Soothing the Fire-Shivika FF UPDATED(Chapter-20 on pg-144)06/09

It was on an otherwise normal night that Shivaay finally realized that he was immensely attracted to Annika.His day had gone by simply enough, with going to office early to attend an important meeting with foreign clients.As a result, he hadn't been able to catch a glimpse of his beautiful, trouble making wedding planner, and had been feeling anxious all day.Ofcourse, he'd blamed the anxiousness on not having breakfast in the morning; after all, Annika didn't mean anything to him in the least.He'd wanted to go home for lunch, but another meeting had ensued, and so it was 8 pm when he finally reached the Oberoi Mansion after a tiring day.Annika usually left by 7pm, so Shivaay was surprised, as he entered the hall, to feel that tingling sensation in his body that worked as his Annika detector'.All the other family members were busy in their respective rooms, so Shivaay was free to search for Annika without being teased by his beloved brothers.He didn't have to look much though, because as he walked into the kitchen to get himself a glass of water, he came face to face with her.

God, she looks gorgeous, he thought.

She was dressed simply, as usual, wearing a black crop top with high waist jeans, that gave glimpses of her bare waist as she moved around the kitchen, trying to prepare what looked like aloopuri'. She had straightened her hair, and was wearing minimal makeup-some eyeliner and light red lipstick.The simplicity made her beauty shine out, and left Shivaay staring like a love-struck teenager.He was only brought out of his reverie when Annika directly addressed him.

"Billuji?When did you come?Didn't hear you.I was just making dinner for dadi.She wanted to eat food prepared by me.I'm not a very good cook,but I couldn't refuse her..." Annika trailed off awkwardly, realising that she was rambling.

Shivaay smiled at her. "You need any help?I think I'm an...okay enough cook." He winked, while shrugging off his coat and rolling his shirt sleeves.

Annika was surprised.This was an entirely new avatar of Shivaay she was seeing.Normally, he would probably only look with disdain at the mess she had created in his kitchen, make a few snark remarks, and leave.

"Are you okay,Billuji?I mean," she proceeded to explain seeing Shivaay's raised eyebrow, "you're actually offering to help me instead of fighting with me about something silly."

Shivaay sighed, and moved beside her to help knead the dough.

"It's just that," he said as he pulled the bowl away from her, and towards himself, "I've had a tiring day today,so don't have the energy to bicker.And on top of that, I haven't seen you the ENTIRE day, so I was feeling sort of restless-" Shivaay's eyes widened as he realized what he had just said.Turning to Annika, he saw that she was blushing furiously, her doe shaped eyes as wide as his.

Her red face was making her look even more pretty, and Shivaay, forgetting his embarrassment , raised his hand to tuck a few strands of lose hair behind her ear.

"You're beautiful", he whispered in a daze.

Annika's face grew even more red,if that was possible.

What is wrong with this Baggad Billa today, she thought. It's easy to handle his arrogant self,but how do I react to this..this romantic, and damn attractive persona?

Not knowing what to do,Annika was about to leave, but Shivaay grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him.

"Annika," he whispered.

"Huh?" she managed to say, resting her hands on his chest, while his lay on top of hers.

"Don't you have to..cook dinner?"

Annika backed away from him hurriedly, as if being brought out of a daze.

Shivaay smirked.It made him feel ecstatic to know that he wasn't the only one feeling this attraction, and that Annika too lost her senses near him, like he did with her.

"Um, yeah.Let me do that." Annika pointed towards the dough, while avoiding Shivaay's eyes.

"It's okay.I'll do it."

"No,I will.I'M making dinner.Not you." She pulled the bowl from him.

"Yes well,you can do everything else.I'll just knead the dough."He pulled it back towards him.

And just like that, their normal selves were back, as they kept playing push and pull with the piece of utensil.

"Aaargh," Shivaay cried out in frustration after a minute of this tug of war . " Let's call truce,okay?How about we BOTH do it?"

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Annika scrunched her nose.

