Husband With Benefits
Chapter 423: Fever

Chapter 423: Fever

Olivia was drunk. She knew that of course, but she was appalled to ask for help. So what if she couldn’t walk straight? She’d walk crookedly to her room maybe go zig zag like a snake... As she reached the end of the corridor, she blinked. There was only one problem—there were too many buttons to summon the elevator... which one was the real and which were the ones caused by her drunk haziness?

Crossing her arms, she swayed and nodded," Challenge accepted." Carefully, she surveyed the wall and decided that the one in the middle was definitely the real one. Raising her finger, she slowly aimed to press the button, only to be met with marble wall. She sighed. It was a bit to the left...

Stepping back, she moved to press the button, only to stumble over the hem of her own dress...Just as she teetered dangerously close to losing her balance, a strong pair of arms enveloped her, and she looked up into a face that had haunted her dreams forever.

Smiling, she turned around and looked up at him with a smile and let herself take a deep breath as she rested her head back, murmuring his name, "Sebby."

The air between them crackled with emotions suppressed for long. Seb sighed, a blend of longing and restraint, his arms still securely wrapped around her. "Livi," he began, the sound of her name heavy with their complicated history. "You’re not allowed to look at me like that."

Confusion furrowed Olivia’s brow as she tilted her head to meet his gaze. "Like what?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Seb looked down at her confused face and a muttered a curse, as he quickly summoned the dang elevator. She’d already closed her eyes and was resting against him as if he was her own darn pillow! The girl had no sense of self protection!

As the elevator doors opened, Sebastian tried to move her along only for her to open her eyes and protest," Hey! I can walk on my own. I don’t need anyone’s help. Let go."

She pushed away from him and he watched as she stumbled her way into it. "Are you sure you can go alone?"

"Yes! I don’t need help... least of all from you. Come on, you little magic box, close the door and take me to my room!"

Seb shook his head and reminded her, "Fine. Then you can press the button for the floor as well."

Olivia nodded and as the doors started to close, she pressed a button, which left Seb swearing again as he jumped into the elevator. "You little fool! Do you think you have a room on the terrace?"

Shaking his head, he pressed another button but Olivia was challenged again," I don’t want to go to my room, yet. It is going to be super lonely. I want to go up to the terrace, watch the stars and take a breather. I know the terrace here is private."

Seb sighed and shook his head, not wasting his breath. There was no point. Once she had something in her head, she wouldn’t let it go, whether she was drunk or not. But as he watched her sway, even as she tried to stand still, he was filled with visions of her falling off the terrace in her drunk state and breaking her neck.

Seb followed Olivia onto the terrace, a mix of exasperation and concern etched on his face. There was no way she was going to die on his watch. The night air was cool and he watched her shiver as she stepped out. With a sigh, he moved to take off his suit jacket to offer it to her, but she was already making a beeline towards the lounges on the side.

With a tipsy enthusiasm, she kicked off her heels, sending them clattering to the floor. Seb winced at the noise and glanced around, making sure they were alone.

As he turned back, however, any words or thoughts he had, flew out of his head. She looked like a Goddess...

The way she lay with careless abandon, her hair fanning her face, and moonlight bathing her in a soft glow. His heart stumbled with pain and he turned away, walking to the wall on the other side. She’d always been beautiful, so he didn’t understand why he had to be surprised at this moment.

Resisting the temptation that was her, he kept alert for any sign of movement from her but could only hear her soft humming. Soon, that sound too stopped.

With a heavy sigh, Seb couldn’t help but steal a glance back at Olivia, even as he assured himself that he was only checking to see if was still there. She lay there, seemingly at peace, and for a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to soak in the surreal beauty of the scene. To imagine what could have been if things had not turned out... as they had.

"Sebby...", she called out his name and his eyes widened. Did she know he was looking at her?

"Sebby... come sit with me.", she called out again and he walked towards her.. He didn’t want to. His brain reminded him that he shouldn’t. But his feet seemed to be intent on answering her siren’s call.

Carefully, he sat next to her feet, careful to keep a bit of a distance between them even on the narrow lounge.

She raised her hand and he instinctively knew, what she wanted. She hadn’t fogotten and neither had he. Raising his hand, he intertwined their fingers... letting himself forget the distance of the past years between them.

"Sebby... it could have been us."

He stiffened at the words. He knew what she meant. It could have been them, celebrating their union. It could have been them, dancing in each other’s arms instead of avoiding each other...

"If only..."

Seb carefully, removed his fingers from hers and stood up, to put distance between them," There are no if onlys in the world, Olivia."

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