Chapter 203

It was at the close of their fifth month as Raizada wives that Payal and Kushi found themselves assisting in the preparations for the Ceremony in Memory of Lady Anjali's and Lord Arnav's parents. As was custom, Lord Arnav was to drive the carriage exclusively to fetch a hermit.

On the morning he was to venture into the forest, Lord Arnav insisted that Kushi help him bathe. Grumbling under her breath, she followed after him into the bath chamber. You see, she was hoping to get a few minutes of sleep in the warm bed all to her herself while her husband endured the early morning bath.

When she was within, he shut the door behind her and, by the manner in which he turned to her with his penetrating gaze, she knew he had summoned her for more intentions than merely scrubbing his back.

A few minutes later, in the warm foamy water of the tub, Kushi was seated before him, her back to his chest and his long legs enclosing her on either side. He devotedly scrubbed her back while occasionally bestowing kisses on the back of her neck or along her shoulders. After a while, Kushi turned to him, poising herself on her knees before him, so she could better scrub his hair. Lord Arnav leaned back, his hands relaxing their hold on her hips, as he eased into the sensations that soothed him from the manner in which her fingers were running lovingly through his hair.

Consequently, her sensual fingers manifested him from relaxation to dire arousal and, before Kushi was provided hint, he was pulling her down to him. Water sloshed onto the floor and the bar of soap plopped into the foamy water forgotten, as Lord Arnav kissed his wife's lips over and over again as though he was sipping honey off the tender petals of a flower.

A while later, in the aftermath of their lovemaking, when he was driving themselves dizzy in a flurry of hungry kisses, a knock sounded on the door.

Breaking the spell, Kushi surfaced from the water, panting for want of breath and shot her bloodshot glare in the direction of her gratified husband, who was smirking at her.

Petrified, Kushi bit her lower lip. Whoever was at the door, knew they were BOTH within.

"Master?" the butler's muffled voice asked, after a long careful pause.

Kushi groaned inwardly. Not Rahim Chacha! He is like a father to me and I will never be able to look him in the eye after this!

"Yes?" Lord Arnav responded nonchalantly, trying to pull Kushi back to the water as she tried to push him away.

"The carriage is readied and Lady Mother asked me to tell you that you are to leave for the Industry as instantly as you will."

Lord Arnav frowned at the door, annoyed at the interruption, but replied formally, "I will do so, Chacha. You may tell her that."

"As you say, Master," the butler affirmed and then his footsteps were heard to recede into the distance until they were heard no more.

Kushi had already gotten out of the tub and was scrubbing at her wet hair when he appeared next to her, wet and alluring. Sighing, Kushi offered him the towel she was using but he refused to take it.

Kushi was about to withdraw it when, all of a sudden, he lifted her up, his stiff arms circling around her thighs as he held her above him.

"Remember the first time I held you so?" he asked, a charmed light in his eyes.

Kushi draped the towel over his head so that he wouldn't see her grin.

"Yes, I do," she said, in a forced passive tone, scrubbing hard at his hair, "And who would have thought that the two adversaries of that night would ever be married?"

Lord Arnav alighted her to the floor and the towel slid to the cold ground. He held her face in his hands as the warmth returned in his eyes, "I did."

Kushi stared at him as he repeated, "I did. I knew we would marry. The moment I saw you draped in that night gown and your long hair dripping and tempting... I knew I should have you for mine. I could let no other man own you."

And then he kissed her on her lips, deeply and truthfully.

When he withdrew his lips, he whispered, "Are you coming with me again? We could climb trees, eat grapes and even try and fetch the same old hermit who gave us refuge in his hut."

"The one who wedded us, you mean," reminded Kushi.

"Aye, he was the same one, wasn't he?" Lord Arnav remarked, as though reminded of this interesting connection only then.

"Do you think you could find him?" asked Kushi eagerly, "I so liked him better than all the others hermits I met."

"He was quite annoying," acknowledged Lord Arnav with a frown, "I wouldn't invite him for all the world, but if he is the one I meet first, I will not refrain from bringing him along for you."

Kushi smiled and then resumed scrubbing her hair as Lord Arnav picked his bath robe and began donning it.

As he was tying its cord, he looked over his shoulder at her, the tousled hair over his forehead partially dry, "You didn't answer me. Are you coming with me?"

"If I could, I would," said Kushi, hanging her towel on the line.

"I could hide you in the back," Lord Arnav proposed amicably.

"An attractive offer but I'll pass," smiled Kushi, taking her bath robe from off its peg. "Besides, I think we can avoid a lot of accidents, if we keep me out of the picture."

"I love accidents," responded Lord Arnav, his answer surprising her and he saw it did, which led him to explain, "Marrying you has made me rewrite my list of specific inclinations."

Kushi nodded importantly, "Proving again: My charm can never fail!"

Feeling pleased, Lord Arnav looked intently at her, "I will come back before its evening. You will wait up for me, won't you?"

"You know I will," Kushi put the robe on, and began tying the cord around her waist.

Lord Arnav watched her immersed in the activity, like a child putting the laces on his new shoes.

A sudden surge of love overcame him and stepping towards her, he held her to him, the surprised look on her face dying as soon as she read the passion in his eyes.

"You are impossible, Lord Arnav Singh Raizada," she said, her arms circling around his neck.

"As are you, Lady Kushi Singh Raizada," he murmured, with an enchanting smirk.