Confession

Chapter 31: Confession

"My Princess.. You just ruined my reputation back there. How will I ever find a wife now?"

Dylan whispered as he towered over her. He gently held her chin and made her look at him.

Isabella's heart raced at their proximity. She could feel Dylan's body heat surrounding her, enveloping her like safe cocoon.

"Are you asking this princess to take responsibility?" Isabella asked with a pink blush on her cheeks. She was trying hard not to fall for Dylan's seduction, but it was proving to be harder every passing second.

Dylan hummed before speaking. "Hmm? So, Can this peasant have the honor of being this princess's prince consort?"

Isabella blinked twice and before a small gasp escaped her lips. Did he.. Did he just propose her?

Before she could properly respond, something cold slipped onto her finger. Dylan brought her hand to his lips and left a soft kiss, almost prayerfully. The touch of his warm lips on that cold night sent a indescribable wave through her.

Then she saw a ring on her finger, where Dylan had just kissed.

"T-This.." The ring looked exactly same as the one Dylan threw away that night. A beautiful emerald in the middle, with stones neatly surrounding it.

"I know you liked that ring a lot. So I got one made exactly like that." Dylan informed with a smile as he looked at her stunned expression.

Isabella was shocked. The ring looked really new, and also original. All these stones must have cost a hell lot of money.

A sudden thought crossed her mind, and she immediately tugged at his shirt's collar, slightly revealing his neck and chest. The golden chain usually hanging there was missing.

The princess's eyes slightly teared up. Dylan must have sold it and got this ring made for her. The golden chain had been with him since forever. Something his parents must have left for him before abandoning at the gates of the orphanage.

"Princess?" Dylan called a little nervously. He still hadn't got the reply for his proposal. Was he accepted?

Isabella's eyes snapped at him, catching that nervousness. She wanted to laugh. What was he nervous about? Why would she reject him and make a huge loss for herself?

But she kept quite. She didn't want to disturb this serene silence between them. Standing on her toes, she encircled her arms around his neck and snuggled her face in the crook of his neck.

Dylan's smile lit up brighter than the moon. His left hand instinctively wrapped around her waist, while the right one got lost in her hair.

"Being my prince consort won't be easy."

"Not being your prince consort is harder."

"I am very demanding."

"I have firsthand experience and knowledge about it."

"I need a lot of pampering."

"When have I not pampered you?"

"I am stubborn."

"I have infinite patience for you."

"I might throw tantrums."

"I'll be there with ice cream and a blanket when you do."

"I'll take up all your time."

"I'd give you all of it anyway."

"I might annoy you on purpose."

"Try harder. You're adorable when you're annoying."

"You'll have to deal with my mood swings."

"I already do."

"I might fight a lot."

"I will always be the first one to apologize."

Isabella smiled and lifted her head to look at him. She was stunned for a few seconds looking at Dylan's smile. It was the most beautiful and happiest smile she had ever seen on his lips. She felt elated knowing that she was the reason for that smile.

They simply stared at each other for few moments. None of them spoke. None of them broke their embrace.

Neither of them could express what exactly they were feeling right now. It was beyond mere attraction. It felt divine. It felt eternal.

Isabella always felt safe and peaceful whenever she was with Dylan. But the longer she hid her feelings for him, the more they grew stronger, and a fear gripped her heart. What if he will never know her feelings?

She knew it was kind of stupid and baseless. But for some reason, that fear was always there. Something which made her share everything without delaying.

"My princess.. Can I kiss you?" Dylan asked for her consent. He really really wanted to do many things to her. But he loved her too much to do anything without her consent.

Isabella blushed and nodded. Dylan, receiving her consent, gulped as he looked her soft lips. In an instant his lips were on hers.

Both of them froze. The kiss sent sparks through both their bodies. Just the simple contact of their lips felt heavenly. It was their first kiss. Under the moonlight, as the cold breeze caressed them.

Isabella gently weaved her hand into Dylan's thick dark hair and closed her eyes to feel the moment.

Dylan started tasting her lips, licking them and sucking them. Isabella gasped when she felt his teeth grace her lower lips.

Taking the chance, Dylan plunged his tongue into her mouth. Isabella was taken aback. Her tongue shied away and started playing hide and seek.

Dylan knew this was her first time having a kiss, and hence gently rubbed her back to clam her down. And it worked like magic. Isabella relaxed in his arms. His tongue soon found hers, and once again it started fireworks in both of them.

Now that he finally got a taste of her, Dylan got addicted to it. The first time sloppy kiss suddenly turned well practiced as he devoured her mouth.

It was only after a couple of minutes when both of them ran out of breathe did he break the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.

"I-Isabella.. My Isa.. My princess" Dylan chanted, almost reverently. His face buried in her neck as he planted a soft kiss there too.

Isabella smiled. She was really his princess. He always made her feel like one.

"I thought you still needed time to come up with a proposal."

"There is an entire pack of wolves ready to take their chances. This prince consort had to take some precautionary measures to secure his position." Dylan replied and Isabella laughed. He was getting into his role pretty well.

Soon they both went to the lake nearby and lay on the soft grass beside each other. Dylan put his arm under his princess's head as they both gazed at the stars.

"You know Dylan.. when we were little, I always thought that we will never be away from each other. Then one day an elder sister in the orphanage told that only husband and wife stay together forever."

"That day I decided that I make you my husband after we grow up." 

Dylan turned and looked at her. He remembered all those times when they played home-home. She would beat him and forcefully make him play that game along with her. So she never planned on letting him go at all.

Dylan laughed remembering those moments. Isabella smiled looking at him and got up, supporting herself on her elbow.

"I actually felt very scared when you were adopted. Even when I was lost and couldn't find my parents, being with you brought me strange peace. It felt like that safe place was taken away when you left."

Dylan stopped laughing. Isabella had always shared everything with him except this. It was silly decision on his side. He thought having a family will help him give more protection to Isabella.

But that all turned out to be childish thoughts. Nothing worked like that. Instead, they both got separated.

His hands went to her cheeks and gently stroked them. "I won't ever leave you again princess.. I will be by your side. And will always protect you" he promised.

The vow resonated deep within both of them.

Isabella smiled and put her head on Dylan's chest. She felt very lucky and blessed to have this moment. Dylan was her everything.

He protected like a father, nurtured her like a mother, pampered her like a sibling, played with her like a friend, and always firmly stood by her like faith.

"Dylan?"

"Hmm?"

"Let's go back and get a marriage certificate."