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Ananya
It's been a week since the incident, and Iâve returned to work. Arjun had told me to take all the time I needed to feel comfortable before coming back. Even though I assured him I was fine, deep down, I was scaredâterrified, actually. The thought of facing Kunal again made me anxious.
To my surprise, Kunal was nowhere to be seen from the very next day. Instead, he sent an apology letter addressed to every employee in the company. In it, he admitted he was wrong, expressed his regret for misbehaving with me, and said he was too ashamed to apologize to me in person. He also announced that he was leaving the project.
Receiving that apology letter made me feel slightly better, but it still stirred up memories from my pastâones I wish I could forget. I hate how easily these triggers affect me, but I know Iâll be okay. I have Arjun by my side, and that gives me strength.
It was time to head home. Just as I was finishing up, Arjun sent me a text:
Are you done?
I quickly replied, Yes.
He messaged back almost instantly: Okay. Iâm waiting in the car in the parking lot. Come thereâweâre going together.
Since the incident, Arjun had made it a habit to drive me to and from work. At first, I resisted, saying it wasnât necessary, but he didnât give me a choice. He had been firm when he said, No arguments on this, Firefly. So here I was, heading to the parking lot, carefully avoiding my colleagues. Arjun had requested that we keep our marriage a secret, and I respected his wish.
As I approached the car, I saw him standing beside it, waiting for me. He opened the door with a gentle smile, then got into the driverâs seat and started the car.
"How was your day, Firefly?" he asked, his voice warm.
"The same as always," I replied softly.
"You must be tired," he said, glancing at me briefly before focusing back on the road.
"Youâre tired too, yet you waited for me to take me home. I told you it wasnât necessary," I murmured, feeling guilty for making him wait.
"Firefly..." His tone turned firm but caring. "I told you, I donât want any arguments on this. And for the record, Iâm never too tired for you. You always come firstâno matter what."
His words tugged at something deep inside me. I didnât know how to respond, so I stayed silent for a moment, gathering the courage to ask something that had been on my mind for days.
"Arjun..." I began hesitantly.
"Yes?" he asked softly.
"That day... the incident... how did you find me? I mean, why did you come back to the office? Youâd already left an hour earlier."
He glanced at me, a flicker of emotion crossing his face. "I didnât leave," he said quietly.
I blinked, confused. "You didnât?"
"No. I was waiting for you," he admitted.
"Waiting? Why?" I asked, trying to piece it together.
He sighed, as if choosing his words carefully. "Look, Firefly, I know you told me you could handle yourself, that you didnât need anyone. But I couldnât help itâI was worried. I stayed back to make sure you were safe and followed you until I knew you got home."
His confession left me speechless. "Why would you do that? Do you think I canât protect myself? That Iâm weak because Iâm a woman?" My voice shook slightly, a mix of frustration and confusion.
He stopped the car at a red light and turned to look at me, his eyes steady and sincere. "No, Firefly. Youâre the strongest person I know. Iâm not doing this because youâre a woman." He paused, his gaze softening. "Iâm doing this because youâre my woman. Thereâs a huge difference."
I didnât respond, but his words lingered in the air, leaving a strange ache in my chest. The rest of the journey was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts.
When we reached home, I stepped inside first, my emotions still tangled in a mess I couldnât quite unravel. I knew Arjunâs actions came from a place of care and concern. He hadnât meant to undermine me, but even with that understanding, part of me still struggled to accept it completely.
I glanced back as he followed me inside. His expression was calm but watchful, as if he could sense the storm of emotions swirling within me. I wanted to say somethingâto thank him, to argue, or maybe even to explain how I feltâbut the words refused to come. With a soft sigh, I turned away and walked into the living room.
Just as I was about to head to our room, I felt Arjunâs arms wrap gently around my waist. He pulled me into a warm embrace, resting his head on my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat at the unexpected closeness.
"Iâm sorry, Firefly," he murmured, his voice low and full of emotion. "Iâm really sorry. Please⦠donât be angry with me."
His words came out in a rush, tinged with desperation. "I just couldnât leave you alone. I needed to know you were safe." His grip tightened slightly, as though letting go would shatter him.
I turned around to face him, and he immediately cupped my face in his hands, his touch gentle but firm. He leaned forward until our foreheads touched, his eyes searching mine. "Please, Firefly. I canât bear it if youâre angry with me."
His voice cracked slightly, and my resolve softened. I nodded silently, and relief washed over his face. He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes lighting up with hope.
"Really? You forgive me?" he asked, his voice filled with childlike excitement.
I couldnât help but smile. How could I stay angry with someone so earnest and vulnerable?
"Yes," I replied, my smile widening.
