Chapter 29: Sleep Over
Four hours later, the room’s background light had shifted from the warm glow of late afternoon to the dark shades of late night. Sebastian, ever the attentive partner, had dimmed the hospital room overhead lights to create a more soothing atmosphere so Kourtney could enjoy her sleep.
Even though he needed more lighting to be able to work, he willingly turned down the lights so she could sleep better. He also couldn’t stop himself from stealing glances at her every now and then.
Even with tons of work documents in his hands, he watched her from time to time as she reclined softly against the pillows like a cute little toddler. And the tenderness in his eyes also spoke volumes. She looked so cute! Too cute!
“My wife is super adorable!” he murmured.
With her looking like this, Sebastian couldn’t possibly concentrate on his paperwork.
He could hardly help himself anymore as he reached out to touch her. He gently brushed his fingers against her nose, cheeks, and lips. It wasn’t weird or anything; she was his wife, and he just wanted to feel her soft skin. It wasn’t like he was trespassing.
His hands lingered on her face for a while, soaking in the warmth and the familiarity of it. It was almost like she had a calming effect on him. He touched her like she was the coziest thing in the world like she was his favorite pillow or something. One could see the alluring softness in his gaze as he did so.
The way Kourtney looked, so peaceful and as pretty as a picture, sparked something in him, and he found himself wanting more, something more intimate.
He somehow longed to be closer, perhaps hug her soft body against his. Maybe it was the dimmed lights, the cool atmosphere, or just the fact that they were alone together. Whatever it was, Sebastian yearned to take things to another level.
But, of course, he didn’t want to wake her up. She seemed so content, and he didn’t want to disturb her beauty sleep. So, he sat there beside her on the bed, taking deep breaths to control himself, still glancing at her from time to time, with a mix of desire and patience.
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Outside, the city lights began to twinkle through the window, creating a captivating scenery against the background of the darkening sky. The distant buzz of the urban nightlife seeped into the room, a reminder of a busy world outside the hospital walls.
That’s when Kourtney awoke, disoriented and surprised to find herself in the comforting embrace of a soft bed rather than the firmness of the armchair.
Her sudden movement roused Sebastian, who had been quietly working on his laptop. His eyes met hers, and a playful smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
“You’re awake!”
Kourtney’s cheeks immediately flushed with embarrassment and bewilderment. She quickly scanned her surroundings and realized she was indeed not alone in the bed; Sebastian was right there beside her. The realization brought forth confusion and surprise to her.
She shifted with awkwardness, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Hhow did I end up on the bed?”
“I carried you.”
Kourtney was rendered speechless and could only blink at the man with more confusion and suspicion. She didn’t quite know how to react to the fact that he had carried her “in his arms” into the bed.
But then she couldn’t complain because there was nothing wrong with that. The man was already her Husband, even though she barely knew him and hated his arrogance to the core.
On one hand, there was an undeniable tenderness in the gesture, a clear indication of his care for her well-being. Yet, her initial impressions of him had been colored by his arrogance, and she wasn’t sure how to reconcile those feelings with his current behavior.
Her cheeks continued to heat up and she felt a tinge of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
She bit her cherry lips slightly. “Yyou… you didn’t have to do that, Mr Woods.”
Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his thick black hair. Bringing her to sleep beside him on the bed just felt like the right thing to do.
“And why not?”
“Never-mind. What’s the time anyway?” Kourtney didn’t want to argue with him.
Sebastian glanced at his laptop screen. “10 pm. You slept for almost five hours.”
Her eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed. “10 pm! Wwhy didn’t you wake me up? You should have woken me up!!!”
“Why would I? You looked pretty tired and were sleeping so deeply like a log.”
Kourtney was already frustrated, and the casualness of his response only fueled her annoyance. She shot him a look that could melt steel.
“You should have left me on the chair. I wouldn’t have slept this long if you’d just left me there.”
Sebastian’s eyebrow furrowed. “So this is the modafucking thanks I get for making you comfortable?”
“Comfort? I was supposed to be working on the Silverstone Gala preparations! I have a lot to do, and you just made me waste so much time. I can’t believe I slept for so long, and you just let me!” Kourtney huffed, crossing her arms.
Sebastian grinned, unapologetic and unbothered by her whining. “Blame it on your irresistible charm. You looked so peaceful; I couldn’t bring myself to disturb my beautiful wife.”
Kourtney could only blush and started getting off the bed. The man was beginning to talk nonsense again.
“And where do you think you’re going, Woman?”
“Uh?? Home, of course.”
“Did I ask you to leave?”
Kourtney halted mid-step, giving him a skeptical look. ‘I hope it’s not what I’m thinking. I hope he won’t force me to stay,’ she winced inwardly.
Sebastian, however, said the very words that she was dreading to hear the most. “You know, it’s pretty late. Why don’t you just sleep over?”
“Sleepover? In the hospital? Are you trolling?” Kourtney was having none of it.
“Why not? There’s a perfectly good bed right here.” Sebastian scoffed, tapping the side of the bed she’d just woken up from.
She rolled her eyes. “I appreciate the offer, Mr Woods, but I’m not staying here. Besides, it’s not that late, it’s just 10 pm. I need to go home and also prepare for work tomorrow.”
Sebastian stared at her with icy blue eyes, a frown plastered on his face. He couldn’t help but feel reluctant to let her go home. “What if I say you’re not allowed to leave.”
Kourtney wanted to cry at this point. She was still processing the fact she had wasted 5 hours of the day sleeping, and now Sebastian was suggesting she spend the night in the hospital. Her main concern was the Silverstone Gala preparations; the pressure of the event weighed heavily on her mind.
She had a planning draft to submit in less than two days and couldn’t afford to waste any more time. The harsh and bossy Brianna Martins certainly won’t let her off the hook if she delays the submission of the draft any longer than 2 seconds.
“What do you mean, not allowed to leave?”
“Well, I insist you’re staying. You need rest,” Sebastian replied coldly, determined to assert his authority.
He was thinking about how she looked genuinely tired earlier and could use more rest. With how she napped for so long, it also seemed like she’d been sleep-deprived. Perhaps her job was way too demanding and it made him angrier.
He couldn’t comprehend how his precious wife ended up working tirelessly, neglecting her well-being.
“I appreciate your concern but no I don’t need any more rest. I’m fine.”
Sebastian’s cold eyes flashed with dominance as it bore into hers. His arrogance flared, and he decided to take a more forceful stance.
“You still think your opinion matters? When are you going to get used to obeying my orders? I said you’re not leaving. I won’t allow it.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
This statement struck a nerve with Kourtney. The idea of someone dictating her life, even if it was her husband, still didn’t sit well with her independent spirit. She squared her shoulders, a defiant spark in her eyes. She was not one to back down easily.
Thankfully, she had a card up her sleeve.