Pooja and Shikha were resting on the beach tired from the whole day’s travel. It had been a pleasant trip with a comfortable vehicle arranged by Darsh and multiple stopovers. Pooja was relieved that Adi genuinely enjoyed the outing and then, Miku and DD had almost mostly relieved her of motherly duties for him. Now also, she smiled as she watched the three of them playing ball in the sea waves. Happy laughter resonated in the air. Pooja laughed too but Shikha was curiously silent.
The air didn’t feel comfortable. “What’s the matter, Shikha? Are you feeling, OK?” Pooja broke the eerie silence between them.
“Ya, fine!” Shikha’s reply was curt enough for Pooja to know she was not really fine. Shikha’s gaze was fixed on Miku playing in the water.
“Tell me what’s the matter.” Pooja urged.
“Could we not have taken three rooms?”
Shikha’s reply completely overthrew Pooja. “What do you mean exactly? Do you want a separate room for yourself?”
Earlier when they had checked in the hotel, Darsh had booked two double rooms, One for him and Miku and the other for Pooja and Shikha. Pooja thought that it was the best arrangement.
There was a humming pessimism in Shikha’s tone. “Ya, maybe. Or Maybe Darsh could stay in a separate room.”
“What exactly is the matter, Shikha? Is it something about Miku? Are you unhappy about something?”
“No, no…. nothing like that!” Shikha hurried to clarify wondering if she had given out more than she intended to. “It’s just that we both never get any us time, you know! ..... He’s always with some or other family ….. I hope you understand.” She urged.
“Yes, I do. It does happen like that. But that doesn’t mean he loves you any lesser, Shikha! .....You must understand that. He has a heart big enough to have you and then the family, too…… And it’s only for now that he pays special attention to Chandni’s needs. Once Bhaiyya returns he’s going to be all yours.”
Pooja smiled genuinely trying to appease Shikha and then she got up. She walked up to the edge of the water and called out to Aadi urging all three to come out.
"DD, come let you and I walk Aadi to the end of beach..... Miku, you take Shikha for a long walk on the beach in the other direction." Pooja's instructions were firm.
"Why go separate? What's the matter?" Miku was concerned.
"Nothing is the matter, Miku. Do your duty as the boyfriend. Don't let your girl get bored alone." Pooja smiled teasingly.
Though Pooja teased, Miku was serious knowing something was the matter with Shikha though he couldn't put a finger on it. She had been so happy when he had given her full permission to buy anything that she liked in their shopping spree. He remembered Naani's words. Shikha was easy to anger...... she needed cherishing!
After walking a distance, Pooja and Darsh settled on the sand while Aadi insisted on building a sand castle all on his own.
“While we are on this trip, let’s leave Miku with Shikha. Is it possible to do that?”
Pooja’s tone was casual, but Darsh sensed some concern in it. He chose not to pry.
“Yes of course! We can do that.”
“Would it be possible to book an additional room?” Pooja queried further, though tentatively.
Her request perplexed Darsh. “Of course, we can! But for whom? What’s going on in your mind, Pooja?”
“Shikha perhaps wants to spend time with Miku; So, if you shift to another room……”
“I can……. But as much as I know MK, he will not allow it…… And you know that! Don’t you? Then why are you asking this?” Darsh admonished but then looking at innocent Pooja his voice grew softer, “Shikha is young. Allowing some freedom is OK but encouraging her beyond our value systems…that I would not advise unless MK says it…... there could be severe repercussions, you know!”
“You are right. Shikha’s silence over matters scares me somehow. I wish she would come out openly.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know herself what exactly she wants. Give her time, Pooja. We cannot crowd her……”Darsh spoke in an assuaging tone. “Let the two have dinner separately today. Even we can go separately for the fireworks show…… I would be more than happy to do that.” A mischievous smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Pooja grew tense immediately understanding the meaning behind that smile. Darsh sensed her sudden withdrawal in her safe silent cocoon, but he was not going to allow that.
“You know, you look so beautiful at the moment…. Your wind-kissed hair on your face.”
“Oh DD! Please don’t say things like that!” Pooja’s discomfort was clear.
“And why not? …. Especially when I speak the truth.”
“Because……. Because” Pooja was lost but she continued, “Because with me, things are complicated.”
“With whom aren’t they? Welcome to humanity!” Darsh was relentless.
They were both motionless, their gazes locked. Softly, he took the tendril of her hair flying on her face and tucked it behind her ears.
His voice pitched deeper. “You deny the attraction between us?”
He saw a shiver run through her before she set her jaw in determination.
“I deny that one’s rational will can be undermined by physical sensation,” she said. “One’s brain is always in charge.”
She stood up calling out to Aadi to return to the hotel.
Chandni felt so happy at the thought of getting a call from Dev. What will he say? What shall I reply?
She hummed while arranging the flowers her back to the door.
Roothkar pehale jee bhar sataaungi main
Jab manayenge voh maan jaaungi main
Advay silently opened the door and entered, dropping his bag softly to the ground. Her happy humming and her sexy back frame ignited him. All these days he had to control himself. How much he had ached for her! His inner caveman broke out with a primitive impulse to mark her as his. With ease, he closed the distance between them.
“Huh!” Surprised Chandni turned back and came face to face with Dev who had crept silently behind her. “Tum?” She cried out in happy surprise.
“Badonko Aap kehate hain.”
The pain she felt at hearing his voice again!
Before she could respond, his hands glided down to grasp her hips in one swift movement. He leaned down and swung her up and over his shoulder, one hand easily holding down her legs to keep her from kicking. For an instant Chandani could have sworn she had dreamt him up, until she found herself upside down, being carried confidently up the staircase.
