A light in the flame

Chapter 8 - Still Burning

They cried in each other's arms. Abhi's anger was still there but at that moment sadness took over.

Sadness over missing his baby all firstes. Sadness for not being there to support his Akshu during her pregnancy, for not holding her hand during her labor and not being there for her for all the sleepless nights taking care of their angel...

Akshara's hand dropped from his face and curled into a fist against her chest.

"He is very smart for his age, very emotional too. He is very possessive about his loved one and his belonging" Her lip trembled, but a smile appeared on her lips thinking about her betu.

She couldn't finish but realized Abhimanyu's eyes burned with anger.

" I promise Akshara, whoever deprived me of my family will pay. I don't care if you consider them a friend or family."

She swallowed hard as more tears slid down her cheeks. " Why are you already accusing my beloved one ? Kiara is a red line Abhimanyu. If you want to throw any accusation you better have some solid proof."

Abhimanyu softened seeing her tears.

When she covered her face with her hands, he drew her back against him, and this time, she let him.

Everything she had been keeping in came out in an unstoppable tide. The façade of acceptance and strength crumbled. The anger, the fear, the frustration.

She sobbed against his chest, leaving her empty and drained. She listened to his steady heartbeat as she calmed.

She whispered, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

She sniffled and brushed her hand. "Wetting your shirt."

"Don't worry about it."

She wanted to sleep, wanted it so badly her head throbbed, but her mind wouldn't shut down. So many things were waiting for her in Mumbai, things that couldn't be put off forever, and here she was in Paris crying on her ex-husband's shoulder.

The practical side of her brain told her she needed to extricate herself from Abhimanyu and put some much-needed distance between them. But she was finally warm. And his arms around her felt good. Good enough for her to stay right where she was.

His scent tantalized her. Abhimanyu was equally obsessed with her. Abhimanyu put his mouth on her neck. He sucked gently, taking his time, nursing the area with kisses.

"Akshu ..."

Her mind was cloudy with fear and exhaustion, but the dark hunger on his face called forth her own. This man had hurt her more than any other man on the planet. Once upon a time, she would have sacrificed everything for him, and now... now, he was a stranger, one who she had amazing chemistry with.

She rested her forehead against his and surrendered.

Taking it as an invitation, Abhimanyu cupped her face and shifted her on his lap. She knew what it felt like to be beneath him, knew he could wring her dry and leave her so satisfied she couldn't think.

"One night," she murmured.

He didn't look the least bit lover-like. He looked savage and angry. Her mouth curved at the corner as she stroked his face.

"Is that what you want?" he growled.

"What I want," she whispered as she let herself fall into the abyss, "is a night when I don't worry about what's waiting for me. I want a night when I don't have to think about who I am or what's expected of me."