Chapter 103
My Heart Is Yours
Maine's curiosity peaked when Richard led her to Hotel de l'Europe. She was silent beside him as he talked with the front desk in French. After a few exchanges he led her to a seat and told her that they were just getting the room ready.
"This was the hotel that my former team stayed in on my first time in Paris," she stated as she looked about the lobby.
"I know," He replied. "We were staying here too. I just didn't come out when Marc's team arrived. You guys had dinner out, right?"
"I didn't join them," she said. "I just got bread from the shop near here and ate in my room. I was hiding from Capt. Marc, remember?"
"Which shop?"
She mentioned the shop across the street that sold paninis and salad.
"What time did you buy your food?" Richard asked, heart pounding as he waited her answer.
"Around this time," she replied. "7-ish."
"I missed you about an hour then," he grimaced. "I went down to buy at the same shop around six. Damn! I could have met you that night!"
"We're together now," she said as she reached out to take his hand. "That's what matters more."
"Still," he sighed. "I could have met you a day earlier."
"And I would have fainted in that bread shop," she giggled. "Can you imagine how the shop keeper would have reacted if I fainted in the shop?"
He chuckled as he tried to imagine the scene and replied, "I guess you're right. It would have been funny though. The shop keeper would be in a state of panic while I try to wake you up."
It was at that moment when the front desk officer called Richard's attention to say that their room was ready.
"You booked a room?" Maine asked as he led her to the elevators.
"I'm holding a private concert for one," he replied as she held the elevator doors for her. "I don't want to do it in their dining area."
"We could have just done this in Hotel Richmond."
He shook his head and said, "I don't want to risk getting interrupted by Martin and the team. And Giselle. God help me if she interrupted us. Tonight's our night. We never really celebrate monthsaries. I just want this night to be different, if not special for you."
Maine stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his chest. She replied, "you're enough. You always make me feel so special."
"Because you are," he said. "And I will never grow tired of proving it to you everyday just how special you are."
"I love you, my Home."
"I love you too, my Heart."
They've reached their floor and Richard led Maine through the hallway to the room that he booked for the night.
"Wait here for a sec and close your eyes," he asked when they reached the door to the hotel room. "I need to be sure everything is ready."
Maine reluctantly followed as Richard made a quick survey inside the room. He kept the door ajar to check if Maine was fine and saw that she was patiently waiting with her eyes closed. He went back to her and held her hands to lead her inside.
"RJ?"
"It's just me," he replied. "Keep your eyes closed, Heart. I'm right here. I won't let you go."
He slowly led her inside, taking off her jacket and shoes for her, and placing it in the closet with his, along with the rest of their stuff. They walked through the short hallway that opened to the room inside. It was a one room suite but was spacious and dimly lit. One side of the room had the queen size bed, a guitar case with a ribbon, was carefully placed at the foot of the bed.
On the other side of the room was a small table set for an intimate candlelight dinner for two. A guitar was leaning on the sofa just an arm's reach from the nearest chair on the table that was set for dinner.
White rose petals were scattered on the floor, creating a walkway from the doorway to the table. The rose petals formed a circle around the table creating a more intimate feel to the dinner. There was music playing. Currently, "Running Home To You" was being played in the background, just the strumming of the guitar without any vocals, completing the romantic atmosphere.
"How did you manage to arrange all this?" Maine asked as she was led to her seat at the table.
"Again I can't take all the credit," Richard replied as he held the seat for her and then sat on his side when she was already comfortable. "Martin arranged all of this. I just gave him my idea on how to set it all up."
"Remind me to thank Martin tomorrow," she smiled.
They had a pleasant dinner with conversation flowing freely between them. Richard's songs were playing on instrumental in the background in a loop. The playlist had all the songs that he wrote for her, which Maine loved so much, she asked for her own copy.
When "Central Park" began playing, Richard stood up, reached out to offer his hand to Maine and asked her to dance. He held her close as they swayed to the music. He sang softly. His breath tickled her ear, sending goosebumps in her body. When the song ended, Richard kept her in his arms. He leaned forward and kissed her softly in the lips.
They danced to two more songs before Maine asked to sit down as she was a bit dazed. Richard turned the music off, then took the guitar from the couch and started singing his songs to her. Maine would join in every so often, having heard his songs so many times already. Richard enjoyed hearing her sing with him. He would usually stop singing just to hear her as he continued to play the guitar. They enjoyed jamming, Richard more than Maine, as he watched her face light up with each song they sang.
