Page 22 of Bid For Me

She frowns. “Is that different?”

“It can be,” is all I reply, my tone making it clear that this is all I’m going to say on the matter.

Elle frowns. “Well that doesn’t tell me much about you.”

“Those things are…well, you don’t need to know them about me.”

“Why not? Wearegoing to be married for an entire year.”

“Yes, but we’ll only be having sex the once, so it’s irrelevant,” I reply tersely.

“Yes, but I think I deserve to know what my husband is getting up to when he leaves the house,” she counters, a bite to her words.

I pause. Shit. I’m going to be married for a year and unable to have sex with my wife. What am I going to do?

“I…I didn’t think of that,” I murmur.

“I figured. Look, if this has to be believable then yourman-whoringways have to stop. You’ll be married. No more billionaire playboy bachelor.”

“You expect me to be celibate?” I ask slowly, but Elle surprises me by shaking her head.

“No. Never. But I think discretion is key, and the only way to ensure that is to keep extramarital activities behind the closed doors of ‘For Me’. What do you think?”

I consider her words, unable to deny the logic in her argument. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but she’s right. I can’t continue my lifestyle, at least not openly. We’re getting married, and although this year-long contract is a sham, I owe it to her to at least pretend.

“Alright,” I say softly, “I’ll see what I can do.”

She beams at me, clearly pleased with herself. “I knew you’d come around. It will be good for both of us, I think, to have an outlet. Stop us from killing each other.”

“Both of us?”

“Umm, yes. You didn’t think I’d just stay home like a good little wife while you’re out fucking everything that moves at the club, did you?”

I scowl.

“No, I didn’t think that,” I reply sharply, defensive.Except you did. You don’t like the idea of anyone other than you being with Elle. Tell her that.“I wasn’t planning on keeping you locked up or anything like that.”

“Well, like you, Seb, I have needs. And I imagine once your end of the contract is fulfilled, those needs will rise and multiply.”

I hate that she wants me to take her virginity, just so she can move on to fuck other people. Jealousy, white-hot and blinding, bubbles up in me at the thought.

Elle’s eyes meet mine again, her gaze steady and unwavering.

“You don’t need to tell me if you’re sleeping with others, Seb,” she says softly. “But I expect you to be honest with me if it affects our relationship.”

She’s right. I can’t expect her to stay home while I have my fun. I can’t deny the flare of…protectiveness I feel at the thought of her with another man. But I also can’t control her desires, and I’m not willing to tie her down with a lie.

“Fine,” I sigh, grudgingly agreeing. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Elle smiles, victorious and teasing. “I expect nothing less from you, Bastian.”

As we continue our flight towards our destination, I try to push my jealousy aside and focus on making this the best year of Elle’s life. I remind myself that this is just a contract, andnothing more. But deep down, I know that old feelings I once had for her are already resurfacing, and I can’t help but wonder if this year together will change everything.

“There’s also the matter of my job,” Elle adds, her voice softening. “I love what I do, and it helps me unwind. Being able to continue with it during our marriage will be important for my sanity.”

My father will hate that.

“Of course,” I say, nodding slowly. I can understand her need for independence and routine. I’ll have to find a way to make it work with my father’s demands. “I’ll make sure you have the space and time to do that.”