chapter 27

Is this heaven?Probably.Vikrant couldn't tell anymore. All he knew was the feel of her lips against his was soft, warm, trembling and the way every second stretched into something eternal. Kissing her wasn't just an act. It was a surrender. A possession. A prayer answered after a lifetime of restraint.Pari felt like she'd been wrapped in something tender yet intense. The mere contact of their lips had the power to erase every cruel whisper of her past and rewrite it with the fire of his touch.She immediately grasped his shoulders, holding on like he was the only truth she knew.And maybe, at that moment, he was.Vikrant pulled back just a little, enough to catch his breath and hers. His gaze dropped to her flushed cheeks, painting the softness of her skin in hues of rose. His hand stayed cradling her cheek, his thumb brushing gently as her lashes fluttered open."I like you," he confessed, voice low, raw, real. His arm wrapped tightly around her waist, drawing her so close that even the air between them surrendered."I like you so fucking much it gets impossible to control my damn desires."Her breath hitched. Her fists tightened their hold on his shoulders as if anchoring herself to reality, even when everything about him felt like a dream.She gasped as he leaned in again, lips hovering just a heartbeat away. A soft chuckle rumbled from his chest."Ghabra kyun rahi ho, ab?"( Why are you getting nervous now?)Her brows pulled together, heart thudding like thunder in her chest. Her body refused to obey logic anymore."K-kaun? Hum?"( W..who? me?)Before she could gather another thought, the world shifted. She was in the air, swept up into his arms. Her eyes widened in surprise, arms wrapping instinctively around his shoulders for support."Aur kaun? Kyunki hum to bilkul bhi nahi ghabra rahe."( Who else? Because I am not nervous at all.)He smirked, carrying her effortlessly toward the haveli.She swallowed hard, eyes darting shyly downward. What if someone saw them? Though, at this hour, everyone was likely asleep, not wandering around like night ghosts as they were.God.She'd lost her mind. She was mentally calling herself crazy and blaming him for it. He didn't even warn her, neither when he walked out during their cozy moment, nor when he kissed her without so much as a heads-up.She blushed deeper at the thought. And just then, he looked down at her while climbing the stairs, catching every shade of red blooming on her face."Abhi to kuch bhi nahi kiya humne," he teased, eyes gleaming with mischief.( I haven't done anything yet..)She gasped, but her smile betrayed her.This was madness. And she was falling right into it.As they reached the bedroom, Vikrant gently pushed the door open with his foot and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight seeping through the curtains, casting silver shadows on the walls.He finally lowered her onto the carpeted floor beside the bed, his touch careful, almost reverent. Before she could steady herself, a click echoed through the silence. He had locked the door.Pari blinked.His upper body... bare. His sculpted chest rising and falling gently, a lazy smirk pulling at the corner of his lips as he looked straight at her. The shadows and moonlight played along the dips and curves of his body like art in motion.Her breath caught."Don't you think it's unfair?" he asked, his voice low and teasing as he took slow steps toward her.She frowned, instinctively stepping back. "What... unfair?""You get to see my body," he said, eyes narrowing slightly, "while all I get is the view of your damn night suit."Her lips parted in shock. "Do you want me... naked?"As soon as the words left her mouth, she slapped her hand over her lips, mortified by her own bluntness.A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as he reached her in one smooth stride and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his warmth. Her palms landed on his chest, her heart pounding hard against it."I do," he whispered, voice husky with honesty, "but not tonight."She blushed furiously, eyes wide and shimmering under the moonlight.He tilted her chin up gently, his face inching closer until his breath mingled with hers."But for now..." his eyes dropped to her lips, "...I want to kiss you so damn bad."Before she could even form a thought, he claimed her mouth with his.No warning. Again.Her hands instinctively clutched his shoulders as he deepened the kiss, slowly guiding her backward. And just when she tried to catch her breath, he pulled away, only to gently push her down onto the bed.Her breath hitched.He climbed onto the mattress, his knees sinking into the softness as he leaned closer, towering over her. Moonlight kissed the hard lines of his body, and her eyes fluttered up to meet his intense gaze.His hands cupped her cheeks with a gentleness that contrasted the hunger in his eyes. He dipped his face, and she closed her eyes, surrendering, letting him claim her lips once more.He pressed forward, easing her down until her back met the bed and her hair splayed across the pillow like a halo. He hovered above her now, one arm braced beside her head, the other brushing softly down her side.She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his neck, nerves prickling across her skin until a sudden warmth bloomed in her chest. He was hers. Only hers.The thought alone made her grip tighten, holding him closer.A small smile tugged at her lips, almost shy, just as he tilted his head and captured her lower lip between his, sucking on it with a hunger that made her breath hitch.It felt like a spark had exploded inside her.A rush of butterflies