CHAPTER 29
Aanya had managed to enjoy herself at the party.
Though it was an official gathering, she was finally surrounded by colleagues who felt less like strangers and more like friends, people she could share laughter and light moments with.
The enjoyment stayed well within professional bounds, and she consciously limited her drinks.
Later that night, she returned to her residence with Shikha.
The moment Aanya stepped into her room, she collapsed onto the bed, reached for her phone and checked her email. There was no email from him. Her heart sank. Where was his email? Why hadn’t he written tonight? She craved his words. She wanted to talk to him. She needed him.
Who would’ve imagined that the man she once wanted to escape would become the one she longed for?
Reyansh had changed. She had felt it in his emails, in his voice when they spoke, the desperation to hold onto her, to protect the fragile bond of their marriage.
That shift in him had reshaped her entire perception of their relationship.
And now, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting something more with him.
Something solid. Something real. Something lasting.
Maybe it was the wine still coursing through her bloodstream, maybe it was just the loneliness of the night, but her emotions were heightened, her romantic longing magnified. Her body ached with desire, her mind clouded by thoughts of him. This was what Reyansh Chopra had done to her.
And just then, something clicked in her memory, something he had said in their last email. Unable to fight the need stirring inside her, with an impatient breath, Aanya sat up, opened her inbox, and began typing an email.
Husbanddddddd,
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Wifeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
**************
Wife,
I assume you’re drunk. That would explain all the extra letters.
Go to sleep.
P.S. What’s that “YES” for?
Husband
**************
Husbandddd,
Yes. Remind me of that kiss again. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee
Wifeeeeeeeeee
**************
Wife,
Tempting, but I’m pretty sure you’ll forget all of this once the alcohol wears off.
Husband
**************
Husband,
Then come here before it fades. Kiss me again.
Wife
**************
Wife,
I don’t want to take advantage of you while you’re drunk.
Husband
**************
Husband,
Shut up.
Don’t act so innocent. Come here. Right now.
Wife
**************
Wife,
You sure? You won’t regret this tomorrow?
Husband
**************
Husband,
I won’t. Stop wasting time. Please come.
Wife
**************
Wife,
ON MY WAY.
Husband
Fatigue knocked her out the moment she read his reply. Only if he could really come here! She flopped on the bed to sleep, too drained to even change her outfit.
Few hours Later
Aanya stirred in her sleep, still dressed in the same skirt she had worn to the cocktail party. It was still dark outside, when her phone buzzed sharply. It was a message, not an email. That alone ruled out Reyansh. They rarely texted. Email was their thing . She opened the message drowsily.
“Open the door.”
What?? She checked the number and her heart leapt in her chest. The message was from him .
And what did he mean by open the door? Had he sent her some gift or delivery? At this hour?
“Why?” she typed back, her fingers trembling.
Half a minute later, his reply arrived.
“Check your emails. You’ll know why.”
Confused, Aanya hurriedly opened her inbox, and her breath hitched. She had indeed teased him in her last emails, tempting him to come for a kiss. But that was just playful flirting. He was in India. There was no way he could be standing at her door. Not within a couple of hours.
Still unsure, but compelled by curiosity, Aanya climbed out of bed, wore her slippers, and tiptoed to the front door. She unlocked and opened it cautiously.
And froze.
Standing in front of her, was Reyansh Chopra himself. Leaning against the doorway with that infuriatingly sexy smirk, dressed in black, eyes glinting with the same fire she’d been dreaming about for six months.
She stumbled back, clutching the doorknob.
“Rey—?” she gasped.
“Hi, wife,” he greeted.
She blinked, rubbed her eyes, but he didn’t disappear.
“Am I dreaming?” she whispered.
“No,” he replied, stepping inside, his gaze never leaving hers.
They were seeing each other after six long months.
Emails and one brief phone call had kept them afloat, but this…
this was real. She could see him, touch him, breathe the same air.
And he looked like he felt it too…every bit of the ache she’d been carrying.
“You—how are you here? Already?” she breathed.
Reyansh sighed, rolling his eyes playfully. “Will you ask me everything right here, or are you going to let me in?”
She flushed. “Of course. I’m sorry… please, come in.” She stepped aside and locked the door behind them.
