24.
PAST~
Trust me when I say I'm busy—I really mean it.
These past few months have been nothing short of exhausting, both physically and mentally.
Rival families are acting up out of nowhere.
I've already been dragged into two council wars in the span of two months.
That kind of pressure doesn't just go away when you step inside your home.
And it's been taking a toll on me. My patience is shorter, my temper flares too easily. I've caught myself snapping at people I care about. Getting violent when I shouldn't. That's not the man I want to be—not in front of Aarav, not with him.
The last thing I want is for my anger to spill into my marriage.
That's why I've been keeping my distance.
I hate the way Aarav looks at me whenever we argue about it. That subtle hurt in his eyes—like I've failed him. Like I've become a version of myself he doesn't recognize. And I can't stand to see that. I love him too much to be the reason he starts questioning us.
Lately, I've only had the strength to hold him at night while we sleep. That's it. No words, no explanations—just silence. I'm not myself when I'm around him. And if I can't be his peace, I'd rather keep a safe distance than hurt him further.
But today... today is different.
For once, there's no call from the council. No fires to put out. No enemies at the gate. I finally have space to breathe. And more than anything—I need him. I need to be close to him, even if I don't deserve to be.
I head straight to his room. The door is slightly ajar, lights dim. It's quiet.
He's not in bed, but I hear the sound of water running. Shower.
I walk inside slowly, quietly. He hasn't heard me.
He's standing under the water, still as a statue. Head slightly bowed, lost in his own world. The sight makes something twist in my chest. He looks tired—worn down in a way that makes me feel guilty all over again.
I step inside and reach for him. My hands find his waist, gently pulling him back into me.
He jolts, startled. "What the hell—" he gasps, spinning around before his shoulders relax. "Shaurya?!"
I chuckle, brushing a hand through my wet hair. "Am I not allowed to visit my husband now?"
He exhales, a mix of annoyance and amusement. "There's something called privacy, you know."
But he doesn't push me away. In fact, his hands instinctively find my shirt, gripping the soaked fabric as if trying to confirm I'm really here.
"I missed you," I say simply.
He doesn't say anything—just runs his fingers through my hair, gently, lovingly. His touch feels like home.
And then, because I can't resist, I lean in and squeeze his bum lightly.
His face goes red immediately. "Seriously?" he mutters, embarrassed—but smiling.
God, I've missed this. Missed him. Missed us.
"You bastard, go away," Aarav grumbled, switching from a smile to a full pout as he gave me a light push.
But I caught his hands before he could retreat and pulled him right back into me. "Sorry, baby," I murmured, voice low near his ear. "But I'm not letting go that easy. Your husband's starving—starving for your love, your body, your soul."
My hands moved over the curve of his bare back, slow and deliberate. God, the way he fits into my hands—perfect. Everything about him always is.
"You're being such a pervert today," he muttered under his breath.
"Your pervert," I smirked, shooting him a wink.
He rolled his eyes but the corners of his lips curled up, and then his gaze dipped down to my soaked shirt, clinging to my skin.
"You do look hot," he said, fingers casually drifting to the buttons.
"This drenched-shirt look and that messy hair—yeah, it's a crime.
But unfortunately, your clothes are blocking my view. "
He didn't wait for permission. His hands were already working on the buttons, one by one, slowly peeling the fabric off me.
There's always this duality with Aarav—shy and soft one minute, bold and blunt the next.
And every time he switches gears like this, I swear, it drives me crazy in the best way.
It's enough to make me horny and my dick pop out.
He looked up through his lashes, a little too proud of the effect he had on me.
I leaned in closer. "You keep looking at me like that, Aarav... I won't make it out of this bathroom without sinning."
"Then do the sin, husband," he whispered, his voice husky against my ear, just before his tongue flicked playfully along the shell of it.
That was it.
I unbuckled my belt in one swift motion, letting my soaked clothes hit the floor.
His hands were already on me, tugging down my boxers with a confidence that always caught me off guard.
Within seconds, I had him pinned against the cool bathroom wall, our bodies flush, steam curling around us like a curtain.
I buried my face in the crook of his neck, kissing along his skin, tasting the droplets of water clinging to him and marking him.
Then I sank lower, letting my lips trail down his chest. His breath hitched the moment my mouth reached his nipple—too pink and perky for my sanity.
I sucked, slowly at first, then deeper, until he let out a broken moan that lit a fire in my chest.
God, I love his voice.
But he wasn't exactly playing innocent. Between every moan, he kept grinding his hips against me, his arousal pressing firm against mine. That teasing little smirk on his lips told me he knew exactly what he was doing.
I turned him around as his hands took the support of the walls. I bent down to taste his soft butt. He moaned at my every action.
"Shaurya- I want you inside me already. I'm waiting", he said. I can't deny his wishes can I?
I inserted my dick on his hole slowly at first to let him enjoy every moment of it. He moaned.
"Faster-" he begged as I paced my motion.
After sometime, his legs were already shaking but I wasn't in the mood to let go so easily today.
I picked him up as he wrapped his legs around my waist. Then I inserted my dick inside his hole again.
He hissed in pain but still smirked looking at me.
He bounced in my arms. My naughty little kitten.
After sometime, I finally pulled out my dick for my baby to taste my liquid.
He let out a satisfied moan after tasting it.
His breath was warm against my neck, his arms still wrapped around me like he didn't want to let go.
And I didn't want to move either. For once, there was peace — no meetings, no blood, no Vaani, no masks.
Just us. Just Aarav and me.
I held him tighter, our bodies still slick under the shower, and I felt him shiver slightly — not from the cold, but from the quiet. The kind of quiet that only comes when you feel safe.
He looked up at me, eyes soft. "Don't go anywhere tonight."
I felt something in my chest tighten. Guilt? Maybe. Love? Always.
I leaned down, kissed his temple slowly, and whispered, "I'm not leaving. Not tonight."
And I meant it. Because if there's one place I still feel like myself — it's in his arms.