Chapter 15(Guilt and desire)

Lakshmi slowly opened her eyes, momentarily disoriented. When she turned her face, she realized with a start that she was in Vikram's arms. Last night's memories rushed back to her, and a deep blush spread across her face. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed as she replayed the events in her mind. But then, guilt crept in. She wondered if she had done the right thing, questioning her actions. She cursed herself for not resisting him, for giving in so easily. She should have stopped him, told him no. Instead, she had let herself be swept away by him.

Shame washed over her as these thoughts consumed her, but then something else tugged at her heart. Every time she saw him with his puppy-like expression, she felt weak. She wanted to be there for him, to comfort him, to soothe whatever pain lingered in his heart.

Tentatively, she lifted her head to look at his face. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought back to last night—the way he had pleaded with her, the way he kissed her, the way he showed her tenderness and care. She tried to slip out of his embrace without waking him, but Vikram stirred at her movement and tightened his hold around her. In a groggy voice, he mumbled, "Where are you going? It's still dark outside."

Lakshmi was too shy to face him directly and mumbled, "It's 5 a.m. I have work. Please, let me go."

He groaned in frustration, pulling her closer. "Stop it, Laki. Who are you working for? There's no one home, just you and me. And as for me... I just want you. Nothing else."

He kissed her forehead, then slowly trailed his lips down her cheek. Lakshmi understood where this was going, and though she tried to push him away, he only whispered, "Lakshmi, please. Just once."

She gazed into his eyes, those pleading, puppy-like eyes, and, despite her inner turmoil, she found herself giving in once more.

It was 7 in the morning when the soft light of dawn seeped into the room, disturbing the couple's peaceful slumber. Lakshmi slowly opened her eyes, the soft glow of the morning forcing her to check the clock on the table. Startled, she jumped up in a hurry, her instinct to leave the room taking over.

Vikram woke to her sudden movement, his gaze immediately landing on her as she scrambled to gather her clothes from the floor. Without a word, she rushed toward the bathroom. A soft smile tugged at Vikram's lips as he watched her. To him, she looked cute in her frantic hurry, her vulnerability making her even more endearing.

He felt an overwhelming desire to pull her back into his arms, to cage her there forever, and never let her go. He longed for that—a life with no barriers between them, no distance. But he knew he had to wait for that. He had thought about waiting—about holding off on being intimate with her. But that fear, the fear that he might lose her if he didn't act, had driven him to give in. Now, she was his, completely—legally, emotionally, and physically.

He closed his eyes again, a proud smile and a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. Even if he were to die in this moment, he would die content, knowing she was his.

Meanwhile, Lakshmi had entered the bathroom, hurriedly getting dressed. She felt the ache in her body, the aftereffects of the night before. Her mind is a whirlwind of thoughts. As she finished, she stepped out to find Vikram still peacefully asleep, a quiet tranquility on his face.

Without a word, she left for her quarters, her body aching in ways she couldn't ignore. All she wanted now was a peaceful shower to wash away the tension, the soreness—a moment of solitude to collect herself.

After completing her morning routine, Lakshmi headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Vikram. As she entered, she was surprised to see him walking down the stairs, freshly dressed and looking neat. He was now utterly obsessed with her, and after the events of the previous day, he couldn't stand being away from her.

He watched her working tiredly in the kitchen, and a soft smile tugged at his lips. Slowly, he approached her, calling out her name, "Laki, what are you doing? Come on, let's order something and eat." He reached for her wrist, intending to pull her into the living room.

But Lakshmi stopped him, her voice gentle yet firm. "Why order outside? I've already started cooking. Just wait a few minutes." She avoided his gaze and gently pulled her hand from his grasp, returning to her work.

Vikram sighed but didn't press further. Instead, he moved to sit on the kitchen counter beside her, his eyes never leaving her. Lakshmi could feel the weight of his intense gaze, making her uneasy, but she continued her task, pretending not to notice.

Once breakfast was ready, Lakshmi set the table and served Vikram. But Vikram, in his usual fashion, pulled her down to sit next to him, making sure she ate first before he began. Lakshmi felt increasingly uncomfortable by his constant attention, but she didn't protest.

The entire day passed with Vikram following her around, constantly touching her and showering her with kisses. It was both endearing and overwhelming. For lunch and dinner, he insisted on ordering food from outside, feeding her with his own hands to ensure she ate well.

That night, Vikram again asked Lakshmi to stay with him. As always, she hesitated at first, but his pleading wore her down, as he said,"Once my family returns from the trip, we won't be able to spend this much time together. I just want to make the most of it until then."

And just like the day before, they made love and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The following morning, as Lakshmi was in the garden watering the plants, Vikram approached her, dressed formally. "I have to go to the bank regarding the loan," he told her, his voice steady.

Lakshmi smiled at him, happy that he was finally going to fulfill his dream. She couldn't wait for them to have their own home and build a life together.

As Vikram leaned in for a goodbye kiss, Lakshmi stopped him by placing her hand gently on his chest. "We're outside," she said, glancing around with a slight smile.

Vikram pulled back, scanning their surroundings, and let out a sigh of frustration. "Okay, fine. Bye." He left with a grumble, clearly not thrilled by the situation.

Lakshmi smiled at his reaction, watching him walk away, and silently prayed to God that everything would go well for them.

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