Head over Heels ☑️

Chapter 23 - Arnav

18+ Mature Audience Only.

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🎶 Heavenly - Cigarettes After Sex

Khushi was exceptionally quiet throughout the buggy ride back to their estate. She had clasped her hand tightly on her lap, refusing to look away from the passing mangrove trees.

Had he come on too strong?

Arnav couldn't bring himself to tease her as his unease grew. His mind oscillated between her earlier eagerness at the restaurant to her now stoic demeanor.

The contrast unsettled him, igniting a desperate need to uncover the thoughts hidden behind her composed, albeit distant exterior. His hand instinctively lifted toward her face but hesitated mid-air, the unspoken tension tethering him in place.

Tonight marked their first night together, far from the familiar comforts of home. He tried to imagine how she must feel, the uncertainty and vulnerability of being away...or being alone with him.

His hands curled into fists briefly as he resolved to give her the space she needed, to let her open up to him in her own time, at her own pace.

When the ride ended, their tour guide filled him in with mundane details about the next day's schedule. He half-listened as his eyes traced Khushi's figure retreating indoors.

When he finally escaped Frida's monologue, he entered the villa and found the living space to be empty. The sound of a zipper being drawn across the suitcase echoed softly from the master bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar which was encouraging, he cautiously headed towards it and knocked on the door softly. "Khushi, may I come in?"

There was a scramble and he heard the suitcase lid slam shut. "C-come in," she called.

Arnav swung the door open but didn't enter. He found her seated cross-legged on the ground with a hand placed firmly on the lid of her luggage as though expecting him to charge forward and pry it open.

"I'm...thinking of taking a dip in the pool, you can join me if you like."

"Okay," she squeaked. Her expression changed from worry to...embarrassment?

"I'm going for a shower. I'll... see you outside."

She nodded slowly as he closed the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, he let his thoughts settle, a plan already forming in his mind as he made his way to the other bedroom.

After a quick shower, he stepped into the dressing area, a trail of steam swirling gently around his figure. His damp hair clung to his forehead as he ran a hand through it, pushing the dark strands back as his eyes fell upon his swim trunks.

He took a moment to deliberate before moving toward the mirror, wiping a faint foggy streak with his palm. His reflection stared back at him with an intensity that matched the energy of the island's tranquil beauty.

He was no stranger to intimacy—how many nights had he spent in the company of women, seeking and finding his release? And yet, this felt so profoundly, monumentally different. How does one approach the love of their life with the care it demands, without scaring them away?

He clenched his fists, pressing his knuckles firmly against the counter before letting out a low groan. Slowly, he rested his forehead against the cool glass, his breath fogging the surface. You can do this, Arnav.

He carefully gathered all the items from his research and hid them in the small basket of spare towels. Whether he would use them tonight remained uncertain - it didn't matter.