Chapter 16

“That’s when I packed my bags, and moved to New York…”

I stare out at the ocean as the waves hit the sand, feeling a calming sense of relief wash over me now that he knows about my past.

He squeezes my hand, and I look up at the man sitting next to me. His eyes are fixed on me, and even in the darkness of the night as we sit on the beach facing the water- I can see his eyes brimming with an array of emotions.

And I realize I need to finish where I left off.

“…which was the best decision of my life… it’s when you came into my life, Arnav, and showed me what love really means.”

As I smile up at him, wiping my tears away, I notice him blinking away his own tears, turning away for a split second.

He raises my hand to his lips, and places a gentle kiss on the palm of my hand.  I look out at the water, and the starry sky connecting together at the horizon, a complete sight that is meant to be together.

Together… will Arnav want that with me now that he knows about my past?

I take a deep breath and then wrap my arm with his, leaning my head on his shoulder.  

“Arnav, I am sorry for doing this right after I was finally able to voice that I love you… but, you needed to know about my past, before we take our relationship any further. I know this conversation should have taken place a while back, but I…”

“You don’t need to say anything else, Khushi. If you think that I will love you any less or I would change my mind about us… you are mistaken. After knowing what you have been through, I love you and respect you more than before.”  

He pauses, and places a kiss on my head.  

“I can’t believe you went through it all alone. Why didn’t you tell your parents or even Di? They would have helped and supported you earlier.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t… I guess I didn’t want to disappoint my parents. How could I tell them that the person they chose for me was wrong? This was the only thing they had ever asked of me, how could I say no without giving it a chance?  Even Anjali, she was going through so much herself with not being able to have a baby, and I just couldn’t add this burden on her. We both know how protective she is, and this would not have been good for her. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind. At that point in time, I felt it was best to handle it on my own. Keeping a happy facade helped from them finding out. I was trying to make the relationship work… I really, really did try for my parents and I thought… um… I… loved him.”

“Shhh Khushi, I have no doubt you did.”  He whispers.

But, anger then takes over him as I feel his body tense up, his voice and eyes become cold and distant, as I look up at him.

“He was an insecure asshole who wasn’t man enough to respect you for who you are… a beautiful, intellectual, compassionate woman. He was downright scum, who didn’t deserve you in the first place. If I could get my hands on him, I actually would like to teach him a lesson so that he never touches a woman again! What a disgrace to all mankind. He was never worthy of your… love…”

He tightens his jaw shaking his head, and I notice his other hand is curled up in a tight fist, as he looks at the water.

“Arnav, please look at me.”

I move to sit in front of him forcing him to do so, but he closes his eyes.

“I love you, and that’s all that matters. I now know what I felt for him was not love. It was an illusion, a forced emotion that I made myself feel because that is what was expected. I really didn’t know what it was to be in love…”

I take his face in my hands, and lean up to place a gentle kiss on his lips, which relaxes him instantly. It hits me that listening to my past has not been easy for him. Regardless, he listened selflessly as I talked about my relationship with Sameer. It’s time that I stop holding back, and tell him what I have been feeling for him the last few weeks. The words that I haven’t been able to voice.

“Arnav, what we have is love… you are the first person I think about when I wake up, and the last person before I go to bed. Seeing you and being in your arms is always the highlight of my day, even when we are around each other all the time at work and home. You make me feel alive, and love me for who I am with my strengths and weaknesses.  And, the undeniable chemistry and attraction we share, I have never felt that until I met you. The fact is… nothing matters more to me in this world then you. And this has only happened and will only happen with you… I love you, Arnav.”

I brush away the lone tear that shines in the darkness as it falls down on his cheek. There is tenderness in his gaze, mirroring mine for what we share with each other. A bond that connects our souls.

He pulls me into his lap, and I wrap my arms around his neck, placing a kiss on his forehead.

“I love you too, Khushi.”

Our lips come together simultaneously, gently caressing. I clutch onto his shirt, and pull him closer. His lips slant across mine, as his tongue seeks access to my mouth. I moan as he conquers my mouth, deepening and lengthening the kiss.

Nothing but he and I exist at the moment, lost in our world of desire, passion and love.

We part for much needed air, controlling our breathing and pounding hearts as we hold onto to each other.

I blush, burying my face in the crook of his neck at the desire this man has awakened inside of me. I can feel the hardness of his arousal, and I find myself craving for more than what we have shared.

Is it normal to want more?

“Sweetheart, tum theek ho?”  His voice low, and husky, gently stroking my hair.

