Jayjay's POV~
I'm lost in the music, Ari's tiny hands clapping to the beat as I spin her around the stage. The dim lights are spinning, and I feel like I'm floating. Keifer's eyes are on me, I can feel them burning into my skin. I glance over, and our gazes lock for a heartbeat before I look away, focusing on Ari's giggles.
The crowd's cheering, and my friends are egging me on, but I can't shake the feeling I'm being devoured by those eyes. I need another drink.
I spin Ari around again, her laughter infectious, and when I glance down, she's got her tiny hands wrapped around my waist pulling me in for a hug. The music's getting louder, and I'm feeling reckless. I catch Keifer's eye again, and this time, he doesn't look away.
My skin prises, and I suddenly feel like I'm 21 again, but I push the feeling down. I'm not that girl anymore. I've got Ari, I've got my life in New York... I've got control.
I twirl Ari one last time before handing her off to Percy, who's laughing and clappling alongside the others. "I'm gonna grab a drink," I shout over the music, making my way off the stage. The air's cooler away from the dance floor, and I take a deep breath, smoothing my dress. Where's all the damn drink?!!!
I finally see the bar and Walk towards it
The taste of the whiskey-sour still lingered on my tongue, a sweet reminder of the chaos that was my life. I tossed back the beer, the cold liquid burning down my throat as I slammed the bottle down, signalling the bartender for another. That's when I felt it – a warm, firm grip on my elbow. Keifer's eyes were dark, turbulent, and pinned on mine.
"We need to talk," he growls, his fingers tightening around my arm like he's afraid I'll slip away. The air around us seems to thicken, heavy with unspoken words and memories.
His grip is like a vice, and I can't help but feel like I'm in trouble.
I try to shake off his hand, but he holds firm, his eyes daring me to push him away.
The music around us is a distant hum, and all I can focus on is the heat radiating from his body.
"We need to talk," he repeats, his voice low and menacing, sending a shiver down my spine.
I feel a flutter in my chest, and suddenly, I'm 18 again, vulnerable , too trusting and naive
His thumb brushes against my skin, sending sparks flying through my nerves.
I pull my arm free, but he steps closer, his chest almost touching mine.
The air's thick with tension, and I can feel the weight of five years of secrets hanging between us.
Keifer's gaze drops to my glossy lips, and for a moment, I think he's going to kiss me.
His jaw clicks, and he looks back up, his eyes burning with a possessive intensity that makes me take a step back.
The bar's noise fades into white noise as he takes another step closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble.
"We got interrupted last time, but not this time. Come with me, Jay, and I won't let you slip away again."
His words are like a dare, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes my pulse spike.
I feel a flutter in my chest, and my feet seem to move of their own accord, drawn into his orbit.
Keifer's gaze doesn't waver, like he's staking a claim.
His hand closes around mine, warm and firm, as he pulls me through the crowd, leaving the music and noise behind.
We're moving fast, dodging people, and I'm half-running to keep up with his strides.
The night air hits me like a slap as he pulls me out into the alley behind the bar, shadows swallowing us whole.
Keifer spins me against the wall, his body a breath away from mine, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe 💫.
His eyes drop to my lips again, and this time, I know he's going to kiss me.
He grabs both my hands with his one huge hand and pin both of them against the wall and leans forward
His grip is like a manacle, holding me in place as he leans in, his breath whispering against my skin.
I feel tiny and trapped, and a spark of fear ignites in me, mingling with anticipation. Keifer's eyes are wild, pupils blown, and for a moment, I'm not sure if he's going to kiss me or consume me whole
. His face is inches from mine, his voice a growl.
"You're mine, Jay."
A shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to back down.
His grip tightens, and I feel the heat of his body seeping into mine.
"I'm not yours," I spit out, trying to sound braver than I feel.
Keifer's eyes flash with amusement, and he leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear.
"You're lying, Jay. You always were mine."
''I won't lie , I was yours once , but not anymore. I am not yours anymo-''
Before I can finish keifer leans forward and captures my lips in a punishing kiss , he devours me
His lips crush mine, stealing my words, my breath, my everything. I try to push him away, but he's like a force of nature, unstoppable.
My body betrays me, responding to his touch, his taste, his everything.
He tastes like cigarettes and whiskey, a heady mix that makes my head spin.
I'm lost in the kiss, drowning in the feel of him, when he pulls back, his eyes blazing.
"Still think you're not mine?" he growls.
I nod , knowing that he will kiss me again, maybe I nodded on purpose and maybe because of the defiance in me , i don't know anymore
His eyes narrow, like he's daring me to defy him again 😏.
