Chapter 20 #2
His expression softened. “I was just ten when Keya and I came to live here with our grandfather. Our mother had just passed away.” His voice grew quieter.
“Over time, this house became the first place where I truly felt safe. We eventually moved out a few years later after our grandfather passed away. I was too young, away at boarding school, and Keya soon found it impossible to maintain the house by herself. It’s been lying vacant for years.
” A faint smile touched his lips. “I wanted it to feel like a home again.”
He looked so alone and vulnerable in that moment.
It made her chest tighten. God, she didn’t know so much about him.
She had so many questions, but she held them at bay.
He’d opened himself up to her tonight. Shown her a different side of himself.
It was enough for now. The questions could come later.
“This is beautiful. Truly,” she said.
He dipped his chin in acknowledgement before leading her back into the main house and upstairs to the floor above. He showed her the four bedrooms. Most of the rooms were still bare, with just wallpapers and lights in place.
“Do whatever you want with all of them,” he said easily. “Colors, furniture, layouts. You decide how you want to make this a home for yourself.”
He was really trying to make this home feel hers as well. And that was… really sweet of him. It was hard to come to terms with this side of him.
He pushed open the final door and led her inside the master bedroom.
Unlike the others, this room already had some furniture.
A massive bed in dark gray dominated the center, the sheets on it a stark black.
To one side of the room was a large walk-in wardrobe, already fitted with shelves and drawers, while a dresser was tucked neatly in the corner, with a center console for more storage.
Beyond that, she caught sight of the ensuite bathroom.
It was spacious, elegant, with dual sinks and warm lighting.
It struck her then that this room hadn’t been designed casually.
It had been built to be shared by a couple. With a future in mind.
For Akash and… his wife.
Which would be her now.
The thought made her pulse quicken.
During their initial discussions, she’d asked for separate bedrooms. He’d asked her for how long. They hadn’t spoken about it again, but they would have to at some point.
“You said you wanted a separate room,” he said quietly, as though he could hear the turmoil in her thoughts. “So, you can choose whichever one you like upstairs.”
He took a slow step closer.
“Or,” he added, his voice lower now, “you can stay here. With me.”
Her pulse stumbled, then raced. She knew what he was asking. He was asking her to take a chance on this attraction simmering between them and give in to him. And she was tempted. Deeply.
Even now, standing next to him, breathing in his scent, her body wanted to be near him, to hold him, to feel his hands on her.
She immediately shut down her spiraling thoughts.
She inhaled slowly. Everything was moving too fast between them. She needed things to slow down and figure everything out first. She hadn’t had the space to truly process everything she had agreed to. The reality of it hit her with a force that stole her breath. Her heart raced faster.
“I… I’m not sure yet,” she replied honestly. “As of now, let’s just stick to two separate rooms.”
“Alright. Whatever you want,” he said with a small smile.
Akash was being so calm. So reasonable. So effortlessly composed, as though this ease between them, this quiet companionship, had always existed.
But it hadn’t. Not even close.
And suddenly, it felt like she was being crushed beneath the weight of it all.
“Why are you being so nice?” she blurted out.
He frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve never been nice to me before. And now you are.
You’re being kind and sweet, and I don’t know how to handle it.
” The words tumbled out of her. “And then there’s…
this.” She gestured vaguely between them.
“This attraction, this pull. I don’t know what to do about it.
Or about you. It’s all so confusing. I’m usually so sure of myself, Akash.
About everything. But when it comes to you, I’m always flustered.
And I don’t like feeling flustered. I don’t like not being in control.
And yet with you, it feels like I’m not in control. ”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she brushed it off angrily. Another tear rolled down her face, annoying her even more. She turned away from him, hating that he was seeing her like this. Hating that she was feeling so conflicted.
Akash caught her by the waist and turned her around to face him. He tilted her chin up until she had no choice but to meet his eyes.
“Breathe,” he said softly. “Okay? Just… breathe.”
She did, her chest rising and falling with every breath. He caught a tear with his finger and wiped it off her cheek gently.
