DIVYA
After we finished eating, Raghav stood up, reaching for the dishes, but before he could touch them, I quickly grabbed my plate.
"Divya, what are you doing?" he mumbled, furrowing his brow in confusion.
I shot him a playful glare. "Don't you think that should be my line?"
His puzzled expression deepened as he glanced between me and the dishes. "It's simple. You cooked, so I should wash the dishes."
"And when exactly did we agree on that rule?" he asked, raising a brow.
I crossed my arms. "I made that rule. Right now."
"Divya, don't be stubborn. This is my house, and you're a guest. How can I let you wash these dirty dishes?"
Guest? His words lingered in the air, far longer than they should have. A guest. Is that all I was to him? The thought gnawed at me, sinking deeper. So lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Raghav walked over and swiftly yanked the plate from my hands.
Before I could even protest, he turned and headed straight for the kitchen. Frustrated, I stomped after him.
I found him by the sink, already stacking the dishes. "Raghav, this isn't fair. Let me help!" I said, my voice edged with impatience.
He dried his hands, then walked toward me, a teasing smile playing at his lips. "Who said you wouldn't help me?"
Before I could process his words, he swept me off the ground, lifting me effortlessly with one arm. A surprised gasp escaped my lips as he placed me gently on the kitchen island, like I weighed nothing. He handed me a bowl of fruit.
"My little angel, you'll help by finishing this," he said with a grin, his eyes sparkling mischievously before he turned back to the sink.
I stared down at the fruit, shaking my head at his smooth tactics. Glancing up, I caught a glimpse of him, his muscles flexing as he washed the dishes. He looked... annoyingly good. I stabbed a piece of fruit with a fork, but my mind wandered, preoccupied with his earlier words. Was I just a guest to him? Is that all I was?
I wanted more than this undefined space between us, more than just attraction. I wanted him to be mine-someone I could call home.
By the time Raghav finished cleaning, I was still lost in thought. He approached with a soft smile, but it quickly faded as he noticed the change in my mood.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concern shadowing his face.
I shook my head. "It's nothing."
He wasn't convinced. He took the bowl from my hands and set it aside. Then, cupping my face gently, he gazed into my eyes. "Divya, tell me. You're the one who said no lies between us, remember?" His hands dropped as he waited.
I swallowed hard, suddenly nervous. "Raghav... what are we?" I asked, gesturing vaguely between us.
He blinked, confusion crossing his face. "What do you mean?"
I inhaled sharply, trying to steady myself. "What kind of relationship do we have? Because... I don't want to just be your fling," I added, forcing a chuckle to mask the tightness in my chest. I looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
But Raghav wasn't having it. He reached out, his fingers gently tilting my chin, forcing me to look into those dark, stormy eyes of his.
"Divya," he said, his voice low but firm, "you'll never be just a fling to me. You're too important for that."
"Important?" I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping me. "How important, Raghav? Tell me. How important am I to you?"
He stepped back slightly, slipping his hands into his pockets, his eyes steady and intense. For a moment, the room felt heavy, the air between us thick with unspoken words.
Then, in one smooth motion, he closed the space between us. He intertwined his fingers with mine, his other hand rising to cradle my cheek. His gaze never wavered, locked with mine, as if the answer to my question was written in the depth of his eyes.
"You're as important to me as the first breath you take when you wake up in the morning, that moment when life feels new and full of promise. You are the quiet song the wind hums through the trees, something constant and soothing, even when the world feels chaotic."
I blinked, my lips parting, but I said nothing, waiting.
"You are the reason I feel like I'm standing still when everything else around me is moving too fast. You're the quiet in my storm, the one thing I know will anchor me no matter what."
My breath hitched softly, but still, I waited.
"You are the stars in my darkest night. I could be lost, unsure of my way, but if I look up-if I look at you-I know where I am. I know who I am because I see myself in you. You show me who I want to be, just by being you."
He paused, looking down at their intertwined hands, his thumb tracing the lines of her palm. "It's like..." He struggled for the right metaphor, the one that would make her feel how she made him feel. "You're the rhythm in my heartbeat. I don't have to think about it, but it's always there, keeping me alive. Without it, without you, nothing else makes sense."
The air between us was charged, the silence thick with the weight of his words. My eyes glistened, a tear gathering at the corner but refusing to fall. I took in a shaky breath, and my voice trembled when I finally spoke.
"Is that how you see me? Like the stars and the heartbeat that keeps you alive?"
He nodded, his gaze never wavering.
"Yes. That's exactly how important you are to me. Without you...without the way you light up my world, I don't know if I'd ever find my way again. You're not just important, you're everything."
