Chapter 88 - HEIRESS'S SECOND CHANCE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter Eighty-Eight “What is Love?”

Isabella Kingston.

I picked up my dress on the floor, then slipped into it as I made my way further into the room, looking through it. I have been here quite a number of times already, and yet, I always find myself in awe being here because the pictures that littered his bed side cabinet and the part of the shelf that has one too many trophies shows a side of his I did not know he had.

Of the life he had before he grew older, moved out, became more matured and us eventually meeting. I love seeing pictures of him from when he is younger—there is this innocence in the eyes of young Christian that also held another emotion I could not exactly point a finger at, but it is there regardless.

A soft smile played across my lips as I moved my gaze away from the last picture frame of Christian and another young boy I could not figure out whom, but did not dwell on, and instead moved to where the mirror is so I can stare at my reflection as I touched up.

Pulling the zipper of my dress up, I tried to fix my hair back in place as it has moved a bit out of place, but I managed to get it back in place. Thankfully, the other day Grace stocked a few emergency make up materials here, telling me I do not know when I might need it. I made a mental note to thank her for thinking this far, because I certainly needed to fill back the lipstick that has been wiped out completely.

By the time I was done retouching my make up and deemed myself presentable enough, sprinkling a bit of Christian’s perfume, I heard the ensuite door open, and a few seconds later, the warmth of Christian’s body came behind me, his hand going to rest on my hips while he leaned down to bury his head in the crook of my neck.

He hummed in approval, then said. “I love you smelling like me,” He commented, “I would not mind you carrying my scent all the time.

I chuckled lightly, then asked. “You do know you have my underwear, right?” I whispered, meeting his gaze through the mirror as he lifted his head to rest his chin there, holding my gaze through the mirror as well. “You need to give it back unless you want me to go out like this.”

“I don’t mind,” He mumbled, his lips brushing the side of ears. “Gives room for more possibilities,”

“My dress is short,” I pointed out. “Are you sure you still do not mind?”

Christian’s brows drew in, then he slipped his other hand down, as if to check the length of the dress. Once he reached the hem, just an inch from my knees, he hummed again. “It is long enough,” His fingers traced the skin there, making me shudder, but he did not dwell on it. Instead, he moved his hands upwards, resting it on my waist, then he asked. “If it bothers you though, let me know, I will give it back.” His tone was serious, and so was his expression, as if wanting me to know he truly means it.

I pouted slightly, awing slightly under my breath at him. Leave it to Christian and always making sure I am okay, alright even whenever he does something—letting me know I have a way out if I want. I know these words are not just empty words. If I do express my dislike towards something, he will stop.

I know that. And knowing he cares so much to consider my feelings in whatever he does, whatever we do, it warms my heart.

So, wordlessly, I turned around in his arms, making him straighten his spine while both his hands rests on my hips, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down, so his lips meet mine for a short, sweet kiss. He did not hesitate. Unlike the other kisses shared earlier, this was short, and sweet.

A smile takes over my features as I pulled back, letting him see the smile. “I am okay,” I ascertained. “I will be even better after we head home later and finish what we started.”

Christian gave me that seductive look of his, his lips curling into that short, panty ripping grin. “Well, in that case,” He pulls me closer to him. “Let us get this party over sooner.”

After touching up one last time, we headed downstairs where the party was pretty much still lively. The air seemed to be the same as when we left, and our transition back was easy, as we were welcomed almost as if we never left, or no one noticed we had slipped away for a bit longer than what will be considered an innocent break.

At least, I thought so until Gloria approached us, with Grace and her husband trailing along. Offering me a warm smile, Gloria focused her attention on Christian. “Where have you been, son?” She reached out to warmly place a hand on his cheek. “It is time for the birthday cake.”

Christian gave her a look that bordered between horrified and rebuking, “Mom, I told you already. No birthday cakes. Never wanted one before, and I do not need one now.” From his tone, it is easy to tell he considers it childish and Christian and the word childish just do not seem to belong in the same sentence apparently.

Gloria gave him a look, before she shrugged. “Well, don’t say that to me. Isabella picked the cake for you, do you know how long it took her to do so?”

