Chapter 55
Kabir's Perspective
We'd finished the meal, and the night had been nothing short of perfect. From the moment we walked into the restaurant to now, every second with Aditi felt like the universe had aligned just for us. But, of course, there had to be one last battle to settle—who was going to pay the bill.
The waitress, the one who had been casting me lingering glances earlier, brought the bill over and set it down in front of us. As soon as she did, Aditi reached for her purse, her eyes locked on the bill as if it were some sort of challenge.
I leaned back in my chair, watching her with a small smirk on my face. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked, my tone teasing.
She didn't even glance at me as she started digging through her bag for her wallet. "I'm paying, Kabir. It's only fair."
I reached out, gently placing my hand over hers to stop her. "Aditi, come on. Let me handle this."
She narrowed her eyes at me playfully, clearly not intending to back down. "Kabir, you paid last time. It's my turn."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "This isn't a competition. You're not paying."
Her lips quirked up in a teasing smile. "Why? Because I'm a woman?"
I laughed at that, leaning forward slightly. "No, because I invited you. And besides..." I lowered my voice, the corner of my mouth lifting in a mischievous grin. "When you start earning, Frosty, then I'll let you pay. But right now, it's on me."
She blinked at me, caught off guard by the nickname. "Frosty?" she repeated, a little smile playing on her lips.
I winked at her. "That's right. Frosty."
She rolled her eyes, but I could see the amusement in her expression. Still, she didn't back down easily. "Fine," she huffed. "But next time, I'm paying. Deal?"
"Deal," I agreed, knowing full well that I'd still find a way to pay the next time too. I reached for the bill and my wallet, settling the payment before Aditi could protest any further.
As we stood up and made our way out of the restaurant, the evening air was cool and refreshing. The dim glow of the streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement, and I couldn't help but smile as I walked beside her, our arms brushing against each other. Without a word, I reached out, slipping my arm around her waist and pulling her closer.
She let out a soft giggle, glancing up at me with that shy smile of hers. It was the kind of smile that always made my heart race, the one that made me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
"You're such a gentleman tonight," she teased, leaning into me slightly as we walked toward the car.
"Always," I replied, smirking down at her. When we reached the car, I walked around to her side and opened the door for her, a teasing grin on my face. "Your carriage, my lady."
Aditi blushed, but her eyes twinkled with mischief. "You know," she began, looking shyly at the car and then back at me, "I was wondering... could I drive your car? Just this once?"
Her request caught me off guard, but it also filled me with a sense of pride. She looked so genuinely excited, so eager to take the wheel, that I couldn't help but smile. Without thinking twice, I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, my lips brushing against her skin. "Well," I whispered in her ear, "I can't wait to be treated like a passenger prince by my Frosty."
Aditi's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, and I couldn't resist the urge to kiss her again—this time, a soft peck on her lips. She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement and affection, and I felt my heart swell in my chest.
She climbed into the driver's seat, and I made my way around to the passenger side, settling in with a grin on my face. Watching her behind the wheel of my car, the way her hands gripped the steering wheel with a mixture of determination and nerves, was honestly one of the most endearing sights I'd ever seen.
But just as she was about to start the car, something shifted in the air between us. I couldn't explain it, but there was this sudden tension—this magnetic pull that neither of us could ignore. She glanced at me, her eyes flickering with something deeper, and before I knew it, she was leaning across the console, her lips brushing against mine.
The kiss started soft, tentative, but then... something changed. The moment I kissed her back, the warmth of her lips sent a jolt of electricity through me, making my heart race. I reached out, cupping her face in my hands, and deepened the kiss, pulling her closer.
Aditi let out a soft sigh against my lips, her hands finding their way to the collar of my shirt, tugging me closer. I could feel the heat between us rising, the kiss growing more intense, more urgent, and I could barely think straight. Every touch, every brush of her lips against mine, sent waves of desire coursing through me.
It was only when I felt her shift slightly in her seat, her body pressing closer to mine, that I realized just how much this was affecting me. I felt a deep ache settle low in my stomach, my body responding in ways I couldn't control. And from the way Aditi suddenly pulled back, her cheeks flushed and her breath coming in short gasps, I knew she'd noticed too.
Her eyes widened slightly, and she glanced down, her face turning an even deeper shade of pink. "Oh," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she buried her face in the crook of my neck, clearly embarrassed.
I couldn't help but chuckle, my fingers gently brushing through her hair as I pulled her even closer. "Hey," I whispered, my voice low and teasing, "it's okay. You're kind of turning me on here."
She let out a small, nervous laugh, keeping her face hidden against my neck. "I didn't mean to," she mumbled, her words muffled against my skin.
I chuckled again, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "I know. But trust me, I'm not complaining."
For a moment, we just sat there, wrapped up in each other, the air between us thick with unspoken desire. But eventually, Aditi pulled back slightly, her blush still visible, and she cleared her throat, clearly trying to regain her composure. "Okay," she murmured, glancing back at the steering wheel. "I should... I should drive."
As she pulled out of the parking lot, the car humming smoothly under her control, I felt a surge of pride. She was driving my car—no, our car now, I guess—and it felt right. Everything about this felt right.
We drove in comfortable silence for a while, the soft hum of the engine and the cool night air washing over us. I couldn't resist reaching over, my hand finding its place on her thigh, resting there as if it belonged. Aditi glanced at me, her breath hitching slightly at the touch, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she let out a small, shy laugh, glancing sideways at me with those beautiful, mischievous eyes.
"Eyes on the road, Frosty," I murmured, my voice low and teasing.
Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, and she bit her lip, focusing on the road again. But I could tell my touch had gotten to her. I could see the way her breathing had quickened slightly, the way her grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Without thinking, I leaned over, my lips brushing against her neck softly, just below her ear. I felt her body stiffen for a second, then relax as a soft sigh escaped her lips.
"Kabir..." she whispered, her voice shaky as she tried to focus on driving.
I grinned against her skin, pressing another soft kiss to her neck. "You're doing great," I whispered in her ear, feeling the heat between us rising with every second.
Aditi shivered, her hands gripping the wheel tighter as I continued trailing soft kisses along her jawline, my hand gently squeezing her thigh. I could feel the tension in her, the way her body reacted to my touch, and it sent a surge of desire through me.
"Stop," she whispered, her voice breathy but playful.
"Stop what?" I asked innocently, my lips grazing her ear again.
"You know what," she muttered, glancing at me with flushed cheeks.
I chuckled, leaning back slightly but keeping my hand on her thigh, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. "Alright, alright," I said, my voice low and teasing. "But I'm not going anywhere, just so you know."
She shot me a flustered look, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. I loved the way she blushed around me, how easily I could get under her skin in the best possible way. It made everything feel more intimate, more real.
As we drove through the quiet streets, my hand never left her thigh, my thumb lazily stroking her skin as if I couldn't get enough of her touch. The tension between us simmered just below the surface, every glance, every small movement making my heart race faster.
When we finally pulled up to her house, the clock on the dashboard read 11:30 PM. I could see the lights on inside, and a small sigh escaped my lips. I wasn't ready to say goodnight, not yet.
Aditi parked the car, turning off the engine, and we both sat there for a moment, neither of us wanting to break the spell that had been cast over the night.
"Thank you," she said softly, glancing over at me with a shy smile.
I reached over, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "For what?"
"For tonight," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "For... everything."
I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "You don't have to thank me, Aditi. I should be thanking you."
Before she could respond, the front door of the house opened, and we both turned to see Anaya standing there, her arms crossed and a look of mock annoyance on her face.