Edited: November 11, 2020

| . . . C H A P T E R - 3 . 2 4 - T A K I N G - A D V A N T A G E . . . |

After wiping my face off the makeup from the party, I walked out of the washroom to find Arnav still on the bed with his face buried amidst the pillow, still dressed in the clothes he'd worn to the party.

"Arnav, go change." His answer came in 'hmm' form, but he made no attempts to get up. Discarding of the towel in the laundry basket, I climbed into bed and turned on the dim lights instead of the overhead one. "Atleast get rid of your tie if you aren't going to change." I suggested as I pulled the blanket from under his weight to cover my legs.

"Shh." He silenced me, twisting to lay on his back, eyes still closed.

He must have been exhausted after the night we just had. Even with his eyes closed, I could pick out the tiredness reflecting on his face. I didn't push him to get up again. Shifting to my knees, I waddled over and decided to work on untying the material around his neck myself.

"Thank you," he mumbled realizing what I was doing.

"Your welcome."

"I know you said you'd take advantage of me tonight, but I didn't think you were serious." He teased me when I moved to unhooking his belt.

"Shut up, you can't very well sleep comfortably with a belt." I explained. His mind may have been quick to jump to conclusions, but my motives were purely... pure. For his own comfort.

He opened his eyes, "Mind getting rid of this shirt too then?"

"You're even more childish than Aarav." Even though Aarav was a child, and more tired past his bedtime, he didn't trouble this much.

He stuck his tongue out, making me shake my head in amusement. Sitting with legs tucked under me, I worked on the collar button. It was being stubborn. Groaning in irritation, I leaned forward to use both my hands. When it finally did slip through, my grip slipped and jaw dropped at the scratch.

He exclaimed, "Damn it, lady. You need to cut your nails."

"Hush." I scolded him and lifted his chin to make sure the scratch on his neck wasn't too deep that it would have drawn blood. Sadly, things don't work the way I wish for them to. "See, this is why you don't tell me to do risky things for you."

"Risky?" He repeated in surprise, "Sweet pea, I just asked you to take my shirt off for me!"

"Well then, these buttons are as stubborn as you."

"I am not stubborn. You are!" I was about to retort when he touched the cut where blood was seeping out. "Ugh, fine. You can argue with me later. Can you get something first to clean this up?" Too tired to move, I took his tie to clean it up. Gasping, he stole it from my hand before it would touch his neck, "Not my tie!"

"You didn't specify what to get to clean it up." I said in defense as I used my thumb instead. "There. It doesn't look that deep."

"Burns like hell though."

"You're being dramatic." I dismissed it, going on to unbutton the rest of the buttons. I had only reached mid-way when my eyes flickered up to the scratch mark where there was fresh blood. I was going to have to go get antiseptic. I walked off to get it from the washroom and settled next to him again.

As soon as I pressed the cotton to his neck with some pressure to stop the blood, he flinched. Concern overtook my irritation. It might have not looked deep, but I wasn't the one with a scratch. Taking a fresh one and pouring a few drops of antiseptic on it, I dabbed it over the mark. He hissed, closing his eyes. I leaned over to blow air, hoping it would somehow soothe the burn.

"Sorry." I said feeling guilty. If I hadn't been so impatient to unbutton and then go to sleep, none of this would have happened.

"It's fine." He said with soft eyes, our previous banter forgotten.

Once that was done, I leaned over him to leave the cotton balls and antiseptic on the desk. Just as I was going to pull back, I glanced at him when his hand rested on my back as if to ensure I wouldn't slip. His eyes captured mine in a breathtaking awe for some reason. The hand on my back left to gather my front layers of hair and tuck it behind my ear.

"Tonight..." He began in a gentle voice as if afraid speaking would shatter some magic. "I have never been more scared in my life."

The spiked drink.

"It felt like my life was slipping out of my hands, and I couldn't do anything about it. Seeing you unable to breathe..."

"Shh," I silenced him, cupping his face and thumb caressing the tear that slipped horizontally out of his eyes. I leaned into his touch to prove to him I was here and alive, "Forget about it. All that matters is now."