“I feel so good right now… free and alive again. While this week has been taxing on me and our relationship, but it has forced me to figure out what I want from life. The distance has made me realize, that I need you in my life to survive. I am ready to move forward with you… us, without ever looking back. It’s been years since I have felt a sense of calmness inside of me. Do you know what I feel like doing right now? At this very moment…”

I stand up excitedly, shaking the sand off of me, and then give him my hand to help him up.

“What would you like to do at… almost four o’clock in the morning?”  He says looking at his phone.

“You and your phone, one of these days, I am going to hide it!”

“I really don’t know what you have against my phone. I think we need to go inside, and go to sleep.”  He says, letting out a yawn.

“We are not going to sleep until I get to do what I want.” I pout my lips, and tilt my head, which gets his attention immediately.

“Damn those lips… okay, what do you want to do at this hour?”  He says caressing my lips with his fingers.

“Take a dip in the ocean!” I smile, raising my eyebrow.

“What?!  Are you out of your mind?! We can go in the afternoon.  But for now I am going inside.”

He turns around and walks towards the pathway leading up to the house. But I am not backing down. Once Khushi Kumari Gupta has her mind set on something, it will happen.

“Okay, Arnav… see you later and sleep well without me.” I yell out to him, but he makes no attempt to turn around.

Oh well, guess I will go by myself.  I start walking towards the water, excited to feel it against my skin. It’s something that I have wanted to do since the moment we got here this afternoon. But the water in the darkness makes it more inviting with no one around. To be able to do as I please.

As I get closer to the water, I turn around to see if he is there but I don’t see him. I momentarily wonder where he has disappeared, but my excitement holds no bounds as the tide crashes down coming closer to my feet. I walk further towards the water, my heart pounding in anticipation, and scream as its coldness covers my feet.

“Hai Devi Maiya, the water is freezing!”

The child inside of me makes an appearance as I continue to squeal wading in the water knee deep, but my eyes widen seeing the wave coming towards me. Shouting I begin to run back towards the shoreline, but two strong arms hold me by my waist pulling me towards the wave.

“Sweetheart, you wanted to take a dip… we are going along with the wave, let’s go!”

“No, Arnav… nooooo…”

Despite my screaming and kicking, it’s no use as the wave engulfs us. He holds onto me as we are submerged momentarily. Feeling secure in his arms, I lean against him as the water takes us towards the shore.

Both of us run out of the water falling down on the ground, feeling exhilarated.

“That was so much fun… thank you for coming back for me.”

“I never left, nor will I ever leave you.” His serious gaze is fixed on me, as he stands and helps me up. “I had walked to the side, but since you were looking towards the house, you didn’t notice me.”

Moving closer to him, I wrap my arms around him, pulling him close to me. The warmth of being in his arms and the excitement of going into the cold water overwhelms me as I find myself trembling.

He pulls away, rubbing my shoulders.

“Khushi, you are shivering from the cold water. I swear if you get sick… forget it, at this rate we both will get sick. Let’s go inside, and get out of these wet cold clothes.”

I nod, as he wraps his arm around my shoulder and we walk back towards the house.     

Once we are up on the deck. I look back out at the ocean. The night sky is slowly fading away, making way for a new day A new beginning for me, where only the present and future exist with my Arnav.

*****

The gleam of light shines through the gap of the curtain, causing my eyes to flutter. As I try to move, I feel his weight holding me down, his legs wrapped over mine, and his arm around my waist. I shift a little to lie on my side, which makes him stir, moving his leg off of mine.

It’s not often that I wake up before him, so I stare down at his body stretched across the bed. When I take in his soft and serene expression on his face, I realize what a contrast it is to when he is awake.       

I stroke his ruffled hair away from his face, and lean down to kiss his cheek.  I smile feeling his stubble, a look on him that I have come to find irresistibly sexy. I shamelessly look at his well-toned body that has nothing but his night shorts. I blush at the sensual thoughts that make their way into my head. Even my body reacts, a slow warmth spreading through me.

I gently move his arm from my waist, and sit up to get off the bed.  But I stop, as he stirs, and slowly opens his eyes.

“Um… Khushi, why are you awake? Didn’t we just go to sleep?”  He says rather huskily, stretching out his arms and legs, as the covers completely slip off of him.

I brazenly stare at him, biting my lip, seeing his shorts slide a little further down almost exposing him.

What is wrong with me?

Why am I acting like a hormonal teenager?

I quickly look away and get up from the bed before he realizes what thoughts are running through my head.

