Bound by Fire

The Tension Breaks

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Sanya couldn't stop thinking about Aarav. Every time she tried to focus on work, her mind wandered back to their conversation at the coffee shop. The intensity of his gaze, the way his voice had dropped when he'd asked her if it was still pretend, how his words had shaken her resolve—it was all too much.

But it wasn't just the conversation. It was the kiss. The memory of it still lingered on her lips, sending shivers down her spine. She could still feel the warmth of his hands on her skin, the way his lips had pressed against hers, firm yet gentle. It was driving her crazy.

That night, as she tossed and turned in bed, sleep eluding her, she made a decision. She couldn't ignore this any longer. She couldn't keep pretending nothing had changed between them. Maybe it wasn't fake anymore. Maybe it never had been.

With a racing heart, she grabbed her phone and texted Aarav.

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**Sanya:** *Can we talk?*

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It didn't take long for his reply to come.

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**Aarav:** *I'm at my apartment. Come over.*

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Sanya stared at the screen for a moment, her pulse quickening. It was late, and she knew going to his place at this hour wasn't exactly a wise decision. But something inside her—something she couldn't ignore—was pulling her toward him.

Before she could overthink it, she grabbed her jacket and keys and headed out the door.

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**Fifteen minutes later**, Sanya was standing in front of Aarav's apartment, her heart pounding in her chest. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorbell. Was this really a good idea?

But before she could second-guess herself, the door swung open, and there he was. Aarav stood in the doorway, his dark eyes locking onto hers, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, but somehow, he still managed to make her breath catch in her throat.

"Sanya," he said quietly, stepping aside to let her in.

She walked past him, her nerves buzzing with anticipation, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around her. As the door closed behind her with a soft click, the air between them seemed to grow heavier, charged with unspoken tension.

Aarav walked into the living room, and Sanya followed, her heart racing. The room was dimly lit, casting soft shadows on the walls, and the atmosphere felt intimate, almost too intimate.

She stopped, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to start this conversation. But Aarav didn't give her a chance to hesitate.

"Why are you here, Sanya?" he asked, his voice low, his gaze intense.

Sanya swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "I... I couldn't stop thinking about what you said. About... about the kiss."

Aarav took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "And?"

"And I don't know what to do with all of this," she admitted, her voice shaky. "I don't know how to handle... whatever this is between us."

Aarav's expression softened, and he took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "Then don't handle it, Sanya. Just... feel it."

Before she could respond, he reached out, his hand gently brushing her cheek, his fingers warm against her skin. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

Sanya looked up at him, her heart pounding. "Aarav..."

But her words were cut off as Aarav leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. This time, there was no hesitation, no pretending. The kiss was real, raw, and filled with all the emotions they had been trying to suppress for so long.

Sanya melted into him, her hands sliding up to his chest, feeling the solid warmth of him beneath her fingers. Aarav's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss until there was nothing but the heat between them. The world outside disappeared. All that mattered was the way his lips moved against hers, the way his hands held her as if he never wanted to let go.

They stumbled backward, and before Sanya knew it, her back was pressed against the cool wall of his living room. Aarav's hands were on her hips now, his grip firm but gentle, as if he was afraid she might slip away. But she wasn't going anywhere. Not now.

She parted her lips, allowing him in, the kiss growing more urgent, more heated. His hand slid up her side, fingers tracing the curve of her waist, sending shivers down her spine. Every touch, every caress ignited something inside her, something primal and uncontrollable.

Aarav pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers, both of them breathing hard. His voice was a rough whisper. "Tell me you don't feel this, Sanya. Tell me this is still fake."

Sanya shook her head, her eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. "I can't."

Aarav's lips curved into a small, almost triumphant smile, and before she could say anything else, he was kissing her again, this time with more intensity, more heat. His hands slid under her shirt, his fingers grazing her skin, sending sparks of desire coursing through her.

Sanya gasped, her body arching toward him as he pressed her harder against the wall. His lips left hers, trailing down her neck, his breath hot against her skin. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more.

"Aarav..." she whispered, her voice trembling with need.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his dark eyes blazing with something that made her pulse race even faster. "I'm done pretending, Sanya. I want you. For real."

Sanya's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know how they had gotten here, but there was no turning back now. She could feel the truth of his words in every kiss, every touch. This wasn't pretend anymore.

"I want you too," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aarav's gaze darkened, and he wasted no time. His hands were on her again, pulling her shirt over her head in one swift motion. She shivered as the cool air hit her skin, but the warmth of his body against hers soon made her forget everything else.

He kissed her again, more passionately this time, his hands roaming over her body as if he couldn't get enough. Sanya's own hands found their way to his shirt, tugging it off, revealing the toned muscles beneath. She ran her fingers over his chest, marveling at the way his skin felt under her touch.

They moved together, a tangle of limbs and heat, until they found themselves on the couch, their bodies pressed together in a heated frenzy. Every kiss, every touch sent waves of pleasure through her, making her dizzy with desire.

Sanya had never felt like this before—so overwhelmed, so consumed by passion. And with Aarav, it wasn't just physical. There was something deeper, something that had been building between them for so long, and now it was finally breaking free.

As they lay tangled in each other's arms, their breathing heavy and their bodies slick with sweat, Sanya couldn't help but wonder how they would ever go back to pretending. Because after tonight, nothing would ever be the same.

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In this chapter, the tension between Sanya and Aarav finally breaks, leading to a passionate, heated encounter that neither of them can deny anymore. The romance and physical chemistry between them reach a new level, leaving both characters—and readers—wondering what will happen next now that their relationship has moved beyond the realm of pretend.