Chapter 133 Stay Put
Emilia’s POV
Ethan burst out laughing. "Everyone says that. Apparently I have one of those faces. Or maybe I just look like a celebrity."
"Oh please. Let me guess, you get that all the time?"
"What can I say? It’s a burden being this handsome."
"Your ego is showing," I said, grinning.
"EMILIA!"
My head whipped around at the sound of Sebastian’s voice. I jumped up from the bench, spotting his tall figure walking toward us, his face a mixture of relief and fury.
"Sebastian!" I waved at him. "I’m here!"
He reached me in seconds, and the tension was in every line of his body. His green eyes were burning.
"Where the hell did you go?" he asked, his voice tight. "I told you to wait. I told you not to move."
"I know, I know, I’m sorry!" The words came out in a rush. "There was this band playing and I just wanted to listen for a second, but then my wallet got stolen and I chased after the thief and lost my phone and couldn’t find my way back and..."
"The thief should have just stolen you instead of your wallet," he interrupted.
I gave him a fake smile. "How could a grown adult get stolen? Even if I did, I’m not scared. Someone would always come save me."
I paused, then gestured at Ethan. "Oh, right, let me introduce you to a hero."
The bench was empty.
"What the hell?" I spun around, looking around the area. "He was sitting right there just a second ago."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"The guy who got my wallet back." I walked closer to the bench. "He was just here. We were talking and everything."
"Well, he’s not here now." Sebastian’s voice was flat, cold. "Let’s go."
"But..." I started, but Sebastian was already turning away, his jaw tight.
Oh. Right. He was pissed.
I hurried after him, catching his arm. "Sebastian, come on. I said I was sorry."
"You lost your wallet and your phone," he said without looking at me. "At this rate, I’m expecting you to lose yourself next."
"That’s dramatic," I protested, jogging a little to keep up. "And technically impossible. I can’t lose myself. I’m right here."
"For now."
I bit back a grin despite his obvious annoyance. "I swear to the Moon Goddess, I will never wander off again."
"You said you’d wait for me." He finally stopped and turned to face me. "I told you not to move. Those were very simple instructions, Emilia."
"I know, I know!" I threw my hands up. "But there was music, and it was really good music, and I just wanted to listen for one minute..."
"One minute turned into a stolen wallet and a lost phone."
"Okay, yes, point taken." I stepped closer, softening my voice. "I’m sorry. Really. I promise I’ll be more careful next time."
He stared at me for a long moment, then let out a heavy sigh. "I really don’t like it when you don’t listen."
"I know. And I really don’t like it when you get all growly and scary, but here we are." I smiled up at him hopefully. "Forgiven?"
"We’ll see."
By the time we got back to the hotel, I’d apologized about fifteen more times and made around ten serious promises to various gods. Sebastian’s mood had shifted from furious to just grumpy, which I counted as a win.
What wasn’t a win was what happened when we got to the room.
"Sebastian," I gasped, holding the sheets. "We have to get up early tomorrow..."
"We will," he said against my neck, his hands moving over my body.
"You’re punishing me," I said breathlessly.
"I’m reminding you," he said, pulling me closer, "that when I tell you to stay put, you stay put."
"This is a terrible way to teach that lesson," I managed, but my body was already responding to him, the mate bond singing between us.
"Is it working?" he murmured, his lips moving down my collarbone.
I wanted to sass him back, but then he did something with his hands that made me forget my own name, let alone a clever comeback.
Hours later, I woke up completely exhausted and completely reminded of why listening to your Alpha mate was probably a good idea.
The bed beside me was cold.
I sat up slowly, wincing at the ache in my muscles. "Sebastian?"
No answer.
I checked the bathroom. Empty. I checked the sitting room. Also empty.
"Sebastian?" I called again, louder this time, pulling on one of his shirts and walking around the suite barefoot.
Nothing.
My heart started racing. Where would he go without telling me? Without waking me up?
A knock at the door cut through my worry.
I practically ran to open it. A hotel staff member stood there, holding a covered tray that smelled amazing.
"Luna Simons?" he said in French-accented English. "Your husband asked me to bring this to you, along with a note."
I took the small card from him with shaking hands.
[Had something to take care of. Will be back by noon. Eat breakfast, watch TV, and don’t you dare leave this room. ... S]
I read it twice, relief and annoyance fighting in my chest.
"Thank you," I told the staff member, taking the tray.
When the door closed, I glared at the note. "Don’t you dare leave this room," I read aloud in a mocking voice. "Who does he think he is, ordering me around like that?"
"Your mate," Eve supplied helpfully. "And Alpha."
"Whose side are you on?" I muttered, but I was already feeling better knowing where he’d gone. Or at least, knowing he’d be back.
I ate the breakfast, which was delicious, and tried to watch TV, but my mind kept wandering. Where had he gone? What was so important he had to leave at dawn without waking me?
By eleven-thirty, I was curled up on the couch, pretending to watch some French cooking show I didn’t understand. My eyes kept drifting to the door.
By eleven-forty-five, my eyes were getting heavy no matter how hard I tried to stay awake.
By noon, I was out cold.
The couch dipped beside me, then a warm hand touched my cheek.