Christian shifted his rebuking gaze from his mother to mine, arching a brow in a ‘really woman? Are you purposely trying to embarrass me here?’ type of look.

I did not hold back my smile, getting the exact look I wanted out of him. Christian may act all boyish and whatever, but he is thirty and tends to act like a brooding old man most of the time. Certainly, he hates birthday cakes.

I picked it for that same reason. I want to see my 30-year-old husband cutting a cake, which he deems oh so childish. It is not much to ask really, is it?

“Birthdays aren’t birthdays without desserts,” I said, my grin intact as I rested a gave his hand that held mine a small squeeze. “Or in this case, a cake.”

I just knew from the look he gave me that I won’t like what he will say either, and I was right. “I recall you pretty much giving me a birthday dessert no more than ten minutes ago. I would much rather prefer that, to a cake. That is a good birthday for me.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks as I held his gaze, once again being reminded that this man has no filter. He just had to say this in front of his mother and sister, and brother-in-law by the way. Fucking fuck.

Luckily for me, Gloria did not seem to understood what he was referring to and was too much into getting him to do as she wants, so she basically dragged him off to the table where the cake is. It is nothing extravagant, just a simple chocolate cake that I bought knowing he has a sweet tooth no matter how much he tries to deny it in front of his mother.

We followed them closely behind, and I stood by his side while everyone gathered closely. Grace, whom stood by my side leaned down to whisper, “Good thinking locking the door earlier. Thankfully, I do not have to gorge my eyes out after seeing my brother in such state,” She shuddered, “Just ew.”

My eyes dilated, my lips folding in as blood rushed to my cheeks upon understanding what she means.

Then, she added, and this time her words seemed to startle me more than her earlier words because of how sincere she sounded. “I am glad he has you though, you are good for him. You are exactly whom he needs in his life after the life he had. You two truly love each other, it is way too obvious in the way he looks at you, and you, in the way you look at him.”

I could not dwell on the embarrassment of she knowing what transpired between her brother and I earlier, coupled along with her slapping me in the face with a reality I did not realize until she pointed it out, when we were asked to sing the birthday song. By the end of it, Christian begrudgingly cut the cake while everyone clapped.

Taking the first cut, instead of eating it like everyone expected, he turned around and held it to my lips. I arched a brow in surprise, but he urged me to take it. Shyly, I took a bite of the cake, and was about to wipe away the icing on my lips when he leaned down and kissed me, wiping it off without any care for the people there.

They all clapped and cheered a bit at the act, and Christian unbothered pulled back and took a bite of his cake, holding my gaze with that cheeky grin on his face. I hid my face in his chest as he chuckled, before we turned around to face the crowd there.

My grin fell slightly when I noticed a flicker of someone in the crowd, but before I could comprehend what I really saw, the person seemed to have disappeared like no one was there in the first place. There were too many people, I could have mistaken it and was being paranoid for no reason.

So, I shook my head to rid my brain of such thoughts and focused on what is going on instead, and focused on having a good night instead, in all senses possible.

All through though, even when I lay in bed later on way past midnight, with my head on Christian’s naked chest as he dozed off after our rendezvous night and so many rounds that I have lost count later, we were both naked under the sheets except regardless of the exhaustion weighing on me, I could not get Grace’s words out of my head.

Christian loves me?

And most importantly, do I love him? I know I cherish him certainly, and he means more to me than anyone but am I really loving another man after swearing off? Christian deserves that and all more, and before I actually dozed off as well, I came to an acceptance.

I am falling in love with Christian Ian Kingston, and weirdly enough, I feel no sense of regret, only hope for what we may have in the future. I guess it is time for me to tell Christian about my life, the part I have been keeping tucked away and only opening up to those I wholly trust. I never even told James, but I will tell Christian…about my family.

Because after we became one, I have decided to start a family of mine with him, I want this life…with him. And as if agreeing with my thoughts, Christian pulled me closer to him in his sleep, his lips brushing my forehead.

I flickered my eyes close and leaned into his embrace. Tomorrow. I will tell him tomorrow. Only tomorrow shattered everything.