Maruvarthai🤍

XXII

The city of Hyderabad hummed softly beneath a dusky sky as the streetlights blinked to life, casting a warm glow on the bustling streets. Inside a cozy apartment of Prabhas, a different kind of heat was brewing. Prabhas and Anushka had spent the quiet evening after his parents left to their home, teasing one another, laughter ringing through the air like music.

"Come on, you can't be serious," Anushka said, a smirk playing on her lips as she leaned against the counter, arms crossed, her confidence radiating from her every pore.

"I'm always serious about my cases," Prabhas retorted, his tone playful. He leaned back in the chair, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you? You're a different story entirely." He paused, letting the tension build. "You're the type who'd flirt with a killer just to figure out the motive."

Anushka rolled her eyes, her smile betraying her feigned irritation. "And you're the reckless officer who thinks charm can save the day. You'd make the perfect crime show host, you know."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he shot back, standing up and walking over to her, their eyes locking as the atmosphere shifted. The air thickened with anticipation, the playful banter paving the way for something deeper.

Anushka adjusted her stance, tilting her head slightly, a teachable moment unfolding in front of her. "So, what's it going to be? Are you going to keep flirting, or are you actually going to do something about it?"

His heart raced at the challenge in her eyes. It was never just about the flirtation; there was something more electric between them. "I thought I was a daredevil," he mused, stepping closer, the space between them crackling with unspoken tension.

With an innate boldness, Anushka took the initiative, closing the distance and pressing her body against his. "Well, Captain, are you up for the dare?" The words rolled off her tongue like smooth silk, igniting a fire within him.

Prabhas gently grasped her waist, feeling her warmth seep into him as he pulled her closer. "What exactly is this dare you speak of?" He leaned in, his breath mingling with hers, stirring a whirlwind of possibilities.

The sincerity in her gaze was palpable, sparkling with raw desire. "Let's explore this," she whispered, her voice barely above a hush, sending a shudder down his spine.

"I thought you'd never ask," he murmured, his lips crashing into hers with a fervour that had been simmering for too long. Their kisses ignited like fireworks—volatile and intoxicating. He knew they were crossing a boundary, but with Anushka, boundaries always felt like an invitation.

Anushka responded with equal passion, her fingers tangling in his hair as they deepened the kiss. The world outside faded into nothingness, their connection intensifying and overwhelming them. Whenever they were together, it was as if the universe conspired to bring them closer, to kindle a flame that they both had been secretly nurturing.

"Whoa, slow down there, hotshot," she laughed lightly between kisses, causing him to grin against her lips. "We can't exactly go full throttle just because you think we're on a joyride."

"Who said it's a joyride? This is a rescue mission," Prabhas countered, his voice dripping with humor, even as his heart pounded in his chest. He captured her lips again passionately, feeling the urgency of the moment.

But as their kisses grew more fervent, the air thick with an unrelenting heat, reality nudged at the back of Prabhas's mind. Was he truly ready for this? After all, this was uncharted territory for both. Yet, the softness of her lips, the embrace he craved, pulled him deeper into the moment.

Anushka sensed his hesitation and pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against his. "What's on your mind?" she asked, concern mingling with curiosity in her eyes.