Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Forgive me, my love. Forgive me and let me love you. Because I do. Lily, I am …” His voice grew low and gruff as his eyes shone with emotion. “I’m so in love with you, I cannot imagine my life without you. I don’t want to. It’s an awful place. It’s bland and boring and I’m very monk-like there.”
My lips twitched even as my hope turned to utter euphoria. “You mean it? Really, truly mean it? You’re not planning to self-flagellate again tomorrow once reality hits?”
“No, no plans for that.” He moved closer so our faces were mere inches apart. He searched mine. “Be my girlfriend, Lily, and I promise I’ll make it my mission to make you happy. I’ll even allow you to make me a research subject in your dissertation.”
I laughed, but it was cut off by Sebastian’s hungry kiss. His hands clasped my face as he kissed me breathless. For a moment, I was swept up in it and the resultant whistles and whoops of my classmates.
But then I reluctantly pulled away. “I didn’t say yes.”
His fingers caressed my cheeks. “You should.”
“After this mortifying display?”
“It was more mortifying for me.”
“You’re not in the least bit embarrassed by this.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t care who knows I love you. Apparently, everyone already did.”
“I didn’t.”
“Well, that’s because you’re blind to the fact that you are the most lovable …” He brushed his lips over mine. “Sexiest …” Another caress of his mouth. “Smartest, kindest, funniest woman in the world. How could I not love you?”
“If she doesn’t want you, I’ll have you!” some girl shouted from behind us.
I scowled.
Sebastian chuckled and then leaned his forehead against mine. “I only see you, Lily Sawyer. Say yes. Before your professor has me forcibly removed.”
A glance toward Professor McAvoy revealed her amused smile was starting to strain. I looked back into Sebastian’s eyes. I … I found I couldn’t quite tell him I loved him back. Even after his grand confession. Not because I didn’t … but because my heart was still badly bruised.
“If you ask me out on a date,” I said, “I’ll probably say yes.”
He pressed another kiss to my mouth. “I’ll wait for you after class and take you to lunch.”
“That wasn’t asking,” I complained as he stood up to leave.
“You said you’d say yes, but I’m not taking the chance you’ll say no.” He winked and hurried down the auditorium steps.
“Sebastian!” I hissed.
“I love you, Lily Sawyer!”
Oh my goodness. I laughed, my cheeks hot as I buried my face in my hands.
“Thank you, Professor, for giving me the space to declare myself in this humiliating and cringeworthy fashion that will make my grandmother rethink leaving me an inheritance. Much appreciated.”
Everyone laughed.
I peeked between my fingers to see my professor thankfully give him an amiable nod. “You’re welcome. And you’re right. I think I can turn this into a teachable moment.”
“Always happy to be of help.” He glanced back up toward me, flashing that sexy smile. Except this time, I recognized what I’d been too insecure to realize before. His smile was not a new smile. It was the smile he’d given me for months.
It was a smile filled with love.
I bit my lip against my own and Sebastian reluctantly left the hall.
I could feel everyone’s eyes on me.
“Well, that was an entertaining respite, but let’s get back to it. Or should we expect more suitors interrupting to declare their love for you, Ms. Sawyer?”
One day, I’d get revenge on Sebastian for this. I groaned and slid down in my seat, shaking my head with a mortified no.
As my professor launched back into her lesson, I couldn’t say I was listening. I was too busy trying to keep the stupid grin off my face and the butterflies in my belly from lifting me right out of my seat with the frantic flapping of their wings.
Then, as the lecture ended and I packed up, taking my classmates good-natured ribbing on the chin, I realized my phone had recorded the entire incident.
I laughed to myself as I saved it with glee.
“You’re so lucky.” A girl whom I’d shared classes with for the last four years but who had never spoken to me before approached as I strode toward the exit. “He’s so gorgeous. And that accent. And what he did and said … it was like a movie.”
“Aye, it was like a really embarrassing, corny movie,” I agreed.
Her face fell. “It’s just a pity we were all too engrossed in the moment to film it so you could see it from our perspective. It was really brave of him. I hope you appreciate that.”
It was brave, but Sebastian wasn’t easily embarrassed. He was too confident to care what strangers thought of him. What he’d done was more smart than brave, really. Because Sebastian did know me. Once I made up my mind about something, I could be a stubborn arse. He knew he’d have to do something like this to get me to stick around long enough to listen. “Who says I didn’t appreciate it?” I shrugged and pushed out of the auditorium doors to find Sebastian leaning against the opposite wall, waiting for me as promised.