His own grin spread across his face, and he whispered a heartfelt "Thank you," before leaning down to kiss my forehead. The gesture was tender, but as he lingered, something shifted in his eyes.
He kissed my forehead again, this time slower, more deliberate, before brushing his lips softly against my cheeks. My breath caught as he pulled back just enough to look at me, his gaze falling to my lips. My thoughts blurred, and I could feel his warm breath against my skin as he leaned closer.
I closed my eyes, my heart pounding in anticipation, but just as our lips were about to meet, he stopped. Instead of kissing me, he let go and stepped back, his expression unreadable.
"You should freshen up," he said softly. "Iâll make dinner."
I opened my eyes, confusion washing over me. Disappointment tugged at my chest, but I nodded, unsure of what else to say. Without another word, I turned and headed to freshen up, trying to make sense of the moment and the lingering warmth of his touch.
For the past few days, Arjunâs behavior had been puzzling me. He was as attentive and caring as everâmore so, even. He would hold me close, kiss my forehead often, and always make sure I was comfortable. But something felt... different.
Before, every time he had the chance, he would kiss me without hesitation. His lips would find mine in stolen moments, filled with warmth and passion. But now, he always stopped just short. Every single time.
At first, I brushed it off, thinking he was simply giving me space after the Kunal incident. But as the days passed, the pattern repeated itself, and doubt began creeping into my mind. Was it me? Did something about that incident make him see me differently? Did it disgust him? The thought gnawed at me, even though I tried to push it away.
Tonight, the tension between us reached a breaking point. We were in the living room after dinner, the soft glow of the lamp casting warm shadows across the room. Arjun had been unusually quiet, and I could feel his eyes on me as I tidied up.
When I turned, I found him standing closer than Iâd realized. His gaze was intense, his hands reaching out to gently pull me into his arms. My heart raced as he leaned in, his face just inches from mine.
For a moment, I thought this time would be different. My breath hitched as I waited for his lips to meet mine, but once again, he hesitated. His forehead rested against mine, his warm breath mingling with mine, and then he pulled back slightly, his jaw tightening.
"You should get some rest, Firefly," he murmured softly, starting to pull away.
But this time, I couldnât let it go. I placed my hands on his chest, stopping him from stepping back. "Arjun," I said, my voice trembling.
He froze, his eyes meeting mine, searching.
"Why wonât you kiss me?" I asked, my voice breaking slightly. The question Iâd been holding in for days spilled out before I could stop myself. "You used to... all the time. But now... now you stop. Every time. Why?"
His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked like he didnât know what to say. Then he sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a second before looking at me again.
"Itâs not what you think," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
"Then what is it, Arjun? Tell me," I pleaded, my hands still on his chest. "Do you think Iâm weak? That I canât move past what happened? Or... or do you feel disgusted? Has something changed between us?"
His hands came up to cup my face, his thumbs gently brushing my cheeks. "No, Firefly. Never. Donât ever think that," he said firmly, his voice laced with desperation. "You are the strongest, most beautiful person I know. I could never see you as anything but that."
"Then kiss me, Arjun." I demand.
Arjun
Ananya stood before me, her eyes locked onto mine with a determination that sent shivers down my spine.
"Then kiss me, Arjun." Her voice was soft yet commanding, laced with a vulnerability that tore down every wall I had built around myself.
Oh God.
âFirefly, you donât know what youâre asking forâ¦â My voice came out as a raspy whisper, strained under the weight of my restraint.
She had no idea how close I was to losing it. How much effort it took not to grab her and claim her lips every second she was near me. It had been ten days, eighteen hours, forty minutes, and thirty-three seconds since I last kissed herâyes, I was counting. And every second without kissing her had been a test of my endurance.
I've been holding my breath around her because if I smell her I'll moan which won't help.
I avoided her scent, her soft floral perfume that drove me wild. I avoided her touch, terrified that even the slightest brush of her skin would shatter my control. She didnât know how Iâd been holding myself back, terrified that my need would overwhelm her. She didnât know I had spoken to Pooja, who confessed that Ananya had a panic attack while shopping before our wedding. Learning that I was the reason behind it broke me.
Whenever I leaned in, craving to kiss her, I stopped myself. What if she didnât like it? What if my touch brought back the memories of Kunal? The thought alone made me sick. I didnât want to be another shadow haunting her past. All I wanted was for her to feel safe with me, to know that I would never hurt her.
And now, here she was, standing before me, thinking I was disgusted by her. Disgusted? God, no. I was obsessed.
âI didnât want to push you,â I admitted, my voice thick with emotion. âI didnât want you to feel like I was taking advantage of your vulnerability. After what happened with Kunal⦠I thought you might need time, space. The last thing I ever want is to hurt you.â
âArjunâ¦â Her voice was soft, a gentle balm to my storm. She stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. âI trust you.â
Those three words unraveled me.
