BiteBound *completed*

Chapter 26

"S-so the puzzle." I cleared my throat. "Was it really that hard for you?"

"Well," he swirls the dark wine in his glass. "It started off easy, and then it became a bit more challenging. I was very surprised on your knowledge of novels that I had in my library. Did you really read every single one I had?"

"Not exactly." I admitted. "I was already an avid reader so I already knew a good majority of your collection."

"Mmm, that explains it then."

He takes a sip of his wine before continuing to speak.

"Your final message... it surprised me. I mean, I already knew, but it seems that you're becoming bolder every time."

He sighs in a melancholy manner.

"There is so much I want to explain to you Rosalie, but I'm struggling to understand some things myself. I don't feel ready yet."

Not ready to tell me or not ready to move on? What do I even say to that?

"You don't have to tell me." I said respectfully. "I just wanted to say it and hope that you'll believe me. I mean, I've been trying to get you to believe me for months so, maybe the 100th time is the charm?"

I forced a laugh, trying to keep the mood casual. Arthur's guilty look on his face didn't budge.

"It's been hard as I know it has been for you as well. I'm not sure what is happening to us and why now after so many years after my last wife's passing. I know I've said time and time again that the bond made you say things that you possibly can't mean, but I... I've come to accept that perhaps there is some truth.

If you didn't mean it, then I wouldn't feel it. How your pounding heart sings in my ears, the tingle you feel when you look at me a certain way; the emotion has to be provoked wouldn't it? You say it almost everyday and if not in words, then with your shimmering eyes. I want to apologize to you for being so cold with your feelings. As I said, it's very complicated."

"Because of your ex-wife." I answer.

He hesitates for a moment.

"...Something like that. To move on from a past lover, it's a difficult thought to process. When you swear to yourself that you would never love again, it's hard."

"I understand the feeling— er, to an extent of course." I corrected myself. "You swore not to love again because you loved your wife. I didn't want to because... well, people can be just shitty. I didn't want to go through heartbreak again."

"And yet you say you have deep feelings for me."

He leans into his hands with a befuddled look in his eyes.

"So why take the chance with me then?"

Crap, now we're back to me again.

"Do you want the stupid answer or a logical one?"

He lets out a cute chortle. "There's two answers?"

Before I could respond, the waiter had returned our food.

I was disappointed in the size that they brought to me. A 6 ounce steak is a fucking joke for what I'm paying for.

I hold back an annoyed sigh. At least the garlicky whipped potatoes and glazed carrots look good.

"Will there be anything else for you?" The waiter asks us.

Another steak?

"No thank you." Arthur and I said at the same time, locking eyes to only smile at our timing.