"Just going off recent data." Sebastian quipped innocently, "My parents were scholars. I've never believed in making baseless claims."
"Neither do I. Which is why I can say without any reservations that you're a-"
"Brilliant? Ruggedly handso-"
"A boorish, arrogant, pragmatic,-"
"Irresistibl-"
"Stupid."
Gracie felt him still behind her. "I'm a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them."
She knew that too. Sebastian did stupid things, but he wasn't inherently stupid. Quite the opposite. Beneath his temper and sarcasm, he was calculating. The thought cooed at her almost mockingly now.
Why did she feel that she was going to regret this? "Whatever you say, Sallow."
A dark, unhinged laugh escaped Sebastian. It was like the lovechild between a laugh that wanted her to take her trousers off and a cackle that wanted to send her running for the hills. That is, if she wasn't thousands of meters above a landless terrain.
The glittering waves winked back at her as Sebastian spoke lowly. "Hold on to the broomstick firmly, Shortcake."
She did as he said, confused. "Why...?"
"Because I'm about to do something very stupid."
Gracie's breath hitched, feeling him lean forward. His jaw brushed her temple and she could feel a bit of scruff from the past 24 hours, "And what would that be?"
"We're about to go very... very fast." And he pushed the handle of the broomstick down, diving towards the ocean. Straight for the water.
Chapter Thirty Two: Welcome to Africa
His words echoed in her mind. You're being dramatic. It wasn't that bad. Have you always been one for the theatrics? The moon overhead was so bright tonight, she could see the permanent shit-eating grin on his face in perfect detail.
"You're dead to me." She said deadpanned, holding her stomach as the nausea died down.
Sebastian sat on the sandy shoreline, throwing rocks as they spent the last ten minutes waiting to see if she was going to throw up. "I'm very much alive and so are you. We just went... A little fast."
"A little?!" She pointed to the broom that was currently in half. The bristles at the end of the broom were mostly gone somewhere above the Indian Ocean. "Fast is not the word I would use to describe what we did."
An awry grin flashed across his face as he looked up at her, "We're in one piece, aren't we?"
"Thanks to the cushioning charm I casted." The nausea subsided and Gracie was thankful she wouldn't be seeing any fruit again, "Get away from the shoreline before I let one of the crocodiles eat you."
He snickered, standing back up, and dusting the back of his trousers. Sebastian had flown them to the East Africa Protectorate that was also known as British East Africa. The area was largely of interest to the Muggles as a commercial trade place and the freshwater from the lake was invaluable.
With that said, the Port city they were at was largely British. There were a few stalls set up from the Belgian Congo and from the South, German East Africa. Gracie rolled her eyes, internally. It was disgusting that a group of people could sail into a land, settle into it, and then claim political control over it despite there being people have lived there for thousands of years.
They stopped at a British establishment close to the water. There was restaurant seating facing the Lake with two open air levels. It panned out in an oval shape giving nice scenic views from every direction. Attached to the restaurant area was a one floor building that appeared to be a hotel. It wasn't very large which made her wonder if there would be any room.
"Hungry?" Sebastian inquired, glancing from the restaurant to her.
She shook her her head, "No, but if you are I wouldn't mind sitting down for a bit."
Sebastian nodded at that, gesturing for her to go take a seat at an open table near the entrance, "I'll see if they have two rooms available. Order me what you think'll taste good."
"Dung it is." Gracie said with a sweet smile before walking away from him.
Behind her, she heard him chuckle and muttered something under his breath. She ignored it, choosing to head towards the second level to give more of a view of the place. Gracie smiled at the light wooden tables and delicate looking chairs with plush cushions.
As she sat down, a waitress approached. Her brunette hair was pulled back into a neat bun and she wore a multicolored dress with greens and blues. "Hello! Can I interest you in a drink?"
"Two waters is fine." Gracie replied with an easy smile, "May I have a menu?"
"We don't have menus, just what's fresh." The waitress replied, "And today is Ripon Barbel, African Sharp-tooth or Silver Butter Catfish, and Crocodile balls."
Gracie blinked, "Pardon? Did you say Crocodile balls?"
"Fried and slathered with cajun seasonings. A recipe we got from some friends in Louisiana. Worry not, it's meat not the actual...er... Testicles of a Crocodile." The waitress blushed, smiling.
"I'll stick with water, but my companion will take the Balls." Gracie replied sweetly, "And I'll triple the tip if you explain to him that they're real balls. Help a girl out."
The waitress grimaced, "Trouble in paradise?"
"He played a mean joke." She answered cryptically, but honestly, "What do you say?"
"Whatever helps me spend more money on new clothes. Balls it is." The waitress laughed, "I'll be back shortly with your waters."
Gracie flashed a genuine smile, excited for the opportunity to get back at Sebastian. Her mind was still in the clouds when a voice interrupted her nefarious planning.
"Is this seat taken, Miss?"
She looked up to see a man with golden hair that was cut short and neatly parted to the side. His features were sharp and elegant and when he spoke, it was kind. He appeared to be either the same age as her or a couple years older. The gentleman wore a light-colored suit and was holding onto the back of the chair opposite of her with an expectant face.
"Not at the moment." She reflected, "Why?"
