I nod, unable to speak.
His lips find mine—slow, aching, careful at first, as though he’s afraid of breaking me. But then he deepens the kiss, pouring into it everything he hasn’t said until now. And I answer with everything I’ve kept buried, every fear, every longing, every piece of myself that only he has ever touched.
When we part, his forehead rests against mine, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my cheek.
“You are not the wrong princess,” he breathes. “You are the only woman I will ever love.”
CHAPTER 41
Every day, Every moment
VIHAAN
Her lips taste like a promise I’ve been waiting my whole damn life to claim. Yes, we did kiss that day in the shower, but this one is different. It's soft, warm, hesitant. My hands slide under the thin fabric of her blouse, my fingertips grazing over the smooth heat of her skin until they stop at the clasp of her bra.
I still. My breath fans against her mouth as I whisper, “Is this okay?”
Her lashes flutter, cheeks burning, and for a second I think she’ll push me away. But then she nods, the smallest, shyest movement, her whisper barely audible. “Yeah… it’s okay.”
Relief surges through me, mixed with a need so raw it’s almost painful. I press my forehead against hers, trying to ground myself. “You just say stop, Poorvi. Anytime. I mean it.”
Her hand slides up my chest, trembling, as though she’s as unsure as I am desperate. “I trust you, Vihaan.”
God, those words undo me. No one’s ever said that to me and meant it the way she does. Not with this kind of innocence, thiskind of weight. My fingers move slowly, carefully undoing the hook, the sound of it coming apart louder than the pounding in my chest.
She stiffens, and I pause, letting her set the rhythm. My thumb brushes her side in slow, soothing circles. “You’re so damn beautiful,” I murmur because I can’t hold it in. “You drive me insane just by breathing.”
Her lips part like she wants to argue, to deny it the way she always denies her worth, but the words don’t come. Instead, her eyes close, and a tiny shiver runs through her body when I kiss the curve of her shoulder, trailing up to the delicate line of her neck.
Inside, my thoughts are a mess. Go slow. Don’t scare her. Don’t ruin this. Don’t let her think she’s just another girl in your arms. Because she’s not. She’s it. The one.
Her blouse slips off her shoulders, pooling around her waist, and I take a moment just to look at her. Not in hunger—though every nerve in me is screaming with it—but in awe. She bites her lip, trying to hide her face, and I catch her chin gently, making her look at me.
“Don’t,” I whisper. “Don’t hide from me. I want to see you. All of you.”
Her breath hitches, but this time she doesn’t look away.
I lower her gently onto the mattress, my body caging hers, but my movements careful, deliberate. My hands roam, not rushing, just learning her like I’ve been waiting for this map my whole life. Every dip, every curve, every tremble that tells me where she’s sensitive.
“Vihaan…” she breathes, my name breaking on her lips, and I swear I could die right here and it would still be the best moment of my life.
“Tell me what you need,” I murmur against her mouth. “Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
Her fingers clutch the back of my kurta like she’s holding on for dear life. “Just… don’t leave me.”
Something cracks open inside me. Not lust. Not just love. Something deeper, something that feels like forever. I kiss her again, pouring every unsaid promise into it.
My voice comes out low, almost unrecognizable. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Her eyes flick toward mine, wide, uncertain.
I inch closer, my hand brushing the curve of her shoulder before tracing down her arm, slow, careful. Every part of me wants to devour her, but the way she tenses reminds me—this isn’t about me. This is about her feeling safe. About her trusting me.
“You don’t have to be scared,” I whisper, my lips grazing her temple. “I’ll wait as long as you want. I just… I want to be close to you.”
Her breath hitches, and I feel the shiver that runs through her body. She turns slightly, her eyes meeting mine. There’s fear in them, yes, but there’s also something else—something braver.
“Vihaan,” she murmurs, almost inaudible. “I want this. With you.”
