Seconds pass before Ellie moves to sit up, the sheets slipping off her naked body, revealing her breasts. Two perfect handfuls. For a moment, I forget why she sat up in the first place.
Her pinched, sleepy face looks at me, adorably confused and maybe a little angry.
She’s so sexy when she’s mad.
“Spill. Because not a lot of good things start withI have something to tell you.”
I laugh. “Nothing bad.” My chest constricts. She’s probably going to like it, but just the thought of disappointing her has my nerves standing on end. “I have a surprise for you.”
In a flash, her face morphs, a delighted smile lighting her face. Her chin dips, almost shy. “What kind of surprise?”
“Come on.” I move to stand. “Let me show you.”
She practically jumps out of bed, and much to my disappointment, slips on a black silk robe, covering up all her delicious creamy skin.
I drag her out by hand, guiding her through the darkness of our home.
The main level is mostly done, aside from a few finishing touches. We’ve got a working kitchen, a real dining room, and a living room that finally has more than just lawn chairs.
When I bought this place, I hoped it might help pave a path back to Ellie. But it wasn’t until she actually came back that things started to turn around. The house went from a mess to actual potential. Like maybe it had been waiting for her—just like I was.
Sometimes it felt like the house had a life of its own, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t put it back together until things were right with us. It was never supposed to be just mine. It was always meant to be ours.
“This house is still kind of spooky,” she says quietly.
“Shhh,” I hiss. “It’ll hear you.”
Her breath is on the back of my neck as she giggles, pressing a palm to my shoulder.
When we reach the closed pocket doors, I step in front of them and blow out an exhale.
Even in darkness, I can see the bright excitement in her eyes, glowing from the moonlight shining through the stained glass windows.
“Before I show you,” I start, trying to stall. “If you don’tlike it, we can change it. Nothing is permanent. And go easy on me, I did this one myself. No contractors. Just me.”
The edges of her smile soften, and her head tilts. “I’m going to love it.” Then her face twists with amusement. “Is it a sex room? Trying to determine what my excitement level should be.”
I huff a laugh. Only my Ellie girl. I think she has a pretty good idea what I’m about to show her, but she’s trying to put me at ease.
We both know what I always promised this room would be.
Rather than answer her, I move my hands behind me and slide open the double pocket doors.
The sound that follows can only be described as shock.
She gasps loudly, and her hands immediately fly to her mouth, cupping it in disbelief.
I flick on the chandelier light, revealing the library—wall-to-wall built-in bookcases to match the home’s architecture. The rich wood shelves stretch from floor to ceiling. A rolling ladder rests along one wall. The shelves are adorned with books and touches of decor Ariana meticulously picked out with Elyse in mind, all anchored by a dark beautiful antique rug and a velvet arm chaise lounge in the middle.
“How?” She turns to face me. “When?”
I shove my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants. “Do you like it?” I swallow roughly.
“Like it?” Before I register her movement, her arms are around my neck, yanking me down as her lips crash to mine. Her kiss is deep and slow. When she breaks it, our foreheads stay resting against each other. “I can’t believe you did all of this.”
The thickness in her voice makes my chest swell. “I promised you I would.”
“I know, but I never expected you to do it with your bare hands. You already work so hard.”
