IMDD CHAPTER 108 [NOVEL] (Patreon)

“I don’t like that you’re always throwing me off when I’m being serious, Gage.” She said, her grip on his robe tightened.

His smile faded, and his eyes turned serious. All signs of teasing and mischief completely gone.

“Eva…” her name echoed, and she found herself holding her breath as she waited for him to continue. Then his fingers began to toy with her damp hair cascading down his chest. “Haven’t I told you I’m always serious when it comes to you?”

“You do know that what you’re saying sometimes sounds like you’re just kidding or trying to throw me off, right?”

“I never meant for them to come out sounding like a joke. Perhaps…” he trailed off, his impossibly long and thick lashes fluttering as he shifted his gaze to the strands of her hair he was playing with. “…it sounds that way because I was trying my best not to scare you.”

She went very still. Realizing at last that Gage was truly serious. That he really meant what he had been saying. Ever since the beginning, since the first time they met. He had been serious with her. It was only she who refused to believe it.

Her heartbeat galloped within her as she found herself stuck. Not knowing what to do or say.

His gaze returned to hers and he gathered her hair and brought it over to his nose and lips. The look in his eyes was so intense she felt like stars were exploding within those dark orbs as he breathed in the fragrance of her hair and kissed it reverently. “Marry me, Eva… and I’m all yours… body…” he guided her hand over his chest and her eyes stretched so wide at the feel of it pounding like crazy against her palm. “… heart and soul.”

Eva felt like her soul had truly drifted away for a few moments. She did not expect him to say anything like that. And she could no longer try to convince herself that he was not being serious anymore. Because she could literally see it in his eyes right now. That he meant it.

But… she was not prepared for this. And she found herself feeling overwhelmed. Never in her life did she get to hear and feel something like this that she could not help but feel like this was a dream. Because it just sounded too good to be true and she had no idea how to react to it.

So many emotions were filling her all at the same time. Emotions she did not know how to express or how to deal with. She was not used to this. No… she was nowhere near prepared for it. She had never experienced being wanted to this extent.

For a long while, Eva simply sat there, staring down at him with slightly parted lips. And Gage did not say anything. He waited, patiently. As if he already knew he needed to give her space to deal with her inner turmoil.

Until her grip on her robe loosened. Her head dropped slightly as her gaze turned to fix on her hand, still right over his heart.

“Tell me, Gage. What exactly is the reason that you want to marry me?” she asked in a whisper. “Why are you talking about marriage ever since the first time we met?”

Gage remained silent. But his eyes… something in his eyes seemed… pleading. What was he pleading for? For her to understand? To understand what? Something inexplicable was happening to her right now. She wanted to press for him to answer her, but something in her seemed compelling her to drop the question for now.

“You’re not going to say anything aren’t you?” she asked.

He rose and in a seated position, he bent and buried his face in the crook of her neck. She heard how he took a shaky breath and she did not know why a sharp pang tugged at her heart. It went away too fast like it never happened. And before she knew it, she wrapped her arms around his head, hugging him into her.

“That’s right…” she uttered softly, not knowing that her entire body suddenly seemed to relax. As if she felt the relief of making the right decision. It was a curious sensation, one she couldn't quite explain, but it felt right somehow. Even though she wasn't entirely sure she had read the look in Gage's eyes correctly. “The one month you gave me is about to end now, Gage. Do you still need my answer before this month ends?”

“Yes, Eva.” he answered.