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His smile brushed against her lips. She kissed him again, slower this time, but there was nothing innocent about the way her fingers tightened in his hair. Raghav’s arms slipped around her, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them.
The teasing disappeared.
So did the laughter.
There was only the familiar pull between them, the kind neither of them had ever been able to resist, no matter how many years had passed.
The rest of the night belonged only to them. To the kisses that grew deeper, the whispered words that gradually disappeared between them, and the tenderness in their touches that always followed their desire.
3. Paradise Found
Next Day
The first morning of their escape began with the peaceful sound of the ocean. By the time Meher and Siya reached the resort’s breakfast lounge together, the sun was already high enough to turn the water beyond the open-air restaurant into sheets of shimmering blue. The couples had spent the previous evening in their respective villas, recovering from the journey and enjoying the rare luxury of having nowhere to be. But this morning, they were finally together.
Meher wore a short, elegant maxi dress in a soft, breezy fabric that fell well above her knees, paired with delicate sandals and minimal shell jewellery. Her hair was left loose and fell in waves around her shoulders. Siya, true to her eye for fashion, had chosen something even more striking. A fitted backless halter dress in a vibrant tropical print that looked chic and glamorous against the island setting.
Several men turned to look as they walked past, some making no attempt to hide their interest. As they reached the buffet area, both women instinctively looked around for Simran and Trisha.
They spotted Simran first.
She was already seated at one of the tables near the open edge of the restaurant, looking stunning in a short, strappy summer dress. Her long hair was loosely tied back, leaving a few strands framing her face. A cup of coffee sat in front of her while she spoke to one of the resort servers.
“No, thank you,” she said politely when he offered her something from the breakfast menu. “Just coffee for now.”
The young server nodded, but he seemed far more interested in the woman than in taking her order. His smile had become slightly too nervous, and a faint flush had appeared across his face.
Simran noticed, but she simply ignored it. The server finally turned away, and that was when he saw Meher and Siya approaching. His attention shifted towards them for a moment before he quickly straightened and greeted them.
“Good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning,” Meher replied.
He took their orders for coffee and fresh juice before finally walking away.
The moment he was out of earshot, Meher looked at Simran. A grin slowly spread across her face.
Simran immediately knew what was coming.
“That man was literally blushing while talking to you.”
Siya laughed as she pulled out the chair beside them. “I noticed that too.”
Simran rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Stop it. And it’s all because you two came late. I’ve been waiting for you both since half an hour.”
“So sorry, babes,” Siya sighed. “But don’t change the topic. The way the server was looking at you, it was nowhere near professional.”
Meher gave her a knowing look. “Maybe he needed coffee too.”
“Very funny.” Simran leaned back in her chair, looking pleased with herself.
“Well, at least we know we haven’t lost our charm.”
Siya laughed. “I’d say that’s a pretty good achievement.”
“Absolutely,” Meher agreed before noticing the thin strap of Siya’s dress that had twisted slightly near her shoulder.
“Wait.” She leaned closer and carefully straightened it. “There. Now it’s perfect.”
