Khushi looked a little angry at his antics, so Arnav quickly ended the phone call to Delhi and gave her his full attention. He grinned as she scowled at him, somehow managing to look even more tempting in frustration.
"Just what were you doing when I was on the phone?" she demanded.
"Nothing, I wasn't doing anything."
"Why did you have to hold my hand like that? I was trying talk to Di!"
"I was holding your hand, Khushi, I wasn't stopping you from talking on the phone."
"Yes you were, because when you were holding my hand I couldn't ..." she abruptly cut herself off, refusing to admit defeat.
He stepped closer to her, rewarded by the catch in her breathing. He would never get tired of knowing how much his closeness affected her. He took her hand again, bringing it to his lips to kiss each finger lightly in turn.
"When I was holding your hand ... what?" he asked softly, kissing the back of her hand, "Does something happen when I do this?"
"N-no. N-nothing hap-happens."
"Oh really?"
"Y-yes. N-no. No."
"Then I can do this," he turned her hand over and placed a kiss on her palm, "Nothing?"
She shook her head, seemingly incapable of speech. He kissed her wrist and then her forearm, and she let out a whimper. He held her head still with one hand and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"Still nothing?"
"No," she whispered.
She denied feeling anything when he kissed her eyelids, first one then the other, when he traced her jawline, when he kissed her cheeks, working closer and closer to her lips, but her body betrayed her. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes closed. She clutched at his shoulders to hold herself upright and he knew that she wouldn't be able to stand without his support. Her lips were parted, her breath heavy and gasping, her pulse racing beneath his fingertips at her wrist.
Arnav paused, his lips mere centimeters from hers. He ached to taste her, but the spectre of Shyam and the conversation they still needed to have stopped him. Instead, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, her eyes still closed and her hands clinging tightly to his shirt. He placed Khushi gently on the bed and kissed her forehead.
"Time for you to sleep, I think. You've had a big day. I'll come to bed after finishing some work."
She frowned at him in surprise, probably expecting him to continue, and his determination to take things slowly threatened to break.
"Baby. We have to ... I can't ..." he took a deep breath, reminding himself that there were many reasons why he couldn't crawl in beside her, even if they all escaped him right now, "Khushi ..."
She stared up at him and nodded, seeming to understand. Arnav untangled her fingers from his sweater, loving that she always held onto him tightly when he picked her up.
"Goodnight," he whispered, kissing both her hands before placing them at her sides and pulling the blanket around her.
Later, he stared blankly at his laptop, mentally rehearsing conversations with Khushi. No matter what he said, no matter how many times he apologised, the Khushi in his head left him on the morning of August 14th*.
Maybe it's what I deserve.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*They eloped on the 14th of February, and have a contract marriage for six months.
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Forgive Her Anything (IPKKND AU) #Wattys2016
Fanfiction(IPKKND AU) In love with his brother-in-law's mistress, Arnav Singh Raizada is torn between his duties as a brother and his feelings for a woman who could destroy everything he loves. After giving his wife a final chance to explain herself at the ai...
