Chapter 199: His Marking
"What?" Ivan’s pupils constricted in bewilderment before dilating in disbelief. He could feel his heart pound faster at what he believed to have heard as her approval, but he wasn’t certain if he heard it or if he imagined he heard it. He has been hallucinating a lot these past few days to readily jump into these types of conclusions, he felt he needed to hear it again.
"What did you say?"
Samantha’s lashes fluttered briefly as she lowered her gaze, and she couldn’t comprehend if his reaction was one of excitement, or if she had approved a little too late. She had decided not to repeat it when she felt his hands grab both her shoulders, but it was enough to make her meet his anticipatory gaze.
"Can you repeat what you just said?"
"I..." Samantha’s lips parted as she tried to say them again, and she lowered her bashful gaze before mustering the courage to look into his amethyst eyes, her emerald ones gleaming with genuine sincerity as she took hold of one of his hands, clasping it with her dainty fingers. "What I meant to say was.... I want to accept your proposal but I am worried about my chances. Have I stalled you for too long? Is there still a chance for me make my decision and say yes to you–"
"You’re willing to get married to me? To be my Queen?"
Samantha nodded, smiling earnestly, and she could see the excitement that twinkled in his crimson eyes. She felt she owed him this much, she had inadvertently thought back to how many times he has helped her, how many times he has held her when she felt utterly lost and alone.... and if he wanted to have a nobody like her as his woman, she was more than ready to give herself to him. This was what she had presumed, this was her logic, but at the same time, there was a part of her, deep in the depths of her heart that told her she wanted the same thing.
She was afraid, but it no longer mattered.
Her heart leaped when Ivan cupped her cheeks to drop a lingering kiss on her forehead, and she closed her eyes when he peppered the tip of her nose with the same vigor. When her eyelids slowly opened the minute he pulled back, Samantha watched as he suddenly turned around to go lock the doors. Weren’t they supposed to step out today?