âFirefly⦠you shouldnât have said thatâ¦â My restraint snapped.
In the next second, my lips were on hers, devouring her. It wasnât a soft, tender kiss. It was raw, hungry, desperateâeverything I had been holding back pouring out all at once. Her lips were soft and sweet, intoxicating in ways I couldnât describe. My hands gripped her waist, pulling her impossibly close as if I needed her warmth to survive.
We didnât even realize we had stumbled into the bedroom until her back hit the bedpost. I broke the kiss for a fraction of a second, just enough to breathe, but the sight of her swollen lips and flushed cheeks undid me all over again.
I moved to her neck, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along her smooth skin. She tilted her head to the side, giving me more access, and I didnât waste a second. Her soft whimper when I sucked on her pulse point drove me mad.
Her dress slipped off one shoulder, revealing the delicate curve of her collarbone. My lips followed, tasting every inch of her skin, and when I nipped gently at her neck, she let out the sweetest moan.
God, that sound.
My breath hitched, and I felt her hands clutching at my shirt, pulling me closer. I was already hard, and the way her body pressed against mine made my pants feel unbearable.
âAnanya,â I rasped against her skin, my voice raw with need. âYou have no idea what you do to me.â
Her fingers tangled in my hair as she whispered, âShow me, Arjun.â
And that was all the permission I needed.
I kissed along her collarbone, savoring every soft gasp and shiver that escaped her. Her responses drove me further into madness, but I reminded myself to go slow, to keep her comfort above my desires.
My hands moved up her waist, sliding under the thin fabric of her top, feeling the soft warmth of her skin. I paused, meeting her gaze. Her lips were slightly parted, her breath shaky but steady, and she gave me a small nod. It was all the permission I needed.
Slowly, my hands cupped her breasts over her bra, my fingers lightly tracing the lace fabric. She let out a soft sigh, her body arching slightly into my touch, and I couldnât stop the groan that escaped my throat.
âFirefly,â I murmured, my voice low and hoarse. âIf youâre uncomfortable, you have to stop me. Promise me youâll tell me.â
Her eyes softened, and she whispered, âI trust you, Arjun. Iâll tell you.â
Still, I moved cautiously, my thumbs grazing the sensitive peaks through the fabric of her bra, drawing quiet gasps from her lips. Slowly, I slid my fingers under the straps, teasing them off her shoulders. âMay I?â I asked softly, giving her another chance to stop me.
Her cheeks flushed, and she nodded.
Gently, I lifted her top over her head, setting it aside before reaching behind her to unclasp her bra. I moved slowly, giving her time to adjust, and when the garment fell away, I sucked in a sharp breath.
âYouâre beautiful, Firefly,â I whispered, leaning in to kiss her shoulder before lowering my lips to the swell of her breast. She gasped when I trailed my tongue over her skin, finally taking a hardened peak into my mouth.
I sucked gently, savoring her taste, letting my tongue swirl around her nipple before pulling back to nibble lightly. Her fingers gripped my hair as she whimpered, and the sound ignited a fire deep in my core.
Switching to the other side, I gave it the same attention, licking, sucking, and nipping while her soft moans filled the air. Her body trembled beneath my hands, and I held her steady, my free hand stroking her waist in soothing circles.
My own needs clawed at the edges of my restraint, threatening to consume me entirely. The ache in my body was relentless, my desire for her building to an almost unbearable intensity. I was hard as a rock, every fiber of me screaming for release, but I ignored it.
This wasnât about me. It was about herâher comfort, her trust. I couldnât let my needs override the care and patience she deserved. No matter how much my body demanded otherwise, I would wait. She was worth every moment of restraint.
As much as I wanted to lose myself in her, I knew I couldnât push further. She deserved time, space, and care.
After what felt like both an eternity and a fleeting moment, I pulled back, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips before reaching for her bra and top. âLetâs get you dressed, Firefly,â I said softly, my voice still thick with desire but laced with tenderness.
I helped her back into her clothes, taking my time to ensure she was comfortable, and then pulled her into my arms.
âDid I make you uncomfortable?â I asked gently, brushing her hair away from her face.
She shook her head, her cheeks pink but her smile radiant. âNo, Arjun. You didnât.â
Relief flooded me, and I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Pulling her close, I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her warmth against me as we lay down together.
âGoodnight, Firefly,â I murmured, holding her securely in my embrace.
She snuggled closer, her voice barely above a whisper. âGoodnight, Arjun.â
And with that, I let myself relax, my heart full, knowing she was safe in my arms.
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