Annika giggled when she felt his beard teasing her skin, with her legs buckled around his waist, she stayed still, staring at him with mischief. Shivaay let his fingers drape around her neck, continuing to let his beard make her ticklish. She should have known better before going ahead and tickling him, and it came to her as a shock as Shivaay didn't show any mercy while tickling her.

"Shivaay — stop — I —" Annika managed to speak between her giggles, hearing her words, Shivaay gave her a whole ten seconds rest before yet again tickling her waist. Hovering above her, Annika had her eyes tightly shut, Shivaay couldn't help but notice the way her giggles felt like music to his ears, the way she was smiling between her laughter, how was he ever going to get over it, over her? He possibly could never, he was stuck with her, probably forever.

Annika let out a sigh when he stopped tickling her, his head resting against her neck, laying down over her. Shivaay wrapped his hands around her waist, his fingers caressing her skin. A faint blush appeared on Annika's face, they had never been so intimate, this was the first time she had experienced something like this with Shivaay.

"You had a boyfriend before me? It's not like I care who you dated but I was just curious to —"

"I had a boyfriend long ago, in college, I did go to a lot of dates"

"What happened then? The college boyfriend?"

"Well, he had to go his own way and I had to mine, so we parted apart, on a good note" Annika ran her fingers through his hair, thinking the life before she met Shivaay, and she couldn't help but admit, it was quite black and white, not that she had hated her life, no, she loved it as much as she loves her life right now. Shivaay hummed, finding her fingers in his hair pleasurable.

"What about you? Any girlfriend?"

"No, the last time I went on a date with someone was four years ago and other, two years ago. I didn't have much time to date, always felt it was a waste of time, but that was all before you happened" Annika smiled, how could his simple words mean so much to her? His nose trailing down her neck, Annika was aware of how every part of her was burning with his touch and she wanted more, more of him, everyday.

"Did you love your previous boyfriend?" Annika's breath hitched in her throat, love? The word felt foreign to her but yet it didn't. What was love? She didn't understand, was it like how parents loved their children, or how a sibling love was, or was it like Romeo and Juliet's. Annika looked at Shivaay, what did she feel for him? Was it love? She couldn't understand.

But she knew one thing, she didn't love her last boyfriend. "I didn't," She answered and Shivaay clutched her closer to him. Annika's fingers moved down to his face, trailing her finger down to his lips, parting them apart. Shivaay watched with steady eyes, there was nothing in this world he would be doing right now other than staying in her arms, it felt as if he was in heaven.

Annika looked at him for a brief second before moving down some bit and kissing him. Shivaay was caught off guard, feeling her lips move against his, he closed his eyes, kissing her back. Her hands resting against his chest, Shivaay nibbled at her bottom lip, Annika couldn't hold back her moan as his hand continued to trail down her body.

"The more I taste you, the more I want you, Annika" Shivaay whispered in her ears, his hot breath fanning across her ear. With her lips parted, she had her eyes closed, and she could picture things he would do to her, and the thought alone made her body hot.
"I can never get enough of you" Shivaay continued, eyes wavering over her face. Annika felt heat rushing to her cheeks, his words leaving a deep imprint on her.

"And neither can I" Chuckling Annika raised her eyebrows to find her boyfriend grinning widely at her, she could stay like this forever, in his arms. It was almost the time for sunset, soon they would have to part away again. "Annika, if you don't remember, the ball is in two days —" Before he could have finished Annika's phone rang loudly.

She reached out for her phone as Shivaay got off her, now sitting beside her on the couch. "I'm sorry, I have to take this call" Apologizing to him, Annika looked one more time at her caller id, it was from her mother. And the first thing that Annika heard when she picked up the call which told her that it was from her brother. Shivaay laid back down, his arms under his head as he looked over at his girlfriend.

Annika walked some distance away but not far away, he could still hear her from there. "Hello?" Annika answered the call and she was soon met with her mother's voice. "Annika, I'm sorry for this urgency but you need to get home for a couple of days, your dad, he is— he is getting his surgery tomorrow" Annika stayed still, listening to her mother, a wave of panic hit her hard, her moments stopped, for seconds, she couldn't breath. It didn't take her long enough for years to form in her eyes.

