<h4>Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Unexpected Proximity</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    The events in Boulder had left me physically and emotionally drained, and I’d fallen into the deepest sleep I’d experienced in weeks.


    When I started to surface from sleep, the dream-fog still thick in my brain, I reached out with thezy confidence of someone absolutely sure they were still in their own bed.


    My handnded on something warm and solid..


    "Harper?" I mumbled, patting blindly. "Why does your shoulder feel... suspiciously like a gym membership?"


    My hand slid lower. "...Wait. Where did your chest go?"


    A voice,deep and unreasonably, definitely not Harper’s,,answered close to my ear.


    "Can’t find it?" The voice rumbled, low and amused. "Maybe you should try a more thorough search."


    My hand froze mid-snoop, now resting squarely on what was undeniably a very male, very bare chest.


    Warm skin. Firm muscle. A nipple. Oh God, a nipple.


    Every nerve in my body went on high alert.


    My brain kicked into panic mode so fast I felt dizzy.


    I was no longer waking up - I was beingunched into awareness by sheer, visceral horror.


    Last I remembered, I was in a car with Harper. My car. My very Harper-filled, Alpha-Sebastian-free car.


    So how the hell did I end up... here?


    With Alpha Sebastian?


    "Giving up already?" he murmured, his breath brushing my ear like it had no business being that intimate.


    I yanked my hand back - except I didn’t get the chance.


    He caught it, gentle but firm,, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.


    Then, slowly - too slowly - he guided my hand across his chest.


    "You should check both sides," he said, voice rich with amusement. "You haven’t been very thorough."


    I swear to the Moon Goddess, I was about tobust.


    This couldn’t continue.


    With a sudden burst of determination, I wrenched myself from his embrace and sat upright.


    The movement was too abrupt - stars exploded behind my eyelids and the world tilted precariously.


    I steadied myself with one hand against my temple, waiting for the dizziness to subside.


    When I finally lowered my hand, I found Alpha Sebastian watching me with casual interest, his expression somewhere between amusement and curiosity.


    "Alpha Sebastian? What are you doing here?" I asked, feigning surprise and confusion. "Where’s Harper?"


    I made a show of looking around the car - front, back, sides, even up at the roof - as if expecting to find my friend hiding somewhere.


    "Perhaps you should check between the seat cushions," Alpha Sebastian suggested, his lips twitching with barely suppressedughter.


    I forced a smile, though my lips trembled.


    Trying desperately to regain myposure, I sat properly and reached into my purse for a stick of gum, popping one into my mouth.


    Yes, this was definitely my car. But the driver was now Tang and Harper was nowhere to be seen.


    Harper, you traitor! You’re worse than a pack deserter!


    Wait a minute.


    I bit down hard on my gum as a horrifying thought struck me.


    Had I been... lying down? And if so, where exactly had I been lying?


    My eyes darted nervously toward Alpha Sebastian’s long legs before quickly averting my gaze.


    I covered my face with one hand.


    "Harper’s arm was about to fall off after you used it as a pillow for two hours," Alpha Sebastian’s smooth voice floated toward me. "I offered to substitute. You were sleeping so peacefully, we didn’t want to wake you. Did the change of... amodation startle you?"


    "Not at all," I replied with forced casualness, lowering my hand. "Why would I be startled? How’s your arm? I hope I didn’t make it fall asleep."


    "It’s numb."


    "Oh... numb... well - " I waited for him to continue, but he just stared at me.


    His prating gaze locked with mine, the passing city lights creating a kaleidoscope of shadows across his face.


    The effect was hypnotic, making my head swim.


    I pinched my thigh hard to break the spell, and practically shouted, "Let me massage it for you!"


    Without waiting for permission, I grabbed his arm and began kneading it with determination.


    Alpha Sebastian allowed me to work, watching me with those unfathomable eyes.


    From the driver’s seat, Tang suddenly called out, "Cecilia, you were also lying on the Alpha’s chest earlier."


    I felt my scalp tighten with horror.


    "And his thigh," Tang added helpfully.


    Words failed mepletely.


    Tang continued,"Those are probably numb too. Maybe you should massage them as well."


    I’m the one who’s numb with mortification! I’m going to kill you, Tang!


    As my internal crisis reached its peak, I caught Alpha Sebastian’s quiet murmur, "Massaging chest and thigh... I wonder what the appropriate fee would be. Nothing too expensive, of course."


    I nearly choked.


    The boomerang I’d thrownst night had circled back and hit me squarely in the face.


    He clearly wasn’t going to let me forget my drunken behavior.


