CHAPTER 191: REJECTION..

"You know quite a lot about me now," I said, my voice low, a teasing edge to it, but my eyes searching hers, wondering how she saw me after everything we’d shared these past weeks.

Aeri stared down at me, her eyes soft but intense, her lips swollen from our kisses, her flush deepening.

"Yeah, these past few weeks... I’ve seen a lot of new sides of you," she said, her voice warm as she held my gaze, our breaths still mingling, the air between us charged with intimacy. "Didn’t know you had so many secrets, Ezra."

I chuckled, my hands sliding to her hips, keeping her pinned against the door, her legs tightening around me.

"I see," I said, my voice softening, a flicker of doubt creeping in despite the heat of the moment. "So... do you hate me now?" I asked, half-joking, but the question hung there, heavier than I meant, my eyes locked on hers, waiting for her answer.

Aeri’s expression softened, her hands gently cupping my cheeks, her fingers warm against my skin. She leaned closer, pressing her face to mine, her eyes closing, her breath brushing my lips.

"Ezra, I raised you..." she said, her voice quiet but firm, filled with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. "How can I ever hate you?" Her words were a whisper, her forehead pressed to mine, her thumbs tracing slow circles on my cheeks, grounding me in the moment.

I exhaled, a low smile spreading across my face, relief washing over me like a wave.

"That’s a relief to hear," I said, my voice soft, my hands tightening on her hips, pulling her closer, the door creaking slightly under our weight.

"Was kinda worried I’d scared you off with... all the things I force you into." I gestured vaguely, my grin turning playful, trying to lighten the mood.

Aeri laughed, a light, melodic sound, pulling back just enough to look at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Hehe, Sara says it right. Cute baby you are," she said, her voice teasing, her fingers ruffling my hair, making me groan in mock annoyance.

"You don’t have to quote that idiot here," I said, laughing, rolling my eyes as I leaned in, kissing her nose, then her cheek, savoring the warmth of her skin. "Sara’s got nothing on us, Aeri. Keep her out of this."

"Ehehe..." Aeri giggled, her laugh infectious, her arms looping around my neck, pulling me into a slow, soft kiss, our lips brushing gently, the heat between us simmering but sweet. We stayed like that for a few seconds, trading low, lazy kisses against the door, her body still wrapped around me, the snowy city quiet beyond the window, the suite alive with our shared warmth.

I pulled back slightly, my lips hovering over hers, a sudden hesitation tightening my chest.

"So..." I said, dragging the word out, my voice quieter now, my hands still on her hips, my eyes searching hers, unsure but hopeful.

"Hmmm?" Aeri asked, her voice curious, her head tilting slightly, her eyes meeting mine with a gentle intensity, sensing the shift in my tone.

I swallowed, my heart pounding, the words heavy but necessary.

"Do you accept me? As your partner, I mean..." I asked, my voice soft, almost a whisper, my gaze locked on hers, the moment stretching between us.

Aeri pulled back slightly, easing herself down to stand straight, her feet touching the floor, her hands sliding to my chest, resting there as she looked down at the ground, her lips parting in a quiet gulp.

The silence was brief but heavy, the hum of the city faint through the window, the chandelier’s soft glow casting shadows around us.

Then, she lifted her eyes, meeting mine, her gaze steady, her expression a mix of tenderness and resolve.

"Ezra..." she said, her voice low, her hands pressing gently against my chest, her fingers warm through my shirt.

"Yes, Aeri?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my hands resting on her waist, my heart hanging on her next words, the door behind her a silent witness to our turning point.

—We can’t...

Aeri said, her voice serious, heavy with a weight I hadn’t expected, her eyes dropping to the floor, avoiding mine.

Her hands, which had been on my shoulders, slid down, resting lightly on my chest, as if to keep some distance.

My eyes widened, my heartbeat stuttering to a stop, the air catching in my throat. I wasn’t expecting that—not after everything we’d shared, the laughter, the passion, the way she’d kissed me back. I thought she was enjoying this as much as I was, that we were building something real.

"Hmm!? B-but why?" I asked, my voice stuttering, pulling back to stand straight, my hands falling from her hips, my breaths choking in my chest. The room felt colder, the snowy city outside suddenly too quiet, the chandelier’s glow dimming in my mind.

Aeri’s eyes flicked up, her expression torn, her voice desperate but soft.

"Because we shouldn’t..." she said, "I didn’t know how to tell you straight, Ezra, but it’s really hard for me to accept. I was... I was doing this because you seemed so desperate, and I thought it might make you happy..."

Her words hit like a punch, each one sinking deeper, my chest tightening, my breaths growing heavy. I looked down, my hair falling over my eyes, sweat forming on my brow despite the chill seeping from the snowy world outside. My hands balled into fists at my sides, the hurt and confusion swirling into something sharper.

"So you think I only care about sex with you?" I asked, my voice low but edged with pain, my eyes still on the floor, unable to meet hers, the weight of her words crushing the hope I’d been holding onto.

"No... that’s not what I meant—" Aeri started, her voice rising, her hands reaching for me, her fingers brushing my arms, but I cut her off, my tone sharp, the hurt spilling over.

"Then what the fuck did you mean there!?" I said, my voice loud, raw with anger and betrayal.

THUD—my fist slammed against the door beside her, the sound echoing in the quiet suite, the wood vibrating under my knuckles.

Aeri jolted, her eyes widening in surprise and a flicker of fear, her body tensing against the door, her hands dropping to her sides.

I raised my eyes to meet hers, my vision blurred with tears, my eyes red with anger and hurt, the sting of her words cutting deeper than I could’ve imagined. My chest heaving, the tears welling up, threatening to spill over, my hands trembling as I tried to make sense of it all.

Her eyes softened, glistening with her own tears, her lips parting,

"Ezra..." she said, her voice slow, quiet, almost a whisper, her gaze searching mine, filled with regret and something deeper, something unspoken.