Chapter 61 - Do You Love Me?

Twenty minutes later Eliott was at his apartment as promised. He was a little tired from his long day, luckily Alex was not waiting for him at his apartment, so he decided to take a little shower. As someone who has a keen sense of crisis, he could sense from the way Alex spoke to him on the phone that something was wrong, so he prepared himself for what was to come. 

After showering, he prepared some appetizers and a little wine and called Alex over. When Alex arrived, the door was already open for her. She entered and looked around the living room for the owner of the house. 

Eliott was on the phone and when he saw her, he motioned for her to sit down. Two minutes later he was sitting next to her, looking deep into her eyes as if trying to read her mind. As she felt his intense gaze on her, she had the impression that he could guess her thoughts, making her more and more nervous. Eliott looked at her clenched hands, he could sense her nervousness since she had set foot in the house. Sensing that she was certainly too nervous to talk, he decided to talk first. 

" You wanted to discuss something with me, the way you are nervous it seems to be something important, do not think too much and say what's on your mind darling! I can take anything it is."

Alex already felt guilty about what she was about to say. But she thought that telling him what was on her mind now would be more sincere. She swallowed without looking him in the eye and slowly fidgeted with her fingers, "I think we should reconsider the marriage between us." 

When she finished her sentence, she didn't hear anything for a while, so she looked at Eliott to see his expression, but there was nothing on his face, no emotion at all. Alex became even more nervous because she didn't know what he was thinking. A short while later he signaled her to continue. 

"Mmm... I was just thinking that as I am now, I will surely cause problems in our relationship eventually and I do not want to be the one to hurt your feelings. That's why I wanted to put some conditions on our engagement, if that's okay with you?" Alex was afraid of Eliott by now, because he just looked at her silently. At some point she got a little scared because she thought he might be really angry. 

But a few seconds later, Eliott finally spoke calmly and asked only one question, "And what are those terms?"

Alex felt really bad at this point. Eliott had been so sweet and understanding to her, and now here she was, putting conditions on one of the nicest things a couple could have: their engagement to each other. But she didn't feel that way about engagements, and Eliott knew it. She had to gather her courage to say what would come next.

"It's not a lot of things, I just wanted us to finish a year of trial. If you are still okay with me after a year, we can move on, and if not, we will get a divorce... "

When Eliot heard that, he frowned. He sensed that she wanted to talk about their engagement, but he did not think she would put those kind of conditions on their relationship. He could have accepted it if it had been something like "before you touch me, you have to ask me", knowing her illness, but this was a little unexpected and made him a little angry and sad because it was proof that she didn't trust him at all. 

"So my future wife is asking me to agree to a one year trial marriage and already thinking about divorce? I am sorry, but I am not marrying anyone to try things out. When you put it that way, I am a little disappointed, Alex. I didn't know you felt so insecure and that you obviously don't want to trust me in this even a little bit. But like I told you, when I marry someone, it's for the rest of my life, there's no room for divorce. So maybe you should think again. You are under no obligation to marry me, you know? I know that one of the reasons you accepted this is because it might help you with your revenge. You should know that I will help you even if you are not married to me, so there is still time to back out, because no one is forcing you into this." Eliott had a bitter smile on his handsome face and emptied his wine glass after speaking his mind.

Alex didn't think he would react so firmly only giving her two choices. She felt the air grow colder, and she could read disappointment and sadness on Elliott's face. She really didn't know what to do now. She just wanted him to find a way out and not be tied down to a woman like her. 

"I just don't want to be the one to hurt you or hurt your feelings, Eliott. I don't want you to be unhappy in the future because of me... I just..."

"Because you think what you are saying now isn't hurting me? You are making me look like an unreliable man here. Like my feelings for you are superficial and will fade away in a year! That's really..."

"I..." Alex remembered what Fidelia had told her just an hour ago, and indeed he was really hurt.

She wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Her head was spinning and she did not know how to explain to him what she really meant and how she felt. She reached out, wanting to take Eliott's hand, but hesitated a little. When he saw that Elliott's lips curl a little before quickly disappeared. 

"I am just going to ask you a question, and all you have to do is answer yes or no, and we will have the answer to our problem right here. Are you okay with that?" asked Eliott, looking at Alex a little more gently than before. 

Alex could only nod, she had told him what was on her mind, now it was her time to listen to him too.

"I know my feelings for you, and they are clear. Maybe you don't think they are real because we have only just met, but I know what my heart has been feeling, and I can say with certainty that it's love. When we looked at each other you could not help it either, I know you feel those so called butterflies, it's obvious there is a bond and a lot of chemistry between us! I am the only one who can hold you or take your hand and the only one you can touch without fear, and I know you can also feel the electricity between us when you touch me. 

You are the girl I have wanted for so long, but now you are telling me you want to give up what we have just built together. Back when I saw you on the runway, I didn't know that one day I would have such indescribable feelings for a woman in my life. Since that day I know that you are the one for me, and now you tell me that I have to say goodbye to you? 

He sighed slowly, looked at her with tender eyes and gently took her hand in his. 

"I know that what is in my heart will not change, and I know that you are aware of that too, just as I know what you feel for me, and I can assure you that it is love, darling. So let us not kid ourselves, don't tell me I don't know, because for this question I want to know the truth: Do you love me...? or do you feel something special for me?" 

Alex was caught off guard by this confession, she could not really respond and her head was all over the place, she felt overwhelmed, all her thoughts were blurred by her pounding heart. All she could feel at that moment was Eliott's warm hand in hers, feeling so comfortable and reliable, she knew deep inside that those hands would never let her down. 

She didn't know how or why, but before her mind could react, her body had and she placed her lips on Elliott's and gave him a light kiss. When she came to her senses, she was flushed with embarrassment. 

Elliott's lips curved upward, revealing a sweet smile that was embellished by his dimples. As she was about to avert her gaze, he narrowed the distance between them, their lips were now only an inch apart, he gently took Alex's head in his hands and made her look at him, their beautiful eyes dipping into each other's. 

"I can take it as my answer, but I want an answer in words, I want you to tell me how you feel."

Alex was mesmerized by his deep voice and, golden eyes. She wanted to avert her gaze, but couldn't as he held her head and didn't break the eye contact between them. "Well, yes I... "

She didn't have time to finish her sentence when Eliott stopped her with his lips and engaged her in a deep and sweet kiss. She didn't know why, but this kiss felt different from the others they had shared, it was passionate and hot, she could feel Eliott's tongue invading her mouth like he was claiming his territory, the sweet taste of his lips mixed with the taste of the wine intoxicated her and she just didn't want it to stop. Instinctively, her arms wrapped around Eliott's neck and her hands sought her pleasure in Eliott's soft hair.. Eliott growled softly at her touch and pressed her further against him, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.