Maine cheered after he sang what she thought was his last song for the night. But she was surprised when Richard said, "I have one more song for tonight. I wrote it last week. I hope you like it."
He started strumming and began to sing.
ð¶Find me here,
And speak to me.
I want to feel you,
I need to hear you.
You are the light,
That's leading me,
To the place,
Where I find peace again.
You are the strength,
That keeps me walking.
You are the hope,
That keeps me trusting.
You are the light,
To my soul.
You are my purpose,
You're everything.
How can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
You calm the storms,
And you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands,
You won't let me fall.
You steal my heart,
And you take my breath away.
Would you take me in,
Take me deeper now.
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
Cause you're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better, any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this...ð¶
When the song ended, Maine was in tears. She went to him and sat on his lap after Richard placed the guitar on the couch again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned forward to kiss him passionately. He responded with the same intensity, as he held her closer to him. He reluctantly broke the kiss when Maine shifted and was fumbling with the buttons of his shirt.
"Wait, my Heart," he said as he reached out and held both her hands with his. "I have one more gift for tonight."
"What is it?" Maine asked as she tried to catch her breath.
"It's on the bed," he remarked with a smirk. "The ribbon's a dead giveaway."
"You got me a guitar?"
"You've been so eager to learn," Richard explained as she stood up and headed for the bed. "I had to buy you your own guitar. I can't teach you with mine since it's a left-handed guitar. You need your own."
"You didn't have to, my Home."
"I wanted to."
"I can't wait to break it in!" Maine exclaimed as she hurriedly opened the case.
But she was shocked to find the case empty, except for the small black velvet box on where the body of the guitar would have been. With shaking hands, she took the box and opened it. She gasped when she saw a ring. The band was white gold, with "My Heart. My Music. My Muse." engraved on the inner circle. The centerpiece was in a shape of an eighth note, with the base part a diamond in a shape of a heart. The stem of the note was also encrusted with tiny diamonds. The ring was simple, yet it was exquisite still. Maine was holding on to box tightly, afraid that she might drop it.
She was startled when Richard's hands covered hers. She looked up and saw hopeful yet fearful eyes.
"My Heart. My Music. My Muse," he said softly, repeating the words engraved on the ring. "Maine, I love you. With every fiber of my being, I love you. You've given me back my life when I thought I'd lost it forever. You're my light. My beacon. My calm. My everything. I can't see my life now without you in it. I'd be so lost without you."
Still holding her hands, Richard went down on one knee and continued, "As my song goes. You're all I want. You're all I need. You're everything.
"Elizabeth Maine Capili Mendoza. My Heart. Would you make me the happiest man alive by accepting me as your husband?"
Maine eyes were brimming with tears and they started falling after Richard asked. Richard suddenly stood and wrapped her in his arms, one hand on her waist while the other one was on the back of her head. Her hands were on his chest, one hand was still clutching the box while the other fisted on his shirt while she let her tears fall.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "Am I rushing you again? You don't need to answer immediately. I could wait as long as it takes. You know that, right?"
Her heart was doing its happy beat on her chest. She was speechless. She didn't expect this night to end this way. Her heart was filled with overwhelming love for Richard.
She pulled away slightly and reached up to place a sweet kiss on his lips.
"I don't need to wait, my Home," Maine said softly. "The answer is a resounding 'Yes'!"
The shocked expression on Richard's face made Maine giggle. When the answer finally sunk in, Richard smiled his bedimpled smile, lifted her up and twirled her around the room all the while shouting with glee. He brought her down and cupped her face with both his hands then kissed her, pouring all his love for her which she responded in kind.
When they were both finally calmed down, Maine gave the box to Richard so that he could place the ring on her finger. She admired it for a moment as she tried to get used to the weight.
"We're getting married," she whispered as she smiled at Richard who just looked at her lovingly.
"Yes, we are."
Maine reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist, savouring their closeness. They swayed to a music that only they could hear.
"Make love to me tonight," she whispered in his ear. "Oh captain, my captain."
"With pleasure," he replied as he claimed her mouth in a searing kiss.
-oo-
Author's Note:
Song disclaimer: "Everything" by Lifehouse from their 2000 Album "No Name Face". It's one of my personal favorites. I hope you guys like the song too.