GUILT AND SHAME

Aiden’s POV

As my hands moved over her body, my heart pounded in my chest, and the heat between us grew overwhelming. But then, something flickered in the back of my mind—a whisper that cut through the haze of desire, pulling me back from the edge.

"What was I doing? This...this isn’t right."

I slowed, the weight of my actions suddenly crashing down on me. I shouldn’t be doing this. Especially not with Lara, my niece.

Guilt tightened around my chest, making it hard to breathe. She trusted me, and here I was losing control, giving in to my own desires. My mind raced, fighting between what I wanted and what I knew was wrong. I wasn’t supposed to let things go this far. But I had, and now...I felt trapped by my own actions.

I pulled back, my lips hovering over hers, and for a split second, I hesitated. Her body was warm beneath mine, but I couldn’t continue. Not with lara.

"What the hell am I doing?" I questioned myself.

I scrambled to my feet, backing away from her like I’d just crossed an unforgivable line. Her eyes, still filled with desire, followed me, but I couldn’t even look at her. The guilt twisted deeper, gnawing at my insides as I ran my hand through my hair, my breath coming in shallow gasps.

Without a word, I turned and rushed toward the bathroom. The sound of the door shutting behind me echoed in the silence, and I leaned against the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My heart was still racing, but now it was from shame, not lust.

""What have I done?"

I splashed water on my face, hoping the coldness would snap me out of the mess I had just created. But it wasn’t enough. The water did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me. My chest tightened with the guilt, the regret, the knowledge that I had crossed a line I never should have even approached.

I needed more than this.

Turning on the shower, I stepped under the freezing spray, letting the water pour over me in an attempt to drown out the thoughts that hunted me. But no matter how cold the water was, it couldn’t wash away what I had done. My mind raced back to her—her soft skin, the way she looked at me, how her body reacted to my touch.

"Darm it! how could I lose control?" I scolded myself.

"She’s your niece for fuck sake!"

I had taken things too far. She didn’t deserve this, especially not from me. She’s too young... too innocent.

I was supposed to be the one in control, the one who knew better, but I had let myself slip, falling into desire when I should’ve been stronger. I clenched my fists, the weight of my actions bearing down on me harder with each second.

Anger bubbled up inside me. I slammed my fist against the shower wall, the sharp pain barely registering over the regret eating away at me. "Damn it!" I cursed myself under my breath, furious at how easily I had let myself get lost in the moment. She had only wanted to help. That’s all it was. But I let it become something else.

"How am I going to face her now? "The thought gnawed at me.

How was I supposed to explain myself? What could I even say? She trusted me, and I had betrayed that trust, driven by my own selfish needs.

I clenched my teeth, trying to block out the shame when suddenly, I felt something warm press against me.

I froze. Two soft hands slid around my waist, and I gasped slightly, the sensation shocking me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat as I felt her body—those soft, full curves pressing against my back, unmistakable and intoxicating.

Before I could react, I heard her voice, soft and innocent.

"Why did you run, Uncle? Are you in so much pain?" She asked, her breath hot against my back.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and mustered the courage to face her. Slowly, I reached for her hands that were wrapped around my waist, gently pulling them away. Then I turned to face her, lowering my head as I apologized.

"Don’t worry, " I said quietly, trying to sound steady. "I’m fine."

But as my eyes drifted down, they caught on her chest. Her lace nightdress, now soaked from the splashes of water in the bathroom, clung to her skin, revealing every curve beneath. The wet fabric made it nearly impossible to ignore how much she was exposed. A sudden rush of desire surged through me—the urge to touch her, to suck and bite—but I fought it, pushing the thoughts away before they took control.

I placed my right palm under her chin, lifting her face so she would look at me.

"Really, baby, don’t worry about me. " I repeated, keeping my voice as calm as I could.

I needed to convince her, and more importantly, I needed to convince myself that I had things under control.

"You should go to your room and rest," I added gently but firmly. "At least for tonight."

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine, and I knew she didn’t want to leave. The tension between us was still thick, but I couldn’t let her stay. If she did, I knew I’d be tempted to give in again, and I couldn’t allow myself to make the same mistake twice.