stormed through her stomach, fluttering wildly at the intoxicating pull of his mouth.And then he did it again.A soft whimper escaped her as her body shivered beneath him, reacting instinctively, helplessly, to the fire he lit with just a kiss.He pulled back slowly, his breath brushing against her lips, his voice low and rough."Kiss me back, Pari."It was both a command and a quiet plea, laced with need, craving, and something deeper.Her lashes lifted, meeting the fire in his eyes, and her heart clenched. He gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, gaze never leaving hers."Show me how much you desire me."Her breath trembled as she closed her eyes again, chest rising with anticipation. And when his lips met hers once more, soft but urgent, her arms circled around his neck, grounding herself in him.This time, she didn't hesitate.She parted her lips and returned his kiss, her movements uncertain but full of feeling. When she gently sucked on his upper lip, his body tensed slightly, and a smile bloomed mid-kiss.She was kissing him back.Tender, sweet, and shy... but with every second, her lips grew braver, matching his passion with the quiet storm of her own.She hissed slightly as he bit her lower lip and earned an entrance to her mouth.She hissed softly when his teeth caught her lower lip, not harsh, just enough to startle and send a wave of heat pooling low in her belly. And that was all he needed. With a deep, satisfied hum, Vikrant slipped his tongue into her mouth, claiming her fully.Pari froze for a second, overwhelmed by the intimacy, the rawness, the way he dominated the kiss as if he owned every breath she took. Because he did. At that moment, he did.His hand cradled her face while the other pressed into the mattress beside her, anchoring them both. His body hovered above hers, never too heavy, but firm.The kiss deepened, slow and consuming, and she melted under him. Every stroke of his tongue against hers felt deliberate, every movement calculated to steal her breath. He didn't rush. No, he explored, coaxed, demanded. And she gave in, inch by inch.He drew back just enough to catch her lower lip again, tugging gently before diving back in, this time slower, more languid. Like he had all the time in the world to memorize her taste.She whimpered softly into his mouth, and he groaned in response, the sound low and possessive.His hand slid from her cheek to the curve of her jaw, then down to the base of her throat, feeling her pulse race beneath his fingers."Why," he sucked her lips again, slower this time, his breath mingling with hers, "why the fuck can't I get enough of you?"Pari's body arched instinctively, her breath stuttering under the heat of his words, of his touch. His palm pressed lightly on her throat, not to restrain, but to feel her pulse, her vulnerability, her surrender.And with that, he kissed her again-deeper, hungrier, claiming her like he meant to brand her soul. His hand slowly slid down, tracing her collarbone, brushing over the fabric of her night suit like it offended him."I want to worship every inch of you," he murmured against her lips. He kissed the corner of her lips."I want to erase every touch that wasn't mine."He kissed her jaw."Every moment you doubted your worth."A kiss slid lower from her jaw as he mumbled." Every time you thought you weren't wanted."Her throat tightened. Her eyes filled, but not with sadness, with something far deeper. Healing. Hope. Love.His hand slid away from her throat, only to replace it with his lips. Soft. Reverent. He pressed a tender kiss against the sensitive skin just beneath her jaw. She arched her neck slightly, her breath catching, a soft gulp escaping her lips."I want to make you mine so fucking bad, Pari," he whispered against her skin, voice strained with restrained desire.His mouth trailed lower, finding the center of her collarbones. He kissed her slowly and claimed, while his hand slid down to her thigh, fingers clenching around it as if grounding himself, as if her softness was the only real thing in his world.The way he touched her, kissed her, whispered her name, it made her feel foreign in her own body. Not in a bad way, but in the way someone feels when discovering a new kind of intoxication. He was making her feel things no one ever had. Making her feel wanted, worshipped... his."But," he kissed the curve just above her heart, his lips lingering like he didn't want to leave.She opened her eyes slowly, confused by the sudden pause in his touch and tone."I..." his voice faltered for a second, something raw flickering in his gaze. "I don't want to become a hindrance in your life. In your dreams. In your freedom."And yet, even as he said it, his mouth lowered, brushing over the thin fabric that clothed her chest. When his lips pressed over her nipple, right where the cloth still separated them, she shuddered. A gasp broke past her lips, her hands tightening around him instinctively.His breath hitched as he felt her reaction, but when he lifted his head, there was a dangerous glint in his eyes."Because once I make you mine," he growled softly, "you won't even realise when your world stops revolving around everything else... but me."She couldn't even process his words properly as her mind was too consumed by the way his lips journeyed lower and lower, sending shockwaves across her skin. When he reached her covered belly, he paused, brushing a reverent kiss there.And then, using his teeth, he gently undid the fragile strings that held her shrug together.Pari's breath caught.She turned her head to the side, catching their reflection in the mirror beside the bed. It felt surreal, so