I couldn't speak. All I had wanted was a simple answer about our relationship, some clarity. But Raghav had given me more-a glimpse into his soul, into the depths of his feelings. I never imagined the cold, aloof man I thought I knew could be so poetic, so vulnerable. His words, his touch-everything surprised me.
Gently, he cupped my face, wiping away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen. "But if you want us to be something more... I wouldn't mind," he said softly.
I sniffed, trying to steady myself. "All I wanted was to know what I mean to you, where we stand... But now, you've given me even more reasons to like you."
He chuckled, a warm sound that softened the tension between us. "Pleasure's all mine."
He paused, his expression serious but tender. "So, tell me-what do you want me to be to you?"
I hesitated, suddenly feeling shy under the weight of his gaze. "I... I don't know. Maybe... you could be my boyfriend?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper, the words feeling both foreign and thrilling.
A slow smile spread across his face. "Then it's settled. From today, I'm your boyfriend." His eyes searched mine, sincerity in every word. "I'll be honest with you, Divya-I've never been in a relationship before. This is all new to me, but I'll try my best. I promise."
I nodded eagerly, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Then, without warning, he leaned in, sealing his promise with a kiss. His lips met mine in a deep, intoxicating kiss that sent a shiver down my spine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he pressed me gently against the kitchen island.
When we finally pulled apart, both breathless, he buried his face in the crook of my neck, trailing soft, feather-like kisses down my skin. His hands roamed down my waist, sending sparks of electricity through me. Then, one of his hands slipped beneath the hem of my dress, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin of my inner thighs.
Suddenly, a wave of shyness hit me, and I gently pushed him away, feeling a blush creep up my neck. He stepped back, his expression filled with concern, his brows furrowing. "I'm sorry... I went too far," he said, his voice tinged with regret.
I shook my head quickly, still catching my breath. "No, no, it's not that..." I stammered, feeling flustered. "It's just... I'm a little shy. This is the first time I've been this... intimate with someone."
His serious expression melted into a soft chuckle, and he cupped my face again, his eyes full of understanding. "Oh, my little angel," he murmured. "I thought I made you uncomfortable."
I shook my head again. "No, you didn't. It's just... new for me."
He smiled, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "If you want, we can stop here," he said, his voice gentle. "Or..." He trailed off, his tone dropping, his eyes darkening with something deeper. "We can continue."
The blush on my cheeks intensified, my heart pounding in my chest. What did I want? I knew the answer, but the words felt stuck in my throat, too shy to escape.
"I..." I tried to speak, but my voice failed me. Raghav's smirk grew, and the teasing glint in his eyes only made my embarrassment worse.
"Yes?" he mumbled, his lips quirking at the corners.
Finally, gathering every ounce of courage, I blurted out, "I want this." I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the heat rise to my face as the words left my mouth all at once.
When I opened my eyes, I saw him laughing, not mockingly, but with pure, unrestrained joy. It was a sight that made my heart skip a beat. He looked... beautiful.
"You're so innocent," he said between laughs, shaking his head in amusement.
It was true. When it came to this, to sensuality, I was innocent. While my friends were out exploring their desires, I had always been caught up in my art, losing myself in painting. Attraction, intimacy-it had always felt distant, something I never quite understood. But with Raghav, everything felt different.
Everything felt right.
Suddenly, I yelped as Raghav scooped me up into his arms, carrying me effortlessly toward the stairs. My heart raced as he climbed the steps, each one heightening my anticipation. By the time we reached the bedroom, my breath was ragged, both from excitement and nerves.
He kicked the door open, the golden rays of the setting sun spilling into the room, casting a soft glow over everything. He shut the door behind us with a nudge of his foot and laid me gently on the bed.
Without a moment's hesitation, his lips were on mine again, urgent and tender. He pushed me back against the pillows, his body hovering over mine as the kiss deepened, the world outside fading away.
He broke the kiss and trails his finger on my neck and then collar bones. He caresses the tattoo on my collar bone. His eyes fixed on it. It's a tattoo of a butterfly flying away with 'hold on pain ends' written under it.
The first thing I did after escaping my toxic parents was get this tattoo. It symbolizes the turmoil I endured but also serves as a reminder to keep holding on, because the pain won't last forever. Darkness isn't permanent.
Now, I believe my suffering will soon come to an end, and happiness will finally be within reach. As I looked into his grey eyes, I realized that my "happily ever after" wasn't far away.
"A tattoo " he mumbled and then looked at me "never thought you might be hiding sometime like this under your clothes" he said and then crashes his lips against mine.
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