Chapter 257

Cecilia's pov The first thing I noticed was his hand, moving slowly, carefully, putting ointment on the sore spots. My silk nightgown was bunched around my waist, the black lace underneath barely hanging on. Sebastian's gaze flicked down, cool and clinical... but with a heat he couldn't quite hide. His fingers worked gently, massaging the cream over my skin like I might break. I buried my face in the pillow, equal parts mortified and melting. What started as first-aid was turning into something else entirely. My breath quickened. My body betrayed me. "Mmm," I whimpered, the sound muffled in the pillow. Sebastian paused. Then his touch grew firmer, confident. A second, sharper moan slipped from me before I could stop it. Silence. He wiped his hands, leaned in close, and said near my ear, his breath warm and his voice all low and rough. "Cece, if you keep making those sounds, this medicine's going to make things worse, not better." I whipped my head around to glare at him, face burning.