“What are you doing!” She fought for breath as her stomach bounced against his shoulder. “Dev, this is not the way to treat a woman. It’s, it’s—primitive! You’re acting like a caveman!”
The rumble of his low chuckle drifted to her ears. “Things were a hell of a lot simpler then, Bhaagwaan.”
The world shifted as she was dumped into the middle of their bed. She sank into its luxurious mattress trying to regain her balance. Adrenalin fired up her sluggish system even as every self-protecting instinct kicked into gear.
Inching her way to the edge, she tried to make a jump for freedom when a gentle push at her shoulders reversed her direction and caused her to fall back again. This time there was no chance of getting back up.
“Bhaad mein jaao,” she said in a low voice and sprang to her feet. She loved him, he was her husband, but this could never be their way of lovemaking. On this same mattress, she had longed every night for him; still, this could not be the way.
She had taken only two strides before he caught her from behind.
“Don’t touch me!” She spat out in anger.
Her will was so fierce, her temperament so prickly, that he tended to forget how fragile she was!
He tipped his head back and laughed. Chandni glowered. His hands closed over her slender upper arms, the pressure making her wince. He could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin muslin of her sleeves. As he held her, the innocent lingering scent of lavender bath rose to his nostrils. There was a faint dusting of talc at the base of her throat.
The fragrance of her reminded Advay of a freshly made bed with pressed sheets. And oh, how he wanted to slip into her! He clamped his hands onto her hips and pulled her into him, where she could feel the power of his arousal. He was so hard it hurt.
Advay turned her to face him, controlling her easily. Lust and greed and want carved out the features of his face. Chandni stared back at him, fascinated by the raw emotions. He looked feral and it sent an echoing ferocity through her.
He moved so fast; she had no time to fight. He yanked her hard against him and devoured her mouth in a kiss so carnal, so outrageous, her toes curled and her nipples stabbed into hard points and she moaned helplessly beneath the deep strokes of his tongue. Advay ripped his mouth away and breathed hard.
“Yeh kya badtameezee hain?” she growled, angry and aroused.
“Badtameezee toh maine abhi shuru bhi nahi kee”, his mouth curved into a lazy smile insulting her further.
He moved forward until she was bracketed between him and the wall and he could feel her lithe curves pressed against him, the delicate fabric of her dress no barrier at all as he yanked it off.
She put her hands on his chest trying to push him away ….. He could see the fire in her eyes….. The fire that ignited his passion further. His Tigress!
He put his hands on the wall behind her, pressing even closer. He bent his head and inhaled her unique scent. Lavender and her angry pheromones. Conscious of her half-dressed state, she turned around to face the wall denying him access to her weak spot.
He sensed the battle in her and he didn’t like it. It had been so many days of separation and stress and he had intensely ached for her... she had come to him in a dream…….. He could feel her touch on him almost…… Hadn’t she experienced the same? She was his—how could she deny it?
In utter disbelief, her eyes widened and darkened as he roughly yanked down one sleeve exposing her delicate shoulder.
“Devvvvvv…..”She cried out thoroughly petrified of what was about to come.
The call reached his heart! Like ocean waves washing over angry lava. He saw her withdrawing right in front of him, timorous like a deer in front of a lion. He looked around wildly as suddenly he became conscious of his dark and harsh anger.
He turned her softly and cupped her cheeks looking deep into her eyes. How could she not trust her Dev to never let any harm come to her? He was angry but he would never ever hurt her. Wasn’t theirs the kind of bond that vanquishes all evil?
“Katto…….”A note of despair in his voice, troubled.
The return urge that went straight to her heart……. The use of that endearment almost drained her will for all resistance. … She needed to see him and talk to him, more than she needed to protect herself. ….. Silent tears rolled down her eyes with the shock of his anger a while back.
“Kattooo……” He was almost pleading now. Her tears were his ultimate undoing. He was aware of a sickening pang that he could only identify as regret. Had he broken her trust?
Through the curtain of tears, she looked up at him. There was so much she wanted to hit back with him but all the smart comebacks and good intentions to buy space evaporated and drifted into the cosmos. The angry woman inside her dissolved out and just the lover remained. Hadn’t she longed for this moment?
‘Devvv…’ she said weakly……
An inviting call, from one loving heart to another. His heart started to thunder. She wasn’t moving, but she wasn’t pushing him away either.
He kissed her, deliberately avoiding her mouth to trace a path across her jaw, as if he could block out the fear in her call and how it made him feel. He trailed his lips down to where her jawline joined her neck and bit at her soft skin gently………. his lips found her pulse point and his blood leapt when he registered how fast it was……. Ruthlessly he targeted all of her sensitive spots, one by one, until the tension in her form dissolved completely and she shuddered against him.
His gaze focused on her mouth. Her heart thundered. The bodies had to do all the talking now. She parted her lips, entranced by the powerful aura beating from him in waves. His body heat battled the wind and made her burn. He turned her to face the mirror. " Watch!"
It was a heady feeling to see their reflection together. She knew he would play dirty to win her over but now, she could match him. Because in his touch, he showed the respect that she needed as a woman she was...... a strong independent woman with her own will!
"Love you, mi linda tigresa.” His rich, lilting tone stripped her naked and his Spanish nickname wrapped her in crushed velvet.
The night passed as she let him take her as many times and in as many ways as he fantasized. Far in the night, both fell into satiated sleep as he spooned her. The comfort of having her back in his arms!
“This is my world! This is my heaven!” The last thought as he drifted to sleep.
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Hope you girls enjoyed Advay's return
More to come 
to keep on reading.
What's happening to Shikha and where will it lead?
Pooja is being pulled more and more towards Darsh...... because he refuses to let go. What might happen next?
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