‘You know we’re not that bad. I just forgot the sugar. The cake wasn’t that terrible.’
He raised an eyebrow and said with a mock serious expression: ‘Kaavi, there’s no coming back from a sugarless cake.’
She laughed harder. ‘Okay, let’s get this show on the road.’
She pulled out the mixing bowl and the rest of the utensils, lining them up on the counter. He smoothed the recipe out on the surface, and they started working, slowly building the batter.
‘You look good in shorts,’ she said.
He grinned. ‘Can you stop judging my fashion choices? These are literally the only shorts I have here.’
He glanced down at his gym shorts, black T-shirt, and sneakers.
Kaavi popped the cupcake tray into the oven while Neel set the timer on his phone. They moved easily around each other as they cleaned up.
When the kitchen was spotless and the cupcakes were baking, Neel turned to her.
‘So, what do we do now?’
The look he gave her said everything. She didn’t wait to be asked. She reached for his T-shirt, tugging him towards her.
‘Kiss me, Neel.’
He grinned. ‘That would be a pleasure, Mrs Naran.’
His lips met hers, hungry. He lifted her effortlessly and set her on the counter, hands on her thighs. She moaned into his mouth as he kissed down her neck, his hands steadying her as she leaned back slightly.
Neel’s hands were already on her thighs, spreading them just enough so he could step in between. She gripped the edge of the counter, breath caught in her throat as his mouth found hers again.
He pulled her closer, his hands slipping beneath her dress while she pushed his shorts down. Her dress bunched around her waist as she wrapped her legs around him. His fingers moved fast but gently, hooking her underwear and sliding it off with one hand while steadying her with the other.
She leaned back slightly, letting him look at her. He slid into her in one slow, deliberate movement. She gasped, her head falling forward onto his shoulder, her arms wrapping tight around his neck. He stayed still for a second, just holding her, forehead pressed to hers, breathing with her. Then they moved.
The rhythm built slowly. She moaned into his ear, soft and broken. He responded with a kiss to her collarbone, the pace shifting, syncing, until everything blurred. She found ecstasy quietly, her legs trembling, her arms still locked around him. He followed seconds later, groaning against her skin, his body pressed fully into hers.
For a while, they stayed that way.
They’d just pulled on their clothes in the bathroom after having a quick shower when Kaavi suddenly froze.
‘The cupcakes!’
She bolted. Neel followed her into the kitchen where Kaavi grabbed oven mitts and yanked the tray out of the oven. The cupcakes were burnt beyond saving.
‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ she muttered.
Neel grabbed his phone off the counter.
‘How did the timer not go off?’ she asked.
He glanced at the screen. ‘Oops. Phone was on silent.’
Kaavi groaned.
The doorbell rang. She didn’t even look up.
‘Can you get that, please? I need to sort this out.’
Neel opened the door and blinked. Kaavi’s grandfather stood there, already reaching out to shake his hand. Then, without waiting, the old man stepped inside.