"Like this." Shivaay took her hands, and along with his, dipped them into the dough.So the result was that both of them now had their both hands inside the small bowl of flour.While Shivaay proceeded to knead the dough expertly with his fingers, Annika stood motionless.

Noticing her discomfort, Shivaay decided to take advantage of the situation. Slyly, he brushed his thumb on the back of her hand.This startled Annika, and she instantly started to focus on the task at hand too.

This went on for only about 5 minutes, but for Annika, it felt like an eternity. Every few seconds,Shivaay's hands would brush against hers.She could have thought of it as accidental, if it wasn't for two facts.One, his hands would linger against hers whenever they touched and two, whenever she sneaked a peek at him, he would be smiling to himself in a dreamy way.

After they were done with the dough, Annika quickly moved away from Shivaay, and after washing her hands, reached an upper cupboard to take oil.Due to standing on her tiptoes and reaching upwards, her crop top rose , and gave Shivaay a blatant display of her bare, curvaceous waist.His excitement grew, and almost unconsciously, he went and stood behind her, his chest pressed against her back.

Annika froze, her hands still stretched out towards the cupboard.She look feel Shivaay's breath on the back of her neck, and this made her heartbeat accelerate wildly.

"Um,Billuji?" She managed to stutter out. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." Shivaay replied huskily, even as he lightly grazed her waist with his fingers.

Annika shuddered at his touch.This encouraged Shivaay even more, and he placed a light kiss on her shoulder. Along with bringing pleasure, this also worked as a bucket of cold water for Annika.

What am I doing? She thought, while pushing Shivaay away and moving to the other side of the kitchen. This is Shivaay, SHIVAAY SINGH OBEROI!He's engaged to Tia, and you're his wedding planner;get a grip on yourself, for God's sake!

While Annika was lost in this thoughts, Shivaay stood embarrassed.For the first time in his life, he had been about to make a move on a girl, and he had been pushed away, quite literally.

Well, what did you expect, he thought to himself, that she would passionately embrace you and reciprocate your feelings?This is ANNIKA we're talking about. She would never even think about an arrogant man like you, that too with you being engaged to someone.

Both of them stood awkwardly on opposite sides of the kitchen, breath coming out in shallows. It was Annika who finally broke the silence.

"W-why did you do that?"

"Do what?" Shivaay asked innocently;anything to avoid answering, since he didn't know the answer himself.

"Don't act stupid with me.Why did you come so close?And what made you k-kiss me on my shoulder?" It was clear that Annika was trying to act more confident than she felt.

Shivaay sighed.He couldn't run from this any more.The truth was that he was uncontrollably attracted to his gorgeous wedding planner, and if he didn't do something about it soon, it would drive him crazy.His engagement be damned.

"Because I wanted to." He finally replied.

Annika gasped.

"How can you just say something like that?Let me remind you that you're ENGAGED.You can't just go around getting all touchy with someone else,Shivaay.You're in a committed relationship."

"Did you just call me Shivaay'?" He asked, surprised.

"Is that all you caught from the sentence?" Annika muttered angrily.

Shivaay started advancing towards her, while she backed away,until her back hit the wall.

"Say my name again." Shivaay whispered in her ear, in a voice that made chills run down her spine.

"Why?"

"Because I like hearing you say my name.It sounds beautiful."

Annika closed her eyes, trying to resolve herself.

"You can't do this, Shivaay.Not to me, not to Tia.It's unfair to the both of us."

"Let's forget about Tia for a while, Annika.Just tell me, if there wasn't any Tia, would you let me hold you?Would you acknowledge this attraction we have,which I know you feel too?Tell me, Annika."

They stared into each other's eyes for a while.It was unimaginable that in a matter of a few minutes, their relationship had taken such a drastic turn.Standing so close to Shivaay, Annika could smell his intoxicating, manly fragrance. His body was radiating heat that was creating havoc in her senses. And so, for once forgetting all her morals and inhibitions, she replied in a whisper.

"Yes."

And hearing that one desired word, Shivaay's lips came crashing down on hers.