Whispers of Eternity

Chapter 15: Unspoken Yearning

The atmosphere in the palace had changed. Every glance, every touch, every unspoken word between Vikram and Amara seemed to vibrate with a tension neither could deny. Vikram was different with her-more restrained, more distant-yet the intensity in his eyes spoke of the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.

It was late, the palace bathed in the soft, golden glow of flickering oil lamps. Amara stood in her chambers, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the windowsill, her mind swirling with thoughts of the kiss they had shared. She could still feel the warmth of his lips, the power in his touch, the longing he had kept so carefully hidden. She sensed his hesitation, his struggle to let go.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Her heart leaped, knowing who it would be. "Come in," she called, her voice steady though her pulse quickened.

Vikram entered, his tall figure commanding the space, his eyes dark and unreadable. He stood in the doorway for a moment, as if weighing his next move, before silently closing the door behind him. His gaze locked onto hers, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke.

"Amara," he finally said, his voice rough, deeper than usual. "I shouldn't be here."

"You're always welcome," she replied softly, stepping closer to him, her heartbeat echoing in her chest. "You don't need an excuse to come to me, Vikram."

His jaw clenched, his eyes scanning her face as though he was memorizing every detail. There was a fire in his gaze, a hunger he was trying desperately to suppress. "There are things you don't understand," he said quietly, his hands at his sides, fists clenched. "Things I can't allow myself to feel."

Amara stepped closer, her eyes searching his. "Why?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Why are you holding back? What are you so afraid of?"

Vikram took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his struggle. "I've been alone for so long," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "I don't know how to be anything else. But with you... everything is different. You make me feel things I thought I had buried."

Her breath caught, and she reached out, her fingers grazing his forearm. His body tensed beneath her touch, but he didn't pull away. "You don't have to bury anything with me, Vikram," she said softly. "You don't have to be alone anymore."

His eyes darkened, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. He stepped closer, towering over her, his presence overwhelming. "Do you know what you're saying?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous. "Once I give in, Amara... I won"t stop. I won't be able to."

Her pulse quickened, heat rushing through her body as she looked up at him, their faces inches apart. "Then don't stop," she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation. "Don't hold back."

His resolve shattered in that moment. With a low growl, Vikram grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against him, his mouth crashing down onto hers in a kiss that was fierce, possessive, and all-consuming. It was as if years of restraint and denial were released in that single moment, his hands roaming over her back, pulling her closer, desperate to feel her against him.

Amara melted into him, her hands clutching his tunic as if she could never let go. His lips moved with urgent need, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, tasting, exploring, claiming her. Her heart pounded in her chest, her skin tingling everywhere he touched. There was no space between them, no air, no time-only the fire that burned between them, a fire that had been waiting too long to ignite.

Vikram's hands slid up her sides, his touch firm yet reverent, his fingers brushing the delicate skin beneath her tunic. His breath was ragged as he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his expression torn between desire and restraint.

"I can't lose you," he rasped, his forehead resting against hers, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist. "But I don't know how to keep you either."

Her chest tightened at his words, the vulnerability in his voice breaking her heart. She placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "You don't have to figure it out right now," she whispered, her thumbs gently stroking his jaw. "All I want is you. Right here, right now."

He let out a shuddering breath, his eyes flicking down to her lips before capturing them again in another heated kiss, softer this time but no less intense. His hands moved with purpose now, exploring her body with a mix of urgency and reverence, as though he was memorizing every curve, every sansation.

Amara gasped as his lips trailed down her neck, leaving a burning path of kisses. Her body responded to him, arching against him, her fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer. He groaned against her skin, his grip tightening on her waist as he pressed her back against the wall, caging her between his body and the cold stone.

"You drive me insane," he murmured against her throat, his breath hot against her skin. "I've never wanted anything-anyone-like I want you."

Her hands slid down his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his tunic, her heart racing as she tugged him closer. "Then have me," she whispered, her voice trembling with desire. "I'm yours, Vikram."

Something snapped inside him at her words. With a growl of possession, he lifted her into his arms, his mouth claiming hers once more as he carried her toward the bed. Their movements were frantic now, a mix of passion and desperation, as though they both knew this moment was fleeting, as though they were racing against time itself.

But even as he laid her down, his touch never lost its gentleness. Vikram's hands trembled slightly as they skimmed over her skin, his lips soft and reverent as they worshiped her body. It was as though he was afraid to let himself truly have her, afraid that once he did, he would lose her forever.