The space between us is charged, electric, as he leans in, his lips brushing against mine once more.
This time, the kiss is softer, a slow burn that makes my knees weak.
His grip on my wrists loosens, and I'm free, but I don't move, trapped by the heat of his body.
"You're playing with fire, Jay," he whispers against my lips.
I feel his breath on my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
His lips brush against mine, a feather-light touch that leaves me wanting more.
I lean into him, my body swaying like a puppet on strings.
Keifer's hands slide down to my waist, holding me in place as he deepens the kiss.
The world around us melts away, leaving only the sound of our ragged breathing
His palms graze my hips, sending sparks flying through my nerves.
He cups my curves, his touch igniting a fire that's been smoldering for years.
I feel his touch everywhere, like he's branding me, marking me as his.
My skin tingles, my breath hitches, and I'm melting into his touch
He pulls back slightly, his eyes narrowed, his voice low and rough, "You didn't answer me last time. Are you in love with that Ryan?"
I stare at him , my lips sealed , refusing to give him an answer
The silence between us is thick, heavy with unspoken words.
Keifer's gaze bores into mine, like he's trying to read my soul.
I keep my face impassive, a mask hiding whatever emotions are swirling inside me.
His lips brush against mine, whispering, "You aren't gonna answer?"
I stay quiet, my lips sealed, and his jaw clenches.
With a low growl, he pulls me back into the kiss, his mouth devouring mine
His kiss is punishing, like he's trying to extract answers from me, secrets I'm not willing to give.
I'm lost in the heat, my body arching into his, as he backs me against the wall.
The world narrows to the feel of his lips, his hands, his body pressing into mine.
I gasp for air, and he takes advantage, deepening the kiss, until I'm clinging to him, drowning in the sensations.
His phone buzzes in his pocket, a jarring intrusion into the haze.
He ignores it, his lips still locked with mine, the buzzing fading into the background.
The kiss goes on, time losing all meaning, until we're both breathless, our chests heaving.
Finally, he pulls back, his eyes glazed, his face flushed.
The phone buzzes again, more insistently this time, and with a low curse, he steps back, fishing it out of his pocket
My jaw clenches in annoyance as I read Ava's name on the screen.
Keifer notices, a dark satisfaction flickering in his eyes, and he tucks the phone away.
"Are you jealous?" he growls, stepping closer, his voice low and husky.
I tilt my chin up, refusing to back down, even as my heart's racing in my chest
I laugh, a short, sharp sound, and push him back, my eyes flashing
"Hell no," I spit, my defiance sparking like a live wire.
Keifer's eyes narrow, and he advances, his lips crashing into mine, a punishing kiss that leaves me breathless
His hands roam everywhere they shouldn't
His palms graze my skin, leaving trails of fire wherever they touch.
I try to push him away, but he pins me against the wall, his body a cage around mine.
His lips move to my neck, nipping and sucking, and I'm melting, my resolve crumbling.
His hands slide under my dress , rough and demanding, and I gasp, my back arching off the wall
His fingers trail up my spine, sending shivers down my arms, as he pushes my dress up, his lips following the path of his hands.
I'm trapped in the haze of his touch, my anger and defiance dissolving into need.
He palms my breast, his thumb grazing my nipple, and I moan, the sound swallowed by his kiss.
Suddenly, he pulls back, his chest heaving, his eyes wild.
"Still think you're not mine?" he growls, his voice barely recognizable .
"I am not"
I manage to say between all the deep breaths
The words are barely out of my mouth when he spins me around, pinning me to the wall, his body flush against mine.
His lips graze my ear, his breath hot and ragged.
"Not?" he whispers, his voice a dare.
I try to push back, but he's got me trapped, his hard erection grinding into my hips, making it hard to think anything
"What are you doing Keifer?" I whisper and i don't think he even heard me , the whisper was so slow
"What the hell are you doing?" I manage to gasp out louder than last time, trying to catch my breath.
He chuckles, the sound low and rough, as he nips at my earlobe.
"Proving a point," he whispers, his voice dripping with arrogance.
I struggle against him, but he's like a rock, unyielding and solid.
"Let me go, Keifer," I demand, trying to sound firm
He leans in, his breath tickling my ear.
"Not until you admit it," he growls, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
I try to push him away, but he pins my wrists to the wall.
"Admit what?" I spit, trying to keep my cool.
He pulls back, his eyes burning into mine.
"You want me," he says, his voice low and husky.
I laugh, trying to sound mocking, but it comes out breathy
"In your dreams , you had me once but not anymore, not anymore keifer.....I was living my life without you all these years and so were you , it's too late to fix anything now keifer"
I whisper to him
The words are like a slap to his face, and for a moment, he's taken aback.
