The Photoshoot - NC-17 version

Chapter 3: Nerves

The parking lot of this studio was behind it and shaded by trees, so they didn't have to worry about being seen leaving together. They walked quickly to her car while he called his driver and told him to take his car home. His driver was chatting with hers when they came out, so it was the work of a few short minutes to get everything sorted out and be on their way.

In the back seat of the car, they studiously avoided each other's gazes and touch. It was an avoidance that screamed awareness of the other's every breath and movement.

"Shanu, please play some music," Deepika finally called out when the tension began to grow unbearable. "Ji didi. Which CD shall I play?" "Which one is in now?" she asked. "Lootera, didi." "Okay, play that," she said, then turned to Ranveer, who was watching her with a strange expression. "Unless that's too weird for you? I love that album."

"No, I love it too," he replied. "Any particular reason you've been listening to it?" he asked with a slight smile. She ducked her head with a small blush as Sawaar Loon came on. "I adore you." He lifted her chin with a palm on her cheek. "I missed you so much." She turned her head to place a soft kiss on his palm before snuggling into his arms.

They spent the rest of the ride home listening quietly to the songs. By the time they reached her underground parking garage, they were both asleep. Neither would admit it, but the lack of each other's presence coupled with the extra time and effort it took to stay in touch with each other every day had robbed them of quite a bit of sleep. "Didi, we've reached," Shanu called out softly. She had been sleeping in the car on the way home often the last few days.

Deepika woke slowly, refusing to let go of the beautiful dream she'd been having of being in Ranveer's arms again. She blinked her eyes open to the dim lighting of her garage, and then noticed that her head was not on her little car pillow as usual, but lying in the crook of someone's neck, and that someone smelled a lot like the Ranveer from her dream.

"Mmm... Deepu, are we home yet?" he rumbled softly. His gravelly voice caused her stomach to somersault. "Yes, we've reached," she whispered. He shifted and turned to look into her eyes with a goofy smile, and she could feel her own grin start, along with a blush.

She disentangled herself from him, then picked up her bag and checked that her phone was still in it. He picked up his wallet and phone from the seat pocket as well, then got out of the door on his side. By the time she was ready to get out, he'd opened her door and was standing with his hand extended, waiting to help her out. Shanu stood by the side, amused.

"Are there any other bags, didi?" he asked. "No thank you, Shanu. And you can take the rest of the day off today. I have no other appointments." She could feel Ranveer smiling at her as she said that. "Okay, thank you didi. I'll come at 7.30 as usual tomorrow then."

Deepika nodded in confirmation, and pulled Ranveer to the elevator bank with the hand she'd yet to let go of. "Impatient much?" he smirked. "Shut up," she fired back, hitting him on the arm as they waited for the elevator to arrive. He leaned into her ear. "Don't worry, I'm impatient, too." She couldn't help her blush. "To eat that Nutella cheesecake."

"Ranveer!" She squealed and hit him again, for real this time. He laughed, then drew her into his arms, her back to his front, and began to place small kisses on her neck. "I'm going to take my time. Savor the scent of the chocolate-" a deep inhale at the base of her throat "-dip a spoon in slowly-" a flicker of his tongue in the hollow of her collarbone "-let it melt in my mouth-" a deep, sucking kiss behind her ear. "I'm going to enjoy each-" a nip at her ear "-and every-" another on her neck "-bite."

She was shaking. The fingers of his right hand trailed a path from her palm up her arm to her shoulder, the other hand over her abdomen pulling her close and drawing tiny circles with his thumb. With each circle, she felt heat flush her body.