Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 488

Chapter 488: His Proposal

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Chapter 488

~Ella’s POV~

And there he was. Richard.

Tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a dark grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal the strong lines of his forearms.

His intense gaze still flickered with restless energy as it locked onto mine, and something profound shifted in his expression.

He didn’t speak, didn’t ask for permission. He simply stepped forward and kissed me.

There was no prelude, no gentle approach. Just the immediate heat of his mouth on mine, the firm pressure of a man who had clearly been wrestling with his desires for far too long.

My breath hitched, a jolt of surprise momentarily freezing me.

I didn’t return the kiss immediately, not even as his hand slid to the curve of my waist, holding me with a possessiveness that spoke volumes of his unspoken fears.

Perhaps I should have pulled away, or perhaps the thought even flickered through my mind.

But something deep within me began to stir, and a slow, undeniable warmth spread through my chest.

The matebond.

It pulsed through me, electric and terrifyingly right. Before conscious thought could intervene, I kissed him back, Vicky’s triumphant hum echoing in my mind.

His lips curved into a faint smile against mine—a fleeting moment of victory—before he drew back, his eyes searching my face, as if seeking reassurance.

"I wasn’t sure if you’d be here," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Didn’t want to wait until I returned from the kingdom again."

I stared at him, still slightly breathless, the unexpectedness of his arrival and his actions leaving me momentarily speechless. "You came without warning."

"I know."

"You kissed me."

"I know that too." I watched Richard tense slightly. He was guaging my reaction.

I folded my arms across my chest, attempting to project a composure that belied the chaotic flutter in my chest. "I haven’t decided if I’m mad or not."

"I’m hoping for ’not.’" A hopeful glint entered his eyes.

"Hmm."

He smiled again, softer this time, edged with an uncertain vulnerability. He reached past me and nudged the door a little wider. "Can I come in?"

I rolled my eyes, a small, involuntary smile tugging at my lips even as I nodded and stepped aside, allowing him entry into my newly claimed space.

The living room was bathed in the warmth of the late afternoon sun, golden streaks painting the simple décor.

Richard’s gaze swept over the space—the stack of books on the coffee table, the slightly neglected plants on the windowsill.

He didn’t sit, didn’t break the silence.

Instead, he stood by the edge of the couch, turning to face me, his expression earnest.

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