Anika made no eye contact with him whatsoever after walking out of that elevator which seemingly had been on fire. She was glad that it wasn't just the two of them. She had hurried into the back seat of the car leaving Pinky to take the passenger seat in the front. She could feel his gaze on her through the back mirror of the car.

Anika was glad when Pinky guided her into the mansion saying she had to discuss a few things with her. Anika kept herself off the radar of her fiancé, going about as though nothing had happened. Although, every time she caught him looking at her, for instance, when she was sitting in the living hall with his grandmother; her heartbeat raced. It was evening and the family had gathered in the living hall to have some tea. The atmosphere was light and everyone was talking about who they planned on inviting for the wedding while Pinky was making a note. Amidst the chaotic fun, she casually turned to him. Only to find him looking at her. His lips immediately curved up and she was stupefied. She immediately tore away a gaze with her cheeks flaming up in seconds. She could guess he was silently chuckling from what she caught from the corner of her eyes. Her own lips curved up.

Minutes later, she was tempted to look at him. She gave in and pretended to be as casual as she could. This time his attention was on his phone and as though sensing her gaze on him. He waved his phone and then pointed to her. Her eyebrows drooped and she picked up her phone looking at him. His attention was back on typing.

"Deepika will be here in half-an-hour. I will meet you upstairs for rehearsal, in a while."

Oh, that's it! Anika quickly replied with 'okay.' and looked up. He was already walking towards the staircase.

Anika focused her attention back on the funny instance Pinky was narrating about her own wedding. Minutes passed and soon the conversation transformed into teasing her. Anika couldn't sit and listen any more. She stated the excuse of dance practice and made her way up the stairs. Her phone beeped. She unlocked the screen to find a message from Gauri.

"Seems like someone went on a pre-wedding honeymoon." That was her comment on the para-sailing pictures she had sent her. Anika rolled her eyes. What was up with everyone teasing her? She reacted with the eye roll emoji.

Gauri was pursuing a Masters in Human Psychology at a popular university in the Philippines. Anika had first met Gauri at an event organized by an NGO that worked towards the betterment of married women who faced abuse. She was a volunteer just like her. They were assigned duty in the same domain and that was where their friendship found roots. Ever since then, they both got so close that they were sisters without the same parentage. Gauri had lost her parents very early in life. Her aunt had raised her single-handedly. Gauri's said aunt had lost the battle against cancer when Gauri was still pursuing her Bachelors. Leaving behind a little more than decent inheritance for Gauri to make her life. Anika's mother was also fond of Gauri. Gauri was a part of their family.

"When are you coming back to India?" Anika typed as she slowed her pace.

Gauri: "Worry not. There's no way I am missing your beach wedding!"

Anika: "And my question remains unanswered."

Gauri: "next weekend Ma'am."

Anika: "Good girl! I gotta go TTYL."

Gauri: "of course someone else is on top of your priority list now."

Anika: "Shut up drama queen!"

Anika smiled looking up realizing she had walked till the end of the first-floor corridor instead of going to the second floor. She hit her palm on her forehead and began retracing her steps. She stopped when Shivaay stepped out of his room looking at her with curiosity painted on his face.

"You missed my room!" he exclaimed his eyes fixated on her face. Mischief twinkled in his eyes.

Anika flushed at his assumption, "No, I wasn't coming to your room."

"Sure?" He asked as amusement began to glimmer in his eyes.

"Of course, I was..just heading to the rehearsal room."

"Right. But, I think you've been there enough times to know that it is on the floor above this and that this is my room." he tilted his head smirking and pointing to the door that opened to his room.

"Yeah, I do. Actually, umm, I was texting and didn't pay attention to where I was walking." Anika hurriedly explained before he formed assumptions in his head while slipping her phone into her jeans pocket.

"Who is this person other than me who gets you so absent-minded?"

"Gauri, my best---" She paused as the implication of his question dawned on her. "Umm, no one gets me absent-minded."

He chuckled heartily stepping forward. He gently pulled her cheeks. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a bundle of cuteness?"

"No.." Anika managed to mumble. His fingers on her cheeks made her skin tingle. She gulped stepping back. His lips pulled up on one side, to form a smirk as he stepped closer. Anika was breathing heavily by the time she was against the wall, just by the frame of the door that led into his room. His left hand was fixed against the wall over her right shoulder while the other was gently caressing her cheek. The motion of his fingertips was tremendously slow-paced. His face inches away from her.

He was so close that Anika could clearly see the vertical lip wrinkles as his lips parted. Her gaze shifted up to his eyes. His blue eyes were blazing. Her own breath hitched as, his fanned her face. He slowly began diminishing the distance between their lips. An alarm started blaring in her head. She turned her face in time to prevent his lips from brushing over hers. But, his wet lips moistened her cheek. Anika took in a sharp breath of air audible enough from him to hear.

Her sharp inhale sounded like music in his ears. Her heaving chest was already messing with his mind. Her cheek felt so soft and warm against his lips. He gave in to the urge and moved his lips against her cheek. He started tracing his lips down to her jaw.

Anika felt as though jolts of electricity were rocking her body as he traced a track on her side face with his lips. The roughness of his stubble blended with the contrasting softness of his lips was too much for her to handle. Unintentionally, she grabbed his upper arm.

He took a ragged deep breath as he felt her hand clutch on to his arm above the shoulder. The grip of her fingers was firm. Sinful imaginations began clouding his mind. He withdrew his lips from her cheek, his hand gently turning her face so that he could meet her eyes. 

