Forbidden Cravings-Chapter 272: The Confusion

The garden by the lake glowed under the soft evening light, the street lamps casting warm pools of gold across the grass. The gentle lapping of waves against the shore mixed with the steady chirp of crickets, creating a calm, almost dreamlike atmosphere.

"I—" I started, my voice catching in my throat. I wanted to say something, anything, to make sense of the strange familiarity of this place, to bridge the gap between us, but the words wouldn’t come.

Aeri stopped abruptly, turning to face me, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Ezra!?" she said, her voice sharp but worried as she closed the distance between us. Her dark eyes scanned my face, searching for answers. "Are you okay? Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?" She reached out, cupping my cheeks with both hands, her palms warm and soft against my skin. Her touch was so familiar, so grounding, it made my heart ache even more.

I froze, my words locked in my throat.

"Hmm...!?" My eyes felt heavier, the weight of her rejection crashing over me again. The way she’d looked at me this morning, her voice gentle but firm, pushing me away. It was her—no one else—who’d hurt me, but how could I say that?

"N-no..." I managed, my voice barely above a whisper, my gaze dropping to the ground.

Aeri’s eyes narrowed, her hands still holding my face, forcing me to look at her.

"What? Come on, say it honestly," she said, her tone fierce now, like a mama bear ready to protect her cub. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

She let go of my cheeks, flexing her arms in a playful show of strength, though her slim frame had no real muscle to back it up. "I’ll beat the shit out of whoever it is, you know that." She grinned, proud and defiant, but her eyes stayed locked on mine, watching for any crack in my facade.

In my mind, a single thought echoed, sharp and painful: *No one can hurt me like you do, Aeri. But I can’t say that, not here, not now.* I forced a smile, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Nah, there’s no one who can do that," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to look casual, but my heart was still racing.

Aeri tilted her head, her eyes glinting with suspicion. "Are you sure? Like, really really sure?" she asked, stepping closer, her gaze flickering between my eyes, one then the other, like she was trying to read my soul. "Because you look like you could start crying any second, Ezra."

I exhaled, forcing a laugh to cover the tightness in my chest. "Yes, Aeri, I’m all fine," I said, meeting her eyes as best I could. "Just... a little tired, maybe. It’s been a long day."

Her brow furrowed again, and she crossed her arms, studying me like she wasn’t convinced. "Tired from what?" she asked, her voice lighter now but with a sudden edge that made my heart skip. "Spending time with girls?"

My breath caught, my pulse stuttering for a moment. *What does she mean by that?* Did Aeri know? How could she? My mouth went dry, and I forced another smile, hoping it didn’t look as shaky as it felt. "What... what are you talking about?" I asked, my voice a little too high, a little too defensive.

Aeri’s lips twitched, like she was holding back a laugh. Her sleeveless white dress hugged her curves, the low neckline revealing a hint of cleavage, her long dark hair catching the lamplight as it fell over her shoulders. My heart thudded in my chest, a mix of guilt and panic swirling inside me as her earlier words echoed in my mind: *Spending time with girls?*

"W-what...?" I stammered, my eyes widening, my voice barely steady. My chest tightened, guilt crashing over me like a wave. *Does she know?* I thought, my mind racing to the wild nights I had spent in the brothel—the tangled sheets, the moans, the heat. *How could she know?*

Aeri’s lips twitched, and then she burst into laughter, her hands still warm on my cheeks.

"I’m joking, hahahaha!" she said, her voice bright and teasing, her eyes crinkling with amusement. She leaned back, her laughter ringing through the quiet garden, as if she’d just pulled off the best prank.

I exhaled hard, relief flooding through me, though my heart was still pounding. "What kind of weird joke is that?" I said, my voice a mix of annoyance and nervous laughter. "That got me for real, Aeri."

She grinned, standing straight now, her hands dropping from my cheeks to rest on her hips. "Hehe, so easy to get to you, lol," she teased, tilting her head like she was proud of herself. "You should’ve seen your face—looked like you were about to confess to something."

I rolled my eyes, a small pout forming on my lips. "Sure, keep making fun of me," I said, crossing my arms, though the corner of my mouth twitched with a smile. Her teasing was so familiar, like when I was a kid and she’d poke fun at me for getting flustered.

Aeri’s grin softened, and she reached out, pinching my cheeks gently, tugging them like I was still that little boy she used to chase around. "Sorry, sorry, don’t be so emotional over a joke, kiddo," she said, her voice warm but playful. "You’re too cute when you pout like that."

I swatted her hands away, chuckling despite myself. "Yes, yes, and now you can relax, alright?" I said, grabbing her wrists to hold them down. "Will you stop worrying about me for, like, five seconds?"

She laughed again, nodding as she pulled her hands free. "Okay, okay, if Ezra says so, I’ll stop worrying," she said, her smile bright and genuine. She gave me a mock salute, her eyes twinkling in the lamplight. "Promise."

"Yes... please," I said, my chuckle easing the tension in my chest. Her warmth, her playfulness—it was like stepping back into the safety of my childhood, when she was my whole world.

Aeri gestured toward the path ahead, mimicking a child’s exaggerated walk, her arms swinging playfully.

"So, should we keep going to the ice cream truck?" she asked, her voice light and eager, like we were on some grand adventure.

"Yeah, let’s do it," I said, exhaling a long breath, a real smile spreading across my face. Aeri’s presence made it feel lighter, at least for now.

We started strolling again, our footsteps crunching softly on the gravel path. Aeri walked two steps ahead, her hands clasped behind her back, her dress swaying with each step. The open back of her dress revealed the smooth curve of her spine, her waistline accentuated by the soft fabric, and my heart gave a quiet thud. She looked so effortless, so beautiful, her dark hair catching the breeze as she hummed a faint tune under her breath.

My eyes lingered on her hands, swinging gently behind her. *I want to hold them,* I thought, the urge hitting me hard, like a kid reaching for something he knows he shouldn’t. My fingers twitched, but I shoved them into my pockets instead, keeping pace behind her. The garden was quiet, too quiet, the absence of other people nagging at the back of my mind, but I pushed it away. For now, it was just me and Aeri, walking through this familiar place that felt like a memory brought to life.