"Does a man need a reason when he spots a beautiful woman alone at a table?" He smiled brightly, his olive green eyes sparkling across from her. He was so open with his words and he held out his hand, "I'm Charles Henry." He pointed towards the water's edge where she could see an expensive paddle steamer decorated with lights and an American Flag posted on the aft end. "I own the steamboat business here and in Mombasa."
Gracie raised an eyebrow, "Gracie Hunt."
"Are you here visiting?" He inquired, sitting down across from her.
Well... It's not technically a lie. "Yes. Sightseeing."
"Have you always wanted to visit Lake Victoria?"
Gracie shrugged her shoulders lightly, "Have you always wanted to own a steamboat business?"
Charlies nodded, beaming at her mistaken interest when it was really just a deflection from talking about herself, "I love the water. Always wanted to take over the business from my father. He started out in the Everglades before I grew the country East. We're hoping to start in Europe soon. You're British?"
"What gave it away?"
"The accent." He didn't register her dry humor and Gracie realized with some bemusement that she'd met Jobberknolls more terrifying than this guy. Sebastian made this guy look-Why was she comparing him to Sebastian? He took the bewildered expression on her face for being impressed, "I've travelled a lot. I like traveling and seeing new places. Have you visited many places outside of Europe?"
Gracie nodded absently, "A bit."
"What's your favorite place been so far?"
She thought about it, "Beijing. Someone introduced me to tanghulu and it's been on my mind since."
"The American Belle has a special dinner cruise most nights. There's a plated menu and there's four tables of desserts that line the second level. I'm sure you'd find something delicious, why don't you join me for dinner tomorrow?"
Gracie perked up, "Four tables? What kind of desserts?"
"Any you'd like. There will be tanghulu there as well." He promised with a smile.
"I don't know..."
They both needed to search around the lake and this could be their best opportunity to. Charles looked down for a moment, but then smiled, "Did you come here with a friend?"
"No." Gracie said a bit too quickly, still annoyed about the earlier argument.
"Lover then?" His voice raised slightly, "I didn't see a wedding band..."
"I'm not married or betrothed." Gracie clarified, watching his expression change to relief.
"Oh, then allow me to-"
He cut off with a shout. The chair legs cracked on one side, giving way, and causing him to fall to the side. The waitress who'd been coming with the waters was startled. The platter of glasses she'd been holding jostled and both fell on Charles with alarming accuracy.
Like. Magic.
Gracie lifted her gaze, watching Sebastian take the last step up the stairs before walking over to her. His eyes were dark with the lights casting shadows under his eyes. His gaze was menacing and Gracie wondered if something happened with the hotel. Were there no rooms available?
"Are you okay, Mr. Henry?" Gracie shifted her attention to the man who was picking up the pieces of shattered glass with the waitress, "You aren't hurt, are you?"
Charles nodded, "Ah no. You'd best be careful with yours it seems the chairs here are outdated." His neck was flushed and crawling onto his face and ears.
The waitress looked offended, pressing her lips together before turning around to get new glasses of water.
"Shortcake." Sebastian greeted her as he walked up to her and bent down. She felt him press his lips against the top of her head before murmuring in a louder voice, "We're in luck, they have a room for us." She looked up to see his gaze narrow in on the American. "Who's this?"
Basilisks were known to have deadly stares, but Sebastian's was downright bloodthirsty. He reminded of her a Serpent coiling back, ready to strike at an innocent creature who stumbled across him by accident.
"Charles Henry." The American stood up, wiping his hands on his suit jacket before holding it out towards Sebastian, "It's nice to meet you."
Sebastian cocked an eyebrow, his eyes drifting down to the outstretched hand, and then back to the Golden boy's face, "Right." He turned his focus to her, "Did you order food? I'm starving."
Gracie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smirking. "I did. Pull up a seat." As he did, placing it to her left, she continued, "Mr. Henry was inviting us onto his paddle boat tomorrow. And also for dinner. We have been wanting to see the Lake, I think it's a good idea."
"Better than your idea of swimming." He muttered, wryly.
Charles was given another seat by another waiter, much to Sebastian's chagrin. She could tell it annoyed him by the subtle way his jaw twitched and he looked out towards the Lake.
"Swimming? That would be an awful idea. The Lake's teaming with crocodiles and hippos. Everyone's afraid of the crocs, but I think you should be more wary about the hippos." Charles said with an uneasy grin.
The unease was likely from Sebastian's presence. He radiated cool hostility and there wasn't a doubt in anyones mind right now that he was irritated.
"They're aggressive and unpredictable." Sebastian noted with a slight curve to his lips, "But don't underestimate the crocodiles."
Charles cleared his throat, "And why is that...? I'm sorry, I don't recall your name."
That's because he didn't tell you, Gracie reflected with some irony. The waitress stopped by to drop off two waters, placing one in front of Gracie and Charles. She saw Sebastian and apologized, running off to get serving.
Sebastian reached for the glass in front of Charles, bringing it to his lips. He smiled coyly over the rim with a promise laced into his voice, "Crocs are known to be territorial. Provoke one and you might get killed."
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(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Possesive x Jealous!Sebastian. Unlocked. How do you think the rest of dinner will end up? Do you think this encounter is the last push we need before some... SPICE?!
Thank you for reading and please leave a comment!