He saw her open eyes when her head touched the pillow... and his heart jumped to his mouth.

"Tum abhi tak soye nahi... Sameer, sona padega na... nahi toh subah tak theek kaise hoge?" She started to get up, not registering that she had been woken up from sleep after almost two hours...

And Sameer was in his senses...

Her hand closed around his head as she pulled him to her lap again, getting up to sit.

Sameer held her wrist, his face showing the confusion, "Naina?"

Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach... he was awake... he was aware...

"Sam... Sameer... tum... hosh mein ho?" She tried to get up from the bed.

His hand around her waist pinned her in sitting position.

"Kya hua? Yeh sab kya hai? Main so kaise gaya?" He saw the bewildered look in her eyes.

She squirmed... now that he was up, sitting with him like this was sending her senses in a tizzy.

"Kahin nahi jaa rahi ho tum... batao yeh sab kya hai... kya hua tha raat ko?" He grasped her hand.

Naina gulped, lowering her eyes, "Tumne aur Rahul ne chocolates kha li thi."

He furrowed his brows, trying to remember, "Haan, woh kisi ne gift diya tha box... kuch alag si thi... Rahul ne kaha kha ke dekhte hain... toh?"

"Toh woh liquor chocolates thi... aur tum dono ne poora packet kha liya." She looked at him.

His eyes widened in horror, "Kyaaa?"

"Shhh..." Naina placed her palm on his mouth to keep his voice from going out.

Few moments passed in silence before she pulled away her hand.

She narrated the sequence of events when he insisted on knowing everything. Shocked and embarrassed at his behaviour, he buried his head in her lap.

"I'm sorry, Naina."

His dejected voice pinched at her heart... forgetting everything, she wound her hands around his head, pulling him again to her bosom.

"Sorry kyon bol rahe ho... tumhe thodi pata tha woh kaunse chocolates hain... please, tum aise dukhi mat ho." Her voice was pained.

Sameer was not even breathing... feeling her on his cheek, he was lost in her softness and fragrance... disbelief lurking in some corner of his mind...

His hand came to rest on the side of her waist, clutching hard... and Naina registered their position.

With a sharp intake of breath, she moved her hands away... Sameer slowly sat up, looking at her.

The colour spread on her face was clear even in the darkness... her eyes were downcast... the rapid rise and fall of her chest indicated the state of her heartbeat.

Sameer stood up from the bed, switching on the bedside lamp. The room was swathed in a soft glow.

"Naina," He extended his hand to her.

She looked at his hand... holding it, she got up.

Sameer turned her and enveloped her in a back hug, "Sab tumhari galti hai... kyon gayi coffee banane... maine kaha tha na door nahi jaana."

Taking a long breath to show her relief at him coming back to normal, she leaned back into him.

"Saari raat kharab ho gayi... aaj toh tum mere paas rukne ka promise karke gayi thi aur aaj hi yeh sab ho gaya." He whined.

"Maine promise poora kiya... raat bhar yahin thi." She said in a low voice.

Sameer looked back to see the clock showing four a.m.

"Thi nahi... ho... raat abhi baaki hai, Naina." He whispered in her ear.

The nerves that were getting a little relaxed, coiled up again, making her shiver.

"Ab... ab toh subah hone wali hai... mujhe jaana chahiye." She managed to utter.

He left her... stepping back...

"Jao."

Naina wavered at the sudden loss of support... holding onto a chair for balance. She turned to look at him.

His eyes were on her... the dim light in the room failing to camouflage their darkening. The single shirt button that he had opened last night was still open, revealing his chest... gleaming in sharp contrast to his black shirt. His hands were clasped into tight fists. She could see the laboured breathing with the movement of his shoulders.

Taking slow steps, Naina moved towards the door, with lowered eyes and twisting fingers.

Sameer did not move from his place.

She opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind her. Taking one step ahead, she leaned against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut. Her heart screamed to go back... her feet refused to move ahead... her arms ached to feel him... her body craved for his warmth...

"Kaise jaun, Sameer," she whispered in a shaky voice.

"Toh mat jao na." He said from the doorway.

Naina turned sideways sharply.

In one swift motion, he held her hand and pulled her back in, closing the door with a thud.

Keeping a firm hold on her, he walked upto the mirror, making her stand in front of him.

"Dekho khud ko... yeh dress pehen ke mere saamne se aise hi chali jaogi? Naina, kal shaam se intezar kar raha hun tumhare liye... kya itna bhi haq nahi hai mujhe ki ek raat tumhe aise apne paas rakh sakun? Main apni hadd janta hun, Naina... usse zyada nahi mangunga." His eyes looked fiercely at her reflection.

