I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of peace envelop me. "I never knew love could feel like this," I murmured, my voice filled with contentment.
"Me neither," he replied, his fingers gently playing with my hair. "But I wouldn't trade i...
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Amelia Harrington
I could feel him leaning in closer, his breath warm against my face, our noses just barely brushing. His lips were almost touching mine, the space between us vanishing inch by inch. My heart raced as his arms held me in place, strong and firm, leaving me no room to escape. I felt overwhelmed, unsure of how to react.
Just as his lips were about to meet mine, a sudden gasp cut through the tension in the room. We both snapped our heads toward the door, startled. Standing there, hands dramatically covering his eyes, was Gareth—Tyler's shameless brother.
"Sorry!" Gareth said, dragging out the word mischievously, "I was just here to grab some files. Didn't know you were planning to make me an uncle this early—and in the study, no less."
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Thank goodness he came in when he did. I could hardly believe what nearly happened.
Tyler groaned, his hold on me loosening slightly. I quickly stood up, straightening my clothes. "Gareth, we're not doing anything wrong, and we're definitely not planning... whatever you said... yet," Tyler added, flashing that smug grin of his. Of course, he couldn't just leave it at that.
Gareth chuckled and leaned against the doorframe. "Well, just so you know, I want a niece before nephews. And Amelia," he added with a wide grin, "I hope you can handle that, sis."
I felt my face heat up even more at his teasing, and I quickly pointed at the tray of food I'd brought in, trying to change the subject. Without another word, I rushed out of the room, Gareth's laughter echoing behind me. I could hear Tyler chuckling too, but I didn't dare look back.
Once safely in my room, I darted into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. Why? Why do I blush so much? I stared at my reflection, cheeks still flushed from the encounter. Those two brothers were relentless in their teasing, especially Tyler. It was like they had made it their life's mission to embarrass me.
I sighed, changing into more comfortable clothes and sinking into bed. Maybe, if I went to sleep, I could escape all of this for a little while.
The days passed quietly since our wedding. Tyler had taken on the role of a caretaker, constantly looking out for me, and he didn't miss a single opportunity to tease me. I had started spending most of my time with Lilian, who had become like a motherly figure to me. Gareth, for all his teasing, felt like the brother I never had, always trying to make me laugh with his ridiculous comments.
Tyler, though... He was different. He had a strange way of showing affection. Sometimes he'd bring me flowers or chocolates, other times a new book—something he knew I'd love. He didn't ask me what I wanted; somehow, he just knew. Each little gift made me feel more at ease, like he was trying to show me that this life, with him, could be different.
One morning, after the boys had left for work, I found myself lazily lying in bed. With nothing better to do, I decided to bake something. Lilian was off today, so I had the kitchen to myself. Cupcakes seemed like a good idea. They were simple, and who didn't love cupcakes?
As I gathered the ingredients, I felt a familiar set of hands wrap around my waist. I jumped, my heart leaping to my throat. Spinning around quickly, I found myself face-to-face with Tyler. His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Looks like I scared you, right, Strawberry?" His teasing grin widened as I nodded, my hand still pressed to my chest.
"Come on, I have something to show you," he said, taking my hand before I could protest.
I followed him, confused but curious. He led me to a room I'd never been in before, one that was locked from the outside. My eyebrows furrowed, and I glanced at him in question.
Tyler handed me a key. "Go ahead, open it."
I took the key hesitantly, my heart pounding with anticipation. Just as I was about to turn the doorknob, he suddenly covered my eyes with his hands. "Now open it," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.
I pushed the door open, feeling him guide me forward. My steps were careful as he led me inside. What is he up to? A small part of me wondered if this was some sort of prank, but I trusted him.
"Now, you can see," Tyler said, removing his hands from my eyes.
What I saw took my breath away.
It was a library—a beautiful, elegant library, with shelves that reached the ceiling, filled with books. My heart nearly stopped. I blinked several times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. A small reading nook was set up by the window with a cozy armchair, blankets, and a table for tea or coffee.
"This is all yours," he said, watching me carefully, searching for my reaction. "I thought you'd love it. Do you like it?"
I turned to him, my eyes shining with unshed tears. He had done this for me. Without a word, I nodded vigorously, a huge grin spreading across my face.
Tyler grinned back, satisfied. He stepped closer, his arms encircling my waist, pulling me against him. "I figured since you love books, this would be something special for you."
His words sent warmth flooding through me. My heart swelled at the thoughtfulness behind the gesture. I felt so... seen. I didn't know what got into me, but suddenly I had an idea. If he could tease me relentlessly, why couldn't I do the same?
I took a step closer, my eyes locking onto his. His smirk faltered for a second as confusion flashed across his face. I could see him trying to figure out what I was up to, and I smirked internally. With every step I took, he took one back, until his back was pressed against one of the bookshelves.
"Strawberry," he murmured, his voice uncertain for once, "what are you doing?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I stood on his feet, rising up to meet his gaze, closing the space between us. I wrapped my hands around his collar, pulling him down slightly. His eyes widened, and I could feel his breath catch in his throat.
I leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against his cheek before quickly stepping back. His expression was priceless—caught between shock and amusement. I barely stopped myself from giggling as I started to back away.
Just as the realization of what had happened sank in, a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. He took a step forward, and I knew what was coming. Before he could do anything, I turned on my heel and bolted for the door.
"Strawberry, you just wait," he called after me, laughter in his voice. "I'll make sure we're even!"
I ran, laughing, my heart light and fluttering. For the first time in a long time, I felt something akin to joy bubbling inside me. Looks like we're in for a challenge.
Later that evening, after dinner, we found ourselves back in the library, sitting together in the cozy reading nook. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. I was curled up in the armchair, a new book in my hands. Tyler sat beside me, leaning against the window seat working on his laptop.
Every now and then, I felt his gaze on me, but I pretended not to notice. My heart still raced from our earlier encounter, but being here, in this peaceful space he had created for me, felt like a dream. He had given me a piece of myself back.
Without thinking, I reached out, placing my hand over his. Tyler looked at me, surprised at the gesture. His fingers curled around mine, warm and steady. For once, there were no teasing words, no mischievous smirks—just quiet contentment. And in that moment, it felt like we were truly together, understanding each other in a way words could never explain.
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