Naina held onto him for support, opening her eyes to gaze into his. She couldn't step away. His eyes were dark... and warm... at the same time. She could not even look away.

His one hand went around her, resting in small of her back. Slowly, he traced the line of her spine till the neck. His fingertips barely touched her skin but it was enough to make her tremble.

"Tumhe aise dekhna mera ek sapna tha... pata nahi tha itni jaldi poora ho jayega." His words against her ear were not helping either.

"Aaj itni door rahi ho subah se uski kami poori karni padegi na." His hand was now in her hair.

Sameer bent his face, she turned hers the same moment... his lips landed on her cheek.

He looked back at her, "Naina?"

His hands were igniting something inexplicable in her... she wanted him to go on... wanted to ease the knot in her belly... wanted to dull the ache in her limbs... wanted to know what she was yearning for... wanted an answer to her frustration...

She didn't have words to describe her feelings... his warmth, his touch, his masculine fragrance, the glint in his eyes... everything was melting her into a puddle. All she wanted was to fly into his arms and forget everything.

But it was not possible... she could not let herself start something she wouldn't be able to control.

"Main... main change karke aati hun." She moved to her side.

He caught the slender wrist, "Kahan? Aise bahar jaogi?"

His words brought her mind back to functioning position... she didn't have a place to change, with him in the room... and she couldn't step out in the corridor in his shirt.

Her feet remained frozen at the spot. Sameer stepped in front of her, taking her hands in his.

"Naina, tum ek tarah se biwi ho meri... maana hamari shaadi abhi adhuri hai par hum aise anjaan bhi nahi hain ek dusre se jo tum yun bhag rahi ho... main ek pal ke liye bhi tumse alag nahi reh pata fir bhi apne aap ko rok ke rakhta hun jisse tumhe kuch galat na lage... lekin tumhe aise dekhke mera dil kaabu mein nahi hai... Naina, tum soch bhi nahi sakti  apne sapnon ki tasveer ko apne saamne aise hakikat mein dekhna mere dil pe kya asar kar raha hai... ek toh saare din ki doori aur ab tumhara aise mera shirt pehen ke mere saamne aana... main kaise rokun khud ko... kya tumhare kareeb aana itna galat hoga? Bas thoda sa kareeb aana? Main jaanta hun humein abhi uss din ka intezaar karna hai jab tum mere ghar mein dulhan banke aaogi par kya zaraa sa bhi ahsaas nahi dila sakta tumhe ki mere dil mein tumhare liye kitne armaan hain? Kya tum nahi bata sakti mujhe ki tumhara dil kya kehta hai jab main tumhare kareeb aata hun? Ek baar apni yeh jhijhak chod ke toh dekho... main tumhara apna hun... kabhi kabhi tum aisa ahsaas dilati ho jaise uss din library mein... aur kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai main tumhari marzi ke bina tumhe choo raha hun... Naina, main aisa soch bhi nahi sakta... agar tum mana kar dogi toh main ek ungali bhi nahi lagne dunga tumhe hamari shaadi hone tak... lekin agar tum bhi meri tarah apne dil mein ek toofan mehsoos karti ho toh khud aake mere gale lag jao... agar tum aage nahi aaogi toh main chup chap yahan se chala jaunga... aur haan... uska matlab yeh nahi hoga ki main tumse gussa hun... mera pyaar waisa hi rahega... main tumhare liye kitna bhi intezaar kar sakta hun... lekin tumhari haan sabse pehle hai mere liye... ab tumhare haath mein hai yeh faisla."

He took a few steps back, standing near the balcony door.

Naina had felt his every single word touch her heart... his honesty, his sincerity, his candour... he had opened his heart to her.

Was he for real? She wondered how he could just step back... the darkening of his eyes, quickening of his breath, his touch... everything conveyed his desire... yet he left the choice to her... could she take a decision... could she ask him to move away when she herself craved his touch, his warmth... could she let him leave?

She pondered... he waited.

Naina looked into his eyes... they held only love... pure love...

She could wait no more... rushing to him, she plunged herself into the haven of his arms... there was no thinking required anymore.

Sameer took a moment to absorb her decision... and then, his hands crushed her against himself... bringing her as close as he could... sinking into her hair.

He let out the breath he was holding.

"I Love You, Sameer... tum aur main kaise alag reh sakte hain... agar tum mujhe na chuo toh lagta hai mera din poora nahi hua... tumhari baahon se zyada aaram kahi aur nahi milta... tumhari ungaliyon ko apne baalon mein mehsoos karne ki aadat ho gayi hai... Sameer, agar tumhare kareeb nahi aaungi toh main saans kaise lungi... jo pal tumhare saath, tumhare paas beet te hain, woh hi pal toh meri zindagi hain... anjaan toh tum mere liye uss din se nahi ho jab pehli baar tumhe dekha tha... tumhari dulhan banna mera woh sapna hai jisse main sote jaagte har pal dekhti hun." Her muffled words against his chest were no less than a melody for him.