intimate, so painfully beautiful. The way his lips lingered on her belly, the way her body arched toward his touch like it was made only for him... she had never known such hunger, such helpless longing.But he wasn't done.He moved back over her, his hands firm as he turned her face toward him again, denying her even the mirror. He wanted her eyes, only on him."Look at me," he breathed, resting his forehead against hers, his voice rough with need. "Only me, Pari."His fingers traced the line of her jaw as his eyes bore into hers."I'll ruin you for anyone else," he whispered with raw intensity, "Mark you in ways not even time could undo."Her pulse thundered. Her lips trembled.He cupped the side of her face, his thumb brushing her cheekbone as his voice dipped darker."Once I claim you, there's no going back," he murmured. "You'll be mine, Pari. Entirely. Obsessively. Mine alone."She swallowed hard, trembling at the weight of his possessive words- words that should've scared her. And maybe they did. But more than fear, it was desire-an aching, consuming want to dive headfirst into the dark ocean that was him and let herself drown. Was it madness to crave this? Too long to entwine herself so completely in his chaos? She wanted to learn every broken, beautiful piece of him. She wanted to see him in all his darkness and light. She wanted to love him, endlessly and only him."I..."His voice cracked, hanging in the air unfinished.She frowned, her brows knitting with confusion as he went silent. It wasn't like him to hesitate, to stop midway when his intensity always roared like a storm. But right now, he seemed... lost. Torn.He dipped his face into the crook of her neck, his breath hot against her skin. His arms circled her waist tighter, like he needed to hold onto something solid, something real to keep himself from unraveling. She felt his chest rise and fall with shallow breaths, the turmoil inside him vibrating through his body.She closed her eyes and slowly, wordlessly, slid her arms around his bare back. Her fingers grazed his spine, gentle and grounding. She didn't speak, didn't push, just held him as he fought whatever war was going on inside him.His nose brushed against her skin as he nuzzled closer, inhaling deeply like her scent was the only thing capable of soothing his storm. Then, slowly, he withdrew. His eyes found hers, haunted and vulnerable, yet burning with an emotion so raw it made her breath hitch.He cupped her cheeks, the pad of his thumb brushing just below her eye. "I don't even know when it happened," he whispered, his voice raspy."Maybe the first time you looked at me... or when you sat beside me in silence and healed me.. without even saying anything."Her lips parted, but she couldn't speak. She didn't need to. Healed?His voice cracked further, more vulnerable now."Maybe... the time I chose life over death."Her eyes widened in disbelief. The air shifted, heavy with a kind of pain she hadn't seen in him before. Just the thought of what could've happened, of the paths he might've taken if fate hadn't intervened, if she hadn't walked into his life was enough to still her breath.She reached forward and pressed her palm over his mouth, her hand trembling slightly."Bhagwan ke liye anaab-shanab mat kahiye," she choked, tears brimming in her eyes. "Mare aapke dushman..."( God forbid, don't ever say that. May your enemies die.)Her voice quivered, fear and protectiveness laced in every syllable. Her words weren't poetic, they were raw, desperate.His eyes softened instantly, and for the first time, she saw them glisten, not with desire or intensity, but something purer. Something breaking through. Something sacred.And before she could even comprehend whether those were tears shining in his eyes, he closed them.Silently, he grabbed her wrist, turned her palm, and pressed a kiss to it. Slow. Deep. Devotional.Her hand fell limply back onto the bed, her chest rising and falling in a quiet rhythm. His palm followed her movement, resting gently against her cheek, thumb brushing the skin like a feather."Marne ka khwaab to us din zehan se nikal diya..." he murmured, voice thick with emotion, "...jab se tumhe pehli baar dekha."( I let go of the thought of dying, the time I saw you for the first time.)He paused, his smile soft, not playful but full of wonder, like he was still surprised someone like her existed."Pata hota ki zindagi..." he exhaled deeply, searching her eyes, "ki zindagi itni khoobsurat ho sakti hai... toh shayad kabhi maut ka khayal bhi na aata."( If I knew life could be this beautiful, the thought of death wouldn't even have crossed me.)Her throat tightened, heart clenching at the sheer vulnerability in his voice.She raised her hand slowly and touched the side of his face, fingertips trembling.He leaned into her touch like a man starved of warmth, like she was sunlight after years of winter." Agar aap na hote to shayad hum bhi na hoti Aaj."( If you weren't there, I wouldn't have been alive.)She would have died. The brothel would have swallowed her whole. But then... he came. He dragged her out of that darkness. Showed her light. Gave her hope. And in the end, gave her back her freedom." People did not even consider treating me like a human," she continued, tears threatening to spill, " but you showed that I am.. worth living."Her fingers brushed his cheek as her voice thickened. "Jo aadmi doosron ko zindagi de sakta hai... usse takleef kya chhoo sakti hai?"