CHAPTER 25
SEBASTIAN
I wake to warmth all around me, every inch of my body still humming with the afterglow of last night. Remi is curled up behind me, dead to the world, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist and his legs tangled with mine. He’s holding me like he never wants to let go.
It feels like he’s scared to lose me, but if there’s one thing I’m sure of, in the chaos that is my life, it’s this: I want to be his. For as long as he’ll have me. Maybe, if I’m lucky, for a very long time.
I try to shift slightly, my leg’s gone a bit numb, but Remi senses the movement and instinctively pulls me closer, nuzzling the back of my neck. He inhales deeply in that way of his that always gives me goosebumps, like he’s trying to memorize my scent in his sleep.
My body aches in all the right places, and when I feel the unmistakable pressure of his morning hard-on grinding lazily against me, the thought of round three becomes very, very appealing, right up until the alarm shatters the moment with a shrill, unwelcome buzz.
He groans as he fumbles to shut off the alarm. “Oh, fuck…”
“Not exactly the romantic wake-up I had in mind,” I mumble with a sleepy pout.
Remi cups my face in both hands and kisses me gently, his eyes soft and apologetic, though that puppy-dog look of his could probably get me to agree to just about anything. I really hope he never figures out how powerful it is.
“I know, baby, I’m sorry. I promise we’ll make up for it later. But it’s already ten, and I think my mum could show up any minute.”
The mental image of being caught stark naked in his bed by his entire family sends a bolt of panic straight through me. I spring up, grabbing his hand as he heads towards the bathroom.
“Can I at least shower with you?” I ask, still a little dazed but unwilling to let him go just yet.
“You can,” he says with a teasing smirk, “but only if you behave.”
He presses a quick kiss to my lips, then turns on the water, testing the temperature until it’s just right. Without another word, he guides me into the spacious shower and closes the glass door behind us.
To my delight, he turns me around so my back rests against his chest, then reaches for the shampoo and begins washing my hair with the gentlest touch, as if I’m something fragile and precious.
The scent of lavender rises with the steam, wrapping around us like a cocoon, and I can’t help the soft sigh that slips from my lips.
He chuckles behind me, low and warm, clearly pleased with himself. The moment feels almost unreal, so tender, so intimate, it makes my chest ache in the best possible way. I’ve never felt so looked after, so wanted… so completely cherished.
And then it hits me.
Loved.
The word settles in my chest with surprising ease. It should scare me, but it doesn’t. Because the truth is, I love him too. Deeply. Entirely. More than I ever thought I could.
“You alright, baby?” he murmurs, gently working conditioner through my hair as I lean back into him, resting my forehead against his chest.
“I’ve never felt better,” I whisper against his warm skin, and I mean every word.
He tilts my chin up and kisses me, so gently, so full of quiet affection, that I don’t need any other answer from him. While the conditioner soaks in, he quickly washes himself, and once we’re both rinsed, he steps out first, slipping into his robe before wrapping me in a soft, warm towel.
It’s almost silly, the way he dries me so thoroughly, slow and gentle, from head to toe, but he does it with such care that my heart aches a little.
And the truth is, I love it. Being looked after like this feels soft and safe, like stepping into a life I never dared to imagine for myself.
A part of me already knows I could get used to this, too easily, maybe, but right now, I don’t want to resist it.
We manage to throw on jeans and t-shirts and pull the covers into something that vaguely resembles a made bed, just in time to hear the front door burst open with a cheerful thud.
“Remi, sweetheart, we’re home! We can’t wait to hug you and meet your guest!”
That has to be his mum.
Her voice is bright and warm, exactly as I expected, but now that the moment is here, nerves slither up my spine. How will she react when she finds out about us? And Maude? Will she be okay with it?
We haven’t really talked about what we’re going to say, but Remi seems completely sure his family will accept us. I can only hope he’s right, because after what happened with my parents, I don’t think I could bear another rejection.
As we hear the voices downstairs, Remi reaches for my hand and laces our fingers together, giving me a warm, reassuring smile. “Mum, we’re upstairs! Coming down now!” he calls, his tone light and confident. I let him take the lead, heart hammering, still unsure how this is all going to play out.
But as soon as we step into the living room, every worry I had dissolves.
His mum hurries over and throws her arms around him, hugging him like he’s still her little boy, even if he’s taller than almost everyone in the room.
