Made for crime

The Confession

The storm outside raged on, lightning flashing through the large windows, casting jagged shadows on the walls. But the tempest inside me was even stronger. My emotions had been building for days—no, months. Every glance Kai threw my way, every touch, every word—it all led to this moment, the one I could no longer ignore.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart pounding as I stared at the closed door, waiting for him to come back from whatever business he'd been handling. My fingers played nervously with the hem of my shirt, my mind racing with everything I wanted to say. It was suffocating, this tension between us, the unspoken feelings that had simmered beneath the surface for far too long. I couldn't keep pretending anymore.

The door creaked open, and there he was—Kai, looking just as he always did: brooding, intense, and unreadable. His shirt was still slightly damp from the rain, his dark hair messy from the wind. His eyes, though, immediately found mine, locking on with that familiar intensity that made my stomach flip.

"Nina," he said softly, closing the door behind him. His voice was low, steady as always, but there was something different tonight. He could feel it too—the weight in the air between us.

"Kai," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. I felt like I was on the edge of something huge, something that could change everything between us. And I was terrified.

He walked over to me, his steps slow, deliberate, as if he was trying to figure out what was going on in my head. His gaze never left mine, and I could feel my heart hammering harder with every step he took. Finally, he stopped in front of me, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes searching my face.

I looked away, biting my lip. How could I even begin to explain what was wrong when it wasn't something I could easily put into words? Everything I had been feeling for him—the anger, the frustration, the longing—it all swirled together, making it hard to breathe.

"Nina," he said again, this time more gently, but with that edge of frustration I knew all too well. "Talk to me."

I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill over. "I—" I hesitated, my throat tightening. "I can't do this anymore, Kai."

His brows furrowed, and I could see the concern flash across his face. "Do what?"I let out a shaky breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "Pretend like this isn't killing me. This thing between us... it's suffocating, and I—I can't keep pretending it's not there."

Kai's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable, but his eyes—the way they darkened, softened, all at once—it told me he knew exactly what I meant.

"Nina..." he started, but I couldn't let him finish. If I didn't get this out now, I never would.

"I like you, Kai," I said, my voice breaking slightly, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "I've liked you for so long, and I've been too scared to say anything because you're you—this guarded, impossible man who never lets anyone in. But I can't hold it in anymore. I care about you, and it hurts to keep it inside."

There. It was out. The truth hung between us, heavy and raw, and I could feel the tears welling up despite my best efforts to hold them back.F

or a long moment, he didn't say anything. He just stared at me, his eyes dark and unreadable, and my heart clenched in my chest, fearing the worst. Maybe I had read it all wrong. Maybe he didn't feel the same way, and I had just ruined everything between us.

But then, he moved.In one swift motion, he was on his knees in front of me, his hands gently cupping my face, forcing me to look at him. His touch was so warm, so firm, and it sent a jolt through my entire body.

"Do you think I don't feel the same way?" he whispered, his voice rough, almost pained. "Do you think this hasn't been tearing me apart too?"

I blinked, startled by his words. The intensity in his eyes, the raw emotion in his voice—I had never seen him like this. So vulnerable. So open.

"I've been fighting it," he continued, his hands trembling slightly as he held my face. "I've been trying to keep it buried because I thought it would protect you. But the truth is, Nina, I've liked you from the moment I met you. I just—I didn't know how to handle it."

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at him, my heart aching at his confession. "You... you've been pushing me away this whole time," I said, my voice shaking. "Why?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm against my skin. "Because I'm afraid," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm afraid of what it means. I'm afraid of what I'll do to you if I let you get too close. Everyone I care about gets hurt. And I can't bear the thought of losing you."

I reached up, placing my hands over his, my tears finally falling. "You won't lose me," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm not going anywhere, Kai."

His eyes opened, and the raw vulnerability in them made my chest tighten. He looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered, like he was afraid I would slip away if he didn't hold on tight enough.

"I've been a coward," he said softly, his thumb brushing away my tears. "But I can't fight it anymore, Nina. I don't want to."

The air between us crackled with tension, and I could feel the pull, the gravity drawing us closer. My heart was pounding, my breath shaky, but I didn't care anymore. All I wanted was him. All of him.

"Kai..." I whispered, my voice barely audible as I leaned in, my lips inches from his. I could feel his breath, hot and unsteady, and my entire body tingled with anticipation.

And then, finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, his lips met mine.

The kiss was soft at first, tentative, like he was afraid of breaking me. But then it deepened, and all the pent-up emotion between us spilled over. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as I wrapped my arms around his neck, clinging to him like he was my lifeline.I

t wasn't just a kiss—it was everything we had held back, everything we had been too scared to say. It was desperate, needy, full of the fear and longing we had both been trying so hard to hide.

When we finally pulled away, both of us breathless, Kai rested his forehead against mine, his eyes still closed, his breathing ragged.

"I don't deserve you," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

I shook my head, my hands still resting on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingers. "Yes, you do," I whispered back. "You deserve so much more than you think, Kai."

He opened his eyes, and for the first time, I saw the faint shimmer of tears there. It broke my heart and mended it all at once.

"I'll protect you," he said, his voice barely above a breath. "No matter what. I'll protect you."

I smiled through my tears, pressing my lips gently to his again. "I know. But you don't have to protect me from yourself."

And with that, we sat there, wrapped in each other, the storm outside forgotten as we finally, truly let ourselves feel.