like she was thinking hard about something. "I've never had to work hard for anything before. My family is well off if you know what I mean. All I have to do is say the word and whatever it is will appear."

He supposed he could relate to that. After all, he'd started Hershey's Breweries with the money he received all those years ago from his parents. He wondered if he would be where he was today if things had been different.

From his experience, most women who were born into money were either stuck up or had their noses permanently up in the air. Jane seemed down to earth for the most part, save for her attitude. Though something told him she was only like that with him. To the rest of Stormbrooke, she was all smiles. It was annoying. Look at that Harry guy, for example.

Idiot.

"What about you?" She asked him. "What drives you?"

"Freedom."

He didn't have to think about it. The answer was at the tip of his tongue.

She raised a perfectly arched brow. "From what?"

He wondered how to say it without giving too much away. "I've always wanted to live life the way I choose. It's a bit too much to ask that there be no responsibilities and I'm okay with that but I want to be able to make my own decisions and live my life the way I choose without the shackles of other people's opinions."

She was staring back at him intensely and for a moment he wondered if he'd said something stupid. When she smiled, there was nothing humorous about it.

"I feel that way sometimes, like I'm in a small box labeled 'The Rest of the World' and I can't get out," she said in a small voice. "Life has a way of throwing shit at you, doesn't it?"

Sebastian chuckled. He'd decided he wasn't going to tell anyone about his life outside Stormbrooke. Why bother when he was leaving in a few days? Everything would go back to the way it was and all would be right with the world again. But it was so easy to talk to Jane. The words seemed to flow right out of his mouth like silk. It didn't feel wrong. She listened to him, didn't make him feel like he was just spitting out mere words.

"Why don't you like me?" He asked her. When her eyes widened slightly, he knew she hadn't expected the question but he longed to know the answer to it. It seemed like she was fine with every other person's face but his.

"That's not true."

"So you do like me?"

"I didn't say that either."

"Which is it, then?"

She groaned, rolling her eyes. "Are you serious right now? How old are you?"

"Old enough to recognize disdain when I see it." He replied tartly, folding his arms across his chest. All around them, people came in and out of the diner in want of food and drink. The buzz around them did nothing to quell the sizzling tension surrounding their table. It was like nothing else mattered at that moment but them.

"You're annoying," she said.

"Tell me something new."

"But it doesn't mean I hate you. I just think you take certain privileges just because you think you can."

***

His eyes widened at her words and she found herself wishing she hadn't said it like that. It did make hm sound like a pedophile.

"How come?"

She pondered over the question. Maybe she should shut up now, her brain advised. Then again, she'd never been one to pass up a good opportunity to express herself. "You tried to kiss me at the beach. And then at the door of my room."

She hadn't expected him to burst out laughing. Embarrassment flooded her. "I hadn't realized I made a joke."

"I'm sorry," He pushed out the words through a bout of laughter. "I'm sorry. I hadn't realized it pissed you off that much. I apologize."

She tried to make it look casual with a shrug. "It's alright. I'd forgotten about it anyway."

"Had you?"

No, she hadn't. She thought about it way more than was considered normal. In fact, a small part of her wished he'd gone through with it. Maybe then her traitorous body might calm the fuck down and leave her alone.

"I don't regret it. I've been wanting to kiss those lips since I first saw them."

Her pulse was beating harder than rain pouring down mercilessly on a rainy night. She swallowed, wishing she had something to occupy her hands with. She ended up folding them together and placing them on her lap.

"You're a pervert."

"For you? Gladly." He chuckled. "Do you really not want me to? Because if you say no, I can assure you I won't touch you again. I'm not going to do anything you're uncomfortable with."

She could have said no. This was her chance. She could've said the word and she wouldn't have to worry about her clit pulsing in anticipation each time he was near or changing underwear because her panties suddenly became wet. But when she opened her mouth, the words that flew out were, "I do want you to kiss me."