𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐌 | ⁿⁱᶜʰᵒˡᵃˢ ᶜʰᵃᵛᵉᶻ

42 | dark confession

I stormed into a quiet room at the back of the house, away from the party's chatter and music, feeling my heart race. I didn't want to admit what was boiling inside me, but seeing her all over him made something in me snap. I needed a moment to breathe.

But before I could even take a steady breath, I heard footsteps. He was right behind me.

"Perla," he said, voice steady yet filled with something unspoken, "what's going on? You stormed off, and you look—"

"I'm fine," I snapped, crossing my arms. "Go back. Enjoy the party. Enjoy her."

He took a step closer. "Her? You mean the girl I was talking to?"

"Yes, Nicholas. Her." My voice was sharper than I intended, cutting through the space between us. "Don't let me ruin your night."

He sighed, a touch of frustration seeping in. "Why are you acting like this?"

I clenched my fists, the anger mixing with something deeper, something I wasn't ready to confront. "Acting like what? You know what, just forget it. Go back to the party. You're good at charming everyone, after all."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded, his brows furrowing. "Why are you throwing this at me like I've done something wrong?"

I couldn't help it, the words just tumbled out. "You keep messing with my head, Nicholas! One second you're looking at me like—like there's something between us, and the next, you're with someone else, making me feel ridiculous for even thinking—" I stopped myself, feeling a lump form in my throat. I hated that he could get under my skin this easily.

He stepped forward, close enough that I could smell his cologne. His voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "You drive me crazy, Perla. Do you have any idea what you're doing to me, walking around in that dress, looking like—" He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "Like you're all I can think about, and it's infuriating."

My heart thudded in my chest, and I struggled to find my voice.
I took a step back, the frustration bubbling to the surface, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "There it is," I said, arms folded defensively, my heart aching despite myself. "That charm of yours. The same you use with every girl. You're good at it, Nicholas. Making people feel special."

His jaw tensed, his eyes darkening with something raw and fierce. "You think it's a game to me?" he snapped, stepping closer, the space between us charged. "You think this—" he gestured between us, "—is something I do with everyone?"

"Yes!" I shot back, my voice wavering, betraying the hurt I didn't want to show. "I see you, Nicholas, how easy it is for you to charm everyone, how effortless it is for you to—" I faltered, my throat tight. "To make me feel like I'm just another girl you're playing with."

Then he stepped even closer, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. "You are not just another girl," he said, his voice low but shaking with emotion. "God, Perla, you've haunted me from the moment we met. You think I'm charming everyone else?"

I blinked, stunned, but he went on, his voice getting louder, driven by something undeniable.

"I have tried to fight this, to keep my distance," he continued, his frustration giving way to an almost desperate vulnerability. "But it's hopeless. Because the truth is, you make me lose control. You infuriate me, consume me, in ways I can't even begin to describe. And it terrifies me. You terrify me."

My lips parted, but no words came. The vulnerability in his eyes, the raw confession hanging between us, felt like a gravity pulling me in.

"You think it's easy for me?" I shot back, my voice wavering but growing stronger with each word. I stepped forward, meeting his gaze, and I could feel the heat of unshed tears burning behind my eyes. "You think it doesn't drive me insane every time you walk into a room? Every time you flash that smile, or say my name like it's something precious?"

My voice rose, the frustration and longing spilling out uncontrollably. "I've tried to ignore it, to pretend that I don't feel anything, that I'm unaffected by you. But it's a lie! It's all a lie, because you've gotten under my skin, Nicholas. You've made me feel things I never wanted to feel again. And it's fucking driving me crazy."

I broke off, my hands trembling as I tried to steady myself. "You make me so angry, so confused, and so ... alive. And that terrifies me too. Because I've built walls, I've promised myself I wouldn't let anyone break them again. But you..." My voice softened, my gaze dropping to the floor. "You make them crumble, and I hate how powerless that makes me feel."

My heart pounded as I waited, breathless, for his reaction, feeling utterly vulnerable and exposed.

I opened my mouth again ''Wow, Nicholas. You know you-''. But he interrupted me by crashing his lips on mine.

The kiss was nothing like I had imagined. It was soft yet passionate, starting a fire deep within me. My hands found their way to his hair, pulling him closer, as if I were trying to merge our very beings into one.

He tasted like warmth and promise, a mix of something sweet and intoxicating, making my head spin.

When we pulled away, both breathless and wide-eyed, I felt the weight of everything we had said. His forehead rested against mine, and I could see the flicker of vulnerability in his gaze, mirrored by my own.

"Perla, I—" he began, but I pressed a finger to his lips, needing a moment to process what had just happened.

Before I could gather my thoughts, he kissed me again, this time deeper, more urgent. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me even closer, as if he were trying to erase the distance that had kept us apart for so long.

My heart raced as I melted into him, losing myself in the warmth of his embrace. He started kissing my neck as I shot my head back, feeling the tension rising with each second.

"You don't know how much I needed you" he murmured between each kiss, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. His gaze was intense, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place, but it was dark, and it sent shivers down my spine.

''Nicholas-'', I tried to speak but I couldn't. He made me absolutely speechless.

He kept trailing soft kisses along my neck. "Do you realize what you do to me?," he murmured against my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine.
The way his lips traveled down to my shoulder made me gasp softly. "And this dress..." he teased, his voice low and playful. "You're making it hard for me to think straight."
I tried to laugh, but the sound escaped me as he pressed another kiss to my shoulder, his lips lingering longer this time. ''I'm going to show you that you are the only one I want" he whispered, his breath tickling my skin.

"Nicholas..." I managed to breathe, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as he kissed the other side of my neck, his lips soft and gentle. "What are we doing?''

"Something I should have done a long time ago," he replied. He paused to look into my eyes, searching for a response. "I thought I hated you, Perla.", he said.
"But every time I see you, it's like l'm reminded of how attractive you are." he continued.

"Even when we were fighting?" I asked, teasingly, though I felt a flutter of hope in my chest.
"Especially then," he replied, his lips brushing against my skin. "There's something about that fire in you that draws me in, makes me want to fight for you."

"Nicholas," I murmured, overwhelmed. "I just... I don't want to get hurt again.''

He pulled back slightly, his expression softening as he looked into my eyes. "I'm not here to hurt you, Perla. I promise."

With that, he leaned in again, capturing my lips in a tender kiss. It was as if all the barriers between us were crumbling, and I found myself giving in completely, ready to embrace whatever came next.

"Just promise me one thing," I whispered, my heart pounding.
"Anything," he replied, his voice a husky whisper against my skin.
"Promise me you'll be honest with me about everything," I said, locking my eyes with his, feeling the weight of my request.

He paused, his forehead resting against mine, and I could see the determination in his gaze. "I promise, Perla. No more secrets."

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yes guys after more than 40 chapters it finally happened 🫡 god i love slow burn storys