The Skirt He Said Was Only Mine / Chapter 4: After the Fall—A New Claim
The Skirt He Said Was Only Mine

The Skirt He Said Was Only Mine

Author: Michael Branch

Chapter 4: After the Fall—A New Claim

← Prev

I was about to answer, to thank him, but—

The next moment, his lips were on mine—a soft, sudden warmth, heat blooming between us. I stiffened, surprised by the tenderness, but didn’t pull away.

Uncle Mark’s lips pressed gently against mine, the taste bittersweet, a strange mix of grief and comfort. I clung to him, needing the reassurance, letting myself fall into the sensation.

I was terrified, my body tense, but Uncle Mark wasn’t finished. He deepened the kiss, his hands cradling my face. I gasped, caught off guard by the intensity. My heart raced—fear and something else tangled together.

I stood frozen, barely breathing, as he pulled back, his eyes searching mine. The look he gave me—soft, intent—sent a shiver down my spine. I felt wanted, cherished, and it scared me.

Meanwhile, Tyler was still watching, trapped on the phone screen. His face was a mix of shock and anger. I glanced over, guilt and relief crashing together. But I didn’t look away. I wanted him to see exactly what he’d lost.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tyler’s mouth moving—probably shouting—but no sound came out. He looked desperate, powerless behind the mute button. I watched him, weirdly satisfied that he couldn’t touch me anymore.

I reached for the phone, wanting to turn it off in embarrassment, but Uncle Mark pulled me into a tight embrace right in front of Tyler’s stunned face. His arms locked around me, holding me close. I pressed my face into his chest, letting the tears come. For a moment, nothing else existed.

"Hey, just listen to me, okay?" His voice was soft, a gentle command. I nodded, trusting him. The pain faded, replaced by his warmth.

Uncle Mark’s sudden tenderness made my knees weak. I just let myself be held, not moving, letting him keep me safe. The fear and anxiety ebbed, replaced by peace. I closed my eyes, breathing him in.

He didn’t say another word—just kept kissing my tear-streaked cheeks, gentle and steady. Each kiss was a silent promise. I leaned in, letting myself relax. The world outside could wait.

"Brianna, your face is all blotchy from crying. Makes me feel bad for you." His words were soft, full of concern. I managed a watery smile. He brushed a stray lock of hair away, his touch feather-light.

Tyler was still talking, but Uncle Mark and I couldn’t hear him. His voice was just a silent blur. I tuned him out, focusing on Uncle Mark, letting myself hope for something better.

But everything Uncle Mark said, Tyler could hear—loud and clear. The thought made me almost laugh. Tyler was forced to watch, forced to listen. Maybe now he’d realize what he’d lost.

On the other end of the call, Tyler’s face went beet red, eyes blazing as he glared at us. He was furious, but still totally silent. He banged his fists on the bed, but it didn’t matter.

Uncle Mark stroked the back of my neck, his tone playful as he said, "So, Brianna, you still not over him?" His fingers traced lazy circles, sending little shivers through me. He smiled, eyes twinkling with mischief. The tension in the room shifted, turning almost light.

He turned my head gently, guiding me to look up at him. I found myself staring at his throat, at the steady rise and fall of his breath. I looked up, surprised by the intensity in his eyes.

I met his stern gaze, searching for some hint of what he wanted. My breath caught, nerves jangling. I felt exposed, but not afraid—not with him.

"...No..." The word slipped out, barely a whisper. I was just about to deny it, but the truth was written all over my face. I shook my head, tears still falling.

Uncle Mark smiled, then pulled me close, holding me tight. He chuckled softly, his chest rumbling against my cheek. I melted into his arms, letting myself be held. For a moment, it was just us, the world outside forgotten.

"Then let me punish you in front of him, alright?" His voice was gentle, teasing. The words made my heart skip. I nearly fainted, panic prickling across my skin. I looked everywhere but at Tyler, not sure where to land my gaze. My heart pounded, fear and something else twining together.

I tried to convince myself Uncle Mark was just trying to scare me, push me to finally break things off with Tyler. I held onto that hope, needing it to be true. The idea of being punished in front of my ex was humiliating—and, weirdly, a little thrilling. I didn’t know what to expect, but I trusted Uncle Mark to keep me safe.

His palm slid over my skin, heat blooming everywhere he touched, making me shiver. It was electric, overwhelming. I gasped, surprised by how much I felt. The fear faded, replaced by anticipation.

Uncle Mark’s half-smile lingered, his gaze fixed on my lips, a possessiveness in his eyes that made my breath hitch. I felt claimed, wanted, and for the first time since everything fell apart, I didn’t feel alone.

My boyfriend Tyler could only...

