The Red String Between Us Part II: Frayed Threads

第26章 Glass Full

      Dinner was served on the deck, each plate a work of art—grilled lobster tails, delicate risotto, and fresh fruit glistening under the soft lantern light. The table was set for two, draped in white linen, champagne chilling at the center.

As we sat, Kenji's gaze lingered on me more than the food. There was something unguarded in his eyes, something I wasn't used to seeing.

"I owe you more than this," he said quietly, his fork resting untouched. "I owe you so much more" he said. my hair blowing in the wind on the water, he pushed it back, then he called me 素敵. Which is beautiful in Japanese. 

He leaned forward, his hand brushing the stem of his glass. "I've never considered someone else's heart the way I've considered yours. I've never felt like this before." His gaze held mine, unwavering. "I don't want to lose you again. Tell me what I need to do, and I'll do it. Tell me what you want.. Tell me you want the same thing as me. Tell me this isn't just fun, that you feel what I feel, from day one."

The sincerity in his tone unraveled something I'd worked so hard to guard. I set my fork down, my hand drifting across the table until my fingers brushed his. My voice faltered as I confessed, "I don't even know how to put it into words. What I want from you feels impossible right now—time, devotion, openness... protection from the world watching us."

His shoulders eased, the tension in him softening as a faint smile touched his lips. He squeezed my hand gently, his eyes warm with promise.

"I'm here, Eden. I want you. Let me prove it to you. We can keep this just ours, or we can make it public the moment you're ready. Say the word... and I'll follow your lead."

We finished dinner slowly, laughter returning in easy waves, the air lighter now that the words were out in the open. The yacht rocked gently as it carried us deeper into the night, the city lights fading into stars.

Eventually, Kenji rose and offered me his hand. "There's another surprise."

He led me below deck to a private suite. The door opened to reveal a room transformed—rose petals scattered across the bed, lanterns glowing along the walls, and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting on a low table. On the wall, a banner read in elegant script: HBD My Love.

"This is...beautiful." I said as I looked around the suite, taking in the room and all its amenities. 

"Yours," he finished. "Every detail. Every moment. All for you."

The clock struck midnight just as he poured the champagne. We clinked glasses, the golden bubbles catching the light as he whispered "To you, happy birthday again beautiful"

My eyes softened, and I nodded. "To us."

The champagne warmed me quickly, the mix of wine from dinner and the sway of the yacht leaving me a little unsteady. When I laughed at something he said, my body fell against him, lingering longer than I meant. The steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palm pulled me closer.

Kenji's words still lingered between us, heavy and intimate, when he finally leaned back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Would you like a tour of the yacht?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes gleaming with something more.

I nodded, curious, my glass still in hand. He stood, offering me his arm, and I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow. As we walked, he pointed out each detail—the sweeping curve of polished mahogany walls, crystal sconces that shimmered with soft light, art pieces that looked like they belonged in a gallery.

We paused at the chef's kitchen, where a stainless-steel expanse gleamed under the lights. A couple of staff members greeted us warmly, bowing their heads politely as they continued to clean the kitchen. Kenji introduced them with a quiet pride, and I caught the subtle way they looked at him—with respect, almost reverence.