Chapter 107: Lets Stay Like This Forever
Sean glanced toward the clock mounted discreetly near the terrace doors.
"Almost one," Sean replied.
Olivia laughed quietly.
"I’ve completely lost track of time," Olivia said.
"I think that’s a good sign," Sean said.
"I think so too," Olivia replied.
She looked around once more, taking in the glowing skyline reflected across the water.
"I’m going to remember this night for a very, very long time," Olivia said.
Sean looked at her.
"I am glad that you enjoyed today" Sean replied.
She smiled.
She gently squeezed his hand.
"Thank you so much for today" Olivia said softly.
Sean returned the squeeze.
"You’re welcome," Sean replied.
For another few minutes, they remained in the water, talking about nothing in particular.
Favorite vacation spots neither of them had visited.
The countries Olivia wanted to perform in one day.
Sean’s surprisingly detailed opinions on architecture.
The ridiculous amount of planning Kwon probably put into tomorrow’s label meeting.
The conversation drifted naturally from one topic to another until neither of them realized they had been standing in the pool for almost an hour.
Olivia shivered slightly.
Sean noticed immediately.
"Cold?" Sean asked.
"A little," Olivia admitted.
He smiled.
"Then let’s get you warmed up," Sean said.
She nodded.
Together, they climbed out of the pool.
Warm towels were already waiting on nearby lounge chairs, neatly folded by the hotel staff earlier in the evening.
Olivia wrapped one around herself.
"They really thought of everything," Olivia said.
Sean smiled.
"I was going to say that," Sean replied.
"You keep stealing my lines," Olivia said.
"I’m getting better at it," Sean said with a grin.
She laughed.
"I’m beginning to notice," Olivia replied.
They quietly dried off before changing back into comfortable clothes.
When Sean stepped back into the living room, Olivia was standing by the windows again.
This time she wasn’t looking at the city.
She was looking at the necklace resting against her collarbone.
Her fingers gently traced the pendant.
Sean walked over.
"Still thinking about it?" Sean asked.
She nodded.
"I’ve never received a gift like this before," Olivia said.
"You deserve it," Sean replied.
She looked at him.
"I would’ve been happy with dinner," Olivia said.
"I know," Sean said.
"I would’ve been happy with the movie," Olivia continued.
"I know," Sean replied.
"I would’ve been happy just spending time with you," Olivia said.
Sean smiled.
"I know," Sean said.
She laughed softly.
"You really do know," Olivia said.
"I do," Sean replied.
She stepped closer.
"You didn’t buy this necklace because it was expensive," Olivia said.
"No," Sean answered.
"You bought it because you wanted tonight to become a memory," Olivia continued.
Sean looked into her eyes.
"Exactly," Sean said.
Olivia’s eyes shimmered slightly.
"You succeeded," Olivia whispered.
Without another word, she slipped her arms around his waist.
Sean held her close, resting his chin lightly against the top of her head.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence was enough.
Outside, thousands of lights stretched across the city below.
Inside, the suite felt like the only place in the world.
After a long while, Olivia tilted her head back.
"Sean?" Olivia called softly.
"Hm?" Sean responded.
"You’ve completely ruined normal dates for me," Olivia said.
He laughed.
"I was afraid of that," Sean admitted.
"How am I supposed to go back to coffee after this?" Olivia asked.
"You liked the coffee," Sean pointed out.
"I loved the coffee," Olivia replied.
She smiled.
"But somehow..." Olivia continued.
She gently poked his chest.
"...you keep raising the bar."
Sean pretended to think.
"I suppose we’ll have to keep finding new bars," Sean said.
She rolled her eyes.
"That was terrible," Olivia said.
"It was," Sean agreed.
"But I still laughed," Olivia admitted.
"You did," Sean said with a smile.
She shook her head, smiling again.
"I think you’re rubbing off on me," Olivia said.
"I’ll consider that a compliment," Sean replied.
"It was," Olivia confirmed.
They stood together for another quiet moment before Olivia suddenly yawned.
Sean looked down at her.
"Tired?" Sean asked.
She covered her mouth, embarrassed.
Sean watched her cover her mouth, her cheeks flushing pink in the dim light of the suite. The city sprawled below them, a carpet of lights, but he didn’t see any of it anymore. He only saw her.
The embarrassment danced across her face. Her eyes, wide and a little sheepish. The way her
Sean closed the distance,his hand found the curve of her jaw. Her skin was still warm from the pool, still carrying that faint chlorine-sweet scent mixed with something floral. His thumb traced the edge of her cheekbone, and she tilted her face up, and then his mouth was on hers.
Her lips parted, and her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, and she pulled him closer with a small sound that traveled from her throat to his mouth.
The kiss deepened.
His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she opened for him without hesitation. Warm. Wet. The taste of her—champagne from dinner, something sweeter underneath that was just her. Her tongue met his, shy at first, then bolder, curling and sliding in a rhythm that made his hand tighten on her jaw.
She made another sound. A quiet, desperate thing.
His other hand found her waist. The towel she’d wrapped around herself had loosened, and his fingers met bare skin just above her hip. She shivered—not from cold this time.
"Sean," she breathed against his mouth.
He pulled back just enough to look at her. Her eyes were dark now, the green nearly swallowed by black. Her lips were wet, slightly swollen. The necklace he’d given her caught the city lights and threw them back in tiny sparks.
"Still tired?" he asked.
Her answer was to kiss him again. Harder. Her hands moved from his shirt to his shoulders to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair, pulling him down to her with a need that made his blood run hot.
They moved.
He wasn’t sure who started it. Maybe both of them at once, bodies agreeing on something their minds hadn’t caught up to yet. Step by step, kiss by kiss, they crossed the living room toward the bedroom. Her towel fell somewhere near the couch. His shirt followed shortly after, tugged over his head by hands that trembled slightly.