    I nced at him, wanting to be angry, but remembering it was me who had initiated everythingst night... my indignation deted into embarrassment.


    I pretended not to hear him, gave his arm a few more halfhearted squeezes, and then turned away in silence.


    Author’s pov


    The two vehicles separated at an intersection as they entered Denver.


    Beta Sawyer drove Alpha Sebastian’s car, dropping off Harper and her brother Levan before heading to his own home - he’d be back in the morning to pick up his Alpha anyway.


    Tang delivered Cecilia’s car to her apartment building and made a quick escape.


    He could feel the murderous energy radiating from Cecilia after his helpfulments during the ride.


    Alpha Sebastian and Cecilia exited the vehicle together, with her trailing slightly behind him.


    As they entered the elevator, Alpha Sebastian asked casually, "Would you like toe up for dinner? Liam has prepared quite a feast."


    "I can’t, I need to doundry," Cecilia declined promptly, pressing the button for her floor.


    "Are you sure? Liam has made many delicious dishes," Alpha Sebastian turned to face her, his voice temptingly low.


    His scent of sandalwood intensified as he moved closer. "There’s that beef you like, seafood porridge, and abalone with that soft center you enjoy..."


    "Stop!" Cecilia swallowed the saliva that had suddenly pooled in her mouth. "No, really, I can’t. I have to doundry!"


    She emphasized thest sentence with particr force, trying tomunicate her determination to resist both the temptation of food and... something else entirely.


    Alpha Sebastian’s eyes cooled slightly, and he didn’t push further. "Laundry sounds incredibly important."


    The elevator doors opened at her floor.


    She stepped out.


    He remained inside.


    Even Alpha Sebastian ck, Alpha of the Silver Peak Pack, had limits to his pursuit - following her home uninvited would cross a line.


    Back in her apartment, Cecilia tossed her travel bag on the floor and headed straight to the refrigerator.


    She grabbed a bottle of water, twisted the cap off, and gulped down half of it in one go.


    The cold liquid soothed her parched throat and helped cool the strange heat that had been building inside her.


    The evening was unusually warm.


    She opened the balcony door and sank into a lounge chair, letting the southern breeze wash over her.


    Reying the moment in the elevator, she recalled Alpha Sebastian’s cool expression as she’d exited.


    Was he thinking she was being ungrateful again?


    He had helped her enormously in Boulder - practically orchestrating Cici’s downfall - and she hadn’t properly thanked him.


    Plus, she had been the one who’d drunkenly crossed boundariesst night... and now she was acting like she wanted nothing to do with him.


    She frowned, unsure how to proceed.


    ----


    In the penthouse, Liam looked past Alpha Sebastian when the elevator doors opened, clearly expecting someone else to emerge.


    "Don’t bother looking. She didn’te," Alpha Sebastian said tly, walking directly toward his bedroom.


    Liam followed him. "Is Cecilia too tired?"


    "She said she needed to doundry."


    "Ah..." Liam nodded in understanding. "Makes sense. Girls like things clean. When clothes get dirty, washing them bes a priority. Don’t worry, we’ll wait for her. I’ll send her a message."


    Alpha Sebastian said nothing and disappeared into his bedroom.


    Liam returned to the dining room, took photos of the borate meal he’d prepared, and sent them to Cecilia with a voice message: "Cecilia, dear, there’s too much food for the Alpha to eat alone. Come up after you finish yourundry. We’ll wait for you."


    Cecilia stared at the message, her internal conflict intensifying.


    After declining twice, continuing to refuse would make her appear callous and ungrateful, regardless of Alpha Sebastian’s intentions.


    Another message arrived - Liam again: "You must be too tired to move after your trip. I can pack some food and bring it down to you. You must try my newest culinary creations."


    Ignoring this would be truly rude...


    Cecilia replied: That’s too much trouble. I’lle up myself.


    She’d made her decision.


    She would go upstairs, have dinner, thank him properly, and addressst night’s mistake.


    Both matters needed resolution - the longer she avoided them, the moreplicated they would be.


    She stood up, her heart racing as though she were about to face an Alpha challenge.


    She went to her study, selected a piece of blue-and-white porcin from her personal collection, carefully packaged it in a gift box, and headed upstairs.


    One simply couldn’t arrive empty-handed when expressing gratitude.


    When Alpha Sebastian emerged from his shower, dressed infortable home attire, he found Cecilia sitting in the dining room with an unnaturally bright smile.


    Arge gift box sat on the table beside her.


    Was this her way of establishing boundaries between them?