Chapter 139
After receiving her room key, Lexi wheeled her suitcase inside.
She was exhausted.
She collapsed onto the bed, intending to rest for a while.
Then she heard a knock.
Lexi got up and checked through the peephole.
A hotel employee stood outside.
She opened the door.
Most of the hotel staff had been told that Lexi didn’t speak French, so the employee spoke to her in halting English.
“Miss, you left your watch at the front desk. I’m returning it to you p>
Lexi stared at the watch.
She frowned.
“This isn’t mine p>
She paused.
“It’s the gentleman who arrived with me. His room is next door. Could you take it to him p>
She really didn’t want to end up alone in Sebastian’s room late at night over something as simple as a watch.
The employee shook his head and said something rapidly in French.
Lexi couldn’t understand a single word.
Her headache intensified.
The employee seemed satisfied that he’d delivered the watch and quickly walked away.
Lexi stared down at it.
The metal was cool against her palm.
Cold.
Just like Sebastian’s deep, unreadable eyes.
But after holding it for a while, the watch slowly warmed in her hand.
Lexi sighed.
Fine.
She grabbed her coat and walked to Sebastian’s door.
It was only a watch.
She had nothing to be afraid of.
She took a deep breath and knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again, harder.
The door suddenly swung open beneath her hand.
It wasn’t locked.
Lexi froze.
That didn’t seem like something Sebastian would ever do.
He was cautious to the point of paranoia.
Yet here he was, leaving his hotel room unlocked.
Suspicion filled her as she slowly stepped inside.
The lights were on.
Everything was neat and orderly.
Nothing seemed out of place.
She walked toward the bedroom.
The door was slightly open.
Lexi hesitated before pushing it wider.
Then she froze.
Steam covered the glass bathroom door.
Behind it, she could vaguely make out the unmistakable outline of Sebastian’s bare, muscular body.
The sound of running water finally snapped her out of her trance.
Lexi spun around and covered her eyes.
“Sebastian! Put some clothes on! I need to talk to you p>
They were both adults.
She wasn’t some innocent teenager.
But seeing a man like Sebastian standing behind a fogged glass door was enough to send heat rushing straight to her face.
Her cheeks turned bright red.
A moment later, the bathroom door opened.
Sebastian stepped out with a towel wrapped securely around his waist.
Tiny droplets of water slid down his defined muscles before disappearing onto the floor.
Lexi immediately lowered her head.
“Why didn’t you lock the door p>
Sebastian’s voice was smooth.
“No one here would dare enter my room p>
A pause.
“And leaving it open makes it easier for anyone who wants to walk into my trap p>
His tone was deliberately suggestive.
He looked at Lexi’s flustered expression.
Something darkened in his eyes.
Lexi hurriedly held out the watch.
“The hotel staff gave me this by mistake. They said you left it at the front desk p>
She extended her arm.
Sebastian didn’t take it.
After an awkward moment, Lexi stepped forward and placed the watch on the perfectly made white bed.
“I’m leaving p>
She turned quickly.
She couldn’t stand the warmth in the room.
Or the heat of Sebastian’s gaze burning into her back.
She had barely taken one step when her foot slipped.
“Ah p>
Her balance disappeared.
She fell backward.
Sebastian moved instantly.
His arms wrapped around her waist, catching her before she hit the floor.
The clean, warm scent of his freshly showered skin surrounded her.
Lexi’s mind went completely blank.
She tried to pull away.
Sebastian only tightened his hold.
His fingers gently brushed through her soft hair.
He leaned close, his lips near her ear.
His voice dropped into a low, husky murmur.
“Keep moving, and I can’t promise what will happen p>
Lexi froze.
Sebastian’s breath brushed her ear.
“And besides p>
His arm tightened slightly around her.
“You came all the way here. Didn’t you ever consider what might happen if you walked into my room alone p>
Lexi’s heart pounded.
Her eyes widened.
A terrifying thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
Could the watch have been left at the front desk deliberately?
Could Sebastian have arranged for the hotel employee to bring it to her room, knowing she would eventually come looking for him?
Had he planned all of this from the beginning?
She slowly turned her head.
Sebastian was looking down at her.
There was a faint, infuriating smile on his lips.
And suddenly, Lexi realized she might have walked straight into the trap he’d prepared for her.
So that was why Sebastian had left his door unlocked.
He’d deliberately left it open, waiting for her to walk straight into his trap.
“Sebastian, you’re unbelievable p>
Lexi clenched her fists, glaring at him.
Tricking her into coming to Paris wasn’t enough.
He had to trick her again.
She was never trusting him again.
“Lexi p>
Sebastian’s gaze softened.
“Deep down, you still have feelings for me, don’t you p>
Before Lexi could answer, he pulled her into his arms.
They both lost their balance and fell backward onto the bed.
Lexi’s nerves immediately went taut.
She scrambled to get off the mattress, but Sebastian rolled over, trapping her beneath him.
Their eyes met.
Their bodies were pressed together, and Lexi became painfully aware of how close they were.
“Sebastian p>
Her voice trembled, but her expression was firm.
“If you do anything to me, I’ll never forgive you p>
Sebastian gave a low laugh.
“Then I’ll have to see exactly how you plan to never forgive me p>
His handsome face moved closer.
Lexi panicked and squeezed her eyes shut.
Then—
Growl.
The unmistakable sound came from her stomach.
The tension in the room shattered instantly.
Sebastian stared at her for a second.
Then he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
A second later, he burst out laughing.
“I wasn’t planning to do anything to you p>
He looked down at her, his clear eyes reflecting her flushed face.
“I just wanted to see you. I had to use a little trick p>
His voice was warm now, nothing like the cold, distant man she’d first known.
“Come on. Get up. I’ll take you downstairs to eat p>
By the time Lexi recovered from her embarrassment, Sebastian had already gotten dressed.
He was wearing a cream-colored knit sweater, which softened his normally intimidating appearance.
The ruthless Blackwood heir suddenly looked almost approachable.
Lexi reluctantly climbed off the bed and straightened her clothes before following him outside.
Come to think of it, she was hungry.
She’d been too annoyed with Sebastian to eat much on the flight.
And apparently, even in the most embarrassing situations, the body had a way of reminding you what really mattered.