But somehow, miraculously, all had worked out in the end even without her constant presence, a realization that stung her pride even as it provided relief.
This pattern continued day by day, each morning a fresh battlefield of manipulation and resistance. Victoria would wake up in James's arms, her heart already breaking at the thought of leaving him. She would steal kisses when he least expected them, desperate touches that she hoped would sustain her through the long hours apart. James would endure her tactics until his patience snapped, his anger explosive and immediate when he realized he'd been tricked again despite his attempts to avoid her games. Then Victoria would go to work, counting every minute until she could return to James's arms in the evening, where she would curl against him like he was her personal salvation.
But as the days wore on, Victoria could tell something was changing within her body. There was an uncanny way her body heated up at the sight of him, her skin flushing and her pulse racing whenever he was near. Her arousal was rising to unprecedented levels, a constant ache that made it difficult to concentrate on anything else. Her want for James was becoming almost unbearable, a physical need that gnawed at her constantly.
She struggled to hold it in during their evenings together, biting her lip until it was raw and clenching her fists to keep from reaching for him. She didn't want to give the impression that she was only after his body, but what could she do when he was so damn attractive and seemed to be radiating tempting pheromones every time he moved? The way he walked, the way he stretched, even the way he breathed seemed designed to drive her to distraction.
One evening after work, James lay spread out on his bed, exhausted after dinner. The day had been particularly brutal, filled with meetings and deadlines that had drained every ounce of his energy. He had simply collapsed onto the mattress still fully clothed, one arm thrown over his eyes as he tried to decompress from another day of managing his conflicted feelings about Victoria.
Victoria walked into the bedroom and sat at the edge of the bed, staring fixedly at him. Her gaze traveled over his relaxed form, drinking in every detail like a woman dying of thirst. The way his shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing a strip of skin at his waist. The strong line of his jaw. The way his chest rose and fell with each breath. Everything about him called to her, made her body ache with longing that was becoming impossible to ignore.
James felt the piercing stare like a physical touch and lowered his arm from his eyes, giving her a questioning look. The intensity in her gaze made something clench low in his stomach, a response he tried desperately to ignore. "What?"
Victoria took a deep breath, her hands twisting in her lap as her heart hammered against her ribs. This was it. Her one chance, her only shot at getting him back. The thought of failure made her feel nauseated, but she forced herself to speak. "I'm ready to use my wish."
James was surprised, his eyebrows lifting as he pushed himself up on his elbows. He hadn't expected her to use it so soon, and something about her tone made his chest tighten with apprehension. "What is it that you want?"
Victoria waited a beat before responding, gathering every ounce of courage she possessed. Her throat felt dry, and she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. "I want you to take me back."
She opened her mouth to say more because she had so much to explain, so much to justify, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat constricted with emotion, and she found herself unable to express everything that was in her heart. The fear of his rejection was choking her, making it impossible to breathe properly.
James stared at her for a long moment, and Victoria watched as something cold and final settled over his features like a mask. The hope that had been building in her chest crumbled to ash. He shook his head firmly, his voice flat and emotionless. "I won't fulfill such a wish. If you want something else, I'll consider it."
The rejection hit Victoria like a physical blow, knocking the air from her lungs. She bent her head in defeat, her whole body sagging as if someone had cut her strings. She sucked in her lips and tried desperately to hold back the unstable emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Tears lined her eyes, burning and blurring her vision, and her nose felt sore from the effort of holding back the sobs that wanted to tear from her throat.
She was confused and felt completely stuck, unable to figure out how to further convince James to trust her once more and see her changed self. The weight of her past mistakes pressed down on her like a crushing burden. What could she do to win him over? How could she prove that she had learned, that she had changed, when he wouldn't even give her a chance?
James saw the defeated hang of her head, the way her shoulders shook with suppressed sobs, but it did nothing to ease the betrayal and broken heart that still ached in his chest like an infected wound. The sight of her pain used to move him, used to make him want to comfort her, but now it just felt like another manipulation. He steeled himself and went ahead to deliver what he thought needed to be said, even as the words tasted like poison on his tongue.
"Delete any thoughts of us ever getting back together. It will never happen."
Victoria raised her head at his words, and the look in her eyes made James's breath catch. They were brimming with tears and fierce determination, a combination so heartbreaking and beautiful that it made his chest ache.