“You’re not alone in this,” he said softly, holding her close.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed too. I hadn’t planned on marrying so soon.
I hadn’t considered even marrying you. You were always off-limits.
But now, all of a sudden, I’m going to marry you, the only woman who has the power to destroy me.
I’m afraid too. All this is too much for me too.
But I am willing to try. Can you do the same? ”
Off-limits. What did he mean by that?
Akash pushed closer to her, gently caressing her waist, making her forget her thoughts.
His touch soothed her, calmed her frazzled nerves.
Soon a sense of peace washed over her. She rested her head against his chest, unable to believe she was standing like this with him, feeling so much at ease now because of him.
“Thank you,” she said, finally looking up at him. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Oh, I know exactly what came over you,” he said, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You’ve finally stopped pretending you don’t feel this… this heat and want between us.” He gave her a naughty smile. “I’m so glad you find me impossible to resist.”
“Don’t let that get to your head,” she said, her lips curving.
“Why the hell not?” he tilted his head, his eyes darkening. “The woman I want also wants me back. Of course, I’m thrilled about that.”
God, he was cute when he was flirting with her. Without thinking, she rose onto her toes to kiss his cheek. He turned just then, and her lips landed on his instead.
For a second, neither of them moved, and then…
the world shifted. Akash didn’t give her time to retreat.
He gathered her closer in his arms and pressed his mouth against hers, claiming her lips fully.
Her hands lifted and curled into his hair, holding him close.
Her breasts were crushed against his chest as she surrendered to him.
He sucked on her lower lip, and she was lost.
A heavy longing pooled inside her. A hunger she hadn’t allowed herself to name tightened inside her, making her breaths shallow. He had always been the only one capable of this. Of unraveling her with nothing more than a look or a touch. She had spent years trying to outrun what she felt for him.
But not anymore. He was going to be her husband.
Hers. And she wasn’t going to deny herself anymore.
She was going to claim him too, just as he was claiming her.
Her hands fisted into his hair as she licked his lips again and again.
His mouth parted, and she stroked her tongue against his. His hold on her tightened.
This felt right. The two of them together felt dangerously close to perfect. Her stomach fluttered as desire swept through her.
Akash lowered himself to sit on the bed, and she climbed astride him, her legs wrapped around his back. She planted her mouth on his, tangling her tongue with his, needing him, needing his hands on her skin. Fuck. There were too many clothes between them.
He shifted, pulling her closer, adjusting the skirts of her dress until her core met his raging erection. A sharp ache pulsed inside her. She moved her body against his, needing the friction, her nerves sizzling with want.
Akash slid the straps of her dress down at the same time she started to unbutton his shirt, all the while their mouths moved against each other.
He pushed the dress off her chest. Luckily, it had a built-in bra, and her skin was immediately bared to him.
His mouth moved down her chest, licking, sucking, biting.
He latched onto her nipple, swirling his tongue around it.
She whimpered as her hands flew to the back of his head, holding him to her as he sucked the pebbled tip.
Her head fell back helplessly as his hand squeezed her other breast. He then repeated his assault on her other breast, driving her mad with desire.
She snaked her hands inside his shirt, running them down his back, needing him closer, but he was too busy feasting on her to allow her that.
So she licked down the side of his neck, over the ink that had always fascinated her.
He bit her nipple and she moaned. He swirled his tongue over the bite, making her tremble.
His hands trailed over her bare legs, moving higher, up her thighs, until finally, he was at her core, where she needed him most. He shifted the thin silk covering her and pressed a finger at her core.
She moved against him, desperate, nearly mindless with desire for him.
“Akash, please,” she begged. “I want… I need…”
His finger slid inside her, filling her slowly, deliberately, giving her exactly what her body had been begging for.
A broken sound tore from her throat, her head falling back as sensation rushed through her.
She felt herself being overtaken by him, by the steady rhythm of his touch, by the way he knew precisely how to move and how to give her what she needed.