Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 312: Conflict Between Heart and Mind

Chapter 312: Conflict Between Heart and Mind

The spring moon hung high in the sky filling the lonely balcony with a gentle light; the smooth music of the waltz form the hall played in the background setting the mood, the sound of crickets and the cool spring breeze gave an odd courage to the gentle maiden who kept her love locked up in her heart for two years.

The tall gentleman on the other hand was too stupefied to make a move. He knew the heart of the maiden and in the past few days he spent time with her, he learnt that she is not as docile and weak as he assumed she was, but was brave and assertive. But never in his wildest dreams did he think that she’d force a kiss on him.

Celine’s heart felt like it was being rammed by a ramrod and she felt a surge of electric current originating from her lips that gave a tingling sensation that later passed on throughout her body. She didn’t want that sensation to end, but when she didn’t feel any reciprocation or denial from Walter, she didn’t know what to do.

Did I do it wrong? Seriously! Do I not know to even kiss properly? Or did he think I’m being seductive because I’m a loose woman and is too disgusted to do anything? Or... He thinks my kiss as nothing and feels nothing? How should I proceed?

Walter on the other hand was in his own thoughts. Her soft lips that had a gentle fragrance, still lingered on his lips. It was not a proper kiss, but more of two lips pressed together kind of kiss. At first other than feeling surprised, he didn’t feel much. And although his hands were on her shoulders and he could shove or push or...gently separate her from him with ease, oddly he didn’t feel the urge to.

He had guessed she had feelings for him in these past days when she lived in the out-house of his villa. That day, sitting in his villa early in the morning, he saw her in her sweat pants, walking in his garden. She was having something in her hands and feeding the birds.

He thought during her stay there, he heard unusually lot of chirping in the morning that made his mood better and he found out the reason that day.

He also learnt that she schooled Judith pretty well the previous day. He had wondered if anyone would be brave enough to handle Judith in the past. His previous girlfriend broke up with him, unable to handle Judith. He was impressed this petite woman went against Judith and win without taking damages. That takes a lot of strength!

He watched as his cat who isn’t very welcoming of strangers, rubbing on her legs, meowing. She tried to hunt those little birds, but Celine said something and as if she understood her, his usually arrogant cat, backed off!

In that morning, with a cup of freshly brewed tea in hand, his rational brain said it - IT WON’T BE BAD TO HAVE HER AS MY WIFE!

As that momentary thought formed in his brain, he felt a surge of pain in his heart. NO WAY!

Yeah, his heart is still filled with someone else.

But now, here with Celine, in this intimate position... He couldn’t control the voice in his brain - She likes you; make her your wife!

But his heart was hard. He still had the image of Talia and Arthur happily dancing and his heart hurt.

She doesn’t love you! She wants you to move on, Celine is better and much suitable... She loves you and so, you better move on!

But I loved Talia for five years and I don’t have such feelings for Celine. How can I move on with her?

With two conflicting voices struggling in his brain, he tried to figure out his response. It was then, he felt her hold around his neck tightening and her fruity scent enveloped around him. Her lips started to nibble on his. With her getting closer, he felt her soft bosom, pressing on his chest.

Didn’t realise she was stacked!

His male brain took control and he felt it... This tightness in his abdomen.

He was living like a monk these past five years as he couldn’t even think about anyone other than Talia. Celine is the first woman he allowed to get this close to him and he didn’t think that his celibacy would be easily questioned by her, just with this - a clumsy kiss.

He thought it should be because his body just remembered the pleasures, being close with a woman, and felt ashamed of himself.

"Celine," he pressed his hands firmly on her shoulders and tried to step back, but with her hands firmly around his shoulders, he couldn’t. So he just lifted his head up to keep distance between their lips. "Celine, I-"

Before he could speak, he felt her hand closing his mouth, stunning him once again. Her gloved hand just stopped him from speaking.

"Walter, please... Listen to what I say first before speaking," Celine felt her knees weakening out of nervousness and yet she knew she has to explain herself before she’s being judged by him. "I’m not a... I don’t do this. You know why... You were at that party too. You know what happened to me that day and after. And for me to have the courage to kiss you... I need to tell you something."

Celine didn’t have the guts to look at Walter’s expression, but she didn’t regret what she did. She had to gather every single ounce of courage she had in her body to take this step. She had decided to express her heart and whatever may be the outcome, she was willing to face it. But before that she wanted to bare her heart to him.

She felt Walter’s hands, that were on her shoulder over his coat, sliding to her back as she swayed a bit. She really felt like her legs had gone jelly-like. But his strong arms wrapped around her waist, making her stand firm. She looked up to see his expression soft and gentle, and slowly released her hold on his mouth.

Walter had almost forgotten what happened with Celine in the past. It was a cruel thing and he was glad she was saved before something terrible happened. He knew that incident made her lock herself in her home for years. He felt guilty for only thinking about himself and never once think from her shoes.

She must have immense strength in her heart to be able to trust a man enough to fall in love with him. And he was honored to think it was him she fell in love with.

He decided to listen to her.

"Walter... that day...when my brother was busy hitting that guy who..." Celine gulped as she remembered that dark day of her life. "You were the one who covered me with your coat noticing me naked and cold."

Walter had forgotten him providing his coat to her and he thought if she fell in love with him for that, it cannot be more than an infatuation. He didn’t do anything extra-ordinary, but just a humane thing. "But Celine-"

"I know. But that’s not why I fell in love with you," Celine continued. "I didn’t even think about that those days as my days were filled with darkness and fear. But a coupe of years back, I found your coat in my closet and only then I remembered what a great help you did for me that day. I wanted to thank you for it and return your coat. But I still was scared of being alone with men whom I was not familiar with and I so started observing you." She looked at Walter whose expression she couldn’t quite catch, but it seemed like he was smirking.

"You stalked me?"

"No!" Celine refuted immediately. "Not stalking, but.... You are handsome and although I was scared of men, I found myself drawn to you. I would find you easily in a crowd and I wanted to be where you are and I started to pay attention to any news about you... I watched how you interacted with others, how you treated animals, how you wisely handled your business..." Celine placed her hand on his cheek. It was rough and a little prickly and her hand twitched as she felt his cheek. But a smile bloomed in her face as she was happy Walter was not pushing her hand away. "The way you run your hand through your hair when you are stressed, the way you close your eyes looking up when you are happy, the way you try to keep your poker face when you are sad, how you try to hide your sorrow and make others happy... I... love it all."

Celine’s eyes watered and her throat closed. She didn’t know that she’d feel the need to cry when she confessed. "I know that I love you, Walter."

"Oh, Celine..." Walter couldn’t find any words to speak to her. He rested his forehead on hers and took in a deep breath. His heart filled with joy, he rarely experiences.

She loves me deeply! In this world, there is someone who’d love me this much!

But can I return her love?

He could say ’yes’ to her and she’d be happy to marry him. But in his heart, she’d be only second. Will it be fair to her?

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