Chapter 24 The Best Performer
It seemed as though time stopped as soon as their lips touched each other. Sebastian's mouth moved against Fernanda's with a fervor she was not at all expecting. His right hand reached for her nape and very gently burrowed it into her hair, holding her in place as he buried his tongue deeper into her sweet mouth.
Fernanda felt sparks within parts of her that she didn't know existed, it was as if her whole body was being set ablaze. It was her first time kissing and she had always thought a kiss was usually flowery and gentle.
This was totally different. It was rough, hot and messy. Sebastian kissed her like he was a crazed starved man who had been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and Fernanda found herself surrendering to the chaos of it.
She wound her hands into his hair, his beautiful curls which were softer than anything else she'd ever touched, and kissed him back with all the strength she could muster.
Sebastian wanted to devour her completely, he could already feel all sense of control slipping away from him the more they kissed. "Stop!" A voice in his head told him just as his hand reached for the towel she wrapped around her body was about to rip it off her.
Sebastian immediately stopped kissing Fernanda and took a few steps back from her, "None of this feels right." He thought as he stared at her face which was flushed bright red with embarrassment and heat.
Her lips were already plump from the magnitude of the kiss and by just staring at it, Sebastian wanted to kiss her hard again. But for some reason, despite that her body melted against his and she kissed him back in a way that showed him she wanted more, everything seemed performative to Sebastian.
It seemed unrealistic considering her claim of immense hatred for him the previous day. Although the Fernanda in front of him was flustered and there wasn't the slightest hint of hatred in her eyes, if anything she looked like she doesn't want the kiss to stop.
"What are you doing?" He demanded, fighting off the urge to take her back into his arms. "Nothing. Just kissing my husband." She replied with a gulp.
"Stop saying that," Sebastian hoped he wasn't being confused. He could always see right through people and always knew when a person tries to manipulate him. But with Fernanda he wasn't so sure if she meant whatever she was doing to him right now or she was just a very good performer.
"What are you trying to do? You don't have to seduce me to get anything. I will do anything for you." Sebastian told her.
"Anything but let me go." She responded, turning away from him. "Is that what this is all about? You plan on seducing me so you can escape without me noticing?" Sebastian said with a small scoff like it was the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard.
"No." Fernanda sharply retorted, turning to face with anger in her eyes. She was genuinely angry, angry at herself for almost slipping and ruining her whole plan. It was supposed to be a small kiss, why did she let herself get so vulnerable. Why did she allow herself give in and feel the need for more?
"I find it absurd that you would think like that when we are literally married to each other!" Fernanda told him, her eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't know kissing each other as a married couple would be such a big deal else I wouldn't have bothered." She said, wiping away some of the teardrops that spilled from her eyes.
Sebastian tried to reach for her but she move out of his reach. "Please leave, don't come to see me again if you are going to question my... Wants." Fernanda said.
He came closer to her and caressed her face gently, wiping away the tears. He hated seeing her cry, he would rather bleed than watch her spill a drop of tear. "Pardon me Fernanda. I was simply expecting to get yelled at again, I had no other expectations asides from that." Sebastian confessed.
Fernanda nodded slightly, she actually believed him because it made sense for him to only expect her angry not her love. She would be defensive too. That aside, she was also happy that Sebastian had fallen for her little act. Now she needed to act fast and move on to the next part of the plan.
"Are we going to the festival together?" She asked him softly and he nodded, still caressing her cheeks, "Of course. That was part of why I came here." He told her with a small smile that Fernanda hadn't ever seen on his face before.
Fernanda allowed him to hug her, she was more confused than ever. Sebastian's brutality totally infuriates her but the softness in the way he looks at her makes her question his true personality. Was he truly in love with her?
"I'll be ready before nightfall." She told him, dropping a small kiss on his lips. Sebastian held himself from reacting upon the kiss and just nodded. "I'll be waiting for you just outside your chambers." He told her.
"That won't be necessary. I need to thoroughly make myself beautiful and majestic for tonight's festival and that is going to take a lot of time. I'll come join you later." Fernanda said.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow which made Fernanda's heart beat skip, "Alright." He simply said after a moment of hesitation. "Can I demand for one more thing?" She continued, staring up at him with doe eyes.
"Why not?" Sebastian responded, he eager to hear what she wanted to ask him and more eager to do it. "There are so many guards stationed around my chambers now, it's so uncomfortable. I feel so vulnerable and watched." Fernanda said, rubbing her arm nervously.
"It's for your protection, I don't want anything happening to you Fernanda." Sebastian responded with a soft sigh. "I need to feel free in order for you to see me as I truly am. I can't be myself when there are too many eyes watching me." She told him.
Making the ultimate move of caressing his broad hard and muscular chest with both her hands. "Just for tonight, can you let me be myself? Make the guards go away." She whispered softly, seriously hoping her seductive antics would work.
Sebastian knew he was doomed when he said, "Of course. I'd do anything for you."