Natalie stiffened as soon as those words left his mouth and she just stared at outer space for a minute or two before she chuckled, laughing it off, “You’re so good at making jokes,”
Only that Eric was as serious as hell and he made sure she knew that.
“I wasn’t joking,” He said without a trace of a smile on his face and that was when it hit her, he was God damn serious.
Natalie swallowed deeply, straightening up. She ran her hand through her hair nervously as if she didn’t know how to express what she was about to say, “Eric...” She said when he cut her off with a gesture.
“I know what you’re about to say, Natalie, that this could be a mistake? That it’s too early at this part of our relationship? However, I know what I want and I go for what I want. You might not know this but I’ve always felt deep down that you are the woman I would spend the rest of my life with. I’ve always loved you Natalie even if what you’ve done is push me away and run with every opportunity you have. So that is why I can’t wait anymore, moreover, I’m not getting any younger nor is time on my side, I don’t know when I will die. So before death comes to claim my soul, I would want to share that with the woman I love.” He confessed to her.
Natalie stood on the spot dumbfounded by his touching speech. And the truth is that she wanted to spend the rest of her pathetic life with him, however, she had too many flaws and he deserves someone better than her – and younger as well.
“Eric, I....” She couldn’t articulate it better, however, she had to, “I can’t give you a child. I’m in my menopause already and there’s a fifty percent chance I would not get pregnant -”
“Fucking shit, Natalie!” Eric cursed so loudly she almost jumped back startled. Her brows were drawn together in confusion as she wondered what she had done wrong, blaming her stupid mouth.
There was a look of disbelief in Eric’s gaze, “You think I’m marrying you because of what I can get from you? You think I haven’t considered that or do you think this is a joking matter?”
.....
Natalie looked down at her feet, suddenly feeling stupid as she muttered under her breath, “I don’t know... I just assumed that you would want a child, preferably a son to take your place and I can’t....” She trailed off, still not looking at him. Natalie was so embarrassed. Well, this was unknown territory to her and she didn’t know how to thread through without getting decapitated.
“In that case, stop assuming stupid things you don’t know about me and believe in the things you know of me. Moreover, I have Rose already and she’s enough for me, ” Eric told her, stepping into her space and gently lifting her head, so he could see those beautiful green eyes of hers. She was so beautiful, if only she could see that.
“I’m marrying you because I love you, Natalie and nothing is going to stop me even if one day, your skin wrinkles and you no longer look as beautiful as you do now; even if your breasts sag, I would adorn them with my kisses; even if you put on weight, you’ve never looked so beautiful; even if you get sick and don’t recognize me any longer, I’ll stay by your side and never leave your side...”
Tears streamed down Natalie’s cheeks because she could sense the sincerity in those words. He was worshiping her whole being and it did funny things to her heart. What had she done to deserve someone like him, Natalie didn’t know.
“Even if your hair turns gray and you lose all of your teeth and can’t eat meat -”
Natalie laughed through the tears, cupping her mouth with her palms immediately. The snort was unladylike especially when she was in the middle of a romantic proposal.
“The point is Natalie, you’ve fallen into my web and you’re not getting out of it easily which is why....” He pulled out a box from his pocket and pushed down to his knee causing a gasp to draw from her mouth.
He opened the box, “Would you make me a happy man, Natalie?”
Hot tears rushed down Natalie’s cheeks before she nodded her head, and finally said the words, “I’ll marry you, Eric.”
A broad face painted his face and he slid the golden ring into her middle finger and stood up just as the impatient Natalie pulled him to her and crushed her lips against his. The kiss was sweet yet hurried as if she couldn’t wait to get more of him. However, as soon as they parted, Eric was the one who took control of the kiss this time.
He kissed her hard and deep, relishing the taste of her lips while rubbing his crotch against her showing her the things she did to his body and a hint of the wicked what he planned to do to her.
However, Natalie pulled away at the last minute, saying breathlessly with bright eyes, “Oh my God! This means we have to inform the family. Shit! I, no, we have to plan a wedding,” She realized it was too much work even for the both of them.
Eric chuckled, he loved seeing her this way, excited and alive instead of the dead look she previously carried. Right now, she looked alive. However, it would mean much more if her daughter was here to see this and share in her happiness.
Natalie told him not to search for her, but Eric knew that she longed for her daughter inwardly. For sure, the girl would be mad at her, but the only reason that she lived in the first place was because Natalie gave her away else that bastard Daniel would have killed her.
So maybe, he can do this for her, finding her little girl. Natalie would be mad at him for sure, but that was better than regretting not seeing her daughter for the rest of her life.