The Destiny Of Red String

PART 27||CARA MIA

"cara Mia you are all that I long for"
~james Arthur ~

Shanaya sat by the window of her Paris apartment, the city lights reflecting on her tear-filled eyes. The streets below buzzed with life, but her heart felt achingly quiet. It had been two days since they returned from the campaign, and two days since the night she drunkenly kissed James. She could still feel the warmth of his lips, the way he pulled her closer, his passion matching her own. Yet, she had run away, her mind clouded with confusion and fear.

She hadn't spoken to him much since then. Every time he entered a room, her heart leaped, but her feet carried her in the opposite direction. "It was the alcohol," she whispered to herself for the hundredth time, though deep down, she knew better. The kiss wasn't a mistake-it was the truth she'd been hiding from for too long.

Meanwhile, James had been giving her space, though it was killing him inside. The memory of her lips on his haunted him, and the way she had fled left him wondering if she regretted it. Still, he couldn't push her. Shanaya was like a wildflower-beautiful, untamed, and easily crushed if handled carelessly.

But tonight, everything was about to change.

Shanaya glanced at the calendar on her desk. The date stared back at her, mocking her. Tomorrow, she'd be on a flight back to India. The business deal that brought her to Paris had concluded, and there was no reason to stay. Yet, every fiber of her being screamed that leaving was a mistake.

She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling within her. "Why does it feel like I'm running away again?" she muttered. Memories of James flashed before her eyes-his laughter, his protective nature, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her.

"Because you're scared," a voice inside her said.

Before she could spiral further, a knock on the door startled her. Her heart raced as she stood, her hands trembling. She knew who it was even before opening the door.

James stood there, drenched from head to toe. Rain trickled down his face, plastering his dark hair to his forehead. His shirt clung to his body, and his chest heaved as though he had been running. The sight of him stole Shanaya's breath away.

"James?" she whispered.

"I couldn't wait," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I know you're leaving tomorrow, and I... I couldn't let you go without saying this."

Shanaya's grip on the door tightened. "James, it's late, and you're soaked. You should-"

"Shanaya," he interrupted, stepping closer. Water pooled at his feet, but he didn't care. "Please, just let me talk."

Shanaya stepped back, her pulse quickening. James followed her inside, closing the door behind him.

"I've been trying to stay away," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought giving you space would help, but it's only made things worse. Every second I'm away from you feels like I'm suffocating."

"James..." Shanaya whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

He shook his head, his hands balling into fists. "No, let me finish. I thought I could hide behind business deals, find excuses to keep you here, but the truth is, I'm terrified. Terrified that if you leave, I'll lose you forever."

Her tears spilled over as his words cut through her defenses. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Because I didn't want to scare you," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I didn't want to push you into something you weren't ready for. But I can't do this anymore. I love you, Shanaya. I have for a long time."

Cara Mia, my love,
You bewitched my soul with the beauty of your eyes-
Eyes that reveal a world I long for,
A world where I truly belong,
Not the fleeting one I merely survive in.

Your smile, my love,
Is the essence of my existence.
It reminds me that life is worth living,
Not for breath, not for water,
But for the radiance of that smile alone.

Cara Mia, you are all I need.
You are the air, the light, the very reason I exist.

The room fell silent except for the rain tapping against the windows. Shanaya stared at James, her mind racing. His confession was everything she had secretly hoped for, yet her fears held her back.

"I don't know what to say," she finally admitted, her voice trembling. "I feel the same, James, but..."

"But what?" he asked, stepping closer.

"I'm scared," she admitted, her walls crumbling. "What if we ruin this? What if we lose everything?"

James reached out, his hands gently cradling her face. "We won't. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work, Shanaya. Just don't leave me."

Her heart shattered at the vulnerability in his voice. Without thinking, she leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a soft, tentative kiss.

James froze for a moment, shocked by her boldness. But when she began to pull away, he acted on instinct, pulling her back into a deep, passionate kiss. It was as though the floodgates had opened, and every suppressed emotion came rushing out.

His hands tangled in her hair, while hers clutched at his soaked shirt. The kiss was desperate and fiery, a culmination of all the tension between them. Shanaya's knees felt weak, and James's arms tightened around her as though he were afraid she'd vanish.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless.

"I... I didn't mean to surprise you ,but I can't stop myself" Shanaya began, but James silenced her with a finger to her lips.

"Don't apologize," he said, his voice husky. "I've wanted this for so long."

The tension between them lingered as they stared into each other's eyes. Shanaya's cheeks flushed as she realized what had just happened. She stepped back, her heart pounding.

"I need you James , you don't know how hurt I was when I told you that our kiss was a mistake no it was not james I wanted that every second every minute,i wanted that you will never be a mistake to me ," she said, her voice barely above a whisper and gives a kiss on James's cheeks .

"I love you Shanaya more than anything,you will be the end of me , I can't imagine my life without you , please don't leave me , please, I am begging you cara mia you are like beat to my heart " and hugs Shanaya like she will disappear

As she watched him hugging tightly, Shanaya's heart ached with a mix of fear and hope. She didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain-James was worth the risk.

That night, the rain continued to fall, Shanaya sat by the window once more. This time, though, her thoughts weren't plagued by doubt. Instead, she found herself smiling as she replayed James's confession and their kiss.

In his own apartment, James stared out at the rain, a small smile tugging at his lips. For the first time in days, he felt at peace.

they were ready to face whatever came next together.

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