In a distant marriage with her brooding husband, Ayan, Adira Khanna has resigned herself to a mundane life. However, fate has different plans when Ayan's childhood friends plan a week-long trip to Goa. Little did Adira know that this vacation would...
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Chapter 19
AFTERGLOW
ARJUN
Later, we remained intertwined on the soft bed in my room, as a tangle of arms and legs in the blanket, after fucking three rounds of nothing but just pure passionate bliss.
I smiled softly, my eyes still closed as I felt her soft fingertips trail up my arm and over my shoulder. I pressed featherlight kisses on her neck in response. I held her body tightly as if I loosen my hold, then she would flee away.
Spending hours in her arms felt intoxicating and I never ever would want this night to end. I wanted to keep her forever in my arms. I would never let her go away.
Adira lifted her head from my shoulder, and asked, “What were you doing in your notebook, on the night of the trek?”
“You saw that? I was working on the usual office stuff.”
"Come on, Arjun, I can see right through you," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That nose twitch gives you away every time. So, what were you really doing in that notebook?"
I chuckled, caught off guard by her observation. "Alright, fine, you got me," I admitted, my voice tinged with amusement.
With a smile, I retrieved the notebook from the side drawer and turned to the page where I had sketched her portrait that night by the bonfire.
I handed it to her, the lines capturing her essence and the emotions I felt in that moment. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I could see a mix of emotions flicker across her face. "It's so beautiful."
She cupped my face and kissed me gently. The kiss was soft and tender, as compared to our rigorous lovemaking sessions a few hours ago.
She expressed her surprise, "This is beyond impressive. I had no idea that you were a gifted artist."
"No one really knows," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Not even my closest friends. Only my mother and father knew about my love for art." I didn’t want to take Ayan and Viraj’s name right now. I didn’t want to see the flash of regret on her face ever again.
Sensing my discomfort, she placed a hand on my chest. I took her hand in mine and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
"Arjun, I feel that you don't talk much about your father. Can you tell me more about him? Only if you are comfortable.", she said her words softly with caution.
My heart clenched with the sadness of my gloomy childhood. I felt a strong urge to open up completely to Adira, to share every aspect of my life, including my deepest fears, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. I wanted her to know me, not just on the surface level, but on a profound and intimate level.