“Where the heck are you going?”

“Where am I… going?  Um… shower… yes, I am going to take a shower!  We can’t stay in bed all day.  Look it’s almost twelve o’clock…”

“Why are you stuttering?”

“No. I’m not stuttering. It’s the afternoon now, so I think we should get up.”

“So, what?  We didn’t go to bed till almost six o’clock, since someone wanted to go take a dip in the ocean. Now it’s my turn to want something, and that is you in bed with me… so come here.” He orders, all the while trying to mimic me by pouting his lips

“Is it working?”  He asks, raising his eyebrow.

How can I resist that face? I sigh, and climb back into bed next to him pulling the comforter over us. It’s better to cover him up before I get distracted again.

“It looks like someone is in a lazy mood today. Sorry for keeping you up late last night.”

He pulls me closer to him, as I wrap my arms around him.

“Last night was worth it, to hear you say those three special words. And, I can’t believe you got me to go in that water.  It was freezing, but it felt great.”

“I didn’t make you do anything; you came in on your own.”

“Of course I had to come, since there was no way I was going to let you go in the water by yourself in the dark.” He places a kiss on top of my head. “What would you like to do today?”

Little does he know, I know just the place to take him to this evening, after looking at the brochures Robert had left for us. But how can I make it work without him finding out?

“Actually, I have something in mind for the evening. It’s a surprise. So, you decide what you would like to do till then.”

Let’s hope I can pull this off…

“A surprise? Guess, I will have to wait and see. And for now, we can do whatever I want now? Well, I am very hungry…” He says gently caressing my shoulders.

“Sure, what do you want for breakfast? The fridge is stocked so I can make us something.”  

As I am getting out of his hold, he pushes me back down, and I stare into his smoldering gaze.

“Sweetheart, I wasn’t talking about food. I was talking about you.” He says placing a soft kiss on my neck.

“Arnav…”

“Khushi, bharosa hai mujh pe?” He whispers leaning his forehead against mine.

“Apne aap se zyada.”

We reach for each other, and our lips meet for a passionate kiss.

His hand makes its way under my shirt, sweeping across my waist up to my bare breast. I run my hands through his hair, pulling him closer. As the kiss deepens, I arch up, and gasp when I feel his arousal against my thigh.

He groans as he pulls away, and takes off my shirt. As he crushes me against him, my naked breasts rest against his bare chest. His name escapes my lips, holding him tightly as he lays wet kisses down my neck.

As the kiss deepens, and I can feel the throbbing ache in my core. I moan breathlessly as his thumb grazes the tightening peak of my breast, cupping the heavy weight gently. He pulls away, looking down at me with his burning gaze.

“Do you know how I badly I want you right now?”   

As badly as my body wants him, like never before. Those words are left unsaid, when he surprises me at reading my thoughts.

He shakes his head, before placing a gentle kiss on my lips, then lies down next to me, pulling the cover over us.

“Khushi, I am sorry… I don’t know what came over me.”  He whispers looking up at the ceiling.

How the hell does he do this all the time?

It’s getting harder to control ourselves, but this man respects me and loves me enough to know when to stop. But it feels right with him, he desires me, as much as I desire him.

Is it wrong to want more? The way my body is burning with a fiery sensation, and I can’t deny it any longer. I can’t help but laugh at our situation, and turn over on my side, to see his lips curve up in a smirk.

“Is Khushi Kumari Gupta laughing at me?”

“No, I am laughing at us.”  I say unable to control my laughter, which stops immediately as soon as he gets up from the bed.

The view. Oh my God the fucking view as he stands up with his back to me adjusting his shorts.

“I think I might go for a swim in the pool after breakfast… you want to join me? Khushi, did you hear what I said?” He waves his hand, not getting any sort of response from me.

“Um… yeah, sure.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, I am not! Why do you have to wear shorts to bed? It’s just so… um.. distracting!”

He smiles and shakes his head, walking around to my side, and sits down on the edge of the bed close to me.

“Sweetheart, these aren’t shorts, they are boxers. And, if you think these are distracting, then it’s a good thing I don’t wear my boxer briefs to bed.” He leans down to place a kiss on my lips, and then stands up. “Oh, I am going to go take a quick shower, so you might want to use the bathroom in the hall or wait till I am done…  we wouldn’t want you to get distracted.”

He winks at me, before walking towards the bathroom.

I blush at the mere thought of him in the shower and the image of him in his boxer briefs. I squeal like a hormonal teenager… yup, because that is what I have become, and pull the cover over my head.

