"So gayi Sana?" Sameer asked as he leaned over the rail of the crib, watching his daughter sleep on her side, one arm and one leg stretched ahead... a typical pose she adopted while sleeping.

"Hmm. Kapde change kiye iske toh uth gayi thi lekin thoda sa feed leke fir se so gayi. Yeh bhi thak gayi hogi na... saare din itni masti karti hai. Aur aaj toh kitni baar khadi hui. Pairon ki maalish bhi ki hai maine." Naina smiled, stroking her chubby legs lightly.

Sameer glanced his wife, sitting on the other side of the bed, and raised a brow, "Thak toh main bhi gaya hun... bohot zyada."

Her eyes shot up to him. She could clearly see the glint in his dark ones.

Turning back to get up from the bed from the free side, she rolled her open hair into a messy bun, "Haan, thakna toh tha hi, subah se itna kaam kiya hai tumne. Ab aaram se so jao. Kal ki bhi chutti li hui hai hum dono ne toh kal poora din bas aaram karenge."

Sameer was in front of her when she stood up.

Holding her arms at the elbows, he dipped his head to the side, "Umm, ab maine itna kaam kiya hai toh mujhe bhi thodi maalish milni chahiye na."

Her heart jumped to her mouth.

Slowly, his hands glided over her arms upto