Chapter 20: The Proposer

Marco Conti's POV

I blew up. Big time.

I did not know what came over me but I was not expecting that I would break down everything to Anna. I have been quite reserved with everyone else, but with Anna, I have to tell the truth. I have to make peace with her. She had done so much to me.

and yet, I was still breaking her trust.

I know that I shouldn't do that but what can I say no to my heart? I have to make sure that we all come clean and I don't want to lie about my feelings to her anymore. And we might find our ways to each other but I cannot take the chance that she might walk away.

like my mother, like my father. Because I was weak. And all because I could not keep my hands to myself.

When I broke the news to Anna about the drug, she did throw a fit. She was raging and beyond mad that I did not know that she was capable. I have to find another to take her on my side. Because no one has ever been this long with me.

"well, that's because I was very cautious in doing my work," Anna replied as I was waving my real ID in front of her, smirking as she was glaring at me. Yup, she was enraged at me.

"care to explain, cara?" I asked her as she was eyeing the ID and me. I smirked at her as she gulped trying to form words on her mouth.

"We can do this, Anna. together. We can get that drug out of existence and I kind of need your expertise in this," I said as I looked at her, begging for her to join me into my side. We don't have to play by anyone's rules anymore.

"I…I…I don't know," she said as she defeated, not bothered to get out.

"What do you mean?" I asked her as I was knotting my brows together, confused at her sudden change of heart. She looked at me with her big blue eyes. I don't know what to say but to look into her soul. Maybe she will speak to me.

"Val knows my every move and Alfred will always have his eyes and ears around me even if he was locked up somewhere across the sea," she said as she was coming closer into my arms. She was hesitated to touch my cheeks but with my silence and she was not that scared of me, she did touch my cheek eventually.

"I have been living with them since I was 18 years old. They know who I met, my friends are, my life. Everything. But ever since I met you," she whispered as she looked up into my eyes as hers were shining, capturing me to get lost in its depth.

"You are the only thing that made my mundane life interesting," she said as she was inching closer and closer to me. Not that I was complaining.

"Mundane?" I asked her as I was chuckled at her statement. She smiled before she caressed my chest with her tiny hands. It warmed my heart as it was beating faster and faster. I hoped she did not listen to that.

"yes, just doing the job from behind the scenes. All of the other women my age get to go out and played the part that I always wanted to do. But I was never good enough. I will never get past Alfred's stupid test," she said as she was gritting her teeth. I laughed at her statement before she smiled at me as I was wrapping my arm around her waist. She was coming closer to me as well.

"So, why they change their tactics now? Why they let you go out in the field?" I could not resist asking that question. It was too tempting to know the answer. Anna sighed.

"well, Alfred was being held up in the USA, Mia was in Croatia, Alina was in Romania and Sabrina was locked up in her own country. Camila went missing to god-know-where. So, they don't have anything but to let me take this on my own," she said as she was playing with my button shirt. I was drawing her closer. She looked up to me.

"Do you think that was only it?" I whispered as I was dipping my head slowly as I was leaning against one thing that kept me wondering again and again.

"I only have one more guess," she whispered back as her arms automatically snaked around my neck, pulling me closer. I was holding her by the waist as I was restricting myself from falling too deep into my trap. I smirked.

"care to share?" I asked as she looked at my eyes before returning her gaze to my lips.

"I was the only thing that stands between you and them. And they knew that they can exploit me to get what they want," she replied. I stiffed at the statement because it was true.

They know I would do anything to keep Anna away from danger. But who would have thought this little wallflower that loves chemistry more than anything would rebel against them?

"so, what do you propose we do next?" I asked her as our lips merely touched. If any of us moved, we would be kissing. Our hot breaths mingled.

"I think we can think that later, honey," she said before she pulled me to lay a kiss on my lips. My eyes went big as a saucer but my smile was wide like an ocean. I cannot think in any case she would pull me in herself.

our lips touched and she groaned. My blood rushed to that certain part of the anatomy that I have been keeping celibate after the disastrous tragedy that has fallen on me.

"God, Anastasia," I said her name as I was pulling her up to wrap her legs around my torso. I strode out of the lab before we were on the floor of the living room. My hands were roaming her body as she was moaning with delight.

"Touch me,"

"with pleasure,"

"oh god, where have you been my life," she said as she was getting on top of me as she pushed me to the side before straddling my stomach. I laughed at her possessive move but I was caressing her long legs so that she would do what she wanted.

but she did not move. She was just staring at me as I was smiling at her. She was scanning my face. I felt blood was rushing to my meat quicker than I expected. I might explode if she did not do something, anything right now.

"What is it?" I asked her as I pushed myself to look into her eyes. They were uncertain as they wanted to proceed with what they wanted or not. She bit her lower lips. I groaned before I pulled her face and kissed her lips, pulling the lower lips as she sucked on a breath.

"I'm scared," she said as she was looking at me. I was caressing her sides as she was putting her hands onto my chest. I smiled before I kissed her lips briefly.

"me too. I cannot think anything that would make this less awkward than it was," I said. And I was. I did not want to make Anna felt like she was being used by me. I needed her to feel secure and I hoped that I can give her that, at least.

"Marry me," I blurted out. She looked at me as her big blue eyes went big as a saucer. I blinked a few times before I recollected my thoughts.

"I mean if you want—" and the rest of my words were lost at sea as she came crashing down on me as she kissed me on the lips hard. I could barely breathe as I was gripping her side. She was pushing me on the chest. After a very long time, we decided to take a breath.

"truthfully?" Anna asked. Her blue eyes were shining under the dim light of her apartment. I nodded as I rested my hands on her legs. She did feel good on top of my body. She was the destined one.

"do you think I would lie about something like that?" I asked her. She arched her eyebrow as she smirked at me. I gulped. Did she know about my past? My mistakes? My flaws?

"well, I think you have a lot of chance with someone much more than me and also you were rumored to be a playboy," she said as she put her hands on either side of my face. I was looking at her face up close as she was smirking at me. This time, I chuckled nervously.

"well, isn't that wonderful?" I asked her. She just smirked before she got off from me and walked toward the kitchen, making me stranded on the floor.

"come back here, woman!" I shouted as I was getting up from the floor. She laughed before I caught her in my arms. I turned her around as I looked at her. She was caressing my cheeks.

"We should do the right thing before anything," she whispered. My heart broke as she was looking so vulnerable right now.

"what do you need?"

"We need to get to the court first thing tomorrow if you still haven't changed your mind," she said as I looked at her. I nodded.

"you know I would never again change my mind," I said before kissing her again. And this time it was the blissful moment of my existence.