His hands pressed into her back... and she arched to mould herself against his bent form... her palms flat behind him.

There were no words as they felt each other's heart beating... rather drumming... against their own chest.

Sameer bunched her hair and pulled her head back, looking at the most beautiful face in the world. Her eyes had nothing but him.

His gaze travelled from her face to the wide expanse of neck revealed through the shirt... she had left one button open... more skin was visible in the kurtas that she wore at night but seeing her like this in the shirt that had been on him some days back clouded his mind.

His lips found the soft skin, going from her chin, over the column of her throat up to the hollow again. He lifted his face to see her... the closed eyes hid her feeling but the softness of her features made it clear that she had accepted it.

Sameer brought her hands away from his back and turned her... keeping them locked in front of her with one hand. The others one slowly pulled the shirt aside to slide over one shoulder. It did not reach where he wanted it to go, getting stuck halfway through.

Her hand twisted, coming out of his hold... and Naina opened another button.

He forgot to breathe...

Naina... doing this... his mind failed to think clearly...

And then, she slid the shirt slowly down that shoulder, just enough to give him a glimpse of the mark he had given her a few days back.

"Yeh hi dekhna tha na tumko," her voice was as soft as the silken skin she had revealed.

His eyes landed on the mark. It was light now... no more blue as he had expected. He gingerly touched it, moving his three fingers over it, and pressed it lightly.

"Dard hota hai?" He whispered.

She shook her head, "Ab nahi."

Sameer kissed the mark, his palm moving aside to cup the bend of her rounded shoulder. His kiss was soft today... but did not end there. He placed another one next to it... and trailed towards her neck with small, soft, feather like touch of his lips, making her skin cover up with goosebumps. Her hold on his hand wrapped around her waist became painfully tight.

He stopped as he reached the elastic band digging in her shoulder... this was absent last time. He furrowed his brows for a fraction of a second, then decided not to indulge his mind in something dangerous, letting his lips move over it, feeling the softness burn under his lips as he reached the base of her neck.

Naina had come to know what he wanted to do the moment he had turned her. He had been asking about the mark everyday. When the shirt did not slide down, she was scared that he might try to pull... that would have forced the buttons to fall off... and she could not let that happen. She undid one button to let him see the mark for himself... when his lips touched her shoulder again, the fire in her belly leapt upto her throat, restricting the breathing. She clutched onto his hand tighter.

His lips continued their torture, moving over the exposed skin, touching the tender parts as he reached her neck. He pulled up the shirt to cover her shoulder.

Turning her again to face him, he placed his hands on her shoulders for support as he felt her shaking slightly... but he himself felt the need for a colossal amount of support as his gaze got stuck on her open button.

The view was forbidden for now... but he could not tear his eyes away... the lapels of his shirt covered her but he could see the white lacy outline partly... a hint of swell over the line was the only glimpse he was getting but it was enough to make his heart rate skyrocket and send blood pounding to his ears with a thunderous roar.

His grip on her shoulders got tighter... with a slight tremble, making Naina open her eyes. When she realized the cause of his condition, her hand instinctively flew over her chest, palm flattened over the open part.

His gaze flicked up to her... and she saw a wave of guilt pass through them as he lowered his eyes.

Naina removed her hand instantly... not bothering to close the button. She cupped his face and slightly lifted herself, bringing him down a little to get at the same level... and fused her lips with his.

Sameer was taken aback... she placed his hand around her waist  as she deepened the kiss... pulling him more with the other hand that had slipped behind his neck. It took him no time to put pressure on her back to adjust her body against his. She fitted like she was made for him. Responding to the play of his tongue, she felt alive in his arms. Her fragrance invaded his senses more than ever before and he shuddered with craving.

When he lifted his face, her eyes were closed again... but opened instantly as she felt his breath still on her face.

She searched the dark pools for any traces of regret... thankfully, there were none.

She took his hand and made him sit on the bed, herself sitting next to him.

"Mere liye kabhi apne man mein kisi baat ka pachtawa mat rakhna, Sameer... haq hai tumhara... mujhe tumhari kisi baat ka bura nahi lagta." She let out the words that soothed the pang of guilt that he felt for his momentary culpability.

He held her hand, "Achha, agar kisi baat ka bura nahi lagta toh meri ek baat manogi?"

She hummed her acceptance.

He took off his shoes, shifted to rest his back against the headboard, with his legs crossed in front of him... and opened his one arm.

"Thodi der mere paas baithogi? Bas thodi der aise baith ke baate karke main chala jaunga." He quickly added the last sentence to make her comfortable.

Within a second, Naina was in the crook of his arm, resting against his chest, her hand over his heart.

He looped his arm around, drawing her closer, "Maine kitni baar tumhe apne saath aise baithe hue socha hai... sapne mein bhi aur khuli aankhon se bhi... aaj ek nahi kai sapne sach kar diye tumne... kisi ne mere liye bohot saari duayen maangi hongi jo bhagwan ne unn duaaon ka fal banake tumhe meri zindagi mein bhej diya."

She kissed over his heart.