Abandoned Luna Now Untouchable (Cecilia) novel Chapter 156

**TITLE: After His Bite, I Learned to Heal**

**Chapter 156**

He was definitely playing mind games!

**Cecilia**

Just as Alpha Sebastian was about to step through the bedroom door, I managed to catch it with a swift motion, my heart racing so violently it felt like it might just explode.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, halting in his tracks, his brow furrowed in concern.

Oh God. His voice was low and calm, yet it held a roughness that suggested he hadn’t spoken a word all day.

My mind was spiraling, short-circuiting under the pressure of the moment. I knew that if I didn’t say something now—right now—I would find myself ensnared in a situation far more complicated than I could handle.

No more overthinking. No more vague metaphors. No more polite dodging.

Just say it.

I inhaled deeply, steadying myself, and then blurted out, “Can we keep this… casual?”

There it was, hanging in the air between us, raw and undeniable.

Alpha Sebastian didn’t flinch. He didn’t move a muscle.

His gaze pierced through the dim light, those sharp eyes glinting with an intensity that felt like they could read every unspoken thought swirling in my mind.

He took his time before responding, which felt like an eternity. I could almost imagine mushrooms sprouting on the floor before he finally said, “If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.”

I blinked in surprise. “That’s it?”

His easy acceptance startled me.

The Alpha standing before me seemed almost too accommodating, making me question whether this was genuinely Alpha Sebastian or some clever imposter.

I had anticipated a response laced with biting sarcasm, then expected him to toss me aside and walk away without a second thought.

That would have been the perfect way to cut off this dangerous attraction before it could take root, and he wouldn’t have any ammunition to complicate my life tomorrow.

“…You agree? Really?” I asked, my skepticism evident.

“Really.” Alpha Sebastian nodded with an air of conviction that left me momentarily speechless.

He swept me off my feet and carried me into the room, where motion-sensing lights flickered on, bathing the previously darkened space in a warm, inviting glow.

To my astonishment, he didn’t lay me down on the bed. Instead, he settled into a spacious leather chair by the window, positioning me sideways across his lap.

“I understand your concerns, Cecilia,” he said earnestly, his tone serious and sincere. “I respect your thoughts and am willing to accommodate them.”

Internally, I was in a panic: *…but sitting on your lap like this feels wrong. This entire situation is wrong!*

Yet, his gentle demeanor made it incredibly difficult to voice my objections.

“Thank you. Thank you for understanding.” I managed to reply, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me.

Alpha Sebastian smiled, and the warmth of that expression transformed his entire face. “I respect you and understand your position. But shouldn’t you also respect mine?”

His smile made his almond-shaped eyes sparkle like stars, further clouding my judgment.

“Your position?” I echoed, trying to grasp the implications.

“Yes. You have your thoughts, and I have mine. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

“…Fair,” I repeated, the word feeling tentative on my tongue.

“You don’t want commitment. I get that, and I respect it,” he continued, his tone steady and almost too measured. “But me? I believe if I care about someone, I should take responsibility. That’s not wrong either, is it?”

A breath caught in my throat, tension creeping up my spine like an ominous warning.

This conversation was veering into treacherous territory.

Alpha Sebastian must have sensed my unease because his hand slid gently along my back, his touch warm and grounding.

“Relax,” he murmured, his voice soothing. “I’m not trying to manipulate you. I’m not here to trap you into anything. Just… listen. You’ve got time to think, I promise.”

And perhaps it was the warmth in his voice, or the calmness radiating from his eyes, but against all logic, I found myself whispering, “Okay… I’m listening.”

“I need a girlfriend—someone to keep my parents off my back. I won’t lie; I’m the kind of guy who sees relationships as a path to something long-term. Eventually, yeah, marriage. That’s just how I’m wired.”

He paused, giving me a moment to absorb his words.

“But I’m not forcing that on you,” he added, his tone softening. “You don’t have to want the same things. If you decide to walk away, that’s your call. And if you change your mind someday? Great. But either way, we move at your pace. You do you. I just want to be honest about where I stand.”

His voice was low and maddeningly reasonable, as if he had practiced this speech in front of a mirror.

Calm. Direct. No pressure.

It should have felt like a trap. Instead, it sent my pulse racing.

This isn’t fair, I thought. He’s too damn good at this.

“I’ll think about it,” I said quietly, trying to keep my composure.

“Take your time,” he replied, a soft smile gracing his lips.

His black silk robe hung loosely with his movements, revealing the elegant line of his long neck down to his collarbone.

This was an assault on my willpower at its weakest moment—when my brain was still rebooting from the abrupt awakening.

“Why are you…” My voice faltered as I blinked up at him. “Why are you back?”

My eyes betrayed me, dropping to his mouth, predictably perfect and tantalizingly close.

His gaze locked onto mine, unreadable yet intense, a mixture of restraint and something darker. “We agreed on two hours,” he said softly. “I’m here for your answer.”

“My… my answer…” My words stumbled over one another as my brain struggled to catch up.

I lifted a hand to rub my temple, hoping clarity might miraculously follow.

But before I could even make contact, he caught my wrist and pressed it gently yet firmly against the pillow beside my head.

“No backing out now, Cecilia,” he murmured, his voice low and commanding. “Yes or no. I need a real answer.”

“I—” I fought to form even a single word.

My breathing grew heated, the air thick with tension.

Our breaths mingled in the narrow space between us, teasing and electrifying.

Alpha Sebastian had always possessed remarkable self-control. The more precious something was, the more carefully he paced himself. He needed my complete, unequivocal consent.

Until then, even as desire broke through his composed facade and restricted his body, he held himself back.

“Still undecided?” The pad of his thumb caressed my lips, soft as flower petals.

His eyes darkened like a stormy sea. His mouth, already impossibly close, moved slightly lower. “Shall I decide for you? On the condition that you won’t regret it.”

The words hit me like a slow-burning fire—dangerous, devastating, and intoxicating.

My mouth went dry. My thoughts spiraled.

This wasn’t merely attraction anymore. This was a tempest I had no hope of resisting.

I don’t like him, I lied to myself.

I’m not into this. I’m thinking clearly. Totally rational. Absolutely—

“To hell with it,” I whispered. “Yes.”

And the moment the word escaped my lips, his mouth descended upon mine—hot, hungry, and impossibly sure.