But her body didn't slam onto the ground, as Zack grabbed her from behind, before she could fall onto the stone hard ground.
"Thanks… and sorry. I don't what taken over me…" Vottes shyly went, not daring to look towards Zack, as she is ashamed of her own actions, and the fact she still doesn't know why she did this. And it doesn't help with her mind becoming chaotic, to think and calmly analyse why she did that, even if she driven by her instincts or not.
On the other hand, Vottes who grabbed her, and held her in place. Has many complicated emotions dwelling inside him.
In the first place, didn't he just meet with this woman just today? He barely knew her. Of course, Vottes did told Zack about her past. And even the events that happened, and he feels sorry she must go under such awful things, because of greed and selfishness of other people.
'I know having more than one woman, makes a harem… but do I add her in it? But… didn't we just met? I don't have feelings for her… of course, there might be chances for us to develop feelings between us… after all, I need to know how to love other women besides Mirajane… since God tell me not to become a cheater… Loke will tell me to go for it… but that will made me a cheater… meaning I must be honest, don't I?'
Zack took a deep breath, no matter how dense Zack is, even he will know Vottes has unknown feelings. He doesn't know if it due to some kind of psychological aftereffect of her suffering she went through and being free thanks to her saviour. Or whatever it is.
What matter the most, is to get his point through to this dragon woman before him.
"There something I must tell you." Zack went with a wry smile.
On the other hand, Vottes looked back towards Zack, and unknowingly her instincts felt something off, when she saw that smile of his.
Her heart for some reason became heavy, almost as if she going to be reject? But when Vottes realised this feeling was, was the moment Vottes discovered what this feeling that been manifesting all day was.
All this time, she was alone, wanted and played by people who just wanted to use her. She miss her time when she was in the orphanage, when she doesn't have to worry about food, company of other people, that don't want to stab you in the back. Or when to sleep without waking up at any possible kind of sound she could hear in her sleeps, because her anxiety keeps her up all night.
So, when someone for the first time show proof, and bravely of not betraying her for money, and willing to help her, with nothing in return, and all to lose. How can she not develop feelings towards that person?
It no wonder, her deepest of desires took over her, and kissed him not once, but twice. And knowing that, made Vottes recall her actions, and her cheeks redden with shame what she done.
'I-I'm in love? With a guy I barely knew…? I must be crazy… and yet… my heart even now is not calming down… I am really crazy, aren't I?' Knowing she will be reject, she felt the urge to cry, even if she shouldn't, because it be weird to fall for a guy in the same day they met.
Which is why she mentally prepared herself for her rejection. And show her own wryly smile. So she wouldn't cry, however, Zack's next words came with a shock, that also made her heart pound like it going to burst out of her chest, as she blankly look at Zack, with tears about to form in her lovely light pink, like pink diamonds, coloured eyes.
"I already have a lover." Those words felt like countless dagger cutting into her heart when she heard them. Even if she knew she shouldn't feel like this, her heart wouldn't listen. However, soon her pain will be wash over with confusion when she heard Zack's next words.
"Actually, I kinda have a lover… and… she won't be the only one." When Vottes heard that, her brain didn't or cannot understand his meaning, by his lover wouldn't be another one?
Even if Vottes has no clue what a harem is. However, she isn't all that ignorant about the world. She has overheard, how noblemen not only they have a wife, or two, sometimes they have other lovers and mistress besides their wives.
She even heard rich merchants are the same as well. Meaning to her knowledge, only those with status, lustful or just pain rich will seek other women besides their main wife or wives.
And yet it came to a shock, that Zack one of them? Clothing wise, it questionable if Zack is a rich man, nor he is a nobleman himself, unless he has a hobby of wearing such clothing. Does that mean Zack is a lustful man? And yet again, wasn't Vottes in her underclothing all the time, before and after Zack dealt with the Minot Brothers?
Not once he shown an ounce of lust within his eyes. To the point one might question if Zack either homosexual or asexual, with a body and beauty like Vottes before him, in such lewdly clothing herself.
"Truth to be told, I was told by someone, that I must build myself a harem. Because they told me, there be a day, when I wouldn't be satisfied with just one woman. And I will cheat on that person, if I don't… and honestly, I don't want to hurt anyone… nor I want to become a cheater either. Which is why I told her I will building one, I will be building a harem, so I wouldn't cheat, or become unfaithful." Zack went.
"Y-You t-told her…?" Vottes went with disbelief, after all, which woman will happily say, 'I understand' when their other half openly admitted they are bringing home another woman besides you?
"Yeah, and she accepted there be others… truth be told. We haven't started to date yet… you see a lot happened between us two… and we both become broken. So, in order to become better people ourselves, both me and Mirajane went off to change ourselves.
Which is why I am here, in the middle of nowhere with all intentions to become stronger. But once I return, and our feelings remain the same, as it was before I left, we become lovers." Zack honestly told. And gently smile at the confuse, and overloaded Vottes, who cannot keep up with her brain what Zack's saying, but she was startled, when Zack gently wipes her tear that leak out, from her eyes.
"See, this is why I am refusing your feelings, it not like I don't like you. I mean, hasn't we just met? Truth to be told, I do want to know more about you. And that is my honest feelings. So, before we rush into this. I feel think both need to know each other better then we barely do. That is my first reason why I rejected you."
When Zack said that, he finished cleaning the tears from her clear pink eyes. And soon stood up where he sat down, and walk away a little from Vottes, before he reopens his mouth again.
"As for my second reason… Will you be willing to share me? Willing to know there will be others I love besides you, or someone else I love more then you? So, Vottes Brave, until our feelings are the same, and you accept the fact there be others that also loved by me… I will accept your feelings."
When Zack said that. Zack softly patted Vottes's ice blue hair, before he walked away from Vottes, knowing she needed time to slowly digest his words. So, she could figure out if she truly likes him, and also willing to accept Zack alongside others.