27
"Let's go back to the car." He smoothed her hair and then threw his blazer around her bare shoulders and used the first button on it to keep it closed from the front. "Come." He placed his hand behind her back and walked out taking her.
It was raining cats and dogs which had Rehaan drenched but had saved Shahwar from getting completely soaked because of the huge blazer hanging over her body. Her dress was still a little dry till they got to the car but her hair was all wet.
The driver was still fixing the tool for replacing the tyre and then Rehaan shot him a deathly stare to speed up his work, which made him hurry.
Rehaan had made Shahwar sit inside the car and then he sat inside too waiting for the car to finally move.
It was still pouring and Shahwar was shivering slightly because of the coolness of the weather.
She'd worn her strapped dress as per her daily outfit choice when she'd not known she'd be travelling in such conditions early in the morning.
"I told you to sit in the car, now you've risked yourself for catching a cold." Rehaan rubbed her hands to stop her shivering.
"I'm fine." Shahwar did her best not to stutter. She smiled at him with assurance.
"You're far from fine." He held both her hands in his and brought them closer to his mouth and blew air over them, suddenly Shahwar grew too aware of him at that movement.
His hair, his eyelids, his neck and the slightly unbuttoned black shirt dripping water droplets off of him became too visible for her. He continued rubbing her hands clearly oblivious to her eyes. "We'll get hot chocolate for my darling the moment we get to the guesthouse."
No one had ever said 'I love you' to Rehaan in his life before Shahwar.
Not even his parents. They'd never been very expressive with their feelings towards him as their only son.
They did sometimes indirectly express it for Iraj but that was it.
He'd never had anyone in his life who had been so kind and soft to him.
His wife was his most treasured person and it was intensifying with time, day by day.
The car started after a while and because of the rain roads had become muddy in the remote areas.
It took them longer to get to the guest house but they eventually reached after four hours.
The place belonged to Rehaan's father. It was a big mansion with glass doors and windows and plants all around the house.
The floors were grey and the furniture was brown. All of it.
Shahwar got inside the bedroom that Rehaan directed her to go to whilst he came inside later with her bag in his hands instead of giving it to house staff thinking she had something to do with that bag which was why she wasn't letting anyone else hold it back at home either.
She washed her face with water waiting for her things to be brought to the room and was surprised to see Rehaan holding her bag.
He'd been so well taught all his life to never do the tasks of the people who worked for him but nothing ever mattered when it came to Shahwar.
"Give it to me. You should go and change. " She took the bag from him.
"No you go and change first. You'll get sick. I have to ask someone to get the hot chocolate." He caressed her head and went out of the room.
Shahwar took her things out of the cotton shopper bag that was a rounded piece of ball before she opened it. Her clothes were all scrunched up, though she only needed her shorts and comfy strap top for now.
She took her clothes and her body and hair wash necessities to get herself cleaned up and out of the sticky rain clothes.
When she got inside there were no towels hanging around and she went to check the small area in the room before the bathroom that had many drawers.
Shahwar stepped out of the bathroom and saw Rehaan standing there without his shirt with the drawer opened looking for something inside it.
"I thought it would take you time." He said and then noticed she hadn't changed her clothes.
"Yeah, I um, I—" She'd forgotten what to say, she could only sense him everywhere. The after rain scent on him with his cologne was strong and his shirtless body was making it worse.
"What?" He stepped towards her not understanding what she wanted to say.
"You—I didn't take my clothes off." This time when she spoke and stuttered it was enough for him to understand why.
"You want me to do it for you?" He stood in the closest possible position to her and moved his hand back at her dress zipper.
Shahwar's entire body flowed in goosebumps at his touch when he slowly unzipped her dress, "I—Rehaan—I haven't even showered." Her voice was a whisper.
Rehaan hid his smirk and bent down kissing the side of her neck, "So you want to continue after a shower?" He pressed kisses further down her neck and Shahwar stood trying not become fluid.
"You didn't answer darling." Rehaan lifted the straps of her dress and then pushed them down her shoulders.
Shahwar realized how he'd be able to see everything, and placed her hands on top of each other over her surgical scar on her abdomen. "Don't look."
"Don't do that, Shahwar." He stopped touching her.
"It's not pretty. I don't look pretty." She started to feel too conscious about her physical appearance.
"You, Mrs Dur e Shahwar Kazmi are the most beautiful woman in the world." He kissed her forehead and moved her hands away from her abdomen. "You're pretty from everywhere," he bent down to her belly and kissed her scar, "Even here."
She felt too many things and didn't know what to do, so she hugged him and hid her face in his neck trying to make the butterflies in her belly calm down.
Rehaan lifted her in his arms and took her to the bed laying her down, "You're the prettiest my darling." He kissed her eyes, nose, cheeks.
"I love you." Shahwar touched his face feeling the rush of emotions inside her.
"It's an honor to be loved by you." And then he kissed her crashing his lips over hers.
···
When Shahwar opened her eyes it was very early morning.
Her back was towards Rehaan who was sleeping and his arms were around her waist holding her.
She turned a little and looked at him, her husband was an unreal perfection when it came to looks.
He looked so lovable to her all the time, and now when he was asleep couldn't stop admiring him in her thoughts.
And she was head over heels for him. "I love you.
I love you so much." She whispered and stroked his hair lightly, her fingers slipped out of them easily because they were too silky and soft.
Shahwar wanted to shower and eat something, she lifted his hands one by one away from him as slowly as possible and slid out of the bed going to the bathroom. After a shower she decided to go towards the kitchen if she could find it as it was still a little dark and sunrise was still minutes away.
Lurking around for a while on her tip toes she found the kitchen and then opened the refrigerator to find something to cook for breakfast. Due to everything that had happened the day before she hadn't eaten anything and was starving now.
She didn't have the heart to say it to her husband and ruin their moment who had fallen asleep later in her arms.
Shahwar found things to cook some parathas and she started to knead the dough soon enough later. Almost ready with the food she prepared tea and was pouring it into a cup when she felt arms around her stomach. "Hey." It was her husband.
Finishing filling the cup she set it over the counter, "You want tea or coffee?" Rehaan's chin was resting on her shoulder from behind her, he was wearing a shirt over his shorts.
"You left me alone." He didn't answer the question she'd asked.
"I thought I'd make breakfast. I made many parathas. You want some?" She tried to not say that she'd been hearing her stomach growl for a long time because she had not eaten.
"I'll have my breakfast prepared by the cook. Come to bed." He took the plate and cup of tea with him to the bedroom.
Shahwar felt weird a little. She didn't know what that was.
He didn't want to eat what she had made was something unusual but she shrugged it off and went to the room.
Rehaan sat her down on his lap and then fed her the food till the very last bite.
He then got up and kissed her head, "I'll go and shower.
I have to meet some people today who are coming in for a discussion about a matter related to capital gains and taxes. "
"Okay." She smiled at him, the one that was always there at her face.
When he went inside the bathroom Shahwar folded her legs on the bed and sat wondering what to do.
Fifteen minutes later Rehaan was out of the bathroom and was buttoning his shirt, Shahwar hopped off the bed going towards him.
She started buttoning his shirt herself and he slid his hands over her waist, "Shahwar? "
"Hm?" Her eyes were focused on the buttons.
"I don't want you to ever say you're not pretty. Are we clear?" He waited for her to respond though she wasn't making eye contact with him.
"Mmhmm." Shahwar nodded still focusing on his shirt even when she was done.
Rehaan paused to look at her face and then bent down kissing her forehead, "I'll be back in a few hours." She stood there as he left the room and closed the door behind her. It was going to be a long day, without him for her.
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