Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 180: Red Asked Me First

Chapter 180: Red Asked Me First

"How are you sure it was you?" she wanted to tease Arthur for a while.

She didn’t think when they were in high school that they’d be allowed to be together by both of their families.

"Who else was it then?" Arthur asked. His emerald green eyes were mesmerising as it had a layer of mist that was glistening under those warm lights. It made his eyes seem like a mysterious evergreen forest covered with mist. Talia felt like she’d get lost in them if she ever got trapped in there.

But isn’t she already? Here she is... Not minding the reputation she’d get, if she danced with a man whom she was previously married with and the man who is currently engaged with someone else; slow dancing.

Ah! Screw it! Screw it all! Let me enjoy this little time I have with him. He doesn’t seem to mind either!

Both of them weren’t listening to the song in the background and the others around them. They were only focusing on each other as they just moved around, just for the sake of it.

Both of them knew... That this would be the last time they’d be together for a while. Arthur’s returning to Esteria early morning and Talia after staying for a couple of days here, will leave for Rosandale. Once she goes there, it would be hard for Arthur to visit her easily like this.

"Cyrus..." she said and paused deliberately. She watched his face, that looked like a sculpted marble statue, getting contorted ugly with jealousy for a moment before getting back to normal.

"You want another kiss, don’t you?" he licked his lower lip making Talia close her lips tightly and shake her head with her eyes widened.

Talia could see that he wasn’t believing that Cyrus was her first love. It made her heart warm. She was amazed by how much he knew about her.

" I don’t know if I told you before.... Cyrus told me that day... That he’d marry me if I can’t find a king to marry," Talia held back her urge to wrap her arms around his shoulder and kiss him.

He’s so irresistible!

"Hmm?" Arthur was surprised by this revelation. Cyrus made sure he knows that she’d only marry a King, but Cyrus kept himself as her last choice? He thought Cyrus never had such intention towards her. "When did he say that?"

"That day you gave the blue marble..." Talia wet her lips and subconsciously leaned her head towards his shoulder as whatever song that was playing stopped. She stopped herself as she gained her senses when he took a step back.

She felt his hand holding her hand, tightening. He looked at him and there was pain in his eyes. She knew he want to hold her closer too, but cannot.

"Do you remember that day? You told me that you’d marry me," she looked at him and he nodded with a smile.

He remembered. He didn’t mean what he said that day. He was crossing his fingers behind his back.

It is wonderful, isn’t it? He didn’t want to marry her the first time he met her when he was a boy. Well, he was a kid then. Still... He didn’t want to marry her, even though he liked her.

But when he met her again, as a teenager, after getting to know her much deeply, he couldn’t bring himself to think about taking anyone else other than his Iris as his wife.

"I remember thinking that day when Cyrus told me that he’d marry me, ’But Red asked me first!’. Of course I didn’t understand what marriage was back then, but still...even then... You were the first one to ask me to marry and so I thought I should be marrying you."

She watched his eyes getting clouded. She knew he was happy. She loved seeing him happy. It’s all she wanted.

"We were silly weren’t we? I was crossing my fingers that day when I promised you," he said clearing his throat. Maybe being too happy, his throat closed.

First he didn’t want to marry her when she did. Then both of them wanted to marry, but believed they won’t be allowed to. But then they got married and he was happy and she wasn’t. And now...

" I’m glad, Fred... I’m glad you waited for me. I’m glad I’ve found you, my King," she didn’t mind the distance between them.

Physical distance doesn’t matter much when two hearts are together. For now, their hearts were close together beating as one. Their thoughts aligned too. That’s what is more important.

"And you will forever be my Queen," he bent and whispered in her ears. The hold of her hand on his shoulder tightened. As his cheek rubbed on her smooth cheek, he felt a flash of electricity pass through his entire body. At this close distance, he felt her scent creeping in his nose making his scalp go numb.

He found himself getting more and more greedy each day. No matter how much he spends time with her, it never is enough for him.

But soon he has to leave. He didn’t want to leave her. When he is around her, he doesn’t get headaches and he could sleep peacefully. Why would he want to leave her?

"Let’s get off," Talia wanted to get off the dance floor. She looked around sensing a deep glance at her and saw Louis sighing at her. She didn’t want to push her limits.

Arthur held her waist closer. He didn’t want to leave her.

"One more, please Iris..." he wasn’t ashamed to beg. She is his woman. And he had a nagging feeling in his heart. He didn’t want to let her go.

"Aww! These old songs are so filled with soul, Brendon! Let’s dance! Who knew those old guys knew what to say to make a woman’s heart melt..."

Talia who was turned to leave was pushed back inside by an enthusiastic young girl who seemed to be still in college or maybe she is still in school. Talia vaguely remembered her as one of the senator’s daughter. And the boy was some military official’s son. He seemed young too.

Soon a soothing smooth piano music filled the hall and Talia was pulled back to Arthur’s embrace. He seemed to be not minding the close distance between them.

This woman was right when she said she was technically ’single’. Not only that actor, but also many men would be interested in her. If she goes to Rosandale there would be a many fine young men with very good prospects, willing to court her.

He trusted her. He knew she would refuse them all. She’s not someone unfaithful.

But still... He wouldn’t be relieved until he puts his ring on her finger.

"One more," he looked at her with a smile and Talia couldn’t refuse him.

The song started.

{ Please, don’t stop loving me

You were born just to be in my arms

In my arms

Please, don’t stop loving me

Your lips were made just to be kissed by me

Kissed by me

When I’m with you

I don’t know day from night, wrong from right

You are my world--that’s all I know

I love you so; I won’t let go

Please, don’t stop loving me

Darling, you’ll always be mine alone

Mine alone}

Nothing mattered for Talia and Arthur as the velvety smooth voice of the singer filled the room.

Both of them were locking their eyes at each other and dancing to the tune, feeling their love overflowing.

That three minutes song, ended in a blink of an eye.

"You’re only mine," he repeated as a whisper in her ears. Her hand she placed on his shoulders naturally went to his back, embracing him.

"I’m only yours and you’re only mine," she said back.

"I’m only yours, my sweet Iris. Only yours forever," he kissed her cheek.

It was a very small peck, very swift; like a flutter of the wings of a butterfly or a hummingbird.

But Talia’s heart felt like a volcano erupted inside. Not hot, scary lava, but sweet chocolate fountain, raining happiness all over her.

As they were looking at each other, they felt something weird beside them combined with that very ambiguous noise.

Both of them turned to see that young couple kissing each other deeply, not even minding the other elders around them. The boy’s hands were fondling her chest and she was trying to put her hands inside his pants.

Clearing their throats, Talia looked at Arthur and laughed seeing Arthur having a weird expression too.

She didn’t have to think too much to guess what he is thinking.

Youngsters these days are too wild!

Talia could only laugh. What else can she do? No matter what, she’d never have the guts to kiss like this publicly.

Here she is, a twenty six year old adult, getting giddy over a kiss in the cheek and there they are... Almost doing it in the public!

Both of them got down from the dance floor and it was fun to watch their parents grabbing them both by their ears and dragging them out.

As she was standing there watching, thinking that it might be time to leave, she saw the First lady walking towards her and her expression was not good.

Talia recalled the First Lady receiving some information and she was acting odd as she glanced at her many times the whole time.

Does she need anything?