Darn, he never thought someone could look so divinely sexy. Her widened eyes meeting his, her crimson washed cheeks and her parted lips. He wondered how sexy she would appear when he would be pounding into her. His hand trailed down her left arm, reaching her waist. He tightened his grip, which caused a gasp to escape her lips. Waiting no more, he slammed his lips over hers as quick as a blink of an eye.

She resisted the ministrations of his mouth, her hands on his shirt trying to bring distance. But, the moment he bit her lower lip her resistance disappeared. She gasped and he was quick in claiming her mouth. Her resolve- to resist broke and she steadily began responding. This time it was better than the first two. Her hands moved up to his shoulders ultimately locking around his neck. She felt his right palm move upward from her waist to her neck. His left hand left the wall and dropped to her shoulder gently massaging her there. Soon, his fingers were tracing lazy patterns on her neck.

Anika had never before felt her body go so fluccid and hot. She held on tighter to him enjoying every bit of the kiss. She felt warm and wet between her legs. Her knees were going weak. She suddenly pulled away breathing hard. Her head resting against the wall. He was breathing equally laboriously. He looked at her with limpid blue eyes. Anika couldn't help but get charmed by their alluring beauty. Before she knew he was kissing her neck. Oh, his lips knew too much!

Shivaay couldn't resist the temptation to kiss the column of her neck as she tilted her head against the wall to breathe. However, he kept his hands off her bosom by gripping tightly onto her waist. It was hard to not let his palms explore their way back to her perfect hips.

He took a chance and gently nibbled at the skin on the nape of her neck. Damn! The more he explored her skin, the more he wanted. She let out an 'ahh', holding tightly on to his shoulders when she felt his teeth at the skin on her neck. Shivaay quickly flicked his tongue over the spot to soothe her skin. She exhaled sharply loosening her hold. Her reactions were only pushing him to the edge. F*ck, did she have the slightest clue of what a massive impact she was having on him!

"Shivaay.."she breathed and he slowly pulled away. He noticed how her cheeks were flushed with red hue and eyes were open wide. On looking closely he could say her pupils were dilated. Her parted lips were enticing him. He raised his thumb and tugged at her lower lip. Maintaining eye contact the entire time. She swallowed hard when he released the touch.

His holding back snapped. He cupped her face, kissing her again. This time he tilted her face deepening the kiss. How badly he had waited for this. It was totally worth his wait. He felt her hands clutch his t-shirt on the side. She moaned slightly as he swirled his tongue moving it against hers. Soon, she was responding. Oh, he loved how she responded submissively!

"Let me ask Shivaay. I will call you back in five minutes." They heard his mother's loud voice. They pulled apart shocked. It was as though they had been in a glass bubble that had just shattered. Anika pulled back her hands from his body embarrassed. What on earth was wrong with her!

They heard footsteps accompanied by Pinky's voice which said 'yes, yes'. She finally met his eyes horrified. He gave her a reassuring look and held her hand. He dragged her inside into his room, towards the bathroom.

"What!" Anika whispered worriedly.

He pulled her inside the washroom and locked the door. Anika rubbed her palm on her face tensed. "Why.."

He turned abruptly and covered her mouth with his hand. Putting the other hand around her he shifted her towards the rear end of the washroom away from the door. "Sh..just pretend you are not here, okay? Just..shh.."

Anika nodded vigorously agreeing to what he was saying. He pulled his hand back and stared at her. Her lips appearing fuller after their kiss. He touched her hair tucking it behind her ear. Anika tensed up at his touch. Not again! A warning rang in her head.

"Shivaay!"

His mother's voice broke their moment. He pulled his hand back and walked to the door. Anika blew out air when he wasn't looking. She couldn't believe that she was actually kissing him like there was no tomorrow minutes back. She pressed her lips inward. Her fingers reaching his neck to rub the spot where he had kissed her. Damn! She was so doomed.

"Shivaay are you in the washroom?" His mother's voice was very audible inside the washroom.

"yes, mom!" Shivaay replied rolling his eyes.

"Are you coming out?" His mother asked. Shivaay grimaced, glancing back at Anika who seemed visibly freaked out. Obviously, he would come out! Why did his mom have to ask that!

"The jeweler had called. He wanted to know what time we will be reaching. Does tomorrow morning ten-thirty do?"

"yeah, that's perfect!" Shivaay answered hoping she would go away. He turned to Anika looking at her intently. When his mother decided to ask another awkward question.

"Did you ask Anika for her size?" His eyebrows went up in bewilderment. Anika looked on her cheeks flaming now. Her size?

"What!" He asked aloud.

"Her finger's size, I had asked you to ask." His mother screamed from the other side of the door.

"Oh!" He sighed turning to Anika with questioning eyes. Anika looked at her ring finger and shrugged nodding in a no. She never wore rings so obviously she didn't know her finger's size.

"I will ask her later and let you know by tonight!" He answered leaning against the door.

"Okay!" they heard her mutter. Silence fell after they heard retreating footsteps. Shivaay raised a finger towards her, asking her to stay back. He slowly opened the door peeping outside. Left, then right. "Clear!" he declared walking out.

She took a deep breath following him out. An awkward silence fell between them.

"It's not like we were doing anything wrong," Shivaay spoke up, which made Anika look at him with wide eyes. "What? " He shrugged taking a step closer to her.

"I will meet you upstairs." saying that Anika rushed out of his room with her cheeks on fire. He grinned blowing out air.

Now, how was that? ;)

What do you think about the happenings of this update?

-Anami!♡