Chapter 14 – "Shattered Walls"
—Both POVs
AIRI TANAKA'S POV
The room was quiet, almost unnervingly so, except for the soft click of the door as it shut behind us.
Ren had insisted on taking care of me. I hadn't argued. In fact, I was too exhausted—physically and emotionally—to argue. My wrists were still raw from the ropes, my skin bruised, but there was a deeper ache—one that I couldn't quite place. It was a mix of fear, relief, and something more.
Ren's eyes flickered over me like he was checking for any signs of injury, his hands gentle as he carefully unbuttoned my blouse to inspect the bruises on my ribs. I caught a glimpse of his face—his jaw clenched tight, like he was fighting something back.
"Do you feel any pain?" His voice was softer than I'd ever heard it, almost like he was afraid to break the moment.
I shook my head, trying to offer him a reassuring smile, but it faltered when I saw the worry in his eyes. "I'm fine. You don't need to—"
"I need to," he interrupted, his voice rough. "I can't… I can't lose you."
His fingers brushed across the mark on my shoulder, the bruise where one of the men had grabbed me. I flinched, and immediately, Ren's gaze darkened, the protective rage burning in his eyes again.
"I swear, I'll kill them all. I'll burn the world down if it means keeping you safe."
I looked up at him, heart hammering in my chest. The intensity in his eyes was raw—more than just anger. It was fear. Fear of losing me.
"I'm here, Ren," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly as I reached for his hand. "I'm not going anywhere."
His eyes softened at my touch, but only for a moment. His hand clenched mine tighter, like he was afraid I'd slip through his fingers if he let go.
Then, without warning, he leaned down and kissed me.
It was different from the kiss we'd shared before. It wasn't just hunger or desperation—it was relief. It was the kind of kiss that spoke of everything we'd been through. The weight of our unspoken feelings, the things we were both too afraid to admit.
I didn't pull away. Instead, I kissed him back with everything I had—letting him feel how much I needed him, how much I'd been holding back.
His hands moved to my face, cupping it like I was something fragile, something precious. He deepened the kiss, pulling me closer, and I let him, feeling the heat of his body press against mine. I couldn't remember a time when I felt so alive, so connected to him.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard, our foreheads resting against each other.
"I don't want to lose you," he repeated, his voice low, almost a growl. His fingers traced my jawline, his touch gentle but trembling.
"You won't," I whispered, my hand sliding to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. "I won't let you."
I could feel the tension between us thickening, the air crackling with the chemistry that had been building for so long. I knew we couldn't go back after this—whatever this was. There was no going back from the way we were looking at each other now.
He kissed me again, more urgently this time. His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me into his lap, the intensity of his touch sending sparks through my entire body.
My breath hitched as his lips trailed down my neck, pressing soft kisses against my skin. I arched into him, feeling his heartbeat beneath me, his hands pulling me closer, as if he never wanted to let me go.
"Ren…" I gasped, my fingers threading through his hair.
He paused, his lips brushing against my ear. "I need you," he whispered, voice thick with emotion.
That was all it took. I closed the distance between us, kissing him passionately, letting all the emotions I'd been holding back pour into that kiss.
REN KUROGANE'S POV
I couldn't get enough of her.
She felt too good in my arms, like she belonged there—like she was the missing piece I never knew I needed.
The feel of her lips on mine was the only thing that made sense right now. She was mine. I couldn't protect her from everything, but I would protect her from everything I could.
I kissed her harder, deeper, feeling the tension building between us. The world outside didn't matter. The danger, the darkness that had followed me for so long—it didn't exist in this moment.
When she kissed me back, I could feel it. She wanted this too. She needed me.
Her hands were everywhere—around my neck, pulling me closer, urging me to move faster, harder. I could hear her breath, see the way her body responded to me, and it was maddening. Every inch of her drove me wild.
"I want you," I muttered between kisses, my hands moving to her back, pulling her closer, feeling the heat of her body press against mine.
"Airi…" My voice cracked with emotion as I kissed her neck, her collarbone, every inch of skin I could reach.
She gasped, her fingers gripping my hair, tugging me back to her lips. And I let her. I let her pull me in.
When she kissed me again, it was everything. The passion, the longing, the tension that had been building for days—it all exploded in that kiss.
I needed her. Needed her more than anything. She was the only thing in this godforsaken world that made me feel human.
I kissed her deeper, pushing her back gently, laying her down on the couch, my body covering hers. I could feel her heartbeat beneath my chest, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.
"Airi…" I whispered, my lips tracing her jaw. "I'm sorry. For everything. For all the times I pushed you away. For the things I've done. But you… you're everything to me."
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, and in that moment, everything clicked.
"I'm here," she whispered. "I'm not going anywhere, Ren. Not now. Not ever."
I kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body. I wasn't letting go. Not now. Not ever.
The night stretched on—passionate, raw, and full of heat.
We didn't speak much after that. We didn't need to. Our bodies said everything we couldn't put into words. I held her close, not wanting to let go. My hand brushed the marks on her skin, the bruises left from those men. I wanted to erase them. I wanted to take away every ounce of pain she'd ever felt.
But I knew I couldn't.
Not completely.
Still, I would spend every moment I had left making sure she knew how much she meant to me.
I'd fought for her. And I'd keep fighting.
Always.
To be continued...