His eyes flash with something like pain, but it's quickly replaced by anger.
"You're lying," he growls, his grip on my wrists tightening.
I meet his gaze, unflinching.
"No," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "You don't get to do this, Keifer. You don't get to just...just..." I struggle to find the words, my anger and hurt choking me.
His grip on my wrists loosens, and he leans in, his voice softer.
"What don't I get to do, Jay?" he whispers, his breath on my skin sending shivers down my spine
I try to push him away, but he holds firm.
"You don't get to come back into my life after all these years and expect everything to go back to how it was," I spit, my anger boiling over.
He leans in closer, his eyes locked on mine.
"It's not about expecting anything, Jay," he whispers. "It's about continuing what we started."
"No you don't get to do that you don't get to do anything, you messed up everything in college, you lost me that time , so you can't take me again now''
I say hurt, the pain visible in my eyes remembering the time of our break up
The words hang in the air like a challenge, and Keifer's eyes flash with a mix of regret and determination.
"You think that's what this is about?" he growls, his voice low and rough. "You think I'm trying to take you back like some kind of possession?"
His face is inches from mine, and I can feel his anger radiating off him.
I pull my wrists free, my anger and hurt still simmering.
"Don't play games, Keifer," I spit, trying to push him away. "You lost that right a long time ago."
His eyes flash with something, and he takes a step closer.
he whispers, his voice laced with pain. "You really don't feel anything for me anymore do you?"
I stay quiet The silence between us is deafening.
Keifer's eyes bore into mine, searching for any crack in my armor
He takes a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"So that's it? You're just going to pretend like I don't affect you at all?"
His words hang in the air, and I can feel his breath on my skin, sending a shiver down my spine
My armour finally breaks
"Please Don't do this with me !!! You can't-W...w..why are you doing this to me , you already hurt me so much in the past!!!"
The tears shimmer in my eye
"You broke me in last year of high school, but I forgave you, I gave you a second chance!!! Didn't I!!???"
A tear hit my cheek
It's mine
"You ruined me , but I still forgave you. Then you broke me again in college! I tried to pretend everything was fine, I was the one trying my best to keep the -NO OUR relationship intact , while you weren't doing anything!!! I finally broke , I get to do that
I am a human too keifer , I don't have that much patience and I am have feelings too, I feel things too!!!!
But you still broke me twice , can I atleast get to live happily with my daughter Ariella!! Please, can you Stop ruining mee!!
Stop it please, don't do this to me, if I get hurt once more I will break completely and I cant leave my daughter alone without me! So i refuse to break again, i refuse to even take the risk!!!!!!!!!!!!..."
The dam bursts, and I'm sobbing, my body shaking with emotion. Keifer's face is etched with shock and regret, his eyes wide with pain.
He takes a step forward, his arms outstretched, but I raise my hand, warning him off.
"Don't," I whisper, my voice raw. "Just...don't."
The words tumble out of me, a desperate plea.
"You left me, Keifer. Twice. You broke me, and I picked up the pieces. But I'm not picking them up again. Ariella needs me, and I'm not going to let you hurt her too."
I take a shaky breath, my eyes locked on his.
"Please, Keifer. Just leave us alone."
Keifer's face contorts in anguish, and for a moment, I think he's going to collapse. His eyes well up with tears, and he looks like he's been gut-punched.
"Jay..." he whispers, his voice cracking. "I...I am sorry"
He takes a step forward, but my warning gaze stops him.
"I was selfish," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was scared. But I never meant to hurt you like this."
He pauses, collecting himself.
"Ariella...she's mine, isn't she?" he asks, his voice laced with a mix of fear and hope
The question hangs in the air, and I feel a surge of panic. How does he know?
I try to keep my expression neutral, but Keifer's eyes narrow, and I know he's seen the flicker of emotion.
"Don't lie to me, Jay," he says, his voice low and urgent. "Is Ariella my daughter?"
His eyes bore into mine, and I can see the desperation there. It's like he's pleading with me to confirm something he's already suspected.
I swallow hard, my heart racing. I don't want to do this, not now, not like this.
"Keifer, please..." I whisper, trying to deflect.
But he's having none of it. He takes a step closer, his eyes blazing with intensity.
"Tell me the truth, Jay," he growls, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.
"Is. Ariella. Mine?"
I snap and scream
"YES !!! GODDAMN IT , SHE IS YOURS!!!! ARIELLA IS OUR DAUGHTER!!"
i slap a hand on my mouth when I realised what i said
The room falls silent, the only sound my ragged breathing. Keifer's face is frozen in shock, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and elation.
"My...my daughter," he whispers, his voice trembling.
He takes a step back, his hand on the wall for support, like his legs might give out on him
"But she can't know you are her father! SHE CAN'T"
my words coming out in a word vomit , I keep shaking my head like if I stop everything I planned all this life will ruin
Keifer's eyes snap back into focus, and he takes a step forward, his expression intense.
"No, Jay, listen to me," he says, his voice low and urgent. "I have a right to know her. She's my daughter."
I shake my head harder, panic rising up my throat.
"No, no, no, you can't, you can't be in her life, you'll ruin everything, you'll leave like you always do," I say, my words tumbling out in a frantic rush.
Keifer's face sets in a determined expression.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jay," he says, his voice firm. "Not this time."
No no no, Keifer, you can't just walk back into our lives like this," I say, my words tumbling out in a panic. "You ruined everything , you were supposed to be there for me forever ,and you weren't. You ruined your chance"
I take a step back, my eyes welling up with tears.
"You can't just appear now and expect everything to be okay. It doesn't work like that
Keifer's face twists in pain, and he takes a step forward, his hands reaching out like he's trying to grasp something just out of reach.
"Jay, I was wrong," he says, his voice raw. "I was stupid and scared, and I pushed you away. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."
His eyes lock onto mine, pleading.
"Please, just listen to me. Let me explain''
"You explained everything in high school too and I forgave you, as you said you will never make a mistake again and you did, how can I believe you now?!!! How can I know that you won't break your promise again!!!????" I shout
Keifer's face falls, and he looks like he's been slapped. His eyes drop to the floor, and for a moment, he's silent.
"I don't have an answer for that," he says finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't have a guarantee that I'll get it right this time. But...but I have Ariella now. She's my chance to do things differently."
He looks up, his eyes locking onto mine with a desperate intensity.
"Let me prove it to you, Jay. Let me prove it to both of you."
I shake my head and say coldy this time
"You can't and you won't, i won't let you"
The ice in my voice seems to hit Keifer like a slap. He takes a step back, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So that's it?" he says, his voice low and rough. "You're just going to shut me out? Not give me a chance?"
His jaw sets, and for a moment, I see a flash of the Keifer I used to know - stubborn and determined.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jay," he says, his voice firm. "You can't stop me from seeing my daughter."
"I can and will!! Keifer no matter what I will!!!"
The defiance in my voice is unmistakable. Keifer's eyes flash with a mix of anger and determination.
"Try," he says, his voice low and challenging. "But you'll lose, Jay. I'll make sure of it."
"This is not a challenge or A competition keifer!!! It's life , it's about the life of a 4 year old small girl and her single mother, who will even die to protect the girl"
The air is charged with emotion as Keifer's expression shifts, his eyes widening in alarm.
"Jay, stop," he says, his voice urgent. "You think I'd ever hurt Ariella? Or you?"
He takes a step forward, his hands raised like he's trying to calm a wild animal.
"I'm her father, Jay. I want to protect her too."
"You hurted me enough already to make me think that you can do it again"
Keifer's face crumbles, and for a moment, he looks like he's the one who's been hurt. His eyes drop, and his voice is barely a whisper.
"I know," he says, his words laced with regret. "I broke your trust, and I have to live with that. But...Ariella doesn't have to pay for my mistakes."
He looks up, his eyes pleading.
"Let me make it right, Jay. For her."
"Yo-you- can't-"
I couldn't finish myself because of the feeling to puke suddenly and i vomit all over the floor
Keifer's face goes white with concern as he rushes to my side. "Jay! Oh God, Jay, what's wrong?"
He grabs a nearby cloth and gently holds my hair back as I retch, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"Breathe, Jay, just breathe," he whispers, his voice laced with worry.
As I slowly straighten up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, Keifer's eyes narrow.
"You need to sit down," he says, his tone firm but caring. "Now."
"Ugh i shouldn't have drink this much"
I groan
Keifer's expression turns knowing, and he helps me to the couch, his arm around my shoulders.
"Looks like you've had enough for tonight," he says, his voice dry. "Let's get you cleaned up."
He guides me to sit down, and I collapse onto the couch, feeling miserable
__________________________________
Guys I already wrote my longest chapter ever , with 4000 nearly words!!!
I threw all the emotions in this chapter, I was literally crying when writing Jay's words about how he hurt her so many times already!!!!
I will try to post one chapter on my other book 'AMNSE book 4' later but i really need to go now byeeee
TOODLESSSSS!!!!!!!