Love And Sweet Kisses

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Abhi froze for a bit, then slowly turned to face her. Ella nearly took a step back when she met his cold, intense glare. “Your cousin or your sister-in-law and her best friend or whatever went on about the same shit when I met them in the supermarket last week.”

He began walking slowly and menacingly towards her. “Why is that? Why are you coming up with that excuse? Didn't go so well with lover boy and so you've realized I'm the best candidate?"

Ignoring his sarcasm, she revealed, “That day when you called me while I was in Australia... Your number called again that night. ”

His frown deepened. “I never called you again that day.”

“I know. ” She nodded. “It was a woman who called. She told me you were her fiance. That she knew while you were on those volunteer trips you slept with girls but only viewed it as a game...”

“What are you talking about?” He asked, sounding shocked. “What woman?”

“I don't know her. She didn't say her name, but she said she was calling all your playthings to inform them you were already taken and that they should back off because you only wanted some fun while you were away from her.”

His brows wrinkled with shock and confusion, latent anger weaving through it. “And you took her words at voice value?"

“She sent me a picture of the two of you...”

“What picture? Do you have it?”

Ella felt something wet trickle down her cheek and quickly wiped away the tear. “I deleted it the next day. It was a picture of the two of you. .  . kissing.”

“Can you describe her?”

“She had strawberry dark hair and she had something like a Canadian accent.”

Abhi's eyes widened as reality seemed to dawn on him. “That's Whitney, my ex-girlfriend. She came to my apartment that day because she'd heard of my vacation. She told me she wanted us to be friends again, and I didn't think much of it when she asked for a selfie until she wrapped her hand around my neck and kissed me. I was too startled to push her off immediately. When I finally did, she told me she wanted me back and wouldn't give up till she had me. I just got her to back off a few months ago.”

Regret tore through her as her guts twisted with censure at herself. God, what had she done? “When I saw that picture, it hurt so much and I finally believed her and...”

“That's why you moved on that quickly? Were your trust and supposed love for me so weak?” His gaze bored into hers, holding her captive as she saw the hint of tears in his eyes. “Seeing you with that guy tore me apart. I felt so deceived, so fooled, so. . . so... It shattered me inside that you never loved me, that I was just some. . . some...”

“I'm sorry,” Ella said as her voice cracked. “At that time, I got so angry. When I saw you in Australia I took the first opportunity I could to hurt you. That's why I pretended to be dating Zach.”

“The two of you were never a thing?”

Abashedly, Ella looked down and whispered, “No.”

Her confession followed a bout of loaded silence as she wiped away more tears, more knowledge, more certainty that she'd lost him forever because of her stupidity.

When she managed to control herself enough, she looked up at him to find him looking away and spoke, “I know there's no way you'll want me back. I probably disgust you after what I did. I just came to say I'm sorry, that...”

”I can't believe we've wasted more than a year already.” He suddenly said.

“What?” Ella looked at him, blinking away the blurriness in front of her eyes, startled to find him smiling at her.

He took slow steps towards her, and each one made her heart race more in anticipation until he was standing right in front of her. “In fact, we've wasted like more than two years already. Time to make amends. ”

He lowered his head and crashed his lips to hers, bringing his warm palm to the back of her neck. A sob escaped her throat just as a new surge of tears trailed down her face. The kiss was slow and sensual, meant for her to feel everything he was feeling in the moment —regret for what could've been prevented about a year ago, happiness, love—all of which mirrored hers.

When he pulled back, he cupped her face and gazed into her eyes, his irises so dark with love and desire that she knew there was no way she would find her way out if she got sucked into them.

“I still love you, Daniella Levine. After what happened between us, I volunteered a year more in the NGO and then signed out because there was no you to wait for anymore and I wanted to move on with my life. But I've never stopped loving you.”

“I love you too.” She croaked.

He claimed her lips again,  this time more passionately, more hungrily, more demandingly, kissing her till the need for air was forgotten, until their kiss served as vitally as oxygen. Her hand flew to his button, and she began popping them urgently.

She pressed her hands against his hard belly and traced his abs and rippling muscles, and he tensed deliciously beneath her palms. He arched his arms back to make it easier for her to remove his shirt, and a shiver of delight rippled through her.

As if she had planned this, which she hadn't, she was wearing a straight dress with a zipper on the front starting from her neckline to her naval area, and he pulled down the zipper with ease.

He pulled his lips from hers only to trail delicious kisses on her neck as he slid the short sleeves of her dress down her shoulders. The material fell in a pool of cotton around her feet, leaving her clad only in her brassiere, panties, and high heels.

Before she knew it, Abhi had swept her off her feet and carried her to his room amid incendiary kisses.

Right on his bed, he ravaged her senses with every part of him he knew would pleasure her, taking her to that blissful place that only he knew where.

The aftermath came with her feeling sated and drained, and she snuggled into him and reveled in his warmth. “So you are ready to settle down now?”

“Yes.” She replied without hesitation.

“Then what do you think about marrying me?”

“What?” She nearly choked on a lump of emotion that suddenly lodged in her throat. “You want me to marry you?”

He chuckled at the disbelief in her tone, and she turned to face him. “Of course I'll marry you. Why do you even have to ask?”

“Technically, it is a vital question.” He chuckled again. “Sorry, would have to think of a ring later.”

“Who cares about a ring anyway?” Giddy with happiness, she climbed on top of him and kissed him passionately. When she pulled back, he had a frown on his. “What's wrong?”

“Hey, didn't you set a target to volunteer for a minimum of five years?”

“I'm sorry. I didn't think we would get back together so I've not signed out yet. I will go and...”

“Why don't you finish the remaining seven months you have left and then we can get married?” He said before she could complete.

She froze. “What? Are you sure?"

He smiled affectionately at her and pressed a light kiss to her mouth. “Of course. That will be like a dream come true for you. ”

“Oh my God. Thank you so much.” She kissed him again, then gazed at him in triumphant awe, feeling like the luckiest woman for having found a man like him. A man who knew her wishes and put them above his needs. Could she have gotten a better man?

She knew she couldn't have.

The End!