Then she turns to me without hesitation and pulls me into her embrace, too, just as tightly.
It’s the first time we’ve ever met, but I melt into her arms without hesitation. There’s something gentle and reassuring about the way she holds me, and it puts me at ease straight away.
When she finally lets go, she takes a step back and looks me over with a smile that radiates warmth and sunshine. Her hazel eyes sparkle with golden flecks, just like Remi’s, and it’s suddenly so clear where he got them from.
“You must be Sebastian, right? Oh my goodness, you’re adorable! Look at those freckles, and that dimple!” She gasps playfully, nudging Remi. “You didn’t tell us your friend was this handsome!”
Remi bursts out laughing, which only makes my face go even redder. I open my mouth to reply, but before I can say a word, she wraps me in another quick, affectionate hug that somehow makes me feel instantly welcome. Then she pulls back and gestures to the others with a proud smile.
“I’m Emma, and this is Maude and Ben,” she says, nodding towards her daughter and her partner, who are now taking turns hugging Remi.
Emma and Maude are both tall and blonde and stunning, just like the pictures I saw last night. Honestly, I think it’s safe to say this family hit the genetic jackpot.
Maude gives me a small nod, her eyes meeting mine for the briefest moment before flicking to a spot somewhere behind me. She doesn’t try to touch me or smile, but knowing she’s neurodivergent, I’m not surprised. If anything, I’m relieved that my presence doesn’t seem to unsettle her.
Remi’s sister stands a little taller than their mum, with longer hair and striking green eyes, but the resemblance is uncanny. She could easily pass for a younger version. Both of them wear no makeup, their expressions bare and natural, and they share the same wild, free-falling hair as Remi.
Their blonde waves rest loosely over their shoulders, and even dressed in joggers and trainers, there’s something effortlessly elegant about them, like beauty was simply something they were born into, rather than something they had to try for.
Ben approaches next, offering his hand with an easy, open smile. With his thick black hair dusted with grey, dark eyes, and sun-kissed skin, he’s undeniably attractive, and his warm, grounded presence contrasts beautifully with the ethereal glow of the three golden-haired Elliotts.
Still a little overwhelmed, I manage to find my voice, comforted by the kindness I’ve been shown.
“It’s lovely to meet you all, and thank you again for welcoming me on such short notice, I’m truly happy to be here…
” I don’t get to finish. Remi steps in close and, once again, catches me off guard, he reaches for my hand and threads his fingers through mine in a gesture that speaks volumes.
Emma and Ben exchange a look of quiet surprise, while Maude remains still, her expression unreadable. But I can tell she’s absorbing everything, observing in her own silent, thoughtful way.
No one speaks. For a moment, we’re all suspended in an awkward silence, as if none of us quite knows what to say or how to begin, until Remi steps in to gently break the tension.
“Why don’t we all take a seat?” he suggests, his voice calm but steady. “It’s been so long since we were last together, too long, really. There’s something important I need to talk to you about, and if it’s alright, I’d prefer to do it now.”
Still holding my hand, he leads me over to the cozy brown sofa and settles into the cushions, pulling me gently down beside him without ever letting me go.
Emma nods, offering us both a warm, encouraging smile. “Of course, sweetheart. Let’s all sit down and take our time. You can tell us everything in your own words. I’ll just put the kettle on, alright?” She heads into the kitchen to flick on the kettle, gesturing for Ben and Maude to take a seat.
Maude’s face is as unreadable as ever, but I don’t sense any discomfort, only a quiet sort of attentiveness. As she settles into an armchair directly across from us, I silently hope I haven’t misjudged her reaction.
Ben, meanwhile, hesitates, caught in a brief moment of uncertainty, as if he’s not sure whether this is a conversation he’s supposed to be part of. He turns instinctively toward Emma, seeking some kind of unspoken confirmation. But before he can say anything, Remi steps in gently.
“Please, Ben. Sit down. I’d really like you to be here too.”
Before sitting down, she places a silver tray on the low table in front of us, neatly arranged with a steaming teapot, four cups, a plate of biscuits, and a milk jug with a matching sugar bowl.
Remi’s mum glances around the room. “Shall I serve?”
Everyone nods their thanks, clearly familiar with her quiet efficiency. She already knows exactly how they take their tea, so it’s only me she pauses for, her eyes warm as they rest on mine.