Getting ready after draping the black saree around herself, applying a subtle layer of makeup, and adorning the pieces of jewelry he had brought, she smiled in ecstasy when she saw her reflection in the mirror. Glowing, radiant, gratified. The loose locks framing her face, the red stain on her lips, the kohl underneath her eyes, the jingling of the anklets and the bangles, the shimmering of the necklace—she was glittering like the moon.

Giggling to herself, she descended the stairs. He was still sitting by the patio steps, and half her heart wished to rush to him and kiss him senseless. But the other half wanted to revel in the way he would let his eyes rake over her body with a lot of love and respect, oodles of passion, and... lust. Biting her lips, she proceeded towards him and cleared her throat.

The chimes of the anklets resounded behind him, and he sensed her stop right next to him. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and swerved around, only to come face-to-face with the most adorable, gorgeous, enigmatic woman he had ever seen in his life. She was prettier than he had envisioned her to be in that saree, and her lips were as enticing as ever. He could tell his heartbeats had picked up the pace, and the way she had begun blushing, evading his gaze, and fiddling with her bangles, he could only sigh.

He let his gaze roam over her, the way she bit her lips, her glimmering black orbs, her curly tresses that had him enchanted since the day they met. Chortling, he murmured, "Look at how exquisite you are!"

She licked her lips and gaped at her feet. "Thanks for... for making me believe in myself. I had lost faith for a bit there."

He came ahead and held her by the shoulders, leaving a lingering kiss on her forehead. "You, my love, are very, very pretty, and you don't need to doubt yourself."

She hummed, nodding.

He slid his palms to hold her bare waist, and she squirmed under his touch. Hooking his finger under her chin, he urged her to look at him, leaning closer so that their lips skimmed against each other. "So very pretty," he whispered against her mouth, "that I am having a tough time thinking straight."

She peered into his eyes. "Adi... I..." She rolled her lips inward and gulped. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

"Make love to me."

His eyes widened for a moment before he slammed his lips on hers, demanding access in a way she hadn't experienced with him—urgent and fervent. As his rough lips moved against her soft ones in a pleasing manner, she clutched his shirt hard and moaned into his mouth. His grip on her waist tightened, digging his fingers into her hips as he gave her a moment to breathe, utilizing which he bent down to kiss her neck, nipping at the skin and licking the bruise when she gasped. Her palms sifted through his hair too as he continued trailing his lips along her throat, her jaws, her earlobe, peppering open-mouthed kisses all over her face. Over and over again. He deftly slid down the fabric of the blouse covering her shoulders, exposing her soft skin. She squirmed yet again, and he had to tighten his grasp to ensure she stayed still, for he was busy leaving a very artistic hickey on her shoulder blade.

Her eyes flew open when he nibbled at her skin. "Adi..."

"Shhh!" A wet, sloppy kiss landed on the swell of her breasts. "You have to relax. Your shoulders are too tense."

She chuckled and slumped her head on his chest. "Just... nervous."

He held her hand and guided her to the couch, helping her lie down on it as he hovered over her form. Her lips quivered, and she trembled when she saw the intensity with which he was gazing at her. His lips were on hers for another agonizingly pleasurable kiss, and she responded well to keep up with the pace, using her tongue to dominate his as their mouths entangled. His lips were back in the crook of her neck, inhaling her fragrance when he felt his emotions going haywire and the need for her grow stronger. The thought had only just crossed his mind when he felt himself getting aroused, all thanks to the woman underneath him who was busy enjoying the pleasurable advances with her eyes closed as sweet whimpers emanated from her mouth.

Drawing away, he caressed her velvety blushing cheeks, and her eyelids fluttered open. "You are so damn beautiful."

She gulped when she heard the gentleness of his murmur, and she could swear it was unadulterated reverence with which he was gazing at her, skimming his nose against hers, and pecking the scarlet cheeks she boasted of. She fiddled with the buttons of his white shirt without making eye contact with him. "Adi... I... I..."

He pecked her forehead. "Stop overthinking." He was about to place his lips on hers when another thought struck him at the back of his mind, and he sat upright. Rubbing his palms all over his face, he nearly yelled, "Damn! I don't have any protection with me."

She heaved heavy breaths, regretting the loss of contact with his warm skin. "Oh!" A squeak came past her throat, and she sat up too, fixing the loose end of her saree over the shoulder to hide the cleavage she had been exposing to him so far. Embarrassment rattled her senses when she made sense of his statement. "Umm..." She fidgeted with her hands. "We... we won't be going ahead today?"

"We will," he shrieked, glowering at her. "I will go and get it as soon as possible. Just give me a minute."

She pursed her lips and used her fingers to soothe the back of her neck. "Go. Why are you sitting here?"

He stared at her in disapproval. "Because I need a minute."

She rolled her lips inward as she comprehended the insinuation, and she couldn't control herself from sniggering.

He glared at her. "And here you thought you were not attractive enough."

She had her eyelids lowered. "I... can we please forget the idiocy I had exhibited? Get going. Chop chop!"

