"Nia," he whispered, his voice raspy with emotion, "I am sorry. I have been... I have been a fool. A selfish fool." He tightened his grip on her wrist, his thumb gently caressing the soft skin. "It's not about wanting you near me. It is the opposite. Seeing you with other men… it eats me alive."
The words hung in the air, a confession laced with pain and jealousy. Nia stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. Was this the truth she'd been longing for, the answer to the questions that had been plaguing her? She swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion.
"Why did you not say something?" she whispered. "Why did you push me away?"
"I was afraid," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Afraid that if I let myself care for you, if I let you close... that it would only make it worse."
You… you were jealous?" she whispered, unsure how to react.
He nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "I hate myself for it, but the thought of anyone else… of anyone seeing you the way I do… it drives me mad." His words were confession, a plea for understanding.
His vulnerability pierced her heart, making her want to hold him, to comfort him. She stepped closer, her hand reaching up to cup his face, feeling the rough stubble of his beard beneath her f caught her off guard, and Nia felt a wave of compassion wash over her. She raised her hand, cupping his cheek gently. His skin was warm and rough beneath her palm.
"Kiyoshi," she murmured, her voice soft and soothing, "jealousy is a normal emotion. But pushing me away won't solve anything. We need to talk, to understand each other. This marriage…" she paused, searching for the right words, "it can be something beautiful, something filled with love and trust. But only if we both choose to make it so."
He looked into her eyes, his gaze intense, searching for any hint of deceit or manipulation. But all he saw was honesty, and a deep-seated desire to create a bond between them. It was a gift, this chance to start anew, to forge a connection based on trust and understanding. "I want that," he confessed, his voice rough with emotion. "I want us to have that."
Nia leaned in, her lips brushing against his. "Then let us start talking," she whispered, her heart brimming with hope. "Let's build this marriage together, brick by brick, until we have something solid and strong."
He exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing. Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Their bodies pressed together, her curves fitting perfectly against his hard frame. It was a moment of surrender, of trust, and Nia felt a surge of relief wash over her.
"I am sorry," he whispered into her hair, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I should have been honest with you from the beginning. I should have told you how I felt." He held her tighter, as if afraid she might disappear if he let go. "You have no idea how much it hurts to see you with someone else, to know that they might touch you the way I want to touch you, the way I need to touch you."
Nia could feel the heat of his body against hers, his heart racing in time with hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangled in his hair. "I understand," she said softly, her voice shaking slightly. "And I am sorry too. I should not have made you feel like you had to push me away."
He held her tighter, his grip firm but gentle. "You do not have to apologize," he murmured. "It is not your fault that I am... that I am this way." His hand slipped down, cupping her bottom, and she felt herself grow warm at the touch.
"I understand," she whispered, "I am not looking for anyone else, Kiyoshi. I want you." She pulled back, her eyes searching his face. "I want to be with you. I want to make this work."
His gaze locked on hers, his expression intense. "I am sorry I was so cold to you," he admitted, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I did not know how to handle it... this feeling." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I have never felt this way about anyone before."
Nia felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. "I did not know," she whispered, her fingers tracing the rough stubble of his jaw. "I did not realize..." She leaned in closer, their breath mingling as she met him halfway. Their lips were inches apart, and she could feel the heat emanating from his body.
𝕳𝖊 𝖈𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒, 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖕𝖘 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖒𝖑𝖞 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖘𝖙 𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖘.