"I'm sorry." He breathed between us, "Thank you for getting some sense into me. I don't know what I'd do without you India. You keep my head on right."
"That's what friends are for." I smiled smally and he closed the distance between us, cupping my cheeks in his big hands, making me feel small and delicate. My heart rate picked up, my breathing stopped altogether as I held my breath, waiting for him to do something, to say something.
"It's not just friends is it?" He whispered, his lips inches from mine. "All this time, I've tried so hard to fight it, to push you away, to block you out, but I can't. It's always been here, between us, and I told myself not to act on it, that you'd find your mate and you'd leave me, and it would have all been for nothing, but I can't do that anymore. I can't sit around and pretend that I'm not in love with you India. We find our mates any day now, and if it's not you, I'll understand, I know the chances are slim, but if I don't kiss you right now, I will regret it for the rest of my life."
"If you do kiss me, and you find her, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." I whispered up at him, our breaths mixing in the air in front of us.
He ignored me, his lips meeting mine so softly that I barely registered that they were there. I wrapped my arms around his torso then, pulling him closer to me as he deepened our kiss, his lips moving with mine like they'd been molded just for them. There were not cliche sparks, no sudden desire to fall into bed, no burning for him. This kiss was innocent, and the only one we would be bound to share. I didn't want it filled with regret. I wanted to cherish it, and I would, for the rest of my life.
He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead against mine softly. "I'm not gonna say that I'm sorry, because i'm not." He breathed.
I nodded, pulling myself into his arms as he wrapped his around me, resting his chin against my hair. "I love you India." He said softly.
"I love you too Ty."
"Get out," I whispered again, looking into his deep brown eyes.
His brows furrowed. "I can't leave you in this condition."
A lone tear slipped from my eye.
"You're the only person responsible for this condition."
He swallowed hard and lay down beside me.
"I said-"
I tried to get up, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his embrace again.
His arms wrapped tightly around me.
I stopped struggling. His warmth, his scent... after four years, I finally felt at peace.
My face was buried in his chest.
"Why aren't you leaving me?" I whispered.
He looked down, his gaze intense.
"Because I can't," he admitted. "I'm not able to."
I bit my lip, my heart aching.
___________________________________
"You look beautiful," I said, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Come up with something new. Half of your guests already used that line," she muttered.
I stared into her kohl-lined eyes.
"Is that so?"
She hummed in response.
"Then how about this-" I leaned close to her ear. "You look like mine," I whispered before pressing a soft kiss against her earlobe.
She shuddered.
I was about to trail kisses down her neck when she whispered, "I'm sleepy."
I chuckled and pulled back.
She strolled toward the staircase, taking slow steps, struggling with her four-inch pencil heels and the heavy saree.
Will she ask for my help?
Nope.
I sighed and walked toward her.
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GRUMPY × SUNSHINE