Fall and Rise

Chapter 18: Love and Hate

After leaving the restaurant, they found themselves on the beach. Their shoes were in their hands and David's suit jacket was around Sarah's shoulders as they walked in silence hand in hand.

They finally stopped and gazed at the ocean in front of them. The full moon was shining brightly in the sky, creating a beautiful glow on the surface of the water.

David glanced at the goddess beside him. Her eyes were closed and a small smile was playing on her lips. The strands of her hair that had fallen out of her updo were moving gently with the wind. She looked ethereal, serene, beautiful, and magical.

He smiled to himself and stared at her with adoration and awe. She had managed to captivate him since the day she had entered his life. She had become his light in the dark time that he had to endure recently.

And in that moment he was sure he had started to fall for her fast and hard.

Feeling his eyes on her, she opened hers and looked up at him, smiling as they locked eyes.

He looked so handsome. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up to his elbows, showing his strong arms. His hair had become messy from the wind that was blowing, and his eyes were shining a bit from the light of the moon.

Her heart fluttered and she couldn't hold herself back anymore. She stepped closer to him, closing any distance between them, and hugged him, putting her head on his chest. His manly scent engulfed her wholely and her body relaxed, melting in his embrace.

She knew she liked him a lot and she knew she was in trouble.

His arms quickly circled her small body and he pulled her even closer, sighing in content. She felt so right in his arms and that was the first time he was feeling that way for having a woman close.

He gently kissed the crown of her head and took a large breath of her fantastic scent. The magic had happened again. His body was relaxed and his mind was slowed with no thoughts other than her.

"Have you thought about what I asked you?" he questioned quietly, hating to disturb the peace, but needing to know her answer. "Will you be my girlfriend, Sarah?"

She pulled away a bit and looked up at him. His hands instantly tightened around her, not wanting her to distance herself. It was an honor for her to be the reason that a stone-cold man like David felt free and relaxed in her presence. The thought was doing things to her heart.

He immediately frowned at seeing the sadness and tears in her eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey," he said panicked, "Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"

"No." she shook her head and dropped her head as two tears finally fell.

"Please don't cry." he said, using the pad of his thumb to wipe her tears away, feeling his heart ache at the sight. "We won't talk about it. Don't force yourself."

She quickly grabbed his hand in hers and stopped him. "No, David." she said. "Listen to me."

He nodded concerned and began to rub her back gently, wanting desperately to bring her peace.

"I like you too, David." she began. "I like you a lot."

He felt his breath hitch in his throat and his heart began to hammer in his chest mercilessly.

"I really like us to work, I want to be your girlfriend and even more in the future." she said, her tears falling more rapidly and her face scrunched with worry a bit. "But there is something I have to tell you, David. Please don't ask me to tell you tonight. But I want you to know that I will never do anything to hurt you. Not now not ever."