For me..... Love is you

Anna stood there speechless, in a trance, comprehending each and every word that he uttered. She had thought that he liked her. It was a mere infatuation which she thought would fade away with time. What she didn't think for once was the love that he stated he had for her. She wanted to yell at him to take back his words but she couldn't. She wanted to straightway deny him but she couldn't. She wanted to run away but she couldn't. He was intensely staring into her eyes and she couldn't even avoid his gaze. She felt as if she was in a spell and she didn't know what to do, not because she didn't want to but she couldn't. She lightly shivered when she felt his hands moving upwards along her arms and she unknowingly tried to pull away from him again.

"Don't run away from me Anna." Regan said softly while tightening his hold. "Listen to me, please? I know it's too much for you to take. But I couldn't take it anymore. Let me finish what I have started."

She didn't say anything and stood there unmoving. He gently cupped her face wiping the traces of tears on her flushed face with his thumbs.

"You have no idea how much I have waited for this day. I wish I could have confessed about my feelings to you in a different way, making it extremely special for both of us. But I guess...with you every single moment becomes special heart."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. He could see her flustered state with the sudden happenings. She hadn't uttered a word since he confessed, yet he was happy as she didn't run away unlike other times. He knew it was the time when he could open his heart to her which was consumed by her from the time he met her. Whatever may be the circumstances or consequences of it, he was ready to face them all.

"I don't know when I started falling for you but the day I realized and accepted my feelings, it became the best day of my life. I don't know what it is about you. Maybe it's the way nothing else matters when we are together or how you make me smile more than anyone else can or maybe the way you are. Whatever it is, I just want you to know that it means everything to me. You think you are not good enough for me, but you are everything that I want and need. You are the strongest woman who has overcome battles most can't even imagine. Don't forget that because I won't allow anyone to talk low about you. Not even you."

He mindlessly moved his thumb across her cheeks while still cupping her face taking in her entire being while she stood there like a statue listening his every syllable. Her eyes were still glassy. The sincerity in his eyes while he spoke didn't allow her to move from her spot. She wanted to run away from him like always but her body wasn't in her control and gave up to follow her mind. She still couldn't believe that he had been holding so much in his heart. She couldn't believe how she couldn't understand his eyes which suddenly started speaking about his feelings so openly that she wanted to hide away from him. It was really too much for her.

"I am no more the old Regan Knight that was ruthless, who didn't think before getting what he wanted. I have changed and you are the reason behind that change. I want to become a better person everyday….. just for you. I want to be the reason of your smiles that brighten up my day. I never knew I had a heart but you made me realize about its existence when it started beating for you."

His sight involuntarily moved to her lips that were parted as she lightly gasped on hearing him. He didn't understand how was she capable of mesmerizing him every time with her innocent gaze and enchanting smile. He was a man of few words but with her, he could speak non-stop without holding his heart back.

"Do you remember? Once, I asked you the meaning of love. For me….. Love is you Anna. I know it's too much for you to take. Believe me...it wasn't easy for me too. I tried to run away from you, tried to reject my feelings for you but I couldn't. Eventually, I realized that I couldn't resist you and succumbed to my heart. To you. You asked me that day why I distanced myself from you. It was my way of getting away from you but I couldn't and I am glad about it. I realized how important you are for me the moment I thought that I would lose you forever. It took everything in me to hold back my sanity. You made me realize what I feel for you is not momentary but something that I want to have for a lifetime….. till eternity. No matter what the circumstances are."

He couldn't stop himself and touched her forehead with his. Standing in front of her while letting his heart out had gripped it with a fear of losing her. He wanted to stay by her side forever. She was scared of hurting him and he was adamant to tear apart every fear from her heart. Even if she hurt him, he was all hers to do whatever she wanted. He sighed in content to hold her so close to him.

"I need you to know that no matter what happens, being with you, loving you, its all worth it. I know you have a past and I intend to wait for the day when you will tell me about it. I want you to overcome what you went through by being at your side heart. Even if you are broken, I'll always keep your pieces safe."

Anna stiffened on hearing about her past coming out of her trance recalling about Ashton. Before she could react, he took her in his embrace, again clouding her mind with only his thoughts and presence.

"I am going to hug you so tight that all your broken pieces will fit back together."

His love roared louder than her demons. She felt as if his strong arms had held her every fear, hesitation and broken pieces and her heart didn't want to reject the warmth and affection that he provided her with his little gesture. She still didn't react and stood there with her hands on her side while he pulled away and cupped her face again repeating his words.

"I love you Anna." She had her eyes closed still taking in the things that happened in those moments when she felt his lips on her.

Regan had no clue what got into him to take such a bold step. He never wanted to do anything without her wish but being with her at the moment, confessing his love to her, he wanted to connect himself to her soul to never apart. In spite of saying so much, there was still so much more he wanted to say. Words were not enough to describe his love for her and the only thing that came into his mind at that moment was to make her feel what he felt and was going through.

They were standing under the moonlight with innumerable stars shining overhead. The place was dimly lit away from the clamouring crowd. The color of her red dress had created a reflection of its glow on her face. Her misty eyes that were gleaming under the moonlight, her flushed complexion and red lips dragged him into doing something that he thought was forbidden for him until now, but this time he was determined to lose his inhibitions and crashed his lips on hers. As soon as his warm lips came in contact with her soft ones, a spark flowed through his veins and he brought her closer to himself. She didn't respond at all and neither he was expecting it from her. Nevertheless, he made sure to pour his heart in the moment to let her feel his soul that got connected with hers and was waiting for it to do the same. He retrieved back after a few seconds with his eyes closed touching her forehead with his.

Anna's heart was thumping wildly in her chest as she realized what he did. She might have not uttered a single word but as soon as he mentioned her past, she couldn't help but recalled Ashton. She mustered all her strength to pull herself away. The tears that had stopped on hearing him pooled back in her eyes that were filled with guilt of betraying Ashton. She was furious with herself to let him touch her. She was furious on him to love her as she thought that he was dreaming something that was impossible. Before she could lash out on him, his phone that had fallen on the grass while chasing and coaxing her started ringing. Her eyes moved towards it on their own accord. She would have ignored as it was the least important thing that mattered at that moment but she couldn't ignore the name that flashed on the screen.

Before she could take it, Regan bent down and received it almost instantly for he knew it wasn't something that could be avoided as he was the last person that could have been contacted by the caller. He could see the weariness on Anna's face which was anxious in anticipation. His own heart reflected the similar anxiety and as if it was correct, the words he heard from the other enf freezed him on his spot not knowing that it would change their lives forever.