He sprang upright and ran out of the loft, not bothering to pick up his phone and just managing to slip into his shoes as she handed him the wallet so that he could at least pay for the item. The door banged shut behind him, and she giggled at the alacrity with which he left. However, the moment her laughter died, other thoughts began crossing her mind. She was not as perfect as he would prefer. There were multiple stretch marks on her tummy and thighs which she didn't know how to cover. There was considerable amounts of fat all over her body which she wasn't sure how to hide when they would be stark naked.

Pondering over everything, she walked up to the patio, hugging herself as a slight zephyr blew past her. Taking a deep breath, she shut the door to prevent the cold air from seeping in, but her mind was already wavering with a lot of questions. Lost in her musings, she didn't even notice when he entered the loft and edged closer to her. Only when he kissed her cheeks, wiggling his brows at her did she discern his presence, and all her misgivings vanished when she saw the glimmer in his eyes. The man in front of her loved her with every fiber of his being, and whatever she was concerned about was perhaps too trivial for him to even pay attention to.

"What are you thinking about?" he said.

She shook her head with a wide smile etched on her face. "I love you."

He grinned, pulling her closer by her waist.

She held his wrists over her waist, flashed a vibrant smile at him, let her fingers entwine with his, and began ambling upstairs. He ensured to flip the light switches off along the way as they wouldn't need to come downstairs until the following morning. She pushed the door to his bedroom open and glanced around. It was as ordinary as a bachelor's room would be. White sheets, black satin cushions and pillows on the bed, arched and tall windows on the other end that had moonlight flitting through, a walk-in closet on the third side along with the door to the bathroom, and finally a dresser next to the door. Two nightstands stood on either side of the bed.

Though she had been in this room a few times and slept over a couple of times too, she hadn't felt this strange. Knowing that they were about to be united in body and soul, she was somehow disconcerted that these belonged to someone else once upon a time. Her expression fell, and she breathed harshly.

He sensed her angst, following the way her gaze fell on every piece of furniture. "If you are not okay with this room, we will change everything. I will have the entire house revamped according to how you like."

She chortled. "No, I... I don't need to change anything here. Because," she hooked her arms behind his neck, "the man living here is all mine. All these other things are just... too inanimate to even consider."

A wide smile graced his lips, and his mouth descended on hers in a delicate kiss. He only allowed himself to brush against her soft lips before resting his forehead against hers. The ragged breathing, the anticipation and shimmer in her magnificent eyes, the erratic pulsating of their hearts, and their whole existence thrumming with a newfound joy. The loving features that he had always hoped to find by his side were now his, in reality, and a sudden bout of realization tore through him.

Back when they were too busy falling in love with each other, there was always a voracious tempest raging in their minds, vacillating between what was right and wrong, toeing the lines of morality and principles. Willing they weren't to do what transpired eventually, but it did nonetheless, and before they could grasp it, another havoc had already wrecked their lives and a lot of others as well. The storm that had taken him by surprise was just the easy part. He fell for the woman in front of him, and they ruined lives. It was just a moment of sheer stupidity on his part to gaze into her eyes at dusk when they went to the bridge the first time. Did he regret it, though? Of course not! However, this very moment of tranquility, this very second of contentment remained elusive throughout. That was the easy part, falling in love. This was the serene part, being in love. And he was loving every second of being in love.

His lips crushed over hers, and she gave in. Her eyes shut down, and she was lost in the throes of passion while his palms went to the sides of her neck. She could remotely tell her hands had rested on his chest too, but her limbs buckled when the back of her knees hit the sides of the bed, and she collapsed on the mattress with him over her. He gave her only a moment to breathe before his lips were on hers again while his fingers brushed against the bare skin of her waist.

Her eyes flickered open when she heard banging and clanking echoing at a distance. "What is that?"

He didn't bother responding as he hid his face in the crook of her neck, peppering kisses on her skin and inhaling the fragrance of strawberries.

"Adi," she gently pushed him away, "what's that sound?"

He huffed, clicked his tongue, and drew away. A slight scowl marred his features. "Construction going on in the neighboring plot."

"Oh..." Her brows shot up. "It's too disruptive."

He rolled his eyes and sat back up, holding his head in his hands. "Why do you care about all these extra things? I don't understand. It can be a freaking clamor out there, for all I care, but no! You get disrupted."

She giggled at the irritation in his cadence and sat up too, caressing his forearms and placing her chin on his shoulders. "Hey..."

"Don't touch me," he snapped.

She pulled his cheeks. "Cute little baby boy is getting angry at me."

He groaned and flopped back on the bed. "Don't call me that."

She allowed her palms to slide up his chest as she rested her head on his shoulders and snuggled closer.

He drew her towards him and kissed the top of her hair.

"Did I ruin the mood?"

He snickered. "Nothing can ruin the mood tonight, Baby Elephant."

He flipped their positions, earning a sweet giggle from her while the lazy grin remained etched on his lips. His head dipped down to lightly caress her lips. Once. Twice. Thrice. Until she didn't give him the chance and tugged at his lower lip with urgency while her palms slid down under his shirt, sensing how his muscles flexed under her searing touch.

