29 Back To Us #3
The kiss was instant fire. It wasn't gentle or tentative; it carried the pent-up tension of two months spent apart and the electric danger of sneaking out in the middle of the night.
Ansh's fingers tangled deep into her hair, holding her close as he kissed her back with a fierce, possessive rhythm. Niyati arched into his touch, her chest pressed tightly against his, her mind spinning as the familiar scent of his cologne wrapped around her like a intoxicating haze.
His hands slid up from her waist to her back, pulling her even closer until there wasn't a breath of space left between them. Niyati let out a soft, breathless gasp against his mouth, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as if hanging on for dear life.
Ansh shifted his lips down to her jawline, pressing hot, lingering kisses along the side of her neck, making a helpless shiver run straight down her spine. Every touch was heavy with a fierce devotion, a silent reminder that they belonged to each other now more than ever.
By the time they finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, Niyati collapsed softly against his shoulder. She rested her forehead against the crook of his neck, her hands clinging to his shoulders as her pulse hammered wildly.
Ansh wrapped his arms securely around her back, burying his face in her hair as his own chest heaved, his hand soothingly tracing up and down her spine until the storm finally quieted.
He leaned down, pressing a deep, tender kiss against her temple, refusing to let her go.
For a long while, neither spoke. Niyati listened to the steady, strong thud of his heart beneath her cheek, tracing idle patterns over the fabric of his shirt. But as the minutes ticked by, the lightness in her chest began to give way to a dark, familiar shadow.
Ansh felt the sudden shift in her posture immediately. "What happened?" he asked softly, his thumb gently stroking her arm.
Niyati let out a heavy sigh, her voice dropping to a guilty whisper. "Diya."
Ansh's arms tightened around her slightly. "I knew we'd get here eventually."
Lifting her head, Niyati looked up into his dark eyes, her expression troubled.
"I feel horrible, Ansh. She's my best friend. I've never hidden something this big from her before. She tells me everything-every crush, every family problem, every little detail of her day. And I'm sitting there every single afternoon pretending nothing has changed between us."
Ansh listened quietly, his gaze steady and understanding as she spilled her heart out.
"Sometimes she brings you up in conversation, and I have to force myself to act totally normal," Niyati continued, a faint, self-deprecating laugh escaping her lips. "Do you have any idea how difficult that is?"
"I can imagine," he murmured softly.
"And what am I even supposed to say to her?" she groaned, resting her chin on his chest. "'By the way, Diya, your brother and I have been secretly sneaking out together'?"
Ansh couldn't help the faint smirk that touched his lips. "Well, maybe don't open with that exact line."
Niyati glared at him playfully, swatting his chest. "I'm being serious!"
"I know you are," he said, his expression softening as he gently cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I feel guilty too, Niyati. She's my sister."
"You do?"
"Of course I do," Ansh admitted honestly. "But I don't think we should rush into telling her just yet."
Niyati frowned slightly. "Why not?"
"Because everything between us is still so new," he explained gently, his thumb brushing over her cheekbone.
"We're happy, and we're back together, but we've both been hurt before. I don't want to bring Diya into the middle of this until we are completely, undeniably solid-until we know we aren't going to break each other's hearts again."
Niyati searched his face, her tone quiet. "So you think keeping it from her is the right thing to do?"
"No," Ansh replied with uncompromising honesty. "It's wrong. But we just need a little more time to get our footing." He leaned down, pressing his forehead lightly against hers. "When the time is right, we'll tell her together."
"Together?" she repeated, seeking the reassurance in his eyes.
"Together," Ansh promised firmly. "I am not letting you face her dramatic reaction alone."
A soft, genuine laugh finally broke through Niyati's guilt. "You know she's going to kill you first, right?"
"I'm fully prepared for that."
"And then she's going to kill me."
"I'll shield you," he grinned softly.
Niyati let out a long breath, the heavy knot in her chest loosening just enough for her to breathe again. She rested her head back against his chest, listening to his pulse. "Okay."
Ansh kissed the crown of her head, his arms holding her close against the late-night chill. "Okay?"
"We'll tell her together when the time is right," Niyati agreed softly.
Outside, the quiet night moved on, completely oblivious to the secret wrapped inside the parked car.
They both knew the truth couldn't stay hidden forever, and that a storm was waiting for them when it finally came to light.
But tonight, wrapped in each other's arms, they just wanted a little more time.