Annika saw this coming, it was meant to happen today or tomorrow and knowing that her father's surgery could be risky, she was against it but then, how could she watch him disappear slowly and painfully? Her father had heart problems, particularly coronary heart disease and it kept worsening over months, the treatment wasn't working and so now they had to get the surgery done. "Annika, are you listening?" Annika wiped out a tear that had rolled down her eye.

"Yes mom, I'm listening" She held back her tears this time and clutched the phone tightly, afraid that her emotional self was to slip the phone down. For whatever the next thing her mom went on about, Annika couldn't focus, she was lost in her own thoughts and worries. She kept saying 'yes' for everything absent minded-ly. "I'll be there as soon as possible, maybe I'll reach by tonight. Alright? Mom, please don't stress and rest, I'm sure the surgery will go well" After bidding each other goodbye, Annika released a breath she was holding in for several seconds.

She turned around, only to meet with Shivaay's curious eyes who by now, she was guessing had heard everything, which only meant she did not have to repeat it to him. Shivaay got up, walking towards her and soon engulfing her into his arms. It didn't take her second before she broke down, in his arms. "I didn't mean to — I'm sorry you had to see me this way" She apologized and Shivaay frowned.

"If I were in your place, I would have been doing the same, and why are you apologizing? I'm here for you, always, to hold you. There's nothing wrong with you crying, so don't apologise again, please" Annika rested her head against his chest, his calm heartbeat bringing her somewhat peace. His soothing words assured her that he was here to stay. His shirt drenched with her tears and she looked back at him, his eyes softening by gazing at her tear stained cheeks.

Shivaay kissed the top of her head. "I'll pray for the surgery to go well. And that your father becomes good soon" Annika felt his hands on her cheeks and she couldn't thank him enough for being there for her. She tiptoed and gave a chaste kiss on his cheek. Shivaay chuckled lightly, she was adorable, everything about her was. He didn't want to let go of her, not now, never.

"Thankyou for everything," Annika said slowly, her hair falling in front of her eyes and her gaze fixed on his shirt. "No, thanks to you, without you life would have been dull and boring. I was tired of my daily routine" That brought a smile on her face, he intertwined their fingers, bringing her closer. "Don't ever leave me" He muttered, wondering what he would have been doing without her right now, he would have been looking at the boring documents and here he was, gazing at the most beautiful women he had ever laid his eyes on.

"Even if I do, it's not like you're going to get another girl who would be willing to handle you. I am the only one who can put up with you. So Mr. Oberoi, you'll have to return to me, you will have no choice. You're stuck with me" Annika smiled mischievously, it felt fun bossing him around, she wondered what all she could say and he would listen to her. Shivaay had a bright smile on his face.

"It's not like there will be another man who'll be willing to put up with your banters" Shivaay teased, playing along and Annika raised her eyebrows at him. Bringing him closer by his collar, she watched him gasp loudly, surprised by her action and at that, Annika smirked. "And it's not like, you're going to find other women that would make you gasp" Shivaay blinked his eyes, this was the very first seeing such a different side of hers and he couldn't wait to discover more.

Annika took a step back, creating some distance between them, she folded her arms. Being with him, makes her forget about everything and she was glad to have someone like him in her life. But as soon as the reality came crashing down at her again, she sighed. "Shivaay, I need leave, gotta reach home by tonight" She said, gazing at the watch on the wall. Shivaay nodded his head, he grabbed his car keys and the house keys. Giving Annika her phone, he took her hand in his, and walked out of the farmhouse.

"Just drop me home" Annika told as they both got into the car. "No, I'll drop you home, tell me the address" Annika turned to face him, was he being serious? He would do that? But why? "Don't you have work? It's about a three to four hours journey, won't it tire you out?" She asked curiously, and Shivaay shook his head, he wasn't planning on letting her take other transport at this time.

"You don't need to do this, you know, I can go by my own" Annika bit her bottom lip, but the stern look on his face told her that he wasn't going to change his decision, she gave up. Fighting with him right now wouldn't be the wisest decision. She sighed and laid back on the seat. "Alright, it's not like you're going to listen to me" Rolling her eyes, she told him and a smile paved his face as he started the engine.

"Remember, we are in this together"

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Sorry again for this late update but studies have been holding be back from writing and the next update will probably next month.

What do you think of the story so far, let me know!

And also, where do you get a guy like Shivaay? oof.