Sebastian

Sweat dripped down my face as I raised the ax over my head. Even the canopy of trees wasn't enough to block out the morning sun. Groaning, I slammed it repeatedly into the wood until the damn thing finally broke in half.

I grinned proudly as I gathered the pieces and added them to the growing pile. Almost enough, I thought to myself as I eyed it.

Lifting up the hem of my t-shirt, I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

"It's almost as if the sun is begging you to take your shirt off." I looked over my shoulder at Violet, who was studying me like an animal would its prey. "Not that I'm complaining."

"You'd like that. Wouldn't you?" I teased, positioning the next piece of wood before I slammed the ax into it, the sound vibrating through the deserted forest.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," she remarked. I stuck the ax into the dirt beside my feet before turning to her. Violet was leaning against a tree, her cropped blond hair shining in the sunlight like a halo above her head.

"Two visits in one day," I commented.

She shrugged. "I missed you."

"Violet ..."

She rolled her eyes as she pushed off the tree, taking a small step towards me. "When did you become so uptight?" She teased, biting her lip. "The old Sebastian would have me laying on the ground by now."

My body tensed as she smirked. "I have work to do."

Violet winked. "Never stopped you before."

In a flash, I had the urge to grab her. To remember the feel of her lips travelling down my skin. The weight of our history lingered between us and I pushed it away.

"Sebastian —" She began. I instantly noticed the sadness in her eyes.

"I need to deliver this." I cleared my throat and turned my back to her, beginning to gather up the chopped wood into a wheelbarrow.

"Stay a little longer." The plea in her voice was enough to make me halt; enough to make me turn to her one last time.

"You know I can't do that, Vi."

"Can't or won't?" She asked, taking a step towards me.

I jerked my chin towards the cottages hiding behind the tree line. "Guests are expecting fire wood," I said simply.

"You rent out four cottages, Seb. One of which you own. Your guests can't wait a few more minutes?"

I averted my gaze from hers. I was caving. I knew it. She knew it. Violet was my weakness and if I didn't say goodbye now, the day would quickly waste away as I spent it wrapped up in her.

I shook my head — partially in response to Violet's offer, partially to clear my mind. My eyes drank up every last bit of her beauty before resting on her own. "I have to go."

When I turned back a moment later, she had already vanished into the trees like a ghost.

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