It's Your Turn To Cry and Beg, Dear Uncle
Chapter 14: Contradicting

Chapter 14: Contradicting

James felt his throat grow dry, his jaw tightening unconsciously. The soft brush of her skin against his sent shivers coursing down his spine. All of the sudden, the man felt incredibly conscious of the delicate sensation in his arms. The scent of a woman that was once absent, now lingered under his nose, ever so intoxicatingly.

"Tell me." Her voice seemed to hold power over his heart. "What is it that you want?"

James parted his lips but there was not a word he could utter.

Did he wish for her obedience?

Did he wish for her to stop loving him?

Did he wish to push her way?

What was it that he had wanted?

"Tell me."

He had come to bring her home and gotten angry at his best friend because they were hugging. Was it truly just an uncle’s concern for his niece?

If so, why was he hellbent on bringing her home after all they had done to each other? Don’t tell her it was merely a familial thing, that a fight couldn’t ruin it, that everything would be easily forgiven.

He claimed she was his. Oliver didn’t have any rights over her. Was she just his child or did he mean something else?

"Don’t push me away, only to pull me again."

Kyra clutched his shirt tightly, as if he were the only thing keeping her grounded. She tried to mask her vulnerability, pretending she was fine while they continuously hurt each other. But the desperation in her voice was unmistakable.

Her blue eyes shimmered with traces of distress and frustration, yet they held his dark gaze unwaveringly. They were searching-seeking even the faintest sign of heartbreak within him.

All she needed was a little hesitation, a little regret, and an apology.

Just one sentence.

Tell her it was all his fault. He did her wrong. Tell her that the arms holding her weren’t just to restrain her. Don’t brush her with words of denial, but beg her to stay. Wasn’t she worth that much in his eyes?

She could close her eyes, turn her head the other way, and even played an obedient niece all he wanted but chose her. Choose her instead of Lila.

Don’t hurt her for another.

Don’t ruin her dream for another.

Tell me that you’re wrong...

"I can’t let you play with my feelings." She shook her head. Her lips quivered as the tears threatened to break free.

She placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart pound. Its rhythm was as fierce as her desire for him and as sharp as her hatred. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her clothing, but her gaze stayed on him.

"It still wants you."

The shame broke her tears. Her admittance brought out her weakness and it flooded her cheeks with a terrible self-loathing.

"So, despise me just as you have."

How could he easily sway her so?

"Don’t waver. Hate me."

How could her heart still speak of his name?

"Don’t confuse me with your half-heartedness."

How could she still hope for his regret?

After everything he had done, hatred should have consumed her entirely. So why did a sliver of yearning still linger in her heart?

"We can’t go back," she said, her voice breaking as she forced down the cry clawing its way up her throat. "You’ve ruined me."

Her tears tightened his chest. But her words, they were a blade that pierced his very soul.

She had always been his priority. He had once promised to protect her. Yet now, she stood before him, shattered, begging not for comfort but for hate.

"Kyra... I..."

The path he had chosen might have been morally right, but in the end, it came at a cost. A price that grew heavier with each passing moment.

"Don’t." She shook her head, cutting off his attempt to speak. "Don’t continue if you’re just going to ask me to stop, because I won’t. I can’t. Just as you have every right to reject me, I have every right to make my own choices."

Finally, she shoved him, but he caught her hand, refusing to step back. "Why does it have to be like this?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

She let out a laugh, brittle and steeped in sorrow. "You’re right. It doesn’t have to be this way. But tell me, can you give me what I want?"

James closed his eyes, his breath caught in his throat. What could she possibly want? Wasn’t it obvious from the start?

"You can’t," she said, answering the question for him. Her tone was steady, but her eyes were red with unshed tears.

The girl who once looked at him with unwavering dependence now stood firm, her back straight. Though she appeared fragile, her gaze was anything but. It was strong, steady, and no longer the wide-eyed wonder of a child—or even a teenager. Slowly, her gaze unraveled him, piece by piece, erasing the memory of the younger girl he once knew.

Her bitter smile deepened, the red in her eyes betraying her pain. "So, why won’t you let someone else give me what I want?"

In that instance, the image of Oliver embracing her flashed through his mind, stirring a storm of unwillingness. His heart raced, tension gripping his entire body. A terrible realization clawed at him, filling the void left by her words.

Could he ever let her go?

Before he could think further, his body was already moving towards the door.

Kyra watched as the man walked away from her. Her eyes fluttered shut, despair washing over her. This was for the best. Neither of them was willing to yield. Her heart ached for what it desired, while he stubbornly refused to give it.

In the end, it was easier to hate than to love.

Click.

"...?"

Her brows knitted in confusion as her eyes opened. A cold touch grazed her lips. Her pupils trembled. His large hands cradled her cheeks, their roughness a stark contrast to the gentleness of his action. His lips brushed over hers, featherlight yet deliberate.

Her thoughts stilled as his fingers demandingly stroked her chin. When their eyes met, James saw her staring at him wide-eyed, speechless.

Undeterred, he leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "Open your mouth."

Without waiting, he kissed her cheek, a fleeting pause before returning to claim her lips once more. This time, she obeyed his command, parting her lips for him. He easily deepened the kiss, his tongue intertwining with hers in a fervent dance. He ravaged her with an intensity that left her breathless.

Kyra abruptly broke their kiss, turning her head to the side as she gasped for air. But before she could steady her breathing, his touch grazed her bare skin. Her eyes widened as she turned back to face him, only to be met with the palpable hunger in his gaze.

His heavy, heated breaths brushed against her, thick with desire whilst his hand continued to seduce her. Slipping beneath her top, his callous fingers slowly traced their way up her back, leaving a trail of heat that made her shiver.

Kyra grasped his arm, her voice trembling as she stammered, "J-James..." A soft moan escaped her lips, unbidden.

Her reaction seemed to fuel the fire in him. He leaned in, pressing kisses to her neck. His warm breath sent shivers across her skin, tickling and igniting her senses. She tried to push him away, but James held her firmly in his embrace.

His lips traveled lower, trailing along the curve of her neck, biting and licking, leaving a path of searing kisses in his wake.

"Ah..." The sound slipped from her lips before she could suppress it. Her body betrayed her, her stomach twisting and her heart racing uncontrollably. His lips continued their descent, reaching her collarbone before finally stopping at her cleavage.

Then, his hand moved to the clasp of her bra. Kyra’s mind went blank as she lowered her gaze to meet his. The moment their eyes locked, his fingers deftly unhooked her bra, his hand claiming her breast with a possessive touch.

Kyra bit her lower lip to restrain the moan from escaping, but the man came to take possession of her lips once again. He kissed her unbridledly, his tongue dominating her, enslaving her to the pleasure.

"Don’t hold back," he whispered against her lips.

"Uh.." she moaned as he squeezed her ample breast. In the end, he lifted her up and slammed her down onto the king-sized bed.

Kyra was beyond shocked, her surprise deepening as she watched James unbutton his shirt, revealing his chiseled abs. The sight of his well-built physique left her momentarily spellbound. But before she could take in more, James leaned down to capture her lips once again.

Just then, a sharp knock on the door shattered the moment, jolting them both from their haze.

"Young master, your family and Miss Lila have arrived for a visit."

Mr. Roman’s voice carried through the door, breaking the spell entirely.

James froze, his gaze falling blankly on the young woman beneath him. Kyra lay disheveled, her breath uneven. Her glistening eyes brimmed with unspoken desire, her flushed cheeks blooming like ripe apples, making her look all the more irresistible.

’What did I just do?’