Chapter 86: Your Most Devoted Companion

Vivienne faltered. Her fingers hovered over the antiseptic bottle, her gaze lowered, concealing the turmoil within. She took a steadying breath before hastily tidying the items before her, her hands moving with unusual speed.

Just as she was about to leave, Derek's arms encircled her waist, pulling her close. He rested his chin on her shoulder, whispering, "Vivienne, what are you truly afraid of?" He felt her hesitation, the uncertainty radiating from her, and it tugged at him.

"I thought I had enough patience," Derek continued, his voice laced with vulnerability, "but every time you're near, I feel tested. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep my promise." He wasn't one to hold back; when he wanted something, he usually got it.

"Don't you think we're moving too fast?" Vivienne sighed, her words tinged with resignation. Derek's presence was calm, but his touch was anything but—firm, possessive.

"I just ended a three-year relationship," she said, her voice shaky. "And now I'm supposed to jump into another? That's too quick. It's unfair to you." People said the best way to overcome heartbreak was to quickly move on, but not everyone possessed the courage. The sting of heartbreak made one wary of repeating the experience. Avoidance became second nature.

"But people often say the best way to move on is to jump into a new relationship quickly," Derek countered, a quiet challenge in his words.

"That's not fair to you," she whispered, resigned. She couldn't pull away, so she let him hold her, her shoulders slumping as she exhaled. "If I let you pursue me just to forget my last relationship, I'd be using you, Derek. It would cheapen love and dishonor your feelings."

Derek waited, letting her words settle. Then, casually but intensely, he asked, "Then tell me, what is love to you?"

"I believe it's a choice made without counting the cost," she replied, her voice steady, though the truth in her words felt fragile.

"Yes... and no," Derek murmured, thoughtful. He gently lifted her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze. "Love is me overcoming every obstacle to make you happy," he murmured, his voice a velvet promise. "It's my unwavering dedication to being your beacon in the dark, your constant, your most devoted companion."

Vivienne was drawn into the depths of his eyes, their warmth squeezing her heart, making it pound wildly. Her fingers twitched, her breath hitching as she whispered, "Derek..."

Before she could continue, he kissed her—a kiss unlike any before—fierce, all-consuming, leaving her breathless. Her eyelashes fluttered in panic as the medical kit slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor. She struggled against him, but it was like a breeze against a mountain. Derek held her tighter, stealing her breath with the intensity of the kiss, leaving her no room to think, only to feel.

Gradually, her resistance crumbled, her body surrendering as her arms wrapped around his neck. Her cheeks flushed, her heart racing. Just as she gasped for air, Derek pulled away, his lips grazing hers one last time before stopping, though reluctantly.

He gazed at her flushed face, a warm, longing smile softening his expression. "Vivienne," he said gently, his voice almost a whisper, "why don't you just be my girlfriend?"