KABIR'S POV :

She was standing right in front of me, her eyes glazed with the remnants of alcohol, but there was something else—something deeper—lurking beneath her gaze. Pain? Longing? Or maybe, just maybe, the same ache I had been drowning in for the past two weeks.

I had spent every day thinking about her, picturing her smile, replaying the way she laughed, the way she looked at me like I was more than just a businessman with a guarded heart. But my fears had built walls between us. My past, my demons—I had let them dictate my actions. And now, as I stood outside her house, watching her in that moment of vulnerability, I knew I couldn't let my fears control me anymore.

"Shanaya..." My voice came out rough, raw.

She blinked at me, her lips parting as if she had a million things to say, but no words came out. Instead, she just stared, her confusion evident.

"You disappeared," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible.

"I know," I admitted, running a hand through my already disheveled hair. "I had to leave for London. It was an emergency—a business crisis that needed my attention immediately. I didn't have time to tell you."

She crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "And you didn't think to message me? Call me? Anything?"

I exhaled sharply. "I lost my phone there. Everything was a mess, and by the time I got back, I—" I hesitated, feeling the words catch in my throat. "I got scared, Shanaya."

"Scared?" She frowned, tilting her head slightly. "Of what?"

I let out a bitter chuckle, looking down before meeting her eyes again. "Of how much I missed you. Of how much you had started to mean to me in such a short time. I convinced myself that staying away was the better choice... that if I came back, you'd be better off without me."

Her brows furrowed. "You don't get to decide that, Kabir."

I swallowed hard. "I know that now." I took a step closer, hesitant but desperate to close the distance between us. "Kartik... he told me what these past two weeks were like for you. And I hated myself for it."

Something flickered in her eyes—pain, anger, relief all tangled together. "I hated you for it too," she admitted. "I thought maybe I had done something wrong. That maybe... you weren't interested anymore."

I cursed under my breath. "God, no. That was never it. You have no idea how much I—"

I stopped myself, realizing I was about to say something neither of us was ready for.

She stared at me for a long moment, then exhaled, her shoulders dropping slightly. "You hurt me, Kabir."

"I know," I murmured, my fingers itching to touch her. "And I don't expect you to forgive me immediately. But if there's even the smallest part of you that still wants this... I swear, I'll make it up to you."

A beat passed. Then another. And then she moved.

She crashed into me, her arms wrapping around my neck, and before I could process it, her lips were on mine.

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SHANAYA'S POV :

The moment my lips met his, it was like the past two weeks of longing and heartbreak melted into something else—something raw, something desperate. He kissed me back with the same urgency, his hands gripping my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.

I had missed him. God, I had missed him more than I should have.

His lips moved against mine, slow but intense, his fingers tracing patterns on my lower back. Every touch sent a spark through my veins, and for the first time in weeks, I felt something other than emptiness.

My hands slid into his hair, tugging slightly, and he groaned, pressing me against the wall beside my front door. His lips traveled down my jawline, his breath hot against my skin. My heart pounded so loudly, I was sure he could hear it.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured against my neck, his voice thick with restraint. "And I will."

I didn't want him to stop. Not yet.

My fingers tightened in his hair, my breaths uneven. "Don't stop."

His hands roamed over my body, exploring but never pushing. Every touch was careful, controlled. His lips found mine again, and the kiss deepened, turning from desperation to something slower, something deeper.

But then, just as things were beginning to blur into something more, he pulled away.

"Shanaya," he panted, his forehead resting against mine. "We should stop."

My chest heaved, my mind foggy. "Why?"

His thumb brushed against my lower lip, his eyes dark with emotion. "Because I need to ask you something first."

I blinked at him, confused. "What?"

His expression softened, his fingers gently caressing my cheek. "Have you ever...?" He hesitated, searching my face.

I knew what he was asking.

I shook my head slowly. "No. I never have."

His brows knitted together, his lips parting slightly. "Never?"

I bit my lip, suddenly nervous. "I... I've been through a lot, Kabir. In the past. And I just... I've never felt ready."

He stared at me for a long moment, then cupped my face with both hands. "You're telling me... that someone as gorgeous, as sexy as you, has been waiting?"

I swallowed hard. "I guess I was waiting for the right person."

Something changed in his eyes. A mixture of admiration, reverence, and something deeper—something unspoken.

"You deserve to wait for someone who will worship every part of you," he said quietly. "Someone who will make sure you never regret it."

I felt my throat tighten. "And what if I never find that person?"

His thumb traced my cheek, his gaze holding mine. "Then they don't deserve you."

The air between us was thick with emotion, with unsaid words and promises that neither of us fully understood yet.

For a moment, we just sat there, the air between us charged with something deep and unspoken. Then, Kabir sighed and ran his thumb over my jawline one last time before pulling away completely.

"Come on," he murmured, shifting beside me. "Let's just... lay down. No pressure."

I hesitated but eventually curled up beside him, my head resting against his chest as he held me close. His arms around me felt safe, warm, and oddly right.

As my breathing evened out, Kabir pressed a soft kiss to her hair, whispering, "You're worth the wait."

As soon as he said those words , I knew one thing for sure.

Whatever this was—whatever we were—it was real.

And I wasn't letting go. Not this time.

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END OF THE CHAPTER

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