"Promise me you'll be more careful." It wasn't an order, but a pleading request that if I didn't agree to, he wouldn't be able to breathe freely.

I pressed an innocent kiss over his lips, "I promise."

"Will you come back to AR?"

He had mentioned me quitting Irani House in anger, but I had thought once he'd calm down, he would forget about it. I understood where he came from. He wanted to protect me from all harm, keep me where I would be safe, but I couldn't hide from the world like that. I could not get him to see reason in his vulnerable state.

"We'll talk tomorrow." I leaned in to kiss him good night, but it didn't stop at that. The kiss deepened and for the few seconds, I let him. This was one thing I couldn't win over him. Not when he was fragile like this. It wasn't heated passion. Yet, it felt sensual as each kiss healed the fears of his heart tonight had gnawed at.

My hands trailed down his torso. They knotted over the fabric where the buttons were still fastened. Try as I might with one hand, I unbuttoned them. With each one, he brought me closer to his body, chest touching, lips meeting stroke after another, his stomach pulling in each time an inch of my finger grazed over his abs.

This was not what I had in mind when I had first starting to free his tie around his neck.

His own fingers dug into my sides, as if, if he didn't, his hands would roam over my body and he'd have no control over them. Just as the last button pulled open, he started to sit up. Within a fraction of a second, he had flipped me on the bed, towering over me. Not once did the kiss break.

A giggle escaped my throat at my head hitting the bed frame. His form of apology was by moving his hand to rub the area on my head. It just was a light tap anyway. It didn't hurt.

I had no idea when his shirt disappeared. I just knew it had when my fingers wound up at the back of his head, trailing down his neck, and his shoulder blades. Starting to get winded, I mumbled heavily against his lips, "Slow down."

I had gotten used to our make out sessions over the past month, but there would always come a point when I'd feel out of breath, sooner than him. That usually marked the end of it and we'd call it a night.

Tonight, it didn't.

He hid his head in my shoulder, leaving a trail of hot kisses as I moved my head to the side, giving him better access. I was faintly aware of my shallow breathing and my lips feeling swollen from all the kissing. I gasped inaudibly at the nibble I felt at the hollow over my collar bone. "Since when are you a biter?"

He smiled against my skin, exhaling. "Since always."

I rolled my eyes in response and slapping the back of his shoulder. I did not need to be reminded of his past escapades.

"You might want to keep your hands in check." He warned, threatening to bind them over my head if I didn't stop the harmless violence of slapping him for all his cocky responses.

To express my defiance, I trailed my hand down his spine. He sucked in a breath, lifting his head and locking his eyes dangerously with mine. "Go any lower, and..."

I raised my brows, for now he was just asking for me to hit him. He dropped his head over my shoulder again, sighing in defeat. I decided to tease him, not realizing I was digging a deeper hole. "You know, my other shoulder feels ignored."

"Does it now?" He kissed that same shoulder purposefully in response.

"Mhmm." I answered in a positive and suddenly he towered over me more dangerously than before with one leg at either side. I bit back a gasp when a finger pulled my shirt down a bit so he had access to leave a trail of kisses across my chest to reach my other shoulder, essentially stretching the sleeves.

In between butterfly kisses, he whispered. "Is it still complaining?"

My answer come out in a squeak, "No." The reason for that could be the fact that it wasn't just our upper bodies touching, but also our legs where I was brought aware of his arousal.

He leaned back in confusion. "Why do...?" He answered his own question before completing the question. "Oh." He shifted off to his side, putting some distance between our bodies.

"Just wasn't expecting it." I let him know that was it, nothing more.

"You don't have to explain. I should... change." He started to get up, preparing to leave.

I was too stunned by his sudden departure to stop him.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

I sighed into the hard chest underneath as I woke up. Similar to many other nights since we'd been married, my shirt had ridden up, exposing my bare navel where his hand rested. While in sleep, his hand always unconsciously ended up there. Otherwise, when awake, he'd always be careful to not let his hands wander.

