CHAPTER SIXTY

CHAPTER SIXTY
ATHENA’S POV.

I opened the door myself after I heard him knock, and I couldn't help the smile that was on my face.

He hadn't told me he was coming, but something deep within me told me he would. And I anticipated it like a kid who waited candy on Halloween.

“Hey.” I said to him with a bright smile.

“Hey, you look good.” he says. A somehow rare compliment. The weight of the words seeped deep into my skin. I hadn't heard that in a very long time, even from him.

“Do you think I'm changing?” I asked. Adam lifted a brow in a very strange way, almost like he was about to enter another conversation he didn't want to.

“Changing how?”

“Like, do you think what we're doing is working? Because I sometimes I feel a bit different, I don't know.” Maybe I was hallucinating things. No one at home had outrightly said anything about my changes either.

“Well, I think your skin color is starting to come back, so that should be a positive sign.” His velvet voice said and my smile grew wider.

I stepped back and allowed him to walk into the room. He came in with a bouquet of flowers, daises in particular that I love, and some chocolate. When he sat at the edge of the bed, I sat, a bit distant from him, but I turned to face him.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Go ahead, Athena. You've been asking me things all this time anyway.” he said, and I laughed at his reaction.

“It’s about the marking.” I continued when I received the permission to. Then his face got serious.

He definitely was not expecting that. “When would you give it to me?” I had been thinking a lot and the thought of marking occupied at least forty-five percent of my mind. It was essential to solidify whatever it was Adam and I were doing.

“I told you that I wasn't going to give the mark until you were ready.”

“But does that mean, when I ask for it, is when I would get it?”

“Yes.” The answer was curt.

“Even if I was physically ready to receive the mark?”

“You would still have to give me the permission. I told you, I'm not going to mark you without your permission.”

“What if I want the mark now?”

He lifted a brow again.” Why do you want it so soon? It's been barely three months since...” his words trailed off.

“Since what? Blake rejected me?” no need dancing around the elephant in the room.

“Well, it's been barely three months since everything started happening. Are you sure you want the mark?”

“Yes, I mean… currently, I feel like I want to just move on from anything that has to do with Blake, and being unmarked means he still has some access to me that I don't want.”

I wanted to add that I think I'm really starting to like you and I would want you to mark me, but instead, I thought against it. “I just feel like I'm ready for the mark now.”

Adam dropped the flowers and the chocolate on the bed and turned to me fully. “Let's give you one full month. If you still want the mark by the end of that, then I would give it to you.”

“Okay” I said. I had hoped he would give it to me tonight because I was quite enthusiastic and willing to get over Blake immediately. After our last dinner date, I couldn't deny what I was feeling for Adam anymore, but I just couldn't say it out loud yet.

“You were a bit late today.” I said to him, hoping that it didn't seem a bit rude.

“Yeah, Tom was a bit demanding.”

“Tom? Who's Tom?”

“My golden retriever. I never told you I had a dog?”

“I am just hearing about it. Oh my goodness! I had no idea you had a dog. Why didn't you mention? And how does he cope with your working hours? Where do you keep him?”

“I have a neighbor. She helps look after him while I'm not around. Tom is amazing and is stressful sometimes, but he's a lovely dog.”

“I'd like to meet him.”

With a dashing smile, he answered, “I could bring him for you someday, or you could come see him if you want.”

“Whichever way is fine with me.”

“That's great. Um, I also wanted to ask you something.” For the first time since I met Adam, he seemed unsure of saying something.

“Sure, what's that?”

“Blake’s coronation is coming soon.” The moment he said that, something performed a sinking action in my chest, and I really hoped my frown didn't show.

“Oh, I was aware of that.”

“Yes, and I was invited. Oh, okay. I guess you should be… you’re among Adal’s stakeholders.”

“I mean, yes… but I would like you to go with me as my plus one to the event.”

Was he insane? “I'm sorry, but I don't think I can.”