Page 51 of Bid For Me

“You’re crazy,” I say with a laugh, but I find myself already stepping into the rink, the cold air and smooth surface making everything feel like it’s suspended in time.

Seb’s already pulling on his skates, gliding across the ice with practiced ease. I stand off to the side, unsure of how I’m supposed to move without falling flat on my face. I haven’t skated in years, and the thought of looking ridiculous makes my cheeks flush.

“You’re not getting away without skating,” Seb calls over his shoulder with a teasing grin. “Come on, Elle. You can do this.”

I stand still for a moment, watching him skate circles around the rink, his movements fluid, confident. He’s got this graceabout him, like he was born for this, while I feel like a baby giraffe trying to figure out how to stand.

With a deep breath, I take a step forward, then another, trying to get my balance. At first, my legs feel wobbly and uncoordinated, but as I start to get the hang of it, I feel a small sense of victory. I push myself forward a little faster, surprised at how good it feels to glide, the movement ruffling my hair, my body coming alive with satisfaction.

“Hey, not bad,” Seb calls, skating up beside me. His grin is wide, and I can see the enjoyment on his face, the little glint in his eyes that says he’s proud of me, even as he shows off skating literal circles around me.

I give him a playful shove, trying to act casual. “Don’t get cocky,” I tease. “I’m still figuring this out.”

But as soon as I say it, my feet slip out from under me, sending me careening toward the ice. I brace myself for the fall, my arms flailing in the air – but before I can hit the ground, I feel Seb’s arms wrap around me, pulling me upright.

I blink up at him, my heart pounding. “Thanks,” I manage, feeling my pulse race at how close we are. He’s looking at me with something softer than usual in his eyes, and I can’t quite place it.

“No problem,” he says, his voice a little lower than normal. He holds me steady for a moment longer than necessary before stepping back with a grin. “See? You just need a little trust.”

Seb hesitates for a moment, his eyes searching mine, as if he’s deciding whether this is the right time. But then his gaze softens, his breath shallow. For a moment, it’s just us, the world falling away as we stand there, close enough that I can feel the heat of his body even in the chill of the rink. And before I can process it, his lips are on mine – quick, but filled with all the things we’ve left unspoken.

It’s a quick kiss, more of a brush than anything, but it’s enough to make my head spin. Enough to make me realise that maybe, just maybe, this thing between us could be more than I thought.

When we finally pull away, I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips. Seb just looks at me, a little breathless, his eyes dark and full of something unspoken.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Seb

The momenther hands find their way to my waist, steadying herself, everything else in the world fades away. It’s just her and me on the ice, surrounded by the quiet hum of the city, the stillness of the early morning, and the rush of adrenaline surging through my veins. Her fingers tighten, and it’s a simple touch – nothing too overt – but it sends a jolt of electricity through me, a reminder that she’s here, with me, in this moment.

I don’t think. I just act.

I lean in, my lips grazing hers before I even know I’m moving. The world narrows to the press of her mouth against mine, soft and warm. It’s everything I’ve wanted during the quiet moments when my mind drifts – her body against mine, the way she fits, the way her breath catches as I pull her closer. There’s nothing rushed about it – just the steady, inevitable build of something that’s been waiting to happen for so long.

Her lips part beneath mine, and I deepen the kiss, a surge of heat flooding my chest. She sighs softly, her body leaning into mine, and I feel it – the trust she’s placing in me, the willingness to let me in. It’s all I can think about as I move my hand to theback of her neck, gently pulling her closer. The feel of her skin under my fingertips, the way her breath mingles with mine – it’s everything I’ve been hiding, everything I’ve longed for.

But as I feel her warmth, something shifts. Something unspoken passes between us, and I know, deep down, that this is it. She’s not just the woman I’ve been drawn to for years. The forbidden fruit of my best friend’s little sister. She’s something more. Something real.

I pull back just enough to look into her eyes. For a second, I almost lose myself in them – the vulnerability, the uncertainty mirrored in my own. But this time, I don’t want to run from it. I want to embrace it. I want to give her everything – everything she needs, whatever I can be for her.

I drop to one knee.

The rink feels impossibly still as I settle onto the cold ice in front of her, my heart thundering against my chest. Her expression changes – shock, surprise, confusion – her emotions playing across her face, a mix of everything. But I can’t back away now, not when everything inside me is screaming that this moment is meant to be.

“Elle,” I say her name, steady, but with a tremor I can’t control. “I don’t know how to make this easy, how to make it make sense. But I do know that I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Every part of me, Elle...every part of me is yours. I’ve been fighting it, but I can’t anymore.”

I pause, my breath catching. I can’t believe I’m doing this, that I’m actually on one knee, but it feels right. Everything about this feels right.

I take her hand, my thumb brushing lightly over the smoothness of her skin. “Elle, I know this arrangement hasn’t been simple – for either of us. But I want to make it work. You’ve challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, made me rethink what Iwant out of all this. You’re not just fulfilling a deal for me; you’re helping me see things differently, in a way no one else ever has.”

I pause, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the ring I’ve carried for days. “This is me, showing you I’m committed. That I want to see this through with you – not just for the contract, but because I think we can build something good together.”

Her breath hitches, her eyes flicking between me and the ring in my hand. For a moment, everything is still, and I wonder if I’ve lost my mind.

But then, she blinks up at me, her eyes glistening with something I can’t quite decipher, and she smiles. A smile so beautiful it takes my breath away.

“Seb,” she whispers, her voice trembling as if she can’t quite believe what’s happening. Her lips part, and for a moment, I think she might refuse, that the weight of everything we’ve been through will hold her back. But then, her gaze locks on mine, and I see it – a flicker of trust, of hope.