Chapter Nine
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Over the next two weeks, Sebastian proved that his romantic gesture was not a one-time stunt. He kept taking Elizabeth out on dates and their outings were not grand or flashy but rather intimate and thoughtful, allowing them to simply exist in each other’s presence.
They took late-afternoon walks through art galleries in the Design District, spent hours lounging on secluded stretches of sand along Key Biscayne, and shared cosy dinners at small, family-owned bistros tucked away from the prying eyes of the public and the press.
He devoted huge blocks of time to her every single day, seamlessly fitting her into his hectic work schedule. It was a staggering level of prioritization that he had never once offered her during their entire marriage and watching him choose her so consistently made her fall even deeper.
She quickly discovered that her feelings for him had never really gone away, only buried beneath layers of resentment. And through these thoughtful dates, Beth finally got to experience the real man behind his hard shell.
She caught glimpses of a witty, surprisingly humorous, and deeply protective partner and Beth loved what she saw.
He consistently showed up for her without fail, demonstrating remarkable patience, attentiveness, and proved his sincerity day after day.
He remembered every minor detail she mentioned in passing, bringing her the exact sweets she craved or a book he thought she would enjoy and listened intently to her thoughts on art, travel, and life.
The chemistry between them remained overwhelmingly intense. A simple brush of his hand, an arm wrapped around her shoulders, or his knuckles grazing hers across a dinner table sent a sharp, electric jolt straight through her.
On several occasions, Beth dropped very obvious hints that she was open to having sex again, leaning into his space and trailing her fingers along his jawline. Yet, to her continuous surprise and disappointment, Sebastian did not initiate physical intimacy at all.
He held her hand, kissed her forehead, and gave her soft, sweet kisses at the end of their evenings, but he stubbornly refused to cross the invisible line.
For Beth, the forced celibacy was becoming an exquisite form of torture. Every single touch from him drove her crazy.
Even the sound of his deep, resonant voice, leaning in close to whisper a private joke into her ear, pushed her self-control to its limits.
She desperately wanted him. She craved his touch, his heat, and the heavy weight of him bearing down on her as he made love to her.
Her husband, however, was stubbornly holding back.
Sebastian was deliberately keeping his hands to himself because he wanted to prove to his wife that he truly cared for her as a person. He was determined to woo her properly and win back her heart and her trust without using physical pleasure to his advantage.
He wanted Elizabeth to choose him for who he was, not just because he was good in bed. More than that, he needed her to know that he loved her for who she was, not merely for her stunning new body or the intoxicating heat between them.
While the restraint was frustrating, it promised a far sweeter reward in the end.
Beth watched his persistent efforts, his patience, and the genuine shift in his attitude. He was attentive, humble and utterly devoted to her comfort and slowly by slowly, her carefully constructed defences began to crumble.
She realized that he was not playing a game, nor was he simply trying to protect his reputation. He genuinely cared for her, and the cold, distant stranger she had married five years ago was long gone.
One Sunday morning, Sebastian arrived at her home in his Porsche to take her out on what he termed an “important appointment.” He looked so handsome, and Beth felt her pulse spike the second she saw him.
Holding the passenger door open for her, his lips curved into a secretive smile.
“Where are we going?” Beth asked, adjusting her sunglasses as they pulled onto the highway.
“It’s a surprise,” Sebastian replied softly, glancing over at her with eyes glowing with affection. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes... though...”
“What?” he prompted gently. “Tell me.”
Beth took a breath. “Sebastian, are you attracted to me?”
He pulled the car abruptly onto the side of the road, bringing it to a sudden stop then switched off the ignition and turned to face her directly.
“Beth, look at me.”
She met his gaze.
“What on earth makes you ask that?” he asked.
“It’s just... we haven’t slept together in over two weeks,” she admitted, her voice lowering. “I keep dropping hints that I want you but you keep brushing me off.”
Sebastian stared at her for a long second, taking her in, before letting out a soft, breathless laugh. “Look at you, Beth. What man wouldn’t want to lay a hand on you?”
Before she could answer, he reached across, took her hand, and guided it to his crotch. He was fully hard and as her hand closed over his bulging erection, a sharp gasp escaped his lips.
