The house was silent except for the distant sound of thunder. The weight of Ranvir's words still lingered in the air, but Aisha tried to shake them off as she curled up on the couch, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her mind was all over the place, but the one thing keeping her steady was Rishi.
He sat beside her, close enough for her to feel his warmth but not touching her. His presence was grounding, but the tension between them was undeniable.
"You okay?" His voice was softer than usual.
Aisha let out a dry chuckle. "Not really."
He nodded, his eyes never leaving her. "You will be."
She turned her head to him, studying his face. There was no doubt, no hesitation....just quiet confidence in her.
Aisha sighed. "You don't have to stay, you know. I'll be fine."
Rishi raised an eyebrow. "You're curled up like a scared kitten, but sure, you're 'fine.'"
She shot him a glare, but the corner of her lips twitched. He smirked, pleased with himself.
Before she could respond, lightning flashed through the windows, followed by a loud rumble of thunder. The rain picked up, hitting the glass harder.
Rishi stood and walked to the window. "Guess I'm not going anywhere."
Aisha frowned. "What?"
"Not driving in this storm," he said casually. "Looks like you're stuck with me."
Something about the way he said it sent a shiver through her. She swallowed, forcing herself to sound unaffected. "Great. Just what I needed."
He turned, smirking, but his eyes were different tonight. Darker. "You're not fooling me, Aisha."
She opened her mouth to deny it, but he took a step closer. Her heartbeat stuttered.
The air between them had been thick for weeks....charged with tension neither of them dared acknowledge. Now, with the world outside fading into rain and shadows, there was nothing left to hide behind.
Rishi reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, his fingers lingering a moment too long. "You're shaking," he murmured.
She forced a laugh. "It's just cold."
His lips twitched. "Liar."
And then, before she could second-guess herself, before she could remind herself of all the reasons why this was a bad idea, she closed the gap between them, pressing her lips against his in a moment of pure, unthinking desire.
It wasn't planned. It wasn't gentle. It was desperate, built on weeks of unspoken words and bottled-up emotions. Her fingers gripped his shirt, pulling him closer, and he responded instantly....his arms wrapping around her, strong and warm, holding her like he wasn't planning to let go.
Their breaths mingled, the heat between them pushing back the cold of the storm. Rishi lowered his head, his lips brushing the corner of her mouth, slow and deliberate, as if daring her to meet him halfway.
Aisha's breath hitched. She wanted this. She wanted him. But it was terrifying in a way she couldn't explain.
He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "Tell me to stop."
She hesitated.
And in that hesitation, he got his answer.
Rishi closed the distance, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both careful and consuming. A contradiction of tenderness and raw hunger, restraint and untamed fire. Aisha gasped against his mouth, the heat of his touch searing into her skin. His fingers traced the curve of her spine, sending shivers down her body as he deepened the kiss, taking his time to savor her. She melted into him, losing herself in the warmth, the passion, the reckless abandon of a moment that had been waiting far too long to happen.
Outside, the storm raged on. But inside, wrapped in his arms, she finally felt safe....lost in the intoxicating warmth of his touch, the taste of his lips still lingering on hers.
Aisha pulled back just enough to catch her breath, her eyes locking onto his, dark and filled with something untamed. "Rishi..." her voice was a whisper, shaky and unsure.
He let out a low hum, his fingers tracing slow, lazy patterns against her waist. "Say it, Aisha. Whatever's in that head of yours."
She swallowed hard. "I don't know what's happening to me."
His lips curved slightly before he leaned in, capturing her lower lip between his teeth, tugging just enough to make her gasp. "I do," he murmured, his voice thick with desire.
Aisha shuddered as his hands traveled up her back, his touch igniting a fire inside her. She gripped his collar, pulling him closer until their breaths mingled again. "You're impossible."
Rishi chuckled against her lips. "And yet, you can't seem to stay away."
She didn't deny it. Instead, she kissed him again, this time slower, deeper....relishing the way he responded, the way he devoured her like he had been starving for this moment. His hands slid down, gripping her hips, pressing her flush against him as their kisses turned feverish, tangled in the storm raging outside and the fire burning between them.
Aisha moaned softly against his lips, her fingers threading through his hair as she pulled him impossibly closer. "Rishi..." she breathed, her voice trembling with need.
He growled low in his throat, nipping at her bottom lip before soothing it with his tongue. "You're driving me insane, Aisha."
She gasped as his hands gripped her waist, his fingers digging into her skin like he couldn't get enough of her. "Then do something about it."
That was all the permission he needed. He lifted her effortlessly, pressing her back against the wall, his mouth trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck. Aisha's head fell back, a whimper escaping her lips as he found the spot that made her toes curl.
Rishi's voice was thick with restraint. "Tell me to stop."
"I won't," she whispered, rolling her hips against him. "Not this time."
A groan rumbled deep in his chest as he captured her mouth once more, his lips moving with an urgency that made her knees weak. "Aisha..." he murmured against her lips, his breath ragged. "You're intoxicating."
She gasped as his hands slid down her sides, gripping her hips, pulling her flush against him. "Rishi..." her voice was breathless, needy.
He nipped at her lower lip before soothing it with his tongue, his fingers digging into her skin. "Say my name again."
Her fingers tangled in his hair as she arched against him, pressing even closer. "Rishi... I...."
He swallowed her words with another deep, claiming kiss, his hands roaming, teasing, setting her body ablaze. "Tell me you want this as much as I do," he whispered against her lips.
She whimpered, her nails digging into his shoulders. "I do... I want you."
That was all it took. He growled low in his throat, lifting her effortlessly and pinning her against the wall. His lips trailed down her neck, hot and hungry, making her shudder.
Aisha gasped, her fingers gripping his shoulders as he pressed her against the cold surface. "Rishi..." she breathed, her voice trembling with need.
He nipped at her collarbone before soothing it with his tongue, his breath hot against her skin. "You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.
She let out a shaky moan, her hands sliding up to tangle in his hair. "Then show me."
His eyes darkened, a smirk playing on his lips before he crashed his mouth onto hers again, this time with raw, unrestrained hunger. Their bodies molded together, heat radiating between them as his hands roamed, teasing and possessive.
Her breath hitched when he whispered against her lips, "Tell me to stop."
She shook her head, her nails digging into his back. "Never."
A deep, satisfied growl rumbled from his chest before he captured her lips again, claiming her, consuming her, until nothing else existed but the fire between them. His hands explored her back, fingers pressing into her curves as he pulled her impossibly closer.
Aisha gasped into his mouth, her body arching into him as she clutched his shirt, desperately holding onto him. "Rishi..." she whispered against his lips, breathless and dazed.
He nipped at her lower lip before soothing it with his tongue. "You taste addictive," he murmured, his voice husky, sending shivers down her spine. "I might never stop."
Her pulse pounded wildly. "Then don't."
That was all the encouragement he needed. He deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding against hers, coaxing, teasing, until she melted into him completely. Their breaths mingled, bodies entwined, lost in a whirlwind of need and unspoken confessions.
Now she was feeling so safe in his arms that she drifted into sleep, her breaths soft and steady against his chest. Rishi let out a quiet chuckle, brushing a strand of hair from her face before tightening his hold on her, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Sleep, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice a low whisper against her skin. "You're safe with me."
He picks her up effortlessly, carrying her to her bed as she clung to him, refusing to let go. He tried to pull away, but her grip tightened around him, a silent plea. With a sigh, he gave in, lying beside her, their bodies pressed close. His arms wrapped around her protectively, and she buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent. "Stay," she murmured sleepily. He kissed the top of her head, his voice a hushed whisper. "I'm not going anywhere."