"What Are You Waiting For?" || ORIGINAL STORY.

Chapter Seventy-Five.

Tanya's POV.

The thought made my heart thump a little bit in my chest, but I tried to push it away.

I didn't want to ruin this moment by thinking about such things.

But my mind couldn't help but linger on the idea, a small seed of insecurity taking root.

I tried to hide my unease, pressing my face further into his chest, willing away the bad thoughts.

But the thought remained, nagging at the back of my mind.

He seemed to sense my sudden shift in mood, and his arms tightened around me slightly.

He gently pulled me back, looking down at me with a concerned expression.

"You okay, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

I hesitated for a moment before looking up at him, feeling a little guilty for having these thoughts.

"I'm...I'm fine," I said, hoping my voice didn't betray the turmoil in my mind.

He studied my face for a moment, his eyes searching mine intently.

It was like he could see right through me.

He gently reached up and cupped my cheek, his thumb stroking across my skin.

"Are you sure?" he asked again, his voice a little quieter now.

I leaned into his touch, feeling a little bit of my anxiety melt away.

"I...I just.." I stammered, not sure how to voice my thoughts.

"I just... Can I ask you something?" I finally managed to say.

He nodded gently, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Yeah, you can ask me anything, sweetheart," he said, his voice calm and encouraging.

I took a breath, trying to find the right words.

"I just.... I guess... I'm just a little worried.... that you're just using me.. for... you know.." I trailed off, feeling my cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

His eyes widened slightly, a look of surprise and disbelief crossing his face.

His hand froze on my cheek, and he was silent for a moment, his eyes searching mine.

"Sweetheart, I—" he began, but his voice caught in his throat.

He paused, his gaze becoming intense, almost burning.

The silence felt heavy, and my insides twisted into knots as I waited for his response.

I was starting to be afraid.. 

'Did I just say something fucking stupid?'

'What if he takes it the wrong way and gets upset?'

'Way to go, Tanya.'

But then, his hand came up again, gently tilting my chin up to look directly into his eyes.

His eyes seared into mine, a mixture of emotions swirling within them—surprise, disbelief, a hint of hurt.

But most of all, there was something like determination, a steely resolve.

"Sweetheart, I want you to listen to me very carefully," he said, his voice a low, almost commanding rumble.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding against my chest.

I could feel the seriousness in his voice, and the intensity of his gaze. I nodded slowly, signalling I was ready to listen.

He cupped my face with both hands, his touch firm but gentle.