As her fingers brushed his, a jolt of electricity ran through her veins. Every nerve in her body remembered him. Missed him. Needed him.
Long-distance may have kept them emotionally connected, but nothing matched the feel of being near him.
She leaned against the door, breathless as he turned to her slowly.
His eyes moved over her bare legs; the soft skirt barely skimmed her thighs.
His gaze devoured her like she was both his temptation and salvation.
“You are alone?” he asked.
“No… Shikha is here. She’s asleep… in the next room,” she replied quickly, aware of everything. His closeness. His scent. The heat between them.
He smirked again, taking in her flushed cheeks.
“Read our last emails?” he murmured, his voice like silk.
She nodded, too shy to meet his gaze. “Water? Should I get you some?” She darted into the kitchen without waiting for his answer.
Reyansh smiled lopsidedly. She was flustered, and adorably so.
She returned with just a bottle. “Oh… sorry. You need a glass too—”
Before she could retreat again, he caught her wrist and pulled her close.
“Relax. I don’t need anything,” he said, holding her still.
She could barely breathe.
“Why?” she whispered.
“I came to see you .”
“I know…” she swallowed. “But how did you come here? I mean, so quickly?”
“I landed this afternoon,” he admitted.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to cancel your party for me.
And I brought your father with me. You wanted to meet him, right?
We’re staying at a hotel. Even Di doesn’t know yet.
I wanted to surprise you both tomorrow. But then you tempted me, and I couldn’t wait.
You asked me to remind you of something, remember? ”
Aanya’s skin warmed under his touch. The playful flirting over email had been easy. But now, with him this close, she couldn’t even form a simple sentence. Her voice refused to come out.
A sound from Shikha’s room broke the moment, and instinctively, Aanya grabbed his hand and led him into her bedroom, shutting the door softly.
“I don’t want her to see you here at this hour,” she explained, shutting the door.
“I’m not your fling, Aanya. I’m your husband. I have every right to see you anytime I want.”
She flushed deeper. “I know… but she’ll never let me live it down. She already teases me too much about our emails.”
He chuckled before glancing around her room.
“How could you convince Dad to come here?” she asked curiously.
“I told him I wanted his company, that’s all. Besides he wanted to meet you too. Although he doesn’t know you’re ready to discuss his divorce. Otherwise, he would never come here.”
She smiled. “Thank you… I’ll talk to him.”
He couldn’t stop staring. She looked so different, vibrant… glowing.
“Ruhi will finally meet her uncle,” she chirped, trying to break the intensity.
“I can’t wait to hold her.”
He didn’t say anything. Just looked.
“How long are you here?” she whispered.
“Flying back day after tomorrow.”
She stepped toward him, the joy draining from her face.
“Just one day? That’s not fair, Reyansh,” she whispered, her fingers tightening against his shirt. “We’ve been apart for six months, and you want to leave after one day?”
“Aanya—”
“No! Don’t give me your work excuses.”
Before she could push him away, he seized her wrists and pinned her softly against the wall.
Her breath caught.
“You still want that kiss?” he asked, voice deep and husky, laced with promise.
Aanya paused. She didn’t want him to think she was under the influence of alcohol. She was fully aware of her desires and what she wanted… what she needed . From him. Only him.
Her eyes met his, and she whispered with a gentle nod, “Yes.”
Reyansh grinned as he captured her lips in a searing kiss. It was slow at first, just a tentative meeting of lips. But the second he tasted her, months of restraint snapped.
He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding into her silky hair as she pressed into him, sliding her arms around his neck. When she moaned softly against his mouth, it only spurred him on. Reyansh kissed her like a man starved, like she was air and fire and every craving he’d denied.
His hands grazed her waist, lifting her slightly onto her toes as he backed her into the wall. She clung to him, fisting his shirt, needing him closer. Desperately closer.
“Do you know,” he murmured pulling back slightly, giving her time to breathe, “how many nights I’ve dreamt of this? Of you… of us… like this? ”
Her lips parted, a gasp escaping when his hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her lower lip with aching tenderness.
“I missed you, Aanya, so damn much,” he murmured. “And I know you missed me too.”
His words made her heart thud violently in her chest.
“Thank you for that note you left behind while leaving for California. It gave me hope,” he said, brushing his forehead against hers. “But I never stopped aching for you.”
His lips found hers in the next breath.