ArHi SS: Swayamvar | COMPLETE | 31/7 - Page 8

He silently takes my thin coat as he places his hand on the small of my back, leading my shuddering body out to his car. I can't read his expression, and it bothers me.

Is he judging me right now?

He sits me down, wrapping the coat around me as he slips into the driver's seat and roars away. I don't ask how he knows where we're supposed to be going, since I never told him.

To my surprise, he pulls up to his penthouse building, parking quickly in a spot. I follow him blindly, not in a state of mind to question him.

The elevator ride up is awkward as we both stand against opposite corners of the small box, staring up at the mirrored ceiling and listening to the overly cheery piano music in the background.

My mind is numb from the encounter with my parents, and I can't formulate sentences to break the silence. He walks out of the elevator quietly, quickly unlocking the door and holding it open for me.

He sits me down on the couch, grabbing a soft fleece blanket and throwing it over me. I sink into the soft, squishy pillows, allowing my head to rest against it.

He moves away to grab a DVD, and the machine hums as he slips it in. I glance sleepily at the screen to see the deep, overbearing voice of Amrish Puri reverberate through the room.

I sit up in shock, completely taken aback by Arnav's choice for a movie. I had expected him to pick something serious, a political thriller, but instead, he's put on DDLJ.

"Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge?"

"I have a sister."

"Anjali is your excuse?"

"Shut up and watch, Khushi."

I fall silent, my eyes focused on the movie playing in front of me. Shah Rukh Khan shamelessly flirting with Kajol in a train has a calming effect, and I instantly feel at ease as I watch him dance around the stage to saxophones.

I feel Arnav's gaze on me, and I turn to face him. He doesn't look embarrassed at being caught staring, and only continues to trace my face slowly with his eyes. I can feel my heart fly into my throat at his heated stare, and the burning sensation of his admiration surprises me.

"Your... glasses look nice, Chashmish."

My mouth falls open in shock, and he gives me a small grin before turning back to the TV. I continue to stare at him with my mouth hanging open, the movie completely forgotten.

Without warning, he leans over and gently pushes up on my jaw, closing my mouth for me as his fingers drag against the sensitive skin underneath my chin. A tremble shoots through me, and I can't help myself from leaning into the warmth of his fingertips.

"Close your mouth and watch the movie, Khushi."

I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the overwhelming, unprecedented desire pulsing through me. I attempt to focus on the love story playing out on the scene, trying to forget the man sitting next to me who makes my senses go haywire.

Just as Kajol turns to leave, my eyes flit back to Arnav. I nearly burst out laughing at the sight.

He's sitting on the couch beside me, completely into the movie. His eyes haven't left the screen, and I can see him silently mouthing the lines as she walks away.

"Palat... Palat..."

A bright grin bursts his face when she turns around to look at him one, last time, and I find myself smiling as well.

I lean against the pillow, my head resting lightly on his warm shoulder. Within minutes, I am asleep, completely lost to my exhaustion.

I wake up to the smell of pizza wafting into my nose, and my stomach grumbles loudly as I realize I haven't eaten anything since this morning. I squint my eyes, even the soft light of the room adding to my painful headache.

"You snore."

I shoot him a glare, and he walks over holding pizza in his hands. The top is covered with colorful vegetables, and I itch to take a bite of the warm cheese that's sure to only melt further in my mouth.

"You made this?"

"I like to cook."

I sink my teeth into the pizza, and nearly moan aloud at the delightful taste. The crust is crispy, just the way I like it, and the vegetables are well cooked and seasoned with the right amount of Italian spice. He's even added the chili flakes I always pick up from Pizza Hut.

I open my eyes to see him staring at me, his eyes swirling with an emotion that unsettles me. His eyes are focused on my lips, and the expression makes my stomach drop to my toes. My entire body feels heated, and it's not because of the nonexistent spice in the chili flakes.

"You have cheese there."

I reach for the edge of my lips, rubbing at it to find nothing. I look up at him, searching for the familiar mischievous glint. But all I can see is that pool of dark caramel, darker than ever.

He reaches out and brushes a finger against my lips, capturing the stray piece of cheese that nestled itself on the other side. The sensation of his thumb brushing slowly against my lips is dizzying, and I fight to keep myself from closing my eyes in pleasure.

"If I had done that in high school, I think you would have fainted, Chashmish."