← Prev

You may also like

His Wife Was Meant for Another
His Wife Was Meant for Another
4.7
I married Chicago’s most coveted bachelor in my sister’s place, only to become a ghost in my own marriage—unwanted, untouched, and tormented by suspicion. Every night, Jake shuts me out, his body close but his heart locked away, leaving me desperate and humiliated. But when I discover his secret online confessions—and the twisted truth behind his distance—I realize our cold war is just the beginning of a forbidden, addictive game neither of us knows how to win.
I Sold My House for the Wrong Man
I Sold My House for the Wrong Man
4.9
He sold his house a month before our wedding—and didn’t even tell me until it was done. At first, I tried to brush off the unease, but a lawyer’s question made me wonder if I knew the man I was about to marry at all. Every text, every excuse, every strange suggestion—renting, investing, splitting everything fifty-fifty—only made things murkier. When I tested him with a lie of my own, his mask slipped, and what I found at his supposed house shocked me. Now, with the wedding looming, I have to decide: is Lucas hiding a harmless secret, or am I about to walk down the aisle with a stranger? What else has he been keeping from me?
Bought the Governor’s Son, Now He Owns Me
Bought the Governor’s Son, Now He Owns Me
4.7
I bought a broken man at the market, never knowing he was the governor’s son—and now the whole town wants him back. Every night, I wield the whip and the leash, but his silence cuts deeper than any blade. The real heroine is coming for him, and when she does, I’ll lose everything—unless I break him first.
He Cheated, I Gave Away the Ring
He Cheated, I Gave Away the Ring
4.7
On my birthday, my fiancé’s mistress crashed the party—pregnant and desperate, while the whole town waited for me to break. Instead, I slipped the engagement bracelet onto her wrist and walked out, leaving Maple Heights and my old life behind. But when Ethan tries to win me back with public humiliation and a new 'apology' bracelet, I’m forced to choose: reclaim my dignity, or let him—and my family—destroy what’s left of my heart.
He Sold Me—Now I Own Myself
He Sold Me—Now I Own Myself
5.0
He called me worthless, then sold me to save my brother. My name is Jessie, and my family traded me for a dowry—no love, no regret. Forced into a marriage with a cruel, dangerous man, I learned that survival means more than silence; it means fighting for every scrap of dignity they tried to take. In a town where girls are currency and justice is just a rumor, I turned secrets into power and betrayal into a weapon. But when exposing my husband's darkest crimes sets the whole town against me, I must decide: will I save the family that broke me, or let them drown in the world they made? If justice means standing alone, is it worth everything I’ve lost?
Tricked by the Billionaire I Loved
Tricked by the Billionaire I Loved
4.8
For three years, I believed Jason was as broke and broken as I was—until a single stormy night shattered everything. Turns out, the man I sacrificed everything for was Chicago’s richest heir, slumming it for his own amusement while I begged, scraped, and planned to propose. Now, drowning in heartbreak and betrayal, I have to decide: walk away from the only love I’ve ever known, or make him pay for every lie he ever told.
His Heart Was Never Mine
His Heart Was Never Mine
4.9
Mariah spent years chasing Ethan’s passion, only to realize his devotion belonged to someone else. Now, as she faces a new engagement and Ethan’s world unravels, she must choose between longing for what’s lost and embracing a future she never imagined. Betrayal, heartbreak, and forbidden desire collide in this gripping tale of love and letting go.
He Chose His Mistress Over Me
He Chose His Mistress Over Me
4.8
Rachel lost her family and clung to Ethan, the only man who ever showed her kindness—until the day he declared his secret lover would become his second wife. Humiliated and cast aside, Rachel is forced to plan their wedding, all while the whole town watches her heartbreak. But with the annulment papers signed, she realizes she doesn’t need anyone’s pity—least of all Ethan’s—and vows to reclaim her life, no matter how many rumors or rivals stand in her way.
He Left Me, But I Paid the Price
He Left Me, But I Paid the Price
4.9
Some endings are silent, but the ache never is. I thought Eli and I were forever—until a single betrayal tore us apart, leaving me clutching memories and a cheap county fair kite. Years later, I’m called back to his side as his emergency contact, thrown into a whirlwind of old wounds and unfinished business. He’s surrounded by new admirers, but the past still claws at both of us. I want closure, maybe even forgiveness, but Eli only offers distance. My friends say I’m a fool for loving him, but they never saw the sacrifices he made, the debts unpaid. Now, as I watch him slip away for the last time, I’m haunted by one question: Was I the one holding him back—or was he always running from something he could never name? If love is letting go, why does it hurt so much to set him free?
His Rules, My Undoing
His Rules, My Undoing
4.8
He never let anyone near—except me. In the whirlwind of Chicago, small-town Eli finds himself tangled in the intense, possessive orbit of his roommate Colton Price: campus royalty, neat freak, and heir to a legacy that casts a long shadow. The rules are simple—no one touches Colton’s things, but Eli is the glaring exception, invited into spaces and intimacies no one else is allowed. But when rumors start and lines blur, Eli discovers Colton’s affections come with a price: control, obsession, and a devotion that borders on dangerous. Every act of closeness is met with whispers, every attempt to pull away only tightens Colton’s grip. When a girl from home arrives and Colton’s jealousy explodes, Eli is forced to ask—am I loved, or just owned? How far will Colton go to keep what’s his—and can Eli break free, or is it already too late?
His Secret Girlfriend for Seven Years
His Secret Girlfriend for Seven Years
4.8
For seven years, I loved America’s hottest pop star in silence—always his secret, always called by another woman’s name. On my birthday, he humiliated me in front of Hollywood’s elite, making it clear I was just a stand-in for his first love. But now, with my hearing restored and my heart shattered, I’m ready to expose every lie and take back the life—and the music—he stole from me.
He Bought Me, But Married Her
He Bought Me, But Married Her
4.7
Rachel thought her boyfriend’s love was real—until she overheard him boasting about buying her loyalty with a condo, all while planning a $400,000 wedding to another woman. Forced to plan her own ex’s lavish marriage, Rachel must hide her heartbreak and secrets, even as he tries to keep her on a string. When the final vows are spoken, will she finally break free—or will betrayal claim her future too?