His rhythmic breathing pattern told me he was asleep before I even had to look up. Something must have been the issue with my brain, since it flashed an idea. He always gave me a tough time in waking him up. Today, I figured I would have my fun.

Isn't that what he had said last night? Only I had the right to take advantage of him.

I moved my arm around his torso to settle over his abs. They tensed, making me wonder if he was awake. I lifted my head to find him peacefully sleeping. I have to say, it was a welcoming boost to learn that even in his sleep, I affected him.

I trailed my finger over the very top one, causing him to mumble incoherently and snuggle me closer. I trailed it down the center, feeling the hardness of them. His fingers dug into my bare skin causing my breath to hitch, stopping my wandering finger.

He was still asleep. I exhaled slowly while gathering courage once again to let the exploring resume. This time, I was less deliberate and more purely for the sake of curiosity. It wasn't as if I have ever touched any guy's bare torso before. It made me feel scandalous, and perhaps the fact that he was asleep was my only source of bravery.

It didn't last long.

"Should I feel violated?" His husky morning voice sounded that much more attracting. I shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep. His chest vibrated underneath as he laughed. "I know you're awake, Khushi."

Damn it. When had I gotten so lost in my rendezvous that I hadn't realized he had woken up? Sure... I had been doing this initially to wake him up. But it had turned into self-exploration.

For I was caught, I dropped the act and lifted my head, placing my chin over his chest instead. "Good morning."

He raised his brows at me as if to mock my response. "Really?" I knew what he meant. I had been up to no good, and my only defense was to greet him.

I shrugged my shoulders, "You were the one who kept saying I didn't take advantage of you."

"Remind me to stop daring you." He said as if I kept a diary for his mental checks. I stuck my tongue out, starting to sit up. Hand wrapping around my elbow, he tugged me back. I crashed into his torso, "Uh-uh. You can't start something and then leave."

"I'm done, actually." I started once again to make a quick excuse.

He questioned, looking for specifics. "Done learning the response you have on my body?"

I meekly nodded.

"Not brave anymore?" He tugged at my inner self-esteem and to relay the message that I didn't need to retreat simply because he was now awake. Still, I wasn't bold. "What is it?" He urged me to express my thoughts without concern, tucking at my chin to look at him.

"I don't have any experience. You know that."

His thumb caressed my jaw, "That's all?" It didn't seem to be as big a problem for him. His other hand found mine and placed it over his chest. "Hear that?" Confused as to where he was going with it, I nodded at the calm rhythmic beats. Then he lifted that same hand and traveled it lower to his abs where once again, his stomach pulled in naturally.

"Arnav..." I said his name, not understanding anything as I felt a growing uneasiness at the changing intimacy.

He trailed my hand back to his heart. Placing it there and pressing his palm over it, he whispered. "This is what you do to me. Only you." In the coming seconds, I had the impression of a beating heart. The pulse was almost twice as faster as before. "If it's experience, then I am the one who has no experience. I am the one who never knows if anything I do is pushing it. Do you get it now?"

I had no idea he felt that way. I always saw confidence masking his concerns. Like he knew exactly what he was doing. He teased, joked, turned cocky... He never let me see his concerns, until now. I could only answer with a single nod.

He pressed a kiss to the inside of my hand before releasing it.

His phone rang, and I pulled myself up to a sitting position, and he followed. He answered the call, "Lav..." He stopped talking instantly, eyes wide. After a second passed, he stammered. "Wha-what? Who? Why are you telling me this? You know what, I'm going to give the phone to Khushi. Talk to her, please. Not me."

He couldn't have handed me the phone any quicker. "Hello?" I wondered what could have him so rattled.

I heard his mumble, groaning and dropping back on the bed on his back. "I am never going to unhear this."

"I slept with him." Lavanya spoke in one breath.

I couldn't have heard that right. "I'm sorry, what?"

She sighed, jumping into a quick defense, "He is hot, okay? And I haven't been with a guy in what, five years? Six? Don't judge me."

Now this was definitely a side of Lavanya I hadn't met before. "Okay, no judging. But, just to make sure, we are talking about Sam here, right?"