My eyes snap up to his, and I finally find the glittering, teasing look I've been searching for. The corner of his lips is curved up in a smirk, and I blush deeply at his accusation.

The sixteen year old girl that was smitten with the boy in front of her is something I do not want to remember, now or ever. I can still remember the slicked plait I used to wear, complete with thick rimmed glasses and braces that changed color with my clothes.

"Chashmish! Chashmish! Hello? Are you in there?"

The hand waving in front of my face snaps me out of my reverie, and I realize I'm staring at him dreamily. He raises an eyebrow, a small smile on his face as he hands me the papers.

His fingertips brush against my own, and I giggle against my own will. I can see Payal rolling her eyes at me across the classroom, shooting me the classic best friend look that tells me I'm being too blatant.

"Chashmish... You look different."

I turn bright pink as he surveys me, looking at me curiously. Did he notice my haircut?

"Did you... Did you... Did your glasses get thicker?"

I feel the sting of tears, and I blink rapidly to keep them from spilling over. His careless statement still pulls at my chest painfully, and I can't bring myself to reconcile this new Arnav with the one I knew before.

They always do say that your first love is the most painful.

"Is that a silent admitting of your crush on me?"

"I never liked you!"

Even to me, the pitch of my voice is too high, and I wince as it comes out. My denial is evident, and I can see the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.

I'm tempted to give in, to admit that he's right, but I can't bring my ego to agree with me. This path of denial is hopeless, but I refuse to let that damn glimmer grow any bigger.

"Is that so?"

His voice is deceptively innocent, and I'm immediately on guard with the sugary tone. He leans towards me, and his cologne fills my space, making my head spin as he forces me back up against the edge of the couch.

His eyes drop to my lips, and I can't help but do the same. My breathing comes in gasps, and I struggle to take in air as his breath washes over me.

"Y- yes. That is so."

"So if I kissed you right now, you wouldn't... Feel anything."

"No. Forget you kissing me, I'll kiss you and prove it."

Before he can respond, I reach out and place my hands on the back of his neck, tugging him towards me.

I press my lips to his in a close mouthed kiss, fully intending to pull away after a peck. But his hands wrap around my waist and tug me onto his lap, my legs wrapping around him.

His tongue slides against my bottom lip, and I open my mouth to allow him better access. He immediately takes advantage of it, and my brain turns off as his hands thread through my hair, pulling the clip off and letting it tumble down my shoulders.

I'm forced to pull back to take in a shuddering breath, and I look at him directly in the eyes. His eyes are darker than I've ever seen them, the caramel turning into a rich, chocolate brown, revealing his desire.

His eyes are focused on my parted lips, and they flick up to me for a split second before he takes my lips once more.

It's a bruising kiss, and I'm pressed against the soft pillows as he bites down into my already tender lips. My hands cup his rough cheeks, slipping into his hair as he moves to press kisses along my jaw.

The kisses are delicate, the barest brush along my tingling skin, trailing down my neck. I squirm as the passion overtakes me, longing for more of his bare skin against mine.

My train of thought is completely lost when he dips his head to suckle my breast through the thin dress, his lips hot and wet against my covered skin. I arch up against him, crying out as his tongue swipes against the straining peak, almost painfully rubbing against the lace of my bra.

My cry of pleasure stirs something in him, and he frantically moves his lips back to mine as his hands knead my chest, his thumbs teasing the peaks of my breasts.

His kisses are long and deep, and I struggle to maintain control as my body responds to his relentless assault. I feel his fingers at the hem of my dress, brushing against the naked skin of my thighs.

The throbbing between my legs increases, and I shift my legs, trying to get his hand to slide further up towards where I need him.

He begins to lift the dress, and he groans as the tips of his fingers brush against my skin.

"Khushi..."

His voice is husky, dripping with desire as my name comes out in a moan. My eyes fly open, and I realize the compromising position we're in.

We freeze as our eyes meet, and his hand stills against my skin, dropping my dress as if he's been burned.

I hastily push him off of me, desperately searching for the lost clip. When I can't find it, I pull my hair into a messy bun, grabbing my purse as I tug my dress down.

The ache between my legs hasn't gone away, and I attempt to control my breathing as my traitorous body begs for his touch. I slip my heels on and stumble out of the door, ignoring his calls as I run down the stairs.

I sink against the brick wall, my head resting in my palms as the cool night air chills me to the bone.

What have I done?

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