Chapter 33: Us?

Omniscient Narrative

The quiet hum of a late afternoon settled over Kai's home as golden light streamed through the living room window.

It was typical Saturday at home with his own thoughts, yet today felt markedly different.

A few weeks had passed since that amazing yet sinful day, the day where everything spiraled into a web of complications that tangled both his heart and mind.

As he prepared the space for a the monthly gatherings he usually held to keep his family together, a chill ran down his spine at the mere thought of Aries.

He had to invite Aries also for the gathering, because he was now a part of Austin's life so he was somewhat a part of his life too and seeing as he was Joey's cousin and he was new to town it wouldn't be fair to exclude him from it.

But he couldn't shake the guilt feeling he had in him as he thought about the tall light skin man, the way he made him feel that day, Vincent had never ever made him feel that way in all their years of being together.

Sure he made him feel close to that in the beginning of their relationship but later on he became cold and distant.

So having Aries worship him and treat him the way he treated him that day left a large mark on his heart and mind.

Kai's heart thudded with uncertainty as he recalled the delight in Aries's eyes, the playful banter, the tension that had escalated in such a short time.

'But it must end now' Kai resolved. But before the gathering, he planned to have the conversation that would cut through the sudden entanglement, he didn't want Aries getting any idea and he didn't want to lead the younger man on.

I mean he was married and the Aries had a life to live, he wasn't going to bring him down and ruin his life.

Aries arrived at the door, his casual charm cloaked in an enticing allure that left Kai on edge.

He knocked, the sound reverberating in the stillness of the house. Kai took a deep breath, steadying himself before he opened the door, the familiar scent of spring mingling with the sea breeze wafting in from the nearby ocean.

"Hey, Kai" Aries greeted, a wide smile breaking across his youthful face as he stepped over the threshold a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Kai had come to notice that whenever he showed up he always had a bouquet of his favorite flowers.

And what had surprised him the most was how Vincent never commented on the flowers each time he saw them.

'Did he not care about me enough to question them?' The older man thought.

"Aries," Kai replied, forcing a smile of his own. "Glad you could make it." The tension he felt thickened in the air, the unspoken words dancing on the tip of his tongue.

The two men settled on the couch, and for a moment, they exchanged simple pleasantries as they had many times before. But the joyous undertones felt spoilt by the undeniable connection that simmered just beneath the surface, yearning to surface again.

"How've you been?" Aries chirped, his enthusiasm contagious despite the weight hung in the air. It had been killing him for weeks having to stay away from Kai but he didn't want to make the older man get irritated with him and he also had other plans he had to care for-other plans being stalking the man's husband-.

"Busy, you know," Kai said, forcing nonchalance as he tossed a quick glance toward the clock. "Work's been a lot lately."

'Work? All you do is snap pictures of yourself and post' Aries wanted to say but decided against it.

In the back of his mind, Kai shook his head, mentally preparing for the conversation that loomed ahead. Would he be able to get through it without losing his resolve?

"Austin told me about a family game night?" Aries continued. "I don't know why, but I kinda expected the invite to be from you direct" Aries spoke as he fixed his eyes directly on Kai's shifting ones, a small frown on his face.

"Uh" was all Kai could let out "I just figured it would make sense if it came from him" Kai added as he scratched his head, a habit he had whenever he was nervous.

"Sure" the younger man said not wanting to further the conversation. Leaving the two men quiet.

The underlying tension danced like a flame threatening to consume him, and Kai finally mustered the courage to speak. "Aries, we need to talk."

Aries, hummed and looked at Kai, cocking his head to the side as he studied Kai. "About what?"

Kai hesitated for a moment, watching the change in Aries's demeanor. "About... us."

"Us?" Aries echoed, eyebrows arching in surprise. "What about us?" Aries couldn't deny his heart skipped a beat the second he heard the words leave Kai's lips.

Fear gripped Kai's heart as he saw the look on Aries face, but he pressed on, determined. "I think it's best we don't see each other outside of when you come over with Austin and Joey . That uh...that day... it was a mistake." The nervous man spoke as he tried to contain his shaky hands, Kai wasn't good with confrontations, talking and all of that, so having to end this was heavy for him especially knowing he shouldn't have even let it reached this point.

Aries's expression shifted immediately to a much colder look, and for a heartbeat, they were both wrapped in a taut silence, the atmosphere electric with unspoken emotions. "A mistake?" he repeated slowly, a glimmer of something darker softening his playful demeanor.

"Yes. I mean, it shouldn't happen again, hell, it should have NEVER happened Aries" Kai said firmly, pushing the words past the thoughts clenching stubborn knots in his stomach. "You're my son's friend, his boyfriend's cousin, and it complicates things too much."

Aries leaned forward on the couch, his once cheerful expression morphing into something fierce, a glint of possessiveness lighting his eyes. "Complicates things? Or is it just your way of trying to back out of something great? We had something real, Kai." The younger man urged as he shifted on the couch.

Aries was trying hard not to do something he would regret.

"Aries, it's not like that," Kai implored, voice pleading but strained. "We got carried away, and I... I shouldn't have let it happen. You're young—there's so much ahead of you, and I'm... I'm in a different place in my life."

"No," Aries said sharply, rising to his feet. "Don't act like you don't want this. I felt it—the connection, the thrill. You can't just throw it away because it's convenient for you."

'Because of that bastard??' He wanted to yell at the shorter man.

Kai's heart began to race, unease creeping under his skin. "No one's throwing anything away. I want what's best, and I think we need to draw a line here."

'A line? Or a line has been drawn' Aries thought maliciously. 'The line between death and life' he fisted his hand in anger as if ready to punch his frustration out,

Aries's stare turned dark, an unsettling depth filling the space between them. "You think you can just decide this for me? You think I'll just obey those wishes? You don't realize what you started that day Kai." His voice quivered with intensity, and Kai felt a spine-chilling sensation rise up the back of his neck.

"What do you mean?" Kai asked, his voice steadying but laced with trepidation. The hairs on his arms prickled as he felt a hidden threat pulsing beneath the surface, igniting the room with palpable tension.

"I mean you've opened a door, Kai," Aries replied, his tone shifting dangerously. "And I'm not ready to close it. You can't just turn off a light like that and expect everything to go back to normal. I won't let you." The younger man growled out.

He couldn't believe Kai, he was just going to end everything just like that?

Kai's pulse quickened, instinctively sensing the unsettling nature of Aries's words. "Aries, please. This is about keeping things right for everyone involved. I'm not comfortable—"

"Comfortable? Since when has comfort ever been what we felt together?" Aries interrupted, moving closer, invading Kai's space. "You know you want me. You felt it too that day—you can't fucking deny it!" He yelled

His heart raced, and Kai felt trapped between a surge of disturbing emotions. "This isn't just about us. This isn't how it should be!" Kai spoke trying to stand his ground, who was he to try to convince him otherwise, Kai was only trying to do the good thing, the right thing.

"Then how should it be?" Aries continued, a wicked edge to his voice as he approached Kai like a predator stalking its prey. "You see, you're trying to distance me, but I won't allow that. You're mine now, hell, you've been mine since the day you opened your home to me, you opening your legs to me was just a sealed deal and I will do whatever it takes to have you."

'Whatever'