Until now. Until her.
His gaze drifted to the top of her head, nuzzled in against his chest. His heart did a slow roll as he contemplated leaving her, walking away…This was stupid, he told himself angrily. He barely knew her…and still, every inch of him knew she was his. Daksh swore under his breath.
Beside him, Vedika stirred, her hair tickling the underside of his jaw. She mumbled something in her sleep, teasing a smile out of him despite the tumult of his thoughts. And then, she screamed.
To say his heart jumped out of his chest and into his throat would be an understatement. She let out another ear-splitting scream and he jerked his head back cracking it against the headboard. He tried to reach for her to wake her up, but she jerked back, her legs tangling in the comforter and wrapping it around her before rolling off the bed like the largest burrito in the world and landing with a whump on the floor.
Daksh just stared. That…that had just happened.
Daksh scrambled off the bed and ran over to check on her only to find her sleeping calmly on the floor. Almost scared to touch her, but knowing he couldn’t leave her on the floor, Daksh carefully picked her up and deposited her back on the bed. She snuffled a little and turned over on her side.
He pulled the comforter over her again. Clearly, he was going to need hazard training if they were going to do life together.
He sat down with his laptop, a safe distance away, and started replying to work emails. He was halfway through to an emptyinbox when with another snuffle and snort, Vedika turned over, opening her eyes sleepily and looking around. He saw the exact moment realisation hit her.
“Hey beautiful,” he said, softly.
A slow, small smile lit up her eyes as she sat up, hugging the comforter to her chest and glancing shyly around her. “I, um, my clothes…”
He tossed her a t-shirt which she caught one handed. She slipped it on, with some impressive handiwork holding the comforter in place and managing to preserve her rediscovered modesty.
“So,” he asked, shutting his laptop and leaning forward. “Bad dreams?”
Vedika pushed her hair out of her eyes and frowned. “I slept fine. Did you have a bad night?”
Daksh started to laugh even as she continued to frown at him, confused.
“Are you laughing at me?” she asked suspiciously.
“No,” he said, wiping the tears of mirth from his face. “At myself.”
Realisation dawned and her hand shot up to her mouth. “I spoke in my sleep.”
Daksh chuckled. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“Oh no!” Vedika groaned, dropping back on to the bed and pulling a pillow over her face. “Did I kick you?”
“So, this is a thing then?” he asked, amused, as he went to join her in the bed. He drew her into his side and she came willingly, snuggling in and burying her head in his chest.
“It’s a thing,” she said resignedly. “I’m a mess.”
“Chaos in a tightly wrapped package,” he murmured, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “Have I ever told you how much I love chaos?”
She peeked out at him, her cheeks rosy and flushed. “You do?” she asked hopefully.
He kissed her soft, puffy lips. “Honey, I wander through jungles for days on an end, trailing predators for one picture. Chaos is my drug of choice.”
She kissed him back, cupping the back of his head and rising to meet him halfway. Daksh groaned a little as he pushed her on to her back and covered her with his body. Her stomach growled a second later and he stopped, even as she whined and tried to pull him closer.
He kissed her forehead and pushed back. “Breakfast first, I think,” he murmured. “What works best for you? Eggs, oatmeal, or something Indian like an idli?”
She muttered something under her breath disgruntledly as she sat up. “I can order,” she said, pushing her tousled hair back and holding her hand out for the phone.
“I’d like to do it,” he said quietly. “I’d like to know what foods work for you and what don’t.”
Her smile trembled on her lips but she said, “Idli or oatmeal. Either works for me.” She pushed out of bed and headed for the bathroom. “I’ll just freshen up.”
“Mouse?” he called out, still holding on to the phone and watching her. She turned, one eyebrow raised in question. “I’m going to want my shirt back.”