“Beth,” he growled softly, his voice thick with arousal. “Feel what you do to me. This is the state I’m constantly in whenever I’m around you, or even thinking about you.”
“Then why are you holding back?” She asked. She couldn’t look away, and a warm, fuzzy feeling kept swelling in her chest until it felt as though her heart might burst.
“Because I need to prove to you that I’m not just here for the sex,” he said, his gaze searching hers. “I want you to know I’m in this for you.”
“Oh. Okay.” A wave of relief washed over her. She hadn’t realized just how desperately she needed to be desired by him until he admitted it.
“I would kiss you right now,” Sebastian said, his eyes lingering on her lips as he reluctantly released her hand, “but we are going to be late for our appointment.”
Beth thought it was probably for the best. A simple kiss wouldn’t have satisfied her, she wanted more. And as compact as this Porsche was, she definitely would have found a way to fuck him in here.
He shifted back into gear and smoothly pulled back onto the road and for the rest of the drive, Beth couldn’t suppress the triumphant smile playing on her lips.
Minutes later, the car turned off the main road and into a tree-lined neighbourhood in Coral Gables, where sprawling oak trees created a lush, cool canopy over the avenue.
They pulled up to a set of hand-forged iron gates, which slid open smoothly to reveal a stunning estate nestled amid two acres of tropical greenery.
Beth gasped, leaning forward in her seat as the car rolled up the winding stone driveway.
The house was a breath-taking, Italianate villa, built with limestone, dark wooden beams, and rich terracotta roof tiles.
Surrounding the main residence were lush, vibrant gardens bursting with tulips, roses and towering royal palms. A wide, sunlit courtyard sat at the centre of the estate, featuring a trickling stone fountain and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that opened straight into an expanse of sparkling turquoise pool water.
It was not a cold, sterile glass box like his penthouse. It was warm and inviting, and the exact dream home she had spent five years longing for.
Sebastian parked the car and stepped around to open Beth’s door.
As her heels hit the cobblestones, she looked around the breath-taking property with wide, awestruck eyes.
Hand in hand, they walked up the steps to the arched entryway and when the heavy front door swung open, they stepped inside together, her heels clicking softly against the polished floors.
Beth wandered from room to room and once she finished her walkthrough, she turned to face Sebastian, who had been following a few steps behind. He stood leaning near a doorway with his hands tucked into his pockets, watching her with an anxious, hopeful expression.
“I love it,” Beth said. “Sebastian... it is perfect. How on earth did you find it?”
A confident, boyish smirk reappeared on his handsome face. “It came on the market a few weeks ago,” he admitted softly.
“I spoke directly to the owner and paid a massive deposit to delay the public listing, because I knew the moment I saw it that you would fall in love with it.”
Beth tilted her head, a soft, affectionate laugh escaping her as she looked up at his sharp jawline. “You think you are so clever, don’t you?”
“I was confident in my ability to woo you back,” Sebastian answered, his voice dripping low as he closed the distance between them.
She loved the place, and she loved that he had painstakingly checked off every single item on her wish list. But most of all, she loved the man standing in front of her.
Sebastian reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a heavy brass key, and gently pressed it into her palm. “It’s ours.”
Beth stared down at the key in her hand, feeling the final, stubborn wall around her heart crumble into dust. She dropped the key onto the marble kitchen island beside them, threw her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to hers then kissed him with a fierce intensity.
Sebastian gasped against her lips, his surprise lasting for only a second before his large hands slid down her waist and gripped her hips tightly.
Then he pulled her closer, so close that his bulging erection was digging into her belly.
It was a deep, desperate kiss and felt like a balm after weeks of agonizing restraint.
His tongue slid into her mouth, tasting her deeply while his hands dug into her back as he lifted her off her feet.
Beth briefly pulled away and rested her forehead against his, her breath laboured. Her pupils were dilated and her cheeks flushed with arousal.
“I want you now,” she panted, her hands gripping his hair as she peppered tiny kisses along his jaw line and down his throat.
“Take me home, Sebastian. I have missed you so much.”
Sebastian’s eyes flared and he didn’t waste a single second offering a verbal reply. He grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out of the villa, marching her back to his sports car.
Behind them, the stunned real estate agent was left alone to lock up.