The Controlling Lover (ON HOLD)

Chapter Thirty Two

The city was bright, even though it was late at night. Arnav had passed out a couple of hours ago, but Khushi couldn't sleep. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned - she even tried counting sheep! But nothing helped her at all, so she got out of bed and wandered around the penthouse.

Khushi wandered into the kitchen and drank some OJ. Walking around the apartment did nothing, so she came up with a decision. Leaving the glass on the counter, she went all the way up to Arnav's room. Slowly opening the door, she walked in and peeked over at his bed. Arnav was sound asleep, looking absolutely adorable. Unable to resist, she walked over to Arnav and carefully sat down on the bed. It slightly dipped, but not so much. Khushi looked at Arnav in shock - Arnav was laying down on his front, clutching onto Khushi's pillow. It was something Khushi had never expected from Arnav, thinking that he wasn't one of those guys to hold onto their girl's pillow when they weren't sleeping next to them.

Khushi looked at him affectionately, moving her fingers through his hair. Arnav sighed, causing Khushi to pause. When he didn't wake up, she continued to play with his ever-so-soft hair. It was always a wonder to Khushi how he managed to keep his hair so soft.

Sighing, Khushi got up and went to the dressing room and got her clothes. Dropping her pajamas to the floor, she changed her clothes, and then walked out of the room. She looked at Arnav one more time, and left.

*~*

Arnav woke up with a start. His body shook as he breathed, his body covered in sweat. Reaching to his side table, he grabbed the glass of water and gulped it all down. It didn't help him one bit, visions of the nightmare flashing before his eyes. He needed them to go away, he needed to apologize - he needed Khushi.

Jumping out of bed, he dashed down to Khushi's room. Throwing the door open, he found the room empty. Arnav looked around the room in confusion. He checked the walk-in closet and the bathroom, but Khushi wasn't there. He checked the terrace, but she wasn't there either. Arnav began to panic and looked all over the apartment - but he couldn't find her anywhere. Running back to his room, Arnav grabbed his phone and called Khushi. As the phone rang, he heard "Animals" by Martin Garrix playing elsewhere. Puzzled, he moved his phone away from his ear and followed the sound. Walking into the dressing room, he found Khushi's pajamas pooled on the floor. Bending down, Arnav picked up Khushi's phone.

"Dammit," he muttered, squeezing the phone, looking away in anger.

Ending the call, Arnav walked out of the room and headed to his room, holding both phones in his hand, he grabbed the keys to his Cadillac and headed downstairs. If anything, he would look everywhere just to find her.

Just as Arnav got to the bottom floor, he heard something. It sounded like as if it were coming from the kitchen, so he went there. He found the light on and saw Khushi standing by the fridge, a cold water bottle in hand, her covered in sweat. Not wasting a single second, Arnav went to Khushi and pulled her into him, shocking Khushi. Her eyes were wide as Arnav shook, holding her.

"Where did you go," Arnav breathed.

"I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a run-"

"At this time?!"

"Arnav it's almost 6-"

"Don't ever leave me like that again. Okay? Never! Don't ever leave me! Don't ever leave me...."

Khushi's eyebrows scrunched as she wrapped her arms around him. She couldn't believe how Arnav was acting. It was almost as if he had gone mental or something! Holding him, she now realized that he was sticky from sweat, but not because of her. The back of his navy t-shirt was wet from sweat. Khushi concluded that he must've had another one of those nightmares.

"Arnav let me take you to bed-"

"No! No, I don't want to let go of you," he exclaimed, and clutched onto her tighter.

Khushi was in shock. This dream must've been really bad if he was behaving like this. But if it was that bad, would he ask her to...?

"Arnav, you need rest. Let's go to bed," Khushi said softly.

Arnav pulled back and looked at her. "You'll come to bed with me?"

Khushi wasn't exactly sure of what he was asking of her, but she nodded.

Not wasting another second, Arnav picked her up and took her upstairs to his room. As he put her down, Khushi wondered if Arnav was going to do what he usually did when he had his nightmares - have sex. Instead of saying anything, Arnav placed Khushi's pillow back on her side and had Khushi lay down. He went around to the other side and laid down beside her, pulling her to him. Khushi looked at him in shock as he held her tightly, his face buried into her breasts. Arnav drifted asleep and Khushi could only look at him. Placing her fingers in his hair, Khushi thought about his actions. He had acted as if he were mental and when he had asked her to never leave him, it puzzled her. Not so long ago, Arnav wanted her gone, and now he was asking her not to leave? She was confused.

Arnav sighed and moved, nuzzling her breasts. Khushi froze on the spot, turning stiff.

"I won't do anything," Arnav muttered against her breasts. "I will never attempt to force myself on you again," he promised.

Khushi gasped unknowingly.

Gently pressing a kiss on her chest, Arnav dozed off to sleep. Khushi stayed still for a moment, not breathing at all. She was surprised that he wasn't going to have sex with her, but just sleep with her. When he had kissed her, her body had tingled. She cursed at herself for still reacting to him after what he'd done to her. She sighed as she looked at him lovingly. She damned herself for being confused and for loving the most confusing being on the planet!

Not giving another thought to anything, Khushi slowly dozed off to sleep, both holding each other in their arms.

*~*

Arnav groaned slightly, and opened his eyes. Although he had done this numerous times, Arnav's breath was taken away as he woke up to see Khushi asleep next to him. Arnav blinked, making sure that what he was seeing was real. It was real, and Arnav couldn't believe that she had actually stayed beside him. Slowly getting up, he stood up to wash up, when he heard Khushi.

"Arnav," she muttered.

Arnav froze and looked at her. She was still sleeping, mumbling in her sleep. Curious, he moved closer to hear her. Khushi muttered some more, mumbling mostly. Arnav barely understood what she said, until the last thing she said.

"I love you," she breathed, and she turned onto her front, holding onto her pillow.

Arnav just looked at her. Even after what he'd done, she still loved him. With the other women he had been with and had acted the same with - they'd all cursed him and hate him or just fuck with him until they were delirious. But here was Khushi, still in love with him, even after all he had done.

Arnav felt his heart thump and placed his hand above it.

Dhak-dhak! Dhak-dhak!
D

hak-dhak! Dhak-dhak!

Arnav looked at his hand over his heart and then at Khushi. Standing straight, he headed to the bathroom to wash up, 100% determined.