Page 36 of When We Ignite

He chuckled, exhaling a trail of smoke. “Not like this. I’m used to an age difference, but not this big of a gap. I’m not used to dating nineteen-year-olds.”

My heart skipped a beat.Dating?

“So, what are we doing here?”

“Spending time together,” he replied simply.

“Is that it?”

“For now, yes. That’s it.”

I fiddled with the stem of my glass. “What if I change my mind? Decide I don’t want anything further than this?”

He shrugged. “Then you change your mind.”

The simplicity of his answer threw me. I took another sip of wine, gathering the courage to ask what had been gnawing at me.

His eyes met mine, holding my gaze as if he sensed its importance.

“I need to ask you something.” I swallowed hard. “I’m not sure what this is or if things will change between us, but...”

“Yes?” he prompted.

“While…whatever this is, is going on, I need you not to fuck around with other people,” I said quietly, my voice lacking the force I wanted.

Sebastian’s smile spread slowly. “Youarejealous.”

I nodded, looking him in the eye. “I’m not into sharing. It’s a deal-breaker for me, even if nothing is happening yet. It can be a deal-breaker for you too—I get that.”

He took a long drag, then extinguished the cigarette.

Extending his hand over the table, he said, “Come on.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I placed my hand in his.

He intertwined his fingers with mine. “It’s not unreasonable. If it’s a deal-breaker for you, then I won’t do it.”

I stared down at our hands, warmth spreading through me.

“You really want to have sex with me that badly?” I joked, and he laughed heartily.

I smiled, watching him.

There it was—Sebastian’s genuine laugh. I’d caught him off guard, and he hadn’t had time to compose a more measured response. I chuckled along, and soon we were both laughing. He released my hand and playfully ruffled my hair.

I pushed his hand away.

“I’ve already told you that I do,” he said, his grin wide.

Our food arrived, and we chatted and drank. Sebastian stayed true to his word and didn’t make any moves.

When we finished, he gestured for us to move our chairs closer together. Settling beside him, I tried to relax, but my body tensed as soon as his arm draped over my shoulders.

“What are you doing?” I asked, side-eyeing him.

“Getting you used to me,” he said with a smirk. He laughed when he caught the face I made. “You jump a foot in the air every time I touch you.”

I looked away, focusing on the city lights in the distance as I took a slow drag from my vape and he lit another cigarette. My heart was pounding too fast to feel comfortable. “Maybe it’s because I don’t want you to,” I said quietly after a moment.