The True Luna's Forbidden Temptation - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Analise.
Sebastian looks at me intensely, a storm of emotions visible on his face. I can tell he’s in pain—not the physical kind. Immediately, I feel my heart breaking for him.
"What's wrong?" I whisper, reaching out to touch his arm. He flinches away, shaking his head.
"Analise," he says, his voice low and rough. "I wish I could tell you everything.”
“Why can’t you?”
He shakes his head, clearly struggling. I want to press further, to unravel the mystery behind his brooding demeanor, but something in his posture warns me against it. Instead, I stand beside him in silence, our shoulders nearly touching.
The air between us feels charged, electric. I'm acutely aware of Sebastian's presence—the warmth radiating from his body, the subtle scent of his cologne. My skin prickles with awareness.
‘What is this feeling?’ I ask myself. I am aware of who Sebastian is. He’s my stepbrother. But… why do I feel so vulnerable to him right now? Like there’s an invisible bond—a very strong one—that is pulling me to him.
‘OURS!’
I almost jump in surprise. Sebastian raises a brow. “Did you just say something?” I ask.
He shakes his head as he gazes at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
I close my eyes for a moment. I must be so drunk; I’m hearing voices now.
We stand in silence, and realization strikes me—we share something deeper than step-sibling ties, something that resonates in my bones.
I sneak a glance at his profile, admiring the sharp line of his jaw. He's guarded, controlled, but I see glimpses of vulnerability in him. Something I rarely see. Something he rarely allows people to see.
The thought should scare me, but instead, it fills me with a warmth that chases away the evening chill. Whatever secrets Sebastian is harboring, whatever darkness lurks beneath the surface, I know that I'm safe with him. And that knowledge is both thrilling and terrifying.
I can't bear the tension any longer. Turning to face Sebastian, I place my hand gently on his arm. "Please," I urge, my voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me what’s going on. You said we need to talk. But now, you can’t tell me anything?”
His piercing blue eyes meet mine, and I can tell that he’s struggling. He opens his mouth for a moment and then he shakes his head, jaw clenching. It's as if he's waging an internal war, and I can’t do anything to help him.
"Sebastian," I say again. "Whatever it is, I can handle it. Just tell me.” I heave a sigh. “Recently, there are some things about you that just… don’t add up!”
To my surprise, he lets out a humorless chuckle. "There are many things about me that won’t add up—things you may never understand."
“I won’t if you won’t tell me!” I snort.
He runs a hand through his dark hair, mussing the usually impeccable style. It's a rare display of vulnerability from him, and it only heightens my concern.
Finally, Sebastian turns to face me, his expression grave. "I have to do something," he whispers. "I don't want to, but there’s no other way.”
My heart races, a mix of anticipation and dread flooding my veins. What could be so dire that it would shake Sebastian's usual composure?
Sebastian's gaze locks onto mine, intense and searching. In the dim light of the balcony, I notice something I've never seen before—tears glistening in his eyes.
‘Oh my god, he’s crying!’
He reaches out, his hands cupping my face with a gentleness that I never knew he was capable of.
He sucks in a deep breath and leans his forehead against mine. I close my eyes, feeling him, the warmth that emanates from his body, the tenderness of this moment between us.
I can feel his internal struggle as if it were my own, our connection going beyond physical. I don’t know why, but this moment feels so… RIGHT.
Then, suddenly, he whispers, “I... I can’t do this anymore, Analise. I can’t keep being your stepbrother.”
I pull away from him, searching his face for any sign that I've misheard. "What? Sebastian, what are you talking about?"
He doesn't answer immediately, his thumbs tracing soft circles on my cheeks. The tenderness of the gesture is a contrast with the gravity of his words.
"It's the only way," he says finally, his voice thick with emotion. "The only way I can keep you safe… and protect you from those around me who would want to hurt you.”
My mind races, trying to make sense of his words.
‘People around him? What does that even mean?’
"Sebastian," I breathe, "I don’t understand." I search his face, my mind struggling to process his cryptic words.
Sebastian's jaw clenches, and I can almost see the internal battle raging within him. He continues to cup my face with his palms.
"You don’t have to know," he says. I can hear regret in his voice. “I wish you never have to find out the truth about me.”
“Why can’t I know? Don’t you trust me?” I ask, unable to disguise the hurt in my voice.
He closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them again, there's a determination there that wasn't present before.
“Sebastian, I—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Sebastian’s lips are on mine.
The kiss is unexpected, passionate, and all-consuming. For a moment, I forget to breathe. My body reacts instinctively, melting into him as if we were two pieces of a long-lost puzzle finally reunited. Everything about the moment feels right, feels perfect, in a way I've never experienced before.
‘Why does this feel so right—like Sebastian is a missing part of me?’
I get lost in the feeling of Sebastian’s lips ravaging mine. He’s my stepbrother, and I know this is wrong—forbidden—but damn, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, nothing else I’d rather be doing, and no one else I’d rather be with.
He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer as he deepens the kiss. My own arms come to life as I wind them around his neck, kissing him with the same intensity.
As the kiss ends, he leans his forehead against mine again, sucking in a deep breath. When he finally pulls away from me, his face is unreadable, and his eyes are glistening with unshed tears.
Then slowly… gently… he whispers, “I… REJECT... YOU.”