How am I going to be able to control myself around him?

*****

After we have breakfast, Arnav has to attend a quick call regarding work, which I tell him to take in the study. It gives me time to call Robert to help me make our arrangements for the evening. I am extremely grateful that he will handle everything per my request, now I just have to get him there.

Just thinking of his reaction has me giddy. Now I finally get to do something for him, and I want it to be perfect.

I make my way into the closet and stare at the clothes in front of me. And, as much as I try to push away my hesitation about his money, it makes a ugly comeback as I go through the few pieces of clothing.

Taking a deep breath I walk around the closet and notice my travel bag in the corner on his side of the closet. After opening it, I smile seeing he has packed some of my things.

“Perfect! He packed my favorite black dress, and my black heels. I can wear this tonight.”

Holding the dress up against me, I make my way to the full length mirror. But he’s right behind me, not at all pleased.

“Are you done with work or do you need more time?” Placing the dress on the table, I walk up to him.

“Were you planning on wearing that tonight?”  He directly questions, pointing to the dress.

And, I nod.

“Why?”

How do I answer that without hurting him?

“Um… I don’t think those other dresses will fit me properly.”

“They won’t fit or you don’t want to wear them because I bought them with my money?” He stares at me, and I take a step towards him, knowing he is upset.

But I am stunned when he takes a step back.

“Arnav, please…”

“Just tell me, is this how it’s going to be whenever I want to do something for you or I want to take you somewhere?”

“I don’t know, it’s just that… we are different when it comes to money. I haven’t done anything to deserve what you have given me.”

“What do you mean, you don’t deserve it?  Damn it, you do deserve it! I have never spent my money on anyone before, nor have I ever wanted to. And, when I finally do, you are going to deny me of that. I told you, doing things for you makes me happy, don’t you want to see me happy?”

“How can you say that?  Of course, I do. But, all of this is so expensive. What are people going to think?”

He walks to where the clothes are hung, then runs a frustrated hand through his hair. I watch as he tries to calm himself down, but I know he is angry.

Why do I continue to let this come between us?

He takes a deep breath, and walks over to me with his intense gaze fixed on me.

“I don’t want to ruin our weekend, so I am going to say what I need to say. I have said this time and time again, I don’t care what people think. They are not part of our relationship… we are, you and I.  It’s up to us to figure out what’s best. Do you understand?”

“Yes, but…”

He puts his finger on my mouth, and shakes his head.

“The last few months, you have worked above and beyond at AR. You probably put in equal hours as me, and it’s not even your company. Someone looking in would think it’s your company. Can you tell me the main reason behind that?”

“For you.” I whisper, knowing where this conversation is headed.

“Exactly, for me! And, the outcome of that… we have achieved so much together, which is mainly because of you. If you can treat AR as your company, then why can’t you accept what you deserve? By no means is it compensation… but those clothes, shoes, this weekend, cost nothing compared to the amount of work you put in and what you have done for me at AR. So, why can’t I do this for you?”

He takes both of my hands in his, and I look up at him with guilt in my eyes for taking away this moment from him.

“I know you need time to come to terms with all of this, but don’t let it come between us. You can decide whether you want to keep the clothes and shoes. I will respect whatever you decide. Now let’s drop this topic, and get back to our weekend.”

He pulls me into his arms, and I welcome the warmth of being there as I hold onto him tight. I look up at him, and kiss him gently on his lips to lighten the mood.

It’s time to get back to our weekend, and I need to figure out a way to not let his stature come in the way of our relationship.

“Are you still going for a swim in the pool?”  I ask once we pull away.

“Yes, I would like to, unless you wanted to do something else.”

“I think I am going to relax by the pool while you swim. Coming in with you might be distracting for the both of us.”

He shakes his head, and walks over to take out his swimming trunks from the shelf.

“It’s not distracting for me. I think I would enjoy the view very much.  So, I would love it if you joined me.”

Looking at his caramel eyes which hold a glint of wickedness, tells me he is up to no good.  He proceeds to boldly start changing in front of me, and I quickly turn away making my way out of the closet hearing him laugh behind me.

I put my trembling hand over my heart which is beating rapidly.

How long will I be able to control this desire that wants more of him?

Is it normal to feel this way?

*****

A few hours later, I glance at the woman standing in the mirror which does not resemble the one I have been looking at the past few years. The woman reflecting back at me, looks confident and happy. From both the inside and outside. And the smile, which has been frequently adorning my face thanks to the man who is getting ready in the spare bedroom.

