The rain drizzled softly over Edinburgh, leaving the cobblestones slick and shimmering under the glow of streetlights. The city had a strange way of making the world feel both intimate and distant, as if the only thing that mattered was the person standing next to you. Tonight, that person was Aarav.
He insisted on taking me out, saying I needed to clear my mind after the unsettling parcel. I knew it was a terrible idea, but somehow, with him, every decision felt like dipping my toes into danger-and enjoying the thrill.
We ended up in a quiet little bar nestled along the Royal Mile. The dim lights cast everything in a warm amber glow, and the hum of soft music made the world outside feel like it was miles away. I told myself it was just a drink. One drink. Nothing more.
But it was never just that with Aarav.
We found a booth tucked away in a corner, far from curious eyes. As I slid into the seat, Aarav's gaze lingered, dark and unreadable, like he was trying to pull apart the layers I kept tightly wrapped.
"You look tense, Rainbow," he said, leaning back casually, his eyes glinting with that familiar mischief.
"Wonder why," I muttered, raising my glass to my lips.
He chuckled, the sound low and velvety. "You know, you really should stop pretending you don't like having me around."
"Who says I like it?"
He leaned in just enough for me to catch the scent of rain and leather that clung to him. "Your eyes do," he whispered, his breath grazing my skin like a soft breeze.
The conversation flowed, and so did the wine, softening the jagged edges of my thoughts. I tried to focus on something-anything-other than the way Aarav's fingers brushed mine, lazy but deliberate, as if testing how far I'd let him go.
"You think you've figured me out?" I whispered.
Aarav's smile deepened. "Not yet. But I will."
He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, the gesture almost tender. But there was a tension in the way his fingers lingered near my neck, as if he was daring me to let him closer.
By the time we stepped outside, the wine had settled warmly in my veins, blurring the sharp edges of the night. The rain had picked up, drumming steadily against the pavement. Aarav's arm brushed against mine, and the electricity between us simmered, unspoken but undeniable.
"Looks like we're getting drenched," I muttered.
Aarav laughed, a low rumble that made my stomach flip. "Come on, we need to find cover."
We darted down the narrow streets, rain soaking through our clothes. The cold droplets were sharp against my skin, but with every step, the distance between Aarav and me seemed to shrink. As if the rain was washing away every excuse I had to stay away from him.
We stumbled into a small bookstore tucked between two old buildings, the bell above the door jingling softly as we entered. The scent of old paper and wood greeted us, warm and comforting. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with books in every genre imaginable. It was a quiet, intimate space, the kind that made you feel like you'd stepped into another world.
Aarav ran a hand through his wet hair, water dripping onto the wooden floor. "Guess we're stuck here for a while."
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the shivers creeping down my spine. "Could be worse."
He shot me a grin, the kind that made me feel like I was teetering on the edge of something dangerous. "You really do like spending time with me, don't you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."
But before I could step away, Aarav moved closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space. "You can lie to yourself all you want, Ira. But not to me."
We stood in the narrow aisle, surrounded by books that whispered stories of love, loss, and everything in between. Aarav's hand slid up my arm, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.
"You don't have to run," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "Not from this."
Before I could think, before I could stop myself, I reached up and kissed him.
The kiss was slow at first, hesitant, like we were testing the waters. But it didn't stay that way for long. Aarav's hands found my waist, caging me against the shelves of books, effectively trapping me in a bubble of warmth and intensity. I let him pull me closer, letting myself fall into him, into the heat and the hunger that had been simmering between us for so long.
The books around us stood silent, witnesses to a moment that felt stolen from another life-one where consequences didn't exist, and the only thing that mattered was the way his lips felt against mine.
His hands explored my sides, fingers pressing gently against the fabric of my jacket, holding me captive, making it impossible to think about anything but him.
"Aarav," I whispered against his lips, my voice shaky.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his dark eyes filled with something I couldn't quite name. "Tell me to stop," he said softly.
I didn't.
Instead, I pulled him closer, kissing him again, because in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the rain, not the unsettling parcel, not the questions that lingered in the back of my mind.
Just us. Just this.
YOU ARE READING
INFATUATED HATE
Romance"Cloaked in the shadows of his ruthless world, he finds her - a burst of color in his monochrome existence. She is his rainbow, the one he despises with a fervor as intense as his desire. In the delicate balance between love and loathing, their tumu...
