Chapter 23: The Night That Changed Everything

Dia’s POV

The house was eerily quiet that night, the only sound the distant chirping of crickets and the occasional rustle of the wind. I stood by the window in my room, the silk curtains swaying lightly as the cool breeze kissed my skin. The past two days had been a whirlwind of emotions, and yet, tonight felt different. Heavy. Anticipatory.

I was lost in thought when I heard the knock. My heart leapt in my chest, and before I could respond, the door opened. Ekansh stood there, his tall frame silhouetted by the dim hallway light. He didn’t say a word, but the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.

“You didn’t have dinner,” he said softly, stepping inside. His voice was low, almost a growl, but there was a gentleness beneath it.

“I wasn’t hungry,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze roamed over me, lingering on my loose curls and the delicate nightgown I wore. It was modest, but the way his eyes darkened made me feel exposed. Vulnerable. Yet, I couldn’t look away.

“You should take care of yourself,” he said, his tone stern but laced with concern.

Ekansh’s POV

I hadn’t planned to come to her room tonight, but something about the way she had been avoiding me all day drew me here. Seeing her now, standing in the soft glow of the moonlight, I felt a primal need awaken within me.

I stepped closer, and she instinctively backed up until her back met the wall. Her wide eyes met mine, and I could see the uncertainty there, mingled with something else. Trust.

“Why do you look at me like that?” she whispered.

“Like what?” I asked, my voice low as I closed the remaining distance between us.

“Like I’m… yours.”

“Because you are,” I said simply, my hand brushing against her cheek. Her skin was warm beneath my touch, and I felt her shiver. “You’ve been mine from the moment I saw you.”

She didn’t respond, but her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching as I leaned closer. “Tell me to stop, Dia,” I murmured, my lips a whisper away from hers. “If you want me to, I’ll stop.”

Dia’s POV

I should’ve told him to stop. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to push him away, to run. But when his lips brushed against mine, every thought dissolved into nothingness.

The kiss was slow, deliberate, as though he was savoring every second. His hand slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer, and I felt my body melt against his.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes searched mine. “You’re shaking,” he said softly.

“I’m not scared,” I whispered, surprising myself with the honesty in my voice.

He smirked, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw. “Good. Because I want all of you, Dia. Every thought, every fear, every piece of you. I’ll take care of you—always.”

The intensity of his words sent a shiver down my spine. “Ekansh…”

Before I could finish, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms. My heart pounded as he carried me to the bed, laying me down gently as though I was made of glass.

Ekansh’s POV

She looked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, and I felt my control slipping. I wanted her, needed her, but I knew I couldn’t rush this. Not with her.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” she replied, her voice steady despite the blush spreading across her cheeks.

I leaned down, pressing kisses along her jaw, her neck, her collarbone. Each touch was deliberate, a silent promise that I would cherish her. When I looked back into her eyes, I saw trust, vulnerability, and something deeper.

“Dia,” I murmured, my forehead resting against hers. “You’re everything to me.”

Her hands reached up, hesitantly brushing against my chest. “Then show me,” she whispered.

And so I did.

Dia’s POV

His touch was a mix of rough and tender, a contradiction that made my head spin. Every time I thought I understood him, he did something that left me questioning everything. His lips trailed down my neck, each kiss leaving a burning sensation that I knew I would never forget.

My hands instinctively clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer. The warmth of his body against mine was overwhelming, and yet I didn’t want it to stop. “Ekansh…” I whispered, unsure if I was calling out to him or trying to ground myself.

He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low, filled with concern.

I nodded, unable to find the words to describe the storm of emotions swirling within me. “I trust you,” I managed to say, and I meant it. For reasons I couldn’t explain, I felt safer with him than I had with anyone else.

His expression softened, and he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to my forehead. “You have no idea what you do to me, Dia,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I’ll never take more than you’re ready to give.”

Ekansh’s POV

Her words, her trust, it undid me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I had always been in control, always the one to call the shots. But with her, it was different. She held a power over me that I couldn’t deny.

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering against her soft skin. “You’re beautiful,” I said, my voice husky. “Inside and out.”

She blushed, her gaze dropping to my chest. “You don’t have to say things like that,” she murmured, her voice shy but pleased.

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean,” I replied firmly, tipping her chin up so she would look at me. “You need to know how much you mean to me, Dia. How much I care about you.”

Her lips parted slightly, and I couldn’t resist leaning in to capture them again. This kiss was deeper, more passionate, as though I was pouring every unspoken feeling into it. She responded tentatively at first, but soon, her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer.

Dia’s POV

Every touch, every kiss, felt like a declaration. Ekansh wasn’t just showing me affection—he was showing me devotion, a level of care I had never experienced before. It scared me, but it also made my heart ache in a way I didn’t fully understand.

He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against mine. “You’ll tell me if I ever do something wrong, won’t you?” he asked, his voice gentle but serious.

I nodded, my fingers lightly tracing the outline of his jaw. “I will,” I promised, surprised by how easily the words came. “But you haven’t.”

A small smile tugged at his lips, and for a moment, he looked almost boyish, his usual intensity softened by the moment. “Good,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to my nose.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound surprising both of us. In that moment, I realized something important—he didn’t just make me feel safe. He made me feel alive.