And to see that man happy, I take in what I am wearing. A beautiful red sheer sleeveless dress with an alluring v-neck.  It flows down to my knees with pretty pleats. The material of the dress feels like silk which caresses my body when I move around. I finish up my look by leaving my hair loose, with light make-up and put on my diamond studs which my father had gifted me when I graduated with my MBA. And then the elegant strappy heels, complete my look.

Taking a deep breath, I glance myself over one final time in the mirror to ensure I look my best for him. Every part of me wants to make tonight special, a night we will remember forever.

I am broken out of my reverie hearing Arnav at the door.

“Khushi… I am heading downstairs. Come down whenever you’re ready.”

“Okay, I will be right there…”

Grabbing my clutch from the bed, I  place a few essentials, and make my way out of the room. As I approach the landing by the stairs, I take in the sight that is waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase.

My Arnav, looking handsome as ever- dressed in a navy sports jacket with a light grey pattern cotton shirt, and jeans with his hair gelled back.

He looks up at me and smiles, one that brightens his eyes as he nearly devours my appearance, as I make my way down the stairs. That one smile melts my heart, wiping away the apprehensions that I have been holding onto about the clothes.

“You look absolutely exquisite. Thank you. It looks much better on you than it did online.”

He kisses my cheek, and pulls me into his arms.

“Thank you. And you look very handsome. Looks like the car is here, shall we go?”

“Car?  I thought I was driving…”  He says looking out the window as the car pulls into the driveway.

“Now why would I make you drive, if I am taking you out? This evening is about you. Let’s go.”

Clasping his hand in mine, we make our way out.

“So, are you going to tell me where we are going or do I have to wait till we get there?” He asks, once the car pulls out of the driveway.

“Why should I tell you?  You do this to me all the time, so it’s my turn.  Sit back and relax, we should be there in twenty minutes.”  

I can’t help but laugh when he utters his famous tagline.

“Unbelievable.”

The past few months, I have gotten to know one of Arnav’s biggest passions, which is his love for fine wine. His knowledge about the different types of wines, and highly refined taste is always a topic of discussion when we go out to eat. His innate ability to pair the right wine with food is exceptional and always spot on.

So, when I had seen the brochure about one of the best vineyards in the northeast being in the Hamptons, I knew this would be the perfect place to bring him this evening. Biting my lip, I hide my smile glancing out the window, thinking about me hiding the brochure.

When we arrive at the vineyard, I look over at Arnav, who is curiously looking out of the window.  I make my way out before he has the chance to open the door, and walk over to his side.

“Surprise! A vineyard in the Hamptons.  We are going to go on a private tour followed by dinner in the fields during sunset. So, what do you think?”

He takes my hand in his, and leans his forehead against mine.

“I think this is the best surprise anyone has ever given me. This place looks remarkable, one would think we are in a vineyard in Tuscany. I don’t know what to say, you have me speechless.”

He is right with the picturesque vision in front of us. One would never think we are in New York. The mustard yellow building in front of us, gives off an Italian vibe. And, behind it, is a breathtaking sight of the lush greens of the vineyard under a clear blue sky complete with a nice summer breeze.

“You don’t have to say anything, baby.  I just want you to enjoy this evening. Should we go inside and start the tour?”

He smiles at me, and we walk towards the building.

Once we are inside, our host greets us and first starts us off with a tour inside.  He explains the winemaking process and shows us the machinery that is used to make the wine. Then we head to the cellar where they are stored and aged. I am amazed at the process that it takes to make the wine. As we sample some of them, I learn certain wines taste better aged which is apparent as I taste a few. It’s quite educational for me to learn what Arnav enjoys.

Arnav and Tyler, our host, hit it off really well, as they both impress each other with their knowledge of wine. I am surprised at how relaxed he is here, since the Arnav I know is always reserved with people besides his family and me. It’s heartwarming to see him carefree.

Once we are done with the tour, we go out to the vineyard where there is a private table set-up for two in between rows of the grape vines. As I look around, I see everything is done according to my request.  It’s private with only the two of us around. The surroundings are romantic with candles on the table, along with light strings hung on the vines which will be turned on once the sun sets.

After I am done talking to our server about our dinner menu, I notice Arnav is looking out at the horizon in deep thought. I walk up to him, and wrap my arm around his, and we admire the vista  in front of us.

“It looks like we made it out here just in time, the sun should be setting soon.  Doesn’t the sky look amazing out in the open like this with all the different shades of colors. Our dinner should be ready in fifteen minutes, I hope you like the food I selected.”

