A tightness gripped Priya’s throat, tension crackling through her like the air right before a storm breaks.
“You need someone,” Ethan said, his voice dipping into a smoky murmur that wrapped around her like a velvet ribbon, “who will make you so unapologetically sure of yourself, so completely alive, that when you walk into a room, people can’t help but stop and take notice.That’show you bounce back. But you have to trust me, Pri. Trust that I’m not out to hurt you. Or cheat. Or lie. And more than that? You have to trust yourself enough to know that this is exactly what you want.”
“Ethan?” Priya said, every inch of her lit up, alive, pulling toward him like gravity.
He stilled, as if he knew exactly what was coming—and he was waiting for it.
Because this part was hers.
“Stop talking,” she whispered. She didn’t want to wait another second to make her move, not with him looking at her like that, not with him talking to her withthatvoice.
Closing the gap, she cradled his face between her hands. Her kiss was awkward and fierce, all edges and emotion, years of longing rushing to the surface all at once. Priya almost pulled back in embarrassment, but before she could, Ethan’s hands moved to her waist, drawing her into him with a heat that made her knees weak.
The feel of his hands through the fabric of her clothes, the scrape of his stubble, the soft noise he made low in his throat—it all tangled together and sent her reeling. She leaned back, drawing Ethan down with her.
Priya’s world condensed to the sensation of lying beneath Ethan, his breath mingling with hers, the weight of his limbs, the liquid fire of his kisses.
A sudden drop of rain hit Priya’s forehead, pulling her out of the moment. Opening her eyes, she spotted dark clouds looming overhead.
A passing shower, she told herself.
But nature had other plans. Within seconds, rain started to patter softly on the metal roof.
Ethan froze as it hit the back of his neck. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his lips inches from hers. His hair was already starting to dampen, dark strands falling into his eyes. “Are we seriously getting rained on right now?”
Priya let out a breathless laugh, her fingers still clutching the fabric of his shirt. “Of course it’s raining. The heavens have impeccable timing.”
Ethan laughed, then leaned down to kiss her again. His lips were warm and soft, and she forgot the rain entirely. Each dropon her skin felt like the sizzling hiss of water hitting a scalding hot tawa. But soon, her clothes clung to her, the rain coming down harder and faster.
Ethan pulled back, his forehead pressing lightly against hers. “As much as I’d love to stay right here, we need to leave.”
He stood and helped her up, his other hand steading her as she wobbled on the wet roof. “Got you,” he said.
“My Knight in soaking armor,” Priya teased, brushing the rain from her face.
As they turned to their ruined picnic, Ethan picked up his plate. “Well, there goes my steak,” he declared, tipping it into the tiffin.
“Everything’s turned to mush,” Priya cried, scraping the rest of their food away. She slammed the tiffin shut and stood, feeling the rain running down her back.
“It went better than expected.” Ethan stepped behind her, pulling her against him.
“How do you figure?” Priya turned in his arms, staring at him like he’d lost his mind. “You’re soaked, I’m shivering, and you’re over here acting like we’re in the middle of a romantic Bollywood rain song.”
Ethan, however, just pulled her closer. “You kissed me, Pri.” His lips trailed down the curve of her neck.
Drenched to the bone, Priya melted into Ethan’s embrace. She was lost in his arms, oblivious to the world until a sudden clap of thunder broke the spell.
“Would you look at that?” Ethan chuckled. “Even the gods are applauding.”
“Or telling us to get a move on.” Priya grabbed her bag and started descending the ladder. Halfway down, she tossed a grin at him. “Race you back, Heathen!”
“Hey, that’s cheating! You got a head start,” Ethan called out as she peered at him over the edge of the roof. Sweeping their things onto the picnic blanket, he knotted the ends and chased after her.
Priya hopped off the ladder, her laughter echoing in the rain as she sprinted toward Moksha. She didn’t make it far before Ethan closed the distance. He caught her hand and spun her around, drawing a surprised squeal from her.
“Easy, hotshot,” he said. “We’re never going to make it that way unless you want a mud bath.”
Priya’s eyes dropped to the waterlogged patch of ground ahead, slick with mud.