He rested his forehead against hers again, tracing the delicate features she boasted of with his fingers while she used the time to revel in the calmness of her heart. The tempest that had been raging in her mind for so long was finally sated. She was sated. At peace. Exactly like how being in love should have felt like instead of the cyclone ravaging through every cell of her body and tearing her existence apart. But all of it was now a matter of the past. Her future and her man was right there in the moment with her, gazing into her eyes while caressing the skin on her waist, that boyish grin refusing to leave the corners of his lips. Comprehension dawned on her. It was just a moment of recklessness when dancing at the fair with Mickey Mouse and Ferris wheels in the background that led to this chaotic mess. And it would be just another moment of recklessness beyond which lay the serenity of being in love.

A bright tint crept up on her cheeks, and she didn't understand why she felt so shy under his unwavering gaze. She quickly hid her face behind her palms.

His hearty chuckle reverberated inside her chest too as he nuzzled her neck. "Unpin it," he mumbled against her hair.

She tittered and took off the safety pin holding the free end of her saree in place. "It took me so long to wear it and you are going to—"

He didn't let her finish the sentence as a hasty yank sufficed for the fabric to slide down her bosom.

She hid her face behind her palms again, feeling his heated gaze on her while the blush on her cheeks deepened with every passing moment.

He raked his eyes over the body she was so scared of showing to him. Still hidden behind a few pieces of clothing that he couldn't wait to get rid of, but she was overwhelmed and too shy, too nervous. So, he tugged her palms away from her face and skimmed his nose against her.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she gulped when she discerned the blazing inferno of desire in his countenance.

"I love you," he whispered.

She allowed a wide smile on her face, which faltered when she noticed the solemnity and earnestness in his visage. She quirked her brows at him.

"I have never loved anyone as much as I love you."

Her palms went ahead to caress his cheeks. "Likewise."

He inched closer, his lips touching her. "Never leave me, Vixen."

This time, she was the one skimming her nose against his. "Never."

His mouth captured hers all over again, and it was urgent, fervent, passionate. He didn't give her the time to breathe or think as his palms went to the tassels of her blouse to undo the knot. Her hands slid from his wrists to his shoulders as she reciprocated the kiss with equal zeal and fervor. She got rid of the blouse. He unbuttoned his shirt. She lunged both the pieces of fabric to one sequestered corner of the room. He yanked at the rest of the saree and hurriedly discarded the attire. She squirmed under his gaze, and he unclasped her bra.

She gulped and licked her lips. Just a moment more and she would be quite naked in front of him. She shuddered and her eyes shut automatically when his fingers moved over the swell of her breasts to remove the fabric. She clutched onto the bedsheet beneath her, squinting her eyes due to a rash mix of hesitation, anticipation, and desire.

He took his sweet time to admire the lady. Her lips quivering, her curly hair sprawled all over the pillow, her rubicund cheek pressed to the side on the satin fabric, her trembling eyelids, and her heaving bosom—she was stupid to think he would be repulsed. Nothing had ever been as attractive and as alluring as this girl before. Nothing could ever be as beautiful as her ever again. His fingers went ahead to cup her cheeks, and he caressed her skin with the pad of his thumb. "Look at me."

Her eyes fluttered open at the commanding tonality he had utilized, and she peeked at him with a lot of uncertainty. The flames of passion in his eyes and the gravity in his visage made her all the more excited for what was to come ahead. Had it been any other time, she would have snapped at him and reacted the usual way by calling him a jerk, but when his dominating cadence echoed in her mind all over again, she found herself conceding to his demands by nodding her head.

His eyes lit up when he discerned the tint on her cheeks, and he didn't waste any more time before snatching the bra off her body. She gasped in surprise and even tried looking away, attempted to hide her blushing features from him, but he grasped her palms, interweaved his fingers with hers, and pinned them above her head. She moistened her parched lips when she discerned how his lazy gaze was traversing her torso with a glint of appreciation in his eyes until he peeked back at her and quirked his brows.

The shy smile refused to go away from her lips, and she pressed her flushed cheek onto the pillow.

His hands left her in a quick motion before he caressed the sides of her ample breasts and his mouth went to the sensitive spot he was very curious about.

She gasped again as a jolt of electricity and dangerous desire rushed through her, and her widened eyes went to meet his tender ones. "Adi..."

"Hmmm?"

"Are you really gonna make me beg?"

His jeans joined the rest of the clothes on the ground. So did her underskirt and the rest of their garments. He pulled the duvet over the two of them as his fiery mouth left sloppy kisses all over her body. She was a squirming, panting, perspiring mess already by the time he was ready to drive her to the edge of passion, and as she took a moment to calm her racing heart and leave a trail of kisses on his chest, he entered her and moved at an agonizingly slow pace, loving her, worshipping her, touching her soul, and appreciating her existence.

And as the night grew darker, they found love in the city.

***