“Khushi, you could feed me anything right now, and I would eat it. I can’t believe you did all this. I love this place, and set-up out here for dinner. No one has ever done anything like this for me before. I am a lucky man to have you in my life, and this night could not get any better than it is now. Thank you.”

He kisses me softly on my lips, and pulls me into an embrace as we watch the sunset in companionable silence.

The next few hours we enjoy our food, and each other’s company.  We even walk through the vines, and taste the grapes. Both of us don’t realize how quickly the time goes, when the server comes over.

“Ma’am, here’s the package you requested and I will leave the check here.”

“Oh, thank you so much, and one minute.”

I take the check from her hand, as I see Arnav reaching out for it, and then hand her my credit card. It’s evident that Mr. Control Freak is taken aback.

“Don’t even say anything Mr. Raizada… this treat was long overdue. And, like you said earlier let’s enjoy our weekend.” I slyly wink at him.

“But, Khushi. I can’t have you pay for all this…”

He stops talking as our server comes back to give my credit card and receipt, which I quickly put in my clutch.

“Okay now, please remove that frown off your face and open this.”

I walk over to him excitedly, hold out the gift wrapped box towards him. But he stares at me shocked, then gets up.

“Come on, Arnav. What are waiting for? Please take this, it’s getting heavy for my small hands.”

He reluctantly takes the box, and opens it. I can’t help but smirk, looking at his stunned expression.

“Khushi, where did you find this?  This is an expensive and a very rare bottle of wine. Sweetheart, I’m sorry but I can’t accept this.”

“I heard you talking to Tyler about it, and when you went to freshen up I asked him if he knew where I can find it. He mentioned the owner of the place, had a few bottles and would see if I can purchase one. So, there you have it.  And, if I can take these shoes, then you can take this wine. Plus, I can afford it. AR pays me a hefty salary since I was a tough negotiator prior to me accepting my offer.”

A half smile curves his lip, and he looks down at the bottle.

“Khushi, this weekend was supposed to be for you.  But look at all this you did for me…”

“No baby, this weekend is about us.” I say taking the bottle from his hand, and put it on the table.

I pull his face towards me, and press my lips with his, placing a kiss that I have been craving.  

He responds immediately, tilting his face. His tongue sweeps across my lower lip, urging me to part my lips for access.  We steal a moment of serenity losing ourselves in the kiss.

He moves my hair to the side, placing sensuous kisses on my neck while his hand slides up from waist, cupping my breast.  

“Arnav.”

He cups my cheeks in his hands, staring into my eyes .

“Sweetheart, you look like you have been thoroughly kissed.”

He wraps his arms tightly around me while our breathing steadies.

“Is it normal to want more after being thoroughly kissed?” The question that has been plaguing me comes right through, as I bury my face inside his chest.  

“Yes it’s normal, especially with the chemistry we share. I think it’s time to get you home.”

After that neither one says anything to the other as we make our way home in the car. Though his eyes meet mine several times.

Why does his one look spread a warm sensation throughout my body?

And his slight caress sends shivers down my spine.

My body craves for him, and I don’t want to hold back the desires that I feel.

Is that wrong?  No it’s not. It feels right to give myself to the man that deeply loves me as much as I love him.

I want to be his in every way.

“Why don’t you go change first? I will be outside on the patio.” He says once we are in the bedroom.

As he is about to walk away, I grasp his hand and he raises a questioning eyebrow.

“Can you please help me with my zipper?”

I turn around without waiting for a response, and pull my hair to one side. I close my eyes feeling his fingers slightly trace my back as he takes the zipper between his fingers.

As he slowly pulls down the zipper to my lower back with one hand, the other rests on my shoulder.

I take a deep breath, straightening my back as his fingers trace my bra, the one he had bought for me.

My heart starts beating faster, as he places a kiss on my back, but the gentleman pulls away.

I turn around to see him facing the glass door leading outside, and I know what I need to do at that moment. I slide off the top of my dress down to my waist, and hold it in place.

“Arnav, didn’t you say you wanted a preview of the top?”

His smoldering gaze meets mine as he slowly turns around, searing on my breast which is covered with a sheer lace black bra.

He sighs deeply, clearly trying to control himself. Holding his gaze with mine, I take the leap of faith that he wants this as much as I do.

“Would you like to see what the bottom looks like?”

He has a faint smile on his face, and closes his eyes for a few moments before replying.

“Khushi, you don’t have to do this…”

“Oh, but I want to. The question is, do you?”

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