"Duh, who else? What do I do?!"

I asked muffling a laughter, "Well, first of all, why would you call Arnav of all people?"

"Sorry to be the one to remind you, but he has had one night stands before."

I honestly didn't feel hurt about that. I had told him that before too. It was all in his past. "So this is a one-night stand?"

"I'm going to leave." Arnav sat up, deciding he didn't need to hear this conversation.

I didn't stop him, offering him a sympathetic smile before listening to Lavanya's response. "Yes? No? I don't know. Isn't it? I mean, I don't know him at all!"

"Where are you right now?"

"In his room. And he's not here."

"Dang, that's going to be hard to sneak out if his family is there."

"Oh no. He his own apartment."

"Okay, I don't see the problem then."

"The problem is that it wasn't like we jumped straight to having sex yesterday, you know? It wasn't even in the agenda for me, honestly. We were just going to get coffee and talk. And it felt really nice to talk to him. I'm telling you, Khushi, he's like a serious softie. He actually listened and just talked. He didn't try to make any moves on me, and so my stupid heart decided to kiss him good night. And one thing led to another. And now I feel like crap. I mean, he just left! Who does that? Maybe all that sweet guy thing yesterday was just a ruse? A Valentines fling?"

"La, okay, calm down first before jumping to conclusions. Maybe he had an early meeting or something? Did he leave a note?"

I heard a few clatters before she answered in a negative. "No. You know what? He doesn't get to make me feel like crap. I mean, I'm Lavanya, after all! I'm coming home."

I didn't know whether to feel proud of her or what. I was confused, because this is certainly not the kind of guy I thought Sam was. I really was hoping he would have a damn good reason for leaving, else Mr. Irani was going to have to look for a new heir after I'd be done with Sam.

Arnav stepped out of his bathroom drying his hair after his shower. I asked, "Any way you can ruin Sam?"

"A little tough, but if Armaan helps, I can make it happen."

I was loving how quickly he seemed to be catching on to my quirks without asking for clarifications. I got out of bed, "Good, wait for my signal."

"If Lavanya comes homes crying, I make no promises on waiting till then." He announced, throwing his wet towel on the bed and opening his cabinets to get a fresh shirt. 

Gah. I love these two friends. But mostly, Arnav's caring side.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .

Lavanya didn't come home crying. In fact, she didn't return until close to lunch time three hours later. I was home instead of at work since I'd received a call saying after yesterday's fiasco at the party, Mr. Irani (not Sam, his dad) had called it a day off to deal with those employees responsible. Suffice to say, both Arnav and I were worried. When she did return, she was grinning, a glow on her face I had never seen before.

Though I wanted to know the reason behind the change in mood since the last time we talked, I had my fists on my hips as I demanded. "Where the hell were you, young lady?" I sounded like a mother scolding her teenage daughter.

"Turns out, he hadn't left." She sat on the couch not even slightly fazed by my tone. "He was adorably cooking breakfast when I walked out of his room slamming the door."

"It takes 3 hours to finish eating breakfast and get home?!"

Arnav pleaded. "Please don't answer that question, Lavanya."

"Why not?" I didn't understand.

"Trust me."

Lavanya shrugged her shoulders and left to her room to change out of the outfit she still had on from last night's party. I pestered Arnav for an answer till he eventually got tired of my questions.

"Because, they didn't just have breakfast."

"Then?"

He sighed, "Khushi, do not be that naïve."

My eyes narrowed. Then, they widened. "She didn't!" I gasped. He crinkled his nose. I leapt out of the couch and ran up the stairs, yelling for Lavanya. "La! Get back here!!"

"Slow down before you fall." He yelled back at me as I reached the second floor to barge into this woman's room. She had some major explaining to do.

"I've already fallen. For you." I cheekily responded and he laughed at my cheesy comment.

Okay, yeah. I needed to learn to be a bit more romantic.

But. For now? I love him, and this was just the start of many such wonderful days. This man dared me to save myself, to live life to its fullest, and to stay in love every moment from here on out with no reservations whatsoever.

. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .