Page 72 of Bid For Me
He nods approvingly, his gaze shifting to Elle. “The press loves you. I expect to see glowing coverage tomorrow. Well done.”
Elle offers him a polite smile, but I can feel the stiffness in her posture. Alexander doesn’t seem to notice – or care.
“Get some rest,” he says, already turning away. “Tomorrow is a new day, and there’s plenty of work to be done.”
With that, he strides off, leaving us standing in the quieting ballroom.
I glance down at Elle, her expression unreadable. “Ready to call it a night?”
She exhales softly, nodding. “Definitely.”
We make our way upstairs together, the grandeur of the mansion feeling even more imposing in the stillness of the late evening. The polished marble floors gleam under the soft glow of the chandeliers, and the faint sound of distant chatter fades as we ascend the sweeping staircase.
When we reach the suite, I push the door open, letting Elle step inside first. She pauses in the center of the room, her gaze sweeping over the elegant furnishings and the massive bed that dominates the space before finally landing on me.
“Well,” she says, her voice light but tinged with exhaustion. “That was...an experience.”
I close the door behind us, leaning against it for a moment as I watch her. The gown she’s wearing catches the light, the fabric shimmering with every movement. Her hair is starting to come undone, a few loose curls framing her face. She looks...breathtaking.
“Elle,” I say softly, stepping toward her.
She turns to me, her expression guarded but curious. “What?”
I reach out, my fingers brushing against her cheek. “Thank you,” I say simply.
“For what?”
“For tonight. For everything.”
She studies me for a moment, her gaze searching mine. Then, with a small smile, she nods. “You’re welcome.”
The tension in the room shifts, softening as we both relax. Elle moves toward the vanity, slipping off her earrings and setting them down carefully. I watch her, the quiet intimacy of the moment settling over us like a blanket.
“Do you need help with the dress?” I ask, my voice low.
She glances at me in the mirror, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, I think she might say no. But then she nods, turning slightly to give me access to the hidden zipper at the back.
My hands move carefully, the delicate fabric cool under my fingers as I slowly lower the zipper. The sound seems to echo in the stillness, and I can feel her breath hitch as the gown loosens around her, revealing her beautiful bare back. Fuck. All night she’s been on my arm, not wearing a bra, and I had no idea.
The urge to ghost my fingers down her spine is tantalising.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible.
I force myself to step back, giving her space, as she gathers the fabric and slips into the adjoining bathroom. The door clicks shut behind her, and I’m left standing alone in the suite, the weight of the evening settling heavily on my shoulders.
I sit on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair as I let out a long breath. Tonight was a success by every measurable standard, but the cracks in our façade feel wider than ever.
Grabbing one of the pillows off the bed, I toss it onto the couch before adding the blanket that was draped along the bottom. I remove my suit and strip down to just my boxers, as Elle emerges, wrapped in a silk robe, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She’s even more breathtaking like this, the mask of perfection moved.
She looks at me with a mix of weariness and something I can’t quite name.
“Goodnight, Seb,” she says softly, slipping into the bed and turning away from me.
“Goodnight, Elle,” I reply, my voice low.
I lie down on the couch, staring at the ceiling as the events of the night replay in my mind. This is just the beginning, I remind myself. We’ve made it this far, but the hardest part is still to come.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE