Out Of The Blue (Sebastian Vettel)

37. Just Them

Seb tapped in the code to deactivate the alarm, then he slid his key into the lock. He turned it, opened the door and held it open.

"After you," he said, ushering Melissa through and into the hallway. She stood in the middle of the entrance hall, captivated by the sheer size of it.

"Wow, this is amazing Seb. I think you could fit the whole ground floor of my home into just this hallway." He laughed and took her suitcase off of her.  The hallway had that affect on everyone who came into his house.

"I bought this place after winning my first World Championship. I was young and naive. I'd probably go for something smaller now, but it's home. " She followed him through to the lounge, which was around half the size of the entrance hall and decorated in black and white. She was surprised by how homely it was, she'd been expecting something more modern. She loved it!

"Make yourself at home, " Seb told her. "Did you want a drink? I'm not sure what there is. Anna, my cleaner, stocks up for me when I'm due home. Let me go and see."

Melissa perched on the edge of the very comfortable looking black corduroy sofa. Seb disappeared out of the room, leaving her alone to glance around.

Even if she hadn't already discovered how much Seb loved his family by the way he talked about them she would have known with just a quick glance around the room. He had several framed photos on the walls. His parents, his sisters, his brother.

"There's coffee which I keep for Britta when she's over. Orange juice, water obviously. Um, I can open a bottle of wine if you like? Oh and there's some blackcurrant cordial," Seb said, popping his head back around the door.

"I'll just have some orange juice please," she replied. He disappeared again. He returned a minute or two later carrying two glasses of juice. He put them down on the coffee table.

Sitting down next to her, he flung his arm around her shoulders.

"So baby, I don't want to presume things. Do you want to stay in one of the spare rooms? Or do you want to stay with me in mine?"

For the first time since he had invited her to stay Melissa's mind turned to sleeping arrangements.

"If it's ok I'd like to stay with you," she said, shyly. She couldn't get certain thoughts out of her mind now. Thoughts that involved her, Seb and a bed. She was ready, she wanted to know him in every way a man and a woman could know each other. She was petrified, but she was ready. He smiled, obviously pleased with her answer.

"Do you even have to ask if it's ok?" he joked. They chatted about what they were going to do the following day whilst drinking their juice. When their glasses were empty Seb took them through to the kitchen.

When he came back he caught Melissa yawning her head off. He yawned too.

"Shall we go to bed?" he asked her. To be honest he felt worn out himself, and his shoulder was beginning to hurt again. It had been a long, physically exhausting day. She nodded and he held out a hand to pull her up. They grabbed hold of their suitcases and headed back into the hallway. "Follow me."

Melissa followed Seb up a wide staircase. Going up she noticed the framed photographs on the wall. Seb with his sisters. Seb with his parents. Seb with his little brother, Fabian. Photos of Seb holding up trophies, starting at a young age and finally at the top of the stairs, one of him on the podium in Abu Dhabi in 2010. She stopped and looked at it. He looked so young. He noticed her looking at the photo.

"That seems like a life time ago now," he admitted.

"Du Bist mein Weltmeister." He looked at her, raising his eyebrows and they both started laughing.