Chapter 40 Chapter 40: How Do I Manage?

Chapter 40 Chapter 40: How Do I Manage?
Aliana Slate's POV:

"Ummm..." That's all I managed to say, as my hands gripped the front edge of the sides of the bench that I was sitting on... in my fully stocked bathroom suite. "I... ah..."

"Nothing is going to happen to you," Sebastian said as he reached up, and I couldn't help but flinch at the moment I saw his hand stretched upwards towards me.

He instantly stopped his movement as he withdrew his hand. Then he did something I didn't expect by kneeling down in front of me.

"I know this has to be hard for you," Sebastian said as I turned my head to the side, refusing to meet his gaze. Instead, he slowly reached up and placed one hand on the top of my knee, still causing me to jump slightly under the pressure of his touch. "There's nothing I can say that will make this any easier. It would be best if you had assistance for the first time, considering your state of things right now. The last thing I want to do is to leave you here alone, and something happen while I am out."

When he said that last part, I couldn't help but look up at him, my gaze finally meeting his, and I saw that pitiful look in his eyes. My lips were slightly parted, and I took in a slow breath, breathing in through my mouth before holding it a moment. I huffed it out as I didn't know what to say in response to that.

No matter what I did, Sebastian didn't change his look. He didn't change the expression I saw on his face. Even the look in his eyes didn't waver.

As I continued to watch him, I noticed that his eyes were still solely focused on mine. He didn't look over my body as the other men did in malicious desire. That look, the one that Sebastian was giving me... it was a look I could seriously appreciate in this moment.

I know I could certainly do without being fawned over. I looked away briefly as I tried to push that former image out of my mind. However, I was pleased that Sebastian was respectful enough to keep his gaze solely focused on my face.

"Would this make it any easier?" Sebastian asked at that moment, causing me to look back up at him again.

I closed my lips as I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering exactly what it was that he was trying to insinuate. He was still kneeling down beside the edge of the clawfoot bathtub, but he was in front of me as we both took that opportunity to look at the level of the rising water. The sound of the flowing water from the faucet was rather peaceful. Almost tranquil, as it was the only sound I heard other than Sebastian's soft-sounding tone.

Then Sebastian looked back up at me when he spoke next, "Do you remember what happened earlier this morning?"

My eyes were still narrowed at him, wondering what it was that he was getting at.

"Do you recall when I first saw you this morning?" Sebastian asked me this time, causing my memory to try to remember what had happened.

My eyes went wide upon hearing him say that. My memory ran back to whenever I was crouched down beside the large potted plant just a short distance from a tall set of stairs. I remember the emotions I felt in that memory. It caused me to shudder, sending a string of cold down my spine as I shook from side to side.

Sebastian, seeing this, immediately raised his hands and placed them on top of my forearms. I tried to comfort myself when I quickly crossed my arms in front of my chest. Sebastian didn't draw his hands away, but instead, he ran his hands on the sides of my arms up till they rested there at the point of my shoulders.

"I know I am asking a lot in my next statement," Sebastian said as I continued to look at him. "I'm going to ask you to trust me. That way, this will be done and over with. The next time... you can do it yourself. All right?"

"But I..." I tried to say in that moment.

"Would it make it easier for you to close your eyes?" Sebastian asked, knowing how hard this was for me. "If your eyes were closed, you would have to worry about seeing me in front of you. I would only help you in and out. Now, if you needed more assistance after that, then I would be willing to give it. Only when you are ready."

I took in a deep breath, held it again, and then let it out with a bit of a huff as I finally nodded at him.

"Are you wanting to close your eyes?" Sebastian asked, still not moving his hands away from my shoulders. I shook my head from side to side. "Very well. You may keep your eyes open if that makes you more comfortable. However, just know that you may close them at any point in time."

I could feel tears starting to swell in my eyes, wondering what was going to happen.

"Another reason why I need to be here is the fact that you have a bandage on your back that I need to inspect," Sebastian said right then.

I tried to immediately turn to the side, but Sebastian held my shoulders in place, preventing me from moving too quickly.

"You mustn't move too fast," Sebastian instructed, his tone still set low and comforting. "You have stitches underneath the bandage. He moved too quickly were turned to sharp, and you could possibly injure yourself further. Do you understand?"

I relaxed my posture once again as I finally lowered my hands down to my lap instead of having them held tight up into my chest. I finally nodded whenever I looked down away from Sebastian's gaze.

"Very good," Sebastian said in that moment as he finally stood on his feet. "To make this easiest, I want you to cross your arms in front of your face."

I narrowed my eyes at him because I wasn't exactly sure what he was asking. "Just trust me on this. Scrubs are a bit difficult to get on and off, and it's easiest if you cross your arms in front of your face. That way I can lift him and pull it up over your head."

I nodded again as I did as he instructed. I lightly crossed my arms in front of my face as Sebastian was standing there in front of me.

"I'm going to reach down and grab the lower hem of your top," Sebastian instructed before he moved, his hands still positioned on my shoulders. "I'm telling you this before I make my move. The last thing I want you to do is become fearful whenever you see my hands reach lower."

I swallowed again as I nodded in agreement with Sebastian's statement. It certainly was taking more out of me than I would've originally thought possible. Trust was no easy thing.