Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

fifty-one

51. ek kadam aage, ek kadam peeche (one step forward, one step back)

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Aditya tapped his heel impatiently, stealing a glance at the wall clock that read six thirty. The hotel breakfast has begun already and they are thirty minutes late. He didn't want to miss out on the croissants. He looked at the bathroom door, wondering what was taking his wife so long. It's not like her to waste so much time getting ready in the morning. That's her forte at night when she is busy following her nightly routine.

"Priya, how long is it going to take?"

"Just a minute!" She replied.

He let out a long breath. "You said that five minutes ago-" the door opened revealing her.

Aditya's breath hitched at the sight, lips falling apart in awe. She stood at the threshold twiddling her fingers, a shy smile on her lips, like the faded crescent hiding between the clouds, her dusky skin glowing from the rays coming from the open windows.

The dress she wore accented her curves, the baggy sleeves wrapping her forearm at the ends, baring her slim wrists and nimble fingers. His eyes dropped to her legs, smiling in amusement when he noticed her toes wiggling. Raising his gaze past the pale off-white dress, lingering longer than necessary on her collarbones, the vintage bohemian summer dress made his wife look something out of his imagination.

"Does it not look good?"

"Stop lying. You know that's not why I'm speechless." He murmured.

She couldn't help the grin, her hands flying to cup her mouth as she giggled. "Shall I do a twirl for you?" She clasped her hands on her chest, her head tilting to the right curiously.

Aditya nodded, leaning with his arms resting on his knees, bracing himself to fall even more in love with this amazing woman.

Priya agreed readily, holding the hem of her dress and wonderfully doing a graceful twirl for her spectator, her feet elevating to rise on their toes, her hair following the spin, falling on one side of her shoulder when she stopped. With eyes shining and lips in a bright smile, she beamed down at her favourite audience.

"How was it?"

Aditya straightened up and placed his hand on his chest, letting out a dramatic sigh before he fell backward on the bed.

Priya laughed throwing her head back. Aditya sat up to not miss out on the view before he could no longer control it and got up to wrap her in his arms. Priya gasped when she felt her feet leave the ground, his arms clasped around the back of her knees. She placed her hands on his shoulders, smiling widely at him, mirroring his expressions.

"How does it feel up there, meri jaan?"

She sucked in a deep breath and tossed her head back, letting her arms fall open to embrace the freedom of being able to reach this height. "Like a queen!"

Aditya chuckled, shaking her a little in his arms that made her gasp in fear, her hands catching onto his shoulders to keep herself upright. "Don't! I'll fall."

He dropped her until the waist and she yelped, her eyes clenched shut and fingers clutching his biceps tightly before she realised she was safe. Her eyes fluttered open, alarmed like her heart that hammered against her chest. "I'll never let you fall,"

Her lips lifted in a small smile.

"Catch me always," she locked her arms around his neck, resting their foreheads together.

"Always," he promised, leaning in so their lips could meet. In response, her right leg bent backward, arms unlocking to cup his face while he carried all her weight in his arms. His lips opened up to hers, giving into her demands and letting her take the lead. She sucked on his bottom lip, before allowing her tongue to slip in. The flexible flesh eagerly explored every corner of his mouth, stealing his breath that he had to pull away for a second to breathe. Just as he sucked in a deep breath, her lips came descending on his right away, brushing, nibbling, and tugging at the swollen pink flesh.