CHAPTER 34 #2
Reyansh let out a low chuckle, biting back his own restraint as he pulled her flush against him.
“I wouldn’t, nor I intend to be, trust me.”
They were about to kiss when the elevator door opened on their floor and they came face-to-face with Anand and Kyle, who stepped out of the opposite lift.
“Mr. Malhotra,” Reyansh greeted smoothly, breaking the intimate moment without missing a beat.
Aanya jerked back, flustered, her cheeks burning as she turned to face her father. It was mortifying because she was sure they had seen them almost in action, that too in the elevator. Reyansh, of course, was holding his smirk, enjoying this situation far too much.
Anand raised a brow but said nothing, while Kyle tried to hide her amusement.
“We thought of asking you both to dinner, but…” Anand hesitated. “But maybe next time,” he added, sensing their moment.
“No, why next time?” Reyansh cut in. “I think it’s a great idea. Let’s have dinner together.”
Aanya stared at him, speechless.
“Uhh…” she started to protest but bit her tongue.
“You both sure?” Kyle asked.
“Yes,” Aanya replied, managing a smile. She was furious with Reyansh for being so unromantic at that moment. But part of her was also happy. She wanted time with her father and Kyle, and this was a chance to understand what their relationship status was.
“Alright then. We’ll wait for you at the restaurant downstairs,” Anand said.
“We’ll change and join you,” Reyansh nodded and took Aanya’s hand, pulling her toward their suite.
“I hope you’re not mad,” he asked, reading her mood instantly.
They stepped into the room, and the moment the door shut behind them, she suddenly spun him around and pinned him to the wall, her hands flat against his chest.
“Why would you do that?” she demanded.
“You’ll know why. For now, all I can say is that its part of a bigger surprise.”
“Reyansh,” she said, her frustration rising, “what kind of surprise involves rejecting alone time with your wife for a family dinner?”
He could see the annoyance simmering in her gaze, and yet he smiled gently as he cupped her face.
“Trust me. It’s going to be worth it.”
“Your one-liners are not helping me calm down,” she muttered.
She turned away, frustrated, but he caught her hand and stopped her.
“We’re getting married tomorrow.”
Aanya froze, her breath caught in her throat. Slowly, she turned to face him, eyes wide, heartbeat thudding in her ears.
“What did you just say?”
“Yes,” he repeated, stepping closer. “Tomorrow. With all the rituals, the traditions… everything we skipped the first time.”
She didn’t know how to react. Shock, joy, disbelief…everything hit her at once.
“We never did all that,” he continued. “We signed some legal papers, called ourselves husband and wife, and that was it. But I want to give you more than that. I want you to feel married to me.”
Whatever frustration she had melted in an instant. She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as his arms wrapped around her.
He stroked her back, lips brushing her temple. “That’s why I agreed for dinner with your father and Kyle. I’m going to speak to them over this. I hope they don’t refuse.”
“ Dare they refuse,” she whispered, eyes shining. “Because I want this too.”
A smile tugged at his lips.
“What gave you the idea though?” she asked, cupping his cheek.
“I don’t know,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe Di’s emotional speeches finally got to me. But the more I thought about it, the more I knew that I want to give you everything. Every ceremony. Every moment. Just us, together.”
Aanya laughed softly, heart full, eyes shining. “You really are full of surprises, Mr. Chopra.”
“And you’ve only seen the beginning, Mrs. Chopra.”
They kissed again, this time slower, deeper, as if grounding themselves in the moment, anchoring to the reality that they would be getting married again.
This time, not out of convenience.
This time, with everything their hearts had finally come to accept.
Dinner
“It’s a wonderful idea, Reyansh,” Anand exclaimed. “I’d be honoured to give my daughter’s hand to you… again.”
Kyle nearly dropped her spoon. She glanced at Aanya, who sat blushing beside her husband, clearly overwhelmed as Reyansh proposed for her hand to her father.
“Aanya,” Kyle said, gently interrupting the moment. “Is this what you want too?”
Aanya blinked, caught off guard. This was the first time Kyle had ever asked her what she wanted.
A part of her wished someone had asked her the first time they married her off to Reyansh.