She looked at him through the mirror... her brown eyes giving him the answer he needed.

His hands came to rest on her shoulders. The head dipped to kiss near the cut of her sleeve. Her breathing accelerated at the touch of his lips. Trailing over the narrow band of her sleeve, his mouth went over the vein that throbbed wildly at the base of her neck. Placing a soft kiss over it, he looked back at her reflection.

Her eyes were half closed, but fixed on him. Without shifting his gaze, he let his hands slip slowly down her buttery arms... at the end of her fingers, he let them move to the side of her legs, bringing them up slowly till he reached the curve of her waist... grasping it firmly, he rubbed his thumb over the fabric of her dress.

Naina was losing the strength in her legs... she held onto his hands over her belly, the urgency in her hold causing his hands press further in, soothing the clenched muscles. Her nails made marks on his forearms.

Sameer took a small step and pulled her against his chest, giving the support and warmth she was craving for. But for him, it was much more than warmth... it was heat.

He felt the desire burning in him at the sight in the mirror and their closeness... with their hands pressing into her stomach, his eyes wandered to the curves jutting out even more when her head tilted back... and he was instantly reminded of the softness he had experienced when she had pulled his face against her.

His breathing became ragged... and he closed his eyes. Through hooded eyes, Naina saw his strained expression... and she knew he was fighting with himself... for her...

She loosened his hold on her waist and turned, facing him. His eyes were still closed. In her direct line of view was the open button... her fingers reached out for the next one.

His eyes flew open as he felt her fidgeting with the next button of his shirt. Before he could think clearly, Naina pulled at the lapels... and planted a kiss on his bare chest... then another... and another...

His groan was answered with more kisses on every inch of skin she could touch with her lips through his two open buttons.

He crushed her against himself and reached for her lips... the urgency was conveyed in the roughness with which he devoured her. She melted in complete surrender... matching his passion.

"Tum chahte the na ki aaj main tumhe sulaun?" She asked after she had found her breath when he left her.

His dark eyes bore into hers.

"Aao," she moved towards the bed, taking him along.

Once there, she left him and adjusted the pillows... then sat against the headboard, towards the center.

With a flick of one hand, she asked him to come. Sameer kneeled on the bed and moved closer to her. She shook her head, pointing at the pillow kept next to her.

He laid down, eyes on her... and her fingers weaved through his hair, bunching them lightly.

"Ahh Naina, tumhe kaise pata ki yeh mujhe kitna achha lagta hai." He exhaled in pleasure.

"Jab tum nashe mein the tab tumhi ne bataya tha." She smiled.

"Aur kya bataya maine?" He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation.

"Apne sapnon ke baare mein." She said softly.

"Kyaa? Konse wale?" He sat up, eyes going wide in fear.

"Konse wale? Jo tum mere sapne dekhte ho wo hi." She was startled at his reaction.

"Matlab tumhe pata chal gaya... tum... tum gussa nahi ho?" He gulped.

She furrowed her eyes, "Agar tumhe mere baal apne chehre pe girte hue achhe lagte hain toh ismein gussa kyon hona hai?"

"Doosre walon pe bhi nahi ho?" He asked hesitantly.

"Doosre? Tumne toh bas yehi bataya tha... aur bhi hain? Batao na." She was excited.

He let out a long breath of relief, "Shukr hai... aage se kabhi aisa kuch nahi khaunga jisse nasha ho... pata nahi kya kya bata deta tumhe."

"Ab bata do... ya ab nasha utar gaya toh nahi bata sakte?" She dipped her head to one side.

"Kamzor tha woh nasha, isliye utar gaya... par yeh jo tumhare pyaar ka nashaa hai na... yeh hamesha rahega... aur issi nashe mein ek din sab kuch bataunga." He touched his forehead to hers, giving a lopsided smile.

"Theek hai... aao ab so jao." She made him lie down again.

After a few moments, he realised that Naina was in the sitting position as he had discovered her when he got up earlier... and she might fall asleep at some odd angle again.

"Naina, tum bhi theek se so jao... aise toh subah tak gardan mein dard ho jayega." He tried to pull her on the adjacent pillow.

"Nahi, main theek hun," she stiffened.

"Kya tumhe bharosa nahi hai mujh pe?" He gave her a questioning look.

Her soft smile eased all his doubts... she settled down on her pillow, turning to face him.

Sameer shifted closer, taking her in his arms, "Baahon mein sone ka promise tha na... woh toh poora karna hi padega."

With a shy smile, she snuggled into his chest, wrapping one arm around his back.

The few hours of sleep were the most satisfying for both of them.