Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 357 Valeria wished Sebastian had at least given her a moment to catch her breath. Outside , the rain pattered against the window. The shower had eased up, but it felt like it could go on all night. "What are you doing just standing there?" Sebastian shrugged off his black pajama top and tossed it lazily onto the couch. The silk pajamas slipped off the couch and fell to the floor. He watched Valeria standing frozen in the doorway, and his voice came low and rough as he urged her on. "Mrs.

Grant, nights like this aren't meant to be wasted." She stepped inside, locked the door, and drew the curtains. Then, his warm chest pressed against her back. "Why are you acting so sneaky? It's just the two of us here." Sebastian spoke against her neck, his warm breath quickly turning her pale skin pink. She turned toward him, her gaze lingering on his legs. The loose silk pants concealed everything, yet this time she caught the scar close to his knee. Lost in thought, Valeria's expression grew intent as her gaze drifted lower.

Sebastian noticed and, wanting to tease her, leaned down and said, "Don't just look. Go ahead and touch me." ---- "Alright." She then bent forward, her fingers brushing gently over his left knee, and pressed her palm softly against it. His leg stiffened instinctively. Amoment later, he stepped back, scooped her into his arms, and laid her on the bed. "So that's what you meant to touch. I thought you were after something else." Valeria lay back on the bed, her long hair spilling across the pillows. Propped up on two pillows, she looked at him with calm ease.

"What was it you thought?" Sebastian then turned the light off. Darkness swallowed the room, leaving only the pale glow of her skin. He lowered his head, kissing her softly. By the time it was over, midnight had passed . Carrying her into the bathroom, he rinsed her off quickly. She melted against him, completely worn out. He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the ring on her finger. Valeria, half-asleep, pressed her face against his chest as she murmured, "I'm tired." Sebastian lay her gently on the bed and pulled her close. He traced his fingers over the ring on her ring finger.

"valeria, you won't leave me, will you?" In the dead of night, his voice was the only thing that stirred the silence. "No, Iwon't," she reassured him. Half asleep, Valeria ---- murmured the words without thinking, briefly easing the restless fear in his heart. The next morning, Sebastian woke up later than Valeria. When he sat up, there was a warm towel draped over his left knee. She must have set it there to ease the pain before leaving. She couldn't have been gone more than a few minutes. When he got out of bed and bent his stiff knee, the ache had already eased a lot.

By the time he knocked on Valeria's door, it was Selena who answered. Inside, the stray puppy they had rescued the night before was in its crate, while Potato and Nemo hovered in the kitchen , waiting expectantly at Valeria's side. As soon as Selena opened the door, she dashed back to her room to grab her backpack. At 7:35 am, the three of them sat together at the dining table. Sebastian and Valeria exchanged a look, both silently weighing how to bring up the subject with Selena. It was Selena who finally broke the silence. "Why aren't you two eating?" she asked.

She seemed perfectly calm about Sebastian suddenly becoming part of the family and treated it no differently from how she had taken Pudding in the night before. ---- Nothing about it felt strange to her. What did seem strange, though, was the awkward look on Valeri: 's and Sebastian's faces, She took a sip of milk and said, "I'm done. Mommy, the parent -teacher conference is the day after tomorrow at 3:00 pm. Once that's over, summer break begins."" Valeria nodded in response. Sebastian ended up going to the conference.

That same day, an order problem came up at the factory, and both Valeria and Kayla had to rush out to the suburbs to deal with it. There was no way they could make it back in time. So Sebastian got the last-minute assignment . As soon as he hung up with Valeria, he headed straight to the school, arriving just in time.