214

214
"You really mean that? You want us to be together? Are you sure?" I whispered, my eyes stinging with tears.

"I do. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I'm tired of denying myself, Iris. I'm tired of pretending I can stand alone and leave without love when deep down I know I'm... I'm just scared. Terrified that one day you’ll suddenly die like Jerald and Willow. Or you'll get tired and leave me... just like her," Gordon confessed.

"Who?"

"My birthgiver," he whispered, the sadness in his voice crushing my soul.
Oh…
It all made sense now. His actions were trauma-based, not reasoning-based. If I were abandoned as a child, I'd definitely find it hard to bond with anybody. Ugh, that annoying woman and her bad habits were still haunting after all these years.

What a terrible human being!
And no wonder he insisted I stayed out of danger. He didn’t want another Jerald and Willow, dying for justice.
My poor baby.
"I understand you, Gordon. And though I can't erase all the hurt away and I can promise you one thing, I will never abandon you, Gordon. Never ever. And trust me, I don’t plan on dying anytime soon. I genuinely love you, with all of my life and heart. Every day, always." I assured him, grabbing my pillow and hugging it, pretending it was him.

"I know. My heart always knew, but my head needed a little convincing. Fortunately for me, I have Raul to give me a good beating," he laughed.

"I hope you mean that figuratively."

"No. He punched me in the face. My nose still hurts like a bitch.”

"What?!" I gasped, pulling the phone away from my ear and gawking at it. "What happened? Why did you guys have a fight?"

"It's nothing important. Raul just wanted to make me see reason why I was being a fucking idiot for trying to send you away, and he did a job well done. I can't keep pushing away the woman I love and want to build a future with because of another that hurt me in the past. I want you, Iris. I love you. And I'm done pretending to be selfless. So please, allow me. Can I be selfish and never let you go? Please," he begged.

"Yes. Yes, Gordon. Be selfish as much as you want because I don't want to leave you either. I want us to live together, I want to start a family, I want to grow old with you, I wan—" I slapped my hand over my mouth, and my face coloured.

"Iris? Are you there?"

"Sorry, I was too forward." I squeaked, burying my face in my pillow.

A family? Grow old? Why was I so desperate? He barely just agreed that he wasn't going to send me away, and I was demanding more like a needy child.

"Funny you'd say that because I was thinking the same thing too." He let out a soft, low chuckle, and a small, breathless gasp left my lips.

"You were?" I grinned, rolling to my side and pressing the pillow to my chest.

"Yes. I don't just want to be with you for a moment, Iris. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I've imagined us going old together so much that a future without you looks empty and dark," he mumbled and yawned. "When you come back, we'll go on real dates, and then we'll have the biggest, grandest wedding this world has ever seen. I..." yawn "... already have five designs drawn for your wedding dress. But I fear none of them can flatter your beauty. I'm..." yawn "...already planning the sixth one."

My stomach fluttered and my grin grew larger.

"I'm sure anything you design will look gorgeous on me. You're an amazing designer, Gordon. I'm so lucky to even get to wear one of your dresses," I replied.

"My designs before were sub-par, but..." yawn "...with you as my muse, I'm sure I can make a dress that can rival the beauty of the stars. But they will never..." yawn "...compare to you." 

"You're such a charmer," I teased, twirling my hair between my fingers.

"But these are my..." yawn "...honest feelings." 

"You should go to bed now; you sound sleepy."

"No, I want..." yawn "...to hear your voice through the night." He huffed and I giggled.

He sounded so cute when he was sleepy. Was this how our nights were going to be from now on? Soft, sleepy whispers till one of us dozed off.
My toes curled as butterflies danced in my belly.
"We have to be wide awake tomorrow. We can't have you dozing off when Thomas is being confronted. We can talk all night tomorrow."

"No. I'll be..."

"Gordon? Are you there?" I asked. Soft, gentle breathing came from the other side of the phone, and a smile spread across my lips.

"Goodnight, darling. I love you." I whispered, kissing my phone, and I ended the call.

I threw it behind me, pressing my hand to my face, and I squirmed in the bed.

Gordon wanted me to stay...

He wanted us to get married again...

He wanted to start a family with me...

He wanted to grow old with me...

He... Gordon loved me.

A large squeal escaped my lips as I kicked my legs in the air. I could die of happiness.

He seriously had the design for my wedding dress already?! Five?!

Ugh, Gordon was the sweetest person ever. I loved him so much it hurt.

I needed to start designing my wedding jewelleries right now.

Knock, knock.

A soft knock echoed through my room as I sat up, and I scrunched my brows.

Wasn't it too late to want to talk?

I stared at the door, hoping whoever it was would go away, but the knock came again.

"It better be something important," I mumbled as I shuffled to the door.

I opened it and my breath hitched.

Henson.

~•~•~•~~•~•~

I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I did. I was smiling like an idiot🤭🤭🤭. Until that bastard, Henson, came along😒😒

Anyway, my other book, 'Married The Cursed Alpha', is now live on whatever platform you're reading this book on. It has 26 chapters so you can binge-read at once. 

Just search 'Married To The Cursed Alpha' and make sure it's by Lumi Lite.

And don't forget to drop comments on the new book, I always give a shout-out.

Thank you so much. Love you guys to the moon and back 🥰🥰🥰🥰