Stubborn Love (Volume 2)

Chapter 12

Never in his wildest imagination, Raghav had envisioned that the first time his Sia would try and overcome her inhibitions and touch him like that, his response would be to lash out, leaving her a frightened wreck.

He had craved for a first move of  intimacy from her in their relationship. But he understood very early on, just how deeply she struggled to express herself physically.

After every kiss, she morphed into a blushing, fluttering butterfly, refusing to look at him with a kind of shyness that was as torturous as it was endearing.

And each time, with remarkable self-control, he would withdraw at the first signs of her hesitation. No matter how swept up in the moment he was, he always held back.

Standing a few feet away, he looked down at the girl pointlessly wrapping the ends of her long hair around her hand as she tried her best to hide her nerves.

Snubbing the gnawing guilt in his chest, he looked away from the vulnerable picture she painted.

How had he longed for a moment when she would want his touch as much he wanted hers. And yet, when the moment finally arrived, he reacted with such nastiness that it overwhelmed her completely.

But she had started it, hadn't she? Given, how she toyed with him for last two weeks, his aggression at her most vulnerable moment was understandable - perhaps even justified.

And then his eyes caught the tremble in her hands and he wanted to kill himself.

With a defeated sigh, he knelt down in front of her. "Hey," he said softly, gently enclosing her quivering hands in his apologetic grasp.

She looked up at him, and as if his touch had opened a floodgate, her big beautiful eyes instantly filled up.

With an inexplicable urgency to stop the tears from falling, Raghav straightened on his knees and cupped a delicate face in his large hands. But despite his earnest efforts, in a heartbreaking moment, shimmering droplets cascaded down her cheeks, melting his insides in the process.

Consumed by regret, he quickly wiped the wetness from her cheeks with his thumbs and then looked at her with a silent plead for forgiveness in his eyes.

In a charged silence, her dark eyes bore into his, silently demanding an explanation for his rudeness.

His apologetic gaze responded with a quiet plea for her to let it go, but hers mercilessly brimmed with reproach, insisting him to acknowledge the hurt he had caused.

A pout formed on her pink lips, and though her face remained cradled in his hands, she turned her eyes away, clearly rejecting his apology.

At the childlike complaint, his spirits lightened unexpectedly and he bit back a smile. What would he do with her... or without her...

Life would be so much more favourable for him if she were just a little less adorable.

Leaning forward, he rubbed his nose against hers, then feigned a sincere expression and whispered, "Don't cry Sia, I'll let you kiss my neck."

Tears drying up almost immediately, her eyes widened at the impudent remark. But he ignored the offence reflected on her puffed face and quipped, "You want to try again now? Okay, as you wish." He tilted his head, offering his exposed neck as a peace offering of surrender

Sia's cheeks flamed, turning the deepest shade of red as his neck came inches from her lips. Visibly mortified, she lightly hit his broad shoulders, trying to create some distance between them.

"No, thank you!" She denied staunchly, turning her face away from the insensitive boy, all signs of vulnerability disappearing.

He allowed himself a quick grin, then, with a resigned air, said, "Alright. Let me help you get started."