Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 314: Understanding Each Other

Chapter 314: Understanding Each Other

"You’re not that kind of person." Celine got closer and looked at Walter whose expression was unreadable in that dim light.

"Oh?" He placed her hand over his and gently pressed his forefinger on her palm and drew lazy circles. He was looking at her hand intently as if he was in deep contemplation.

Celine felt goosebumps all over her body. This was the first time she had such intense sensations from just a touch. And it is not a skin-skin contact either. She was wearing gloves! Ugh!

"And even if you try, you won’t get anything out of me. I’m in love with you, but Talia is my friend. Even for love I won’t cross certain limits. I’m not immature, Walter." Celine said gathering her thoughts.

"Is that so?" Walter chuckled.

Thinking deeply, he could agree that she is not immature. When he tried to get Talia’s phone number (Yes, he tried to be sneaky about it), and she tactfully refused him. That was very smart of her making even him admire her cleverness.

He wouldn’t put that off as common jealousy, since if Celine is someone who acts on her jealousy, she could have used the time they spent together, to say off-putting words about Talia. Celine never did that. She avoided talking about Talia, but never once she spoke unpleasant words about Talia to him, ever.

This shows her character to be someone loyal and smart. A character he loved!

"Yes!" Celine nodded. The breeze blew, making the leaves and branches dance to its tune, creating a gentle ruffling noise for them to enjoy. An owl hooted from the distance, giving an eerie sense of chillness, making her yearn for warmth.

She could feel Walter pulling her towards him and she followed with no qualms. He was leaning on the railing and with her pulled between his legs, she found herself at his eye-level. "What did you think of me when we worked together these past few days?" she asked as she removed one of her gloves. She wanted to touch this man looking like a marble statue, a little more intimately, not through her gloves.

With her eyes adjusted to the dim light however, she couldn’t face that sharp eyes of his and she bowed her head. His thighs were grazing her hips and she started to feel warm. "Don’t tell me ’as a sister’... Not after what I did. Then I might actually have to bury myself to save myself from embarrassment," she dug her chin to her chest. If she has to make a bold assumption, she would say that Walter had decided to date her, but she didn’t know for sure with him just lingering like this.

Is he teasing me?

Or is he thinking of rejecting me and trying to calm me first?

Walter chuckled seeing the petite woman who was like a fierce tiger with her brother just moments ago, now looking like a meek kitten. "Definitely not as a sister, trust me." He pulled her closer. Maybe because he lacked close contact with women for long or he just missed being close with a woman, or that the darkness gave him courage or he was just using this little woman who is deeply in love with him, he wanted to pull her closer - so he hugged her.

Celine, in his embrace, closed her eyes resting her forehead on his sturdy chest. His coat was still covering her and his hands were at her back with his chin softly resting on her head. She very much liked this position.

" Princess Talia rejected me plainly. I decided not to dwell on it, although I still can’t control my heart. But those days you were living near me... I had thought that you would be perfect to take on the role of my wife..." Walter sensed Celine trying to look up and he gently pressed the back of her head to keep her from looking at his face.

He wanted to be honest with her. For someone who deeply loves him, this is the least he could do. And the rest would be her decision.

"Don’t get me wrong. It was not a decision from my heart, but from my rational brain. I noticed how confident you are and I liked how you handled Judith when most will fail and how smart and well-read you are with the affairs of the state and the laws of our land. I admired your resilience, your hard work, your loyalty to the crown and your friend... I really loved how you brought many chirping birds in the morning and your cooking is splendid. I guessed you might like me and with the status of our families, I knew it won’t be hard to get married to you."

Walter felt her going stiff and he loosened his hold. His words might be blunt and might have hurt her, but it is the truth.

"My intention is not to hurt you, Celine, but to make it clear what you’ll get if you still want to date me. My heart still isn’t healed. I don’t know how long it will take for me to get over my past love. I don’t want to drag you along and make you waste your better days with me. Initially, I wanted to refuse you today... But then... I... I might seem disingenuous when I say I want to genuinely try-"

"So you like my character, you’ve thought that I’d be suitable for you and you still can’t find a way to accept me in your heart. Is that what you’re saying?" Celine took a step back and looked at Walter in the eye. A mixture of emotions developed in her heart.

"You’re..." Walter looked at Celine staring at him frozen. "Are you crying?" He panicked and stood up.

"No, I’m not crying," Celine covered her mouth. "Walter, I know you are someone who makes every decision following your mind and yet for this... I understand. Marriage is not some business deal to follow the mind, but it involves hearts among other things. You want to be fair to me and do not want to trap me into a marriage when you yourself cannot say for sure if your heart will accept me. You are a genuinely good guy, Walter. I cannot wait," she got closer and hugged him.

"Celine, I ..."

"It’s okay, Walter. Thank you for expressing your feelings. I will turn your heart towards me, trust me. Just wait and prepare yourself to be chased by me. You really cannot escape me." Celine nuzzled her head in Walter’s chest and took in a deep breath. She really felt blissful and happy that they had this talk. Now she knows for sure what she should do.

Walter was a bit surprised that she took what he said this well. He basically said that he thought she’d be a perfect wife for him because she is well educated and of the same status as him and she really didn’t mind that? Then again, it is to be expected of her, right?

"Celine, then I will prepare my heart to be swayed by you. I’ll be eagerly waiting for your next move," Walter said and he couldn’t help but place a little kiss on her head.

"Did you just kiss me?" Celine asked looking up.

"I shouldn’t have?" Walter asked raising his brows. This little woman in his arms, is very interesting. He really didn’t mind spending time with her at all. "You kissed my lips without my consent and I can’t kiss your hair?" he whispered in her ear.

Celine was too stupefied to reply him. Isn’t he being a little shameless? But she liked it. In fact, she wouldn’t mind it if he kissed her anywhere.

"You can...not!" Celine could see his sharp eyes and changed her answer. For one, she was shy. And secondly, she cannot offer herself up in a platter just because she loves him. He still doesn’t have the same feelings as her. She needs to have self-respect.

"Really? I cannot kiss your hair?" Walter smirked. " How about here?" He kissed her forehead, cupping her cheeks.

"Walter..." Only a hiss came out of Celine’s mouth as she grabbed the lapel of his suit.

"Then, how about here?" He placed a soft kiss on her eyes, now closed tight.

"Here...? Here...?" His soft lips kissed the bridge of her nose, her cheeks, the corner of her lips...

Celine felt like little butterflies are fluttering in her stomach as his little kisses spread tingling sensations all over her face. Her legs felt weak and she thought she’d fall over anytime soon. She had already lost the will to stop him.

Is he going to kiss my lips next?

Celine anticipated his kiss. When she previously kissed him, she was so nervous she didn’t remember what she felt. But now, she could actually feel his kiss.

Walter looked at Celine, mesmerised in his arms and smiled. He wanted to tease her at first but then, he found himself getting more excited as he kissed her. He wanted to kiss her properly as he felt her scent was overwhelming and she looked alluring.

But...

Celine came out of her reverie as she felt the smooch between her eyebrows. Walter’s eyes were fixed on her, "I’ll kiss you properly once you grabbed my heart," he spoke gently. Celine was moved.

"Fred! You’re a f*cking idiot! I hate you!"

Their moment was disturbed by a familiar, angry voice from the distance.