( The man who can give life to others, can pain even touch him?)He stared at her for a long moment. And then, with a broken chuckle, almost inaudible, he whispered, " so much."His voice cracked.Her heart clenched. She could see it now, behind the stoic strength, the unwavering resolve, he had bled. Quietly. Silently. Carried scars so deep that even his smile had to climb out of his pain.She brought her hand to his cheek, the pad of her thumb gently tracing the rough line of his jaw. With silent tenderness, she guided his face downward and leaned in, pressing a warm, lingering kiss to his forehead.He closed his eyes. A shaky breath escaped his lips. Then a silent gulp.And in the next heartbeat, she surprised him.With a softness that contradicted all the darkness they'd endured, she pushed him gently, guiding his body down against the mattress. His brows knit for a second, but he didn't resist. Not even for a moment.She moved above him, her presence not overpowering, but comforting. Like a balm over old, unspoken wounds.Her hands cradled his face, thumbs brushing across his cheekbones as if she were memorizing every part of him. And then, without a word, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Barely there. More comfort than desire.Then she shifted slightly, kissing the tip of his nose with the same care, her eyes never leaving his.It was her way of telling him: you don't have to speak. Not tonight. Not until you're ready.And he was glad.For the first time in years, he didn't feel the pressure to explain his pain, to narrate the chapters of his past that still haunted him.He didn't need to.Because in her silence... he was understood.And in her touch... he was home.She put her head on his chest and quietly listened to his steady heartbeat." I don't know what you went through but you are not alone now. I am here."The muscles in his chest tightened beneath her cheek, not out of fear, but emotion. Silent, crashing waves he'd never let anyone witness.He let out a slow exhale, one that carried years of unspoken pain. And then his hand gently pressed her closer, his lips brushing her forehead in quiet gratitude.They stayed like that for a long time. No urgency. No noise. Just skin, breath, and unspoken promises between two hearts that had been broken too many times but were finally, finally healing.Vikrant stood tall by the window, gaze fixed down on the garden. A thought crossed his mind.Ranvijay His half-brother.His blood.His surname.Yet every time Vikrant looked at him, a shadow of betrayal crossed his heart, not because of Ranvijay, but because of the woman who brought him into this world.The woman who wrecked their home.His father's mistress.Ranvijay's mother.The same woman who had ruined three lives-Vikrant's, Akansha's, and Ranvijay's.He remembered the night his father, Angad, came home with the child in his arms. Vikrant was barely four, sitting on the cold marble floor of the hallway, clutching a broken toy truck.His father had been gone for two nights. And when he returned, he brought not a toy or sweets but a baby.Wrapped in expensive wool and silence.And behind him, her, the woman with soft lies in her eyes and poison in her smile.Ranvijay's mother.That was the night everything broke.Akansha, his mother, stood at the staircase, her saree billowing like a ghost. She didn't scream. She didn't weep. She turned away.And Vikrant? He stood frozen, watching his father walk past his mother without a glance... to put another woman's child in the very crib he once had.From that night on, he never looked at his father the same way again.And Ranvijay? He was just an infant. He didn't know that his existence shattered a family. He didn't know the war that would wage behind closed doors.Vikrant hated himself for hating the child he had once pitied.But the truth was something else.He didn't hate Ranvijay.He hated that he looked so much like their father.He hated that despite being born from betrayal, Ranvijay had never carried the burden of it.And most of all, he hated how his father gave that woman everything, while Akansha had spent her life trying to hide her pain behind steel and silence.She left him when he turned one. A delicate age where a child needed the warmth of his mother the most but she didn't care. Ranvijay's mother had dreams that soared higher than her responsibilities. She walked away from her son without a second glance, chasing the glittering fantasy of becoming the country's top model. And now she is. Famous. Admired. Adored by the world. But not once did she look back at the little boy she abandoned. She didn't care how Ranvijay would survive without her, didn't care who would hold him when he cried in the night or who would teach him to walk. But Akansha did. Despite the betrayal carved into her soul by her husband's affair, she chose to raise Ranvijay as her own. She fed him, bathed him, sang him lullabies, even when her heart bled silently.And Ranvijay, in his innocence, grew up calling her maa, never knowing the truth that had been buried beneath layers of silence and pain. But the bitterness between Akansha and Angad never faded. Not that Angad ever tried.His nights were spent with women who wore lipstick like lies and perfumes that masked guilt. And Vikrant, as he grew older, began to see it all. He understood. He saw the truth behind the shallow charm of his father. He saw how fucked up Angad truly was and still is.A low *tsk* grabbed his attention.He looked at his wife who had returned from the bathroom and was now messing with clothes." What's wrong?"He approached her." I am not able to select an outfit."Oh, the universal problem.He smiled, " let me help."She stepped aside and let him help her select an outfit for the first day at university.⋆༺✷༻⋆To be continue.Read more chapters in scrollstack as early access.