But maybe it had worked out for the better, because back then, she would have said no.
And that ‘no’ would have cost her the chance to fall in love with this man sitting next to her.
“Thank you for asking me this time, Kyle,” she said softly. “And yes. I do want to marry my husband… again .”
Anand struggled to keep his tone even. So much had changed.
He now sat across from both women he cared deeply for, and they were not just cordial, they felt connected too.
Kyle offered him a warm glance, and he mouthed a silent thank you in return.
Reyansh and Aanya both noticed the exchange, quietly realizing that the bond between them had mended. Words weren’t needed to confirm it.
“So, when do we do this?” Anand asked, clearing his throat. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Reyansh replied without hesitation. He lifted Aanya’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”
Aanya playfully withdrew her hand and pinched his thigh under the table.
“Now who needs to behave?” she whispered against his ear.
Reyansh smirked and turned back to her father. “Sunny has arranged everything. The ceremony will take place at a private beach. I have talked to the Priest here. He suggested the most auspicious time—5:15 p.m. tomorrow. It will be an evening wedding.”
Aanya was stunned. She hadn’t expected this level of preparation from Reyansh.
“A beach wedding?” Kyle echoed, delighted. “I remember Anand telling me that Aanya love beaches.”
Aanya was surprised. “You two talk about me?”
“We do,” Kyle said, her tone warmer than ever. “He’s always spoken about you even at times when I refused to listen. But I won’t make that mistake again. You’ve done so much to hold this family together, Aanya. You’re not just important to your father anymore. You’re important to me too.”
Kyle reached across the table and touched Aanya’s hand. Aanya clasped it back, speechless but deeply moved. She had her father back and also a stepmother who no longer pushed her away. And finally, she had a husband she had fallen for, irrevocably. She couldn’t have asked for more.
****************
After dinner, the two couples stood outside the elevators, ready to part for the night.
“So,” Anand began with a teasing glint in his eyes, “Reyansh, Aanya... I hope you both know that couples aren’t allowed to stay together the night before the wedding.”
Aanya’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. Reyansh too stiffened beside her.
“That’s true,” Kyle chimed in, playing along. “Aanya can sleep in our room tonight.”
“No,” Reyansh cut in. “You’re forgetting that Aanya is already my wife. We are staying the night together and that’s non-negotiable.”
Anand and Kyle exchanged a glance and then burst into laughter.
“We were just testing you two,” Anand said, patting Reyansh’s back. “No one’s tearing you apart. Good night and we’ll see you both in the morning.”
Aanya’s cheeks were red. She hadn’t expected her father to tease them like that. And watching Reyansh’s possessive reaction… it made her blush even more.
Later that night – Hotel Room
When Aanya came out of the bathroom taking a quick shower, she found Reyansh on a video call with Nani. He was speaking about their remarriage.
“Yes, she’s here,” he said, glancing at Aanya as she moved around the room, fixing the bed. “One second... Aanya,” he called.
She turned to him.
“Nani wants to speak with you.”
Aanya felt heat rise to her face. This time, he was doing it all right, including taking the consent of their families.
She joined him on the couch and greeted looking at the screen.
“Hello, Nani.”
Nani smiled. “Reyansh told me about the remarriage. I’m very happy with your decision.”
Aanya exhaled in relief.
“I wish I, Radhika, and Rishi could be there in person... but it’s alright.”
“You can still attend,” Aanya offered quickly. “Reyansh said he’d send the jet.”
“He did, yes. But Rishi is out of town. He returns tomorrow morning and it’ll be too late. And Ruhi’s still too young for such a long trip.”
Aanya nodded.
“Nani,” Reyansh said, leaning in so they were both in view, “I’ll ask Sunny to set up a live video link. You’ll be able to watch the ceremony from start to finish.”
Nani smiled, comforted by the thought. “That would mean a lot. Radhika is asleep. So, I’ll tell her in the morning. All the best for tomorrow, both of you.”
“Thank you,” they replied together.
Reyansh ended the call and leaned back with a sigh. “Families informed. Arrangements in place. So what’s left?”
Aanya tapped her chin. “What am I wearing?”
