Page 117 of Bid For Me
I shake my head. “No. I’m good. The movers can do the rest. I’m done.”
We drive through the city, the familiar streets fading into the backdrop of my new reality. It feels surreal – driving away from the life I’ve known, toward something new, something unknown. But in the pit of my stomach, I feel something else. Hope. Excitement.
When we finally arrive atourhouse, my heart skips a beat. The house. My new home.
Seb parks the car, and I sit for a moment, gathering my thoughts, before he gets out and opens the door for me. I look up at the house one last time before stepping out.
Seb’s eyes meet mine, and he doesn’t say a word. He just smiles. Then he scoops me into his arms, effortlessly lifting me off the ground, and starts to carry me toward the door.
“Seb,” I laugh, the sound surprising even me. “What are you doing?”
“Tradition,” he grins. “I’m carrying you over the threshold, wife.”
I let out an exasperated sigh, though my heart is swelling with affection. “That’s a bit cliché, don’t you think?”
Seb shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Sometimes clichés are the best part.”
I laugh again, feeling lighter than I have in days. His arms around me, the warmth of his body, everything about this feels right.
As he walks us inside, I glance around the spacious foyer, the house finally feeling like it’s ours – not just his, but mine too.
Seb sets me down gently in the foyer, his hands lingering on my waist as he looks into my eyes. “Welcome home,” he whispers.
Home. It’s a strange, beautiful word, but for the first time, I feel it. I’m home.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Seb
Everything is falling into place.I never imagined I’d get to this point – so completely, entirely content, and yet here I am, looking at Elle, feeling like everything I’ve been through was leading me to this. To her.
I can’t stop grinning as I watch Elle slowly take in the room, her eyes wide, a mix of awe and disbelief. It’s been a week since she moved in, and I still catch myself staring at her sometimes, still in disbelief that she’s here.
That she’s mine.
When I told her I was giving her a wedding gift, I never expected her to be so surprised by something so...personal. But that’s Elle. She doesn’t expect much from me, and I don’t mind surprising her. I wanted to give her something that felt right – somethingher.
Her fingers graze over the spines of the books, and I feel a small tug of pride at the pleased expression on her face. “You really did all this just for me?” she asks, her voice a little breathless as she turns to look at me, her eyes wide with something that feels like wonder.
I chuckle, stepping into the room, my hands casually tucked into my pockets. “Of course, I did. You deserve it. A space that’s just yours, where you can disappear and lose yourself in whatever world you want. No distractions. No obligations. Just you and your books.”
She laughs softly, shaking her head. “I didn’t think you even knew how much I loved books.”
“I’m notthatclueless,” I say with a teasing grin, moving to stand next to her. I glance over at the bookshelves again, making sure everything is exactly how she likes it, every title I remember her mentioning tucked neatly into place. “I paid attention. You’re welcome, by the way.”
Elle raises an eyebrow, still not quite believing it. “You actually paid attention? I never thought you were listening.”
“I listen when it matters.” My tone softens, and I catch the hint of vulnerability in my voice before I even realise it’s there. But it’s true. I’ve never really been this invested in anyone before. Elle makes me want to be better. Want to be the guy who notices the little things.
Her expression softens too, and her hand moves to rest on my chest, just over my heart. I can feel the heat of her touch through my shirt. She leans in slightly, her eyes searching mine. “You’re amazing, you know that?” she murmurs, her voice low.
I smile, my heart warming at the words. “I’m just trying to keep up with you,” I tease, brushing a strand of hair from her face before dipping my head to kiss her forehead.
The kiss lingers longer than I expected. I feel the tension in my chest loosen a little, the weight of everything that’s been hanging over us, the uncertainty and the doubts, slipping away like water over smooth stone.
She tilts her head up, her lips brushing against mine, soft and teasing. My fingers trace the line of her jaw, cupping her face as I deepen the kiss, just for a moment. Her lips part under mine,and for a second, I forget all the worries and just feel – feel her, feel us.
When we pull back, our breaths are a little faster, but the mood is lighter than before. I can feel her heart racing against mine, and I’m not sure if it’s from the kiss or the quiet tension that lingers between us. Either way, I know we’re both growing more comfortable, more...us.