Swallow your pride

A difficult choice

Ominis PoV

Ominis was sitting quietly in his spot on the couch, feeling lost in thought. He was nursing a glass of Firewhisky, swirling the contents absently as he let his mind wander. Just then, he felt the cushion beside him sag slightly as Yarra unexpectedly sat down.
He was surprised, but didn't say anything. He listened to her breathe quietly, feeling the tension radiating off her.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke up, his voice quiet but strong, "You alright there, Yarra?"
Yarra hesitated for a moment but finally answered: "No"

Ominis's brow furrowed at her response, the concern etched on his face deepening. He set his glass down on the table before turning towards her. "What's bothering you?" he asked, his voice gentle but firm.
Yarra took a breath and replied, "I just left Liam on the dance floor. ... because... Because it felt wrong to be having fun with him and ... he kissed my neck and.... I felt like I was cheating ."

Ominis sat in silence for a moment, his thoughts racing through his mind. He understood her feeling, but at the same time, he couldn't help the pang of jealousy he felt in his chest. But he pushed it down, knowing this wasn't the time for such feelings.
"You weren't cheating, Yarra. You did the right thing, listening to your heart," he said, his voice soft and understanding. Yarra looked at him blankly. "What? I don't understand."
Ominis took a deep breath before trying to explain. "Liam kissing you doesn't mean you were unfaithful. You pulled away because it didn't feel right to you. Because of me. Because of that arranged marriage. Yarra looked at him with wide eyes, "Wait, wait... what are you talking about?"
Ominis's usually calm demeanor faltered slightly at Yarra's question. He hadn't expected her to respond that way. He took a deep breath, composing himself before responding. "I'm saying... You shouldn't feel guilty about what happened with Liam. You did nothing wrong."
Ominis let out a heavy sigh, pushing past his own feelings as best he could. "Yarra, if you love Liam, I won't stop you. I wish you had these feelings for me but...

Yarra blinked and straightened up on the couch. She looked as if something had just clicked. "It's you. My mother chose you as my husband!" She started laughing and threw herself into the backseat. Why didn't you tell me?" He chuckled weakly and admitted, "I... I thought you knew that. I saw you sad when you were reading the letter at breakfast. I thought you were unhappy that you were arranged for a marriage... with me.. I didn't know how to talk to you about it. So I ran away and avoided you." As Yarra's realization dawned on her, Ominis felt a wave of relief mixed with nervousness wash over him. He reached out tentatively, placing a hand on her shoulder, his fingers gently stroking her skin. "Yes... your mother chose me as your future husband."
Ominis took her hands in his and sighed, "I know you don't feel anything for me. You can't command your heart. That's why I'm not angry that you love Liam and you can..."

Yarra suddenly grabbed his chin and covered his mouth with her thumb to silence him. She looked at him and shook her head."I don't love Liam. I feel absolutely nothing for him. I only see him as a friend even if he wants something more. But like you said, you can't command the heart." she added, and with the thumb she was covering his lip, she slowly moved it down and pushed his lower lip down.
Ominis swallowed as her thumb ran across his lip, his heart pounding in his chest. He held his breath, listening to her every word.
His emotions were a muddled mess, but one dominant feeling was blossoming through the rest - hope.
"You... You don't...?" he repeated, his voice a little hoarse. The hope in his heart was growing quickly, but he didn't want to get ahead of himself. "Then... what do you feel for me, Yarra?"

Yarra slowly leaned towards him, cupping his cheek with her hand. "I .. I feel that I care about you. That I miss you when we are not together. I feel that you attract me."
As Yarra leaned closer, their faces inches apart, Ominis's breath halted. Each word she spoke was like a balm to his heart. To hear that she missed him, that she cared about him and felt attracted to him... it was more than he could fathom. He reached up, gently resting his hand over hers on his cheek. His fingers trembled slightly, betraying his emotions.
"You don't know how long I've wanted to hear those things, Yarra," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yarra gently pressed her lips to his. Ominis's breath hitched. For a moment, he was frozen in disbelief. But then, as her touch registered, he responded. His arm snaked around her waist, drawing her closer. The feeling of her body against his sent a wave of heat through him. His fingers gently tangled in her hair, his touch tender and slightly trembling.
He kissed her back, desperate and hopeful, pouring all of his pent-up longing and hidden feelings into the embrace.
Ominis could feel Yarra's smile against his lips, and it sent a new wave of warmth through his body. He pulled her even closer, his hands tracing a path down her sides as he deepened the kiss. He didn't want this moment to end. The taste of her, the feel of her against him... it was all too perfect. He wanted to savor every second, to burn every sensation into his heart.