He gave her a devilish look. “Your outfit is ready. I’ll show it to you tomorrow. As for tonight …” His gaze raked over her, slow and hungry. “I’d prefer nothing.”
Goosebumps erupted on her skin at his reply.
“Wedding’s tomorrow,” she reminded, arching a brow—half teasing, half warning. “Which means... so is our wedding night.”
“No,” Reyansh murmured, pulling her gently into his arms. “We’ve always done things backwards. We got married first, then got to know each other, and then fell in love. So tomorrow is our real wedding… and tonight—”
He didn’t finish. She placed a finger on his lips, silencing him with a soft smile.
“No excuses,” she whispered.
He raised a brow, amused. “No excuses? Just a few hours ago, before dinner, you were desperate for more. And now you’re denying me?”
Her smile deepened. “That’s because tomorrow’s wedding wasn’t part of the plan. But now that we’re doing it the right way, I want to wait.”
He exhaled slowly, almost nodding in understanding, until she leaned closer and whispered, “But we can still do a bit more… without crossing that final line.”
Reyansh stilled, his eyes darkening as her meaning sank in. Desire flickered across his features, tightening every muscle in his body.
She smiled, wicked and soft as she continued. “But only if you can control where to stop.”
His eyes flashed. That was all the invitation he needed. He kissed her again…hard, fierce, tasting her teasing challenge. Then he pulled back just enough to speak, his breath ragged.
“I’ll do my best… but if you start begging for more, and I lose the last thread of my patience, don’t blame me.”
Aanya gasped, heart racing. “Then let’s test that practically.”
That was all he needed.
His mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss as his hands slid around her waist. In one swift motion, he tugged at the sash of her robe, letting it fall open, his self-control hanging by a thread as he saw her wearing a similar black lace lingerie underneath.
“You’re sexy as f*ck, Aanya,” he groaned before burying his face in her neck.
She was already worked up just being this close to him; and now his sultry voice was enough to make her go crazy.
Seconds later, he picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down gently and hovered over her.
His tongue traced around her lips that were slightly open, while his hands unclasped the hook of her bra at the back.
He shoved the lace off, his eyes hooded as he took in her soft mounds.
he The way he was looking at her right now was so insanely hot.
As his mouth lowered and took one of her full breasts in his mouth, his hand slid down into her panties, touching her where she ached the most. With every move he made with his fingers down and his mouth, Aanya moaned.
She was his to do with as he pleased at this point.
Soon, the pressure swirled in her belly while his fingers strummed inside her.
And just when she thought it was all too much, Reyansh pushed himself lower, his head suddenly anchoring between her legs.
Her eyes darkened as his mouth replaced his fingers down there and the sensations that swirled in her belly were past her control.
“Look at me,” he demanded as she tried to shut her eyes, giving into those sensations.
Aanya opened her eyes again and looked at him down.
The look on his face was like he wanted to run his lips over every damn inch of her.
Looking at her, he ravished her with his mouth and fingers, teasing her internal bundle of nerves relentlessly.
Her knees spread wider in a desperate pursuit to come undone.
Soon her legs began to pulse and jerk and her body arched up off the bed, as it exploded with release. Reyansh slowly eased his touch, letting her ride the high, then moved up, pulling her into his arms again.
She was still breathless, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted.
He kissed her temple, chuckling softly. “You were this close to tearing the sheets, Mrs. Chopra. Should I be worried you’re about to beg for more?”
Aanya lifted her gaze, her lips curving into a slow, wicked smile. “The more you tease me tonight, Mr. Chopra… the longer I’m going to make you wait tomorrow.”
Reyansh laughed under his breath, shaking his head. “Cruel woman.”
She giggled too, both knowing full well that neither of them had the patience to wait. They were already desperate. Tonight, had pushed them to the edge. Tomorrow would be the night.
He pulled her closer, tucking her into his side.
“Finally… things are falling back into place,” he whispered against her hair.
“Hmm,” she murmured, lazily tracing circles on his chest. “Just don’t leave me alone the next morning like you did last time,” she whispered.
“I won’t,” he promised. “Whenever you wake up, you’ll find me right next to you.”
It was a big promise.
But Aanya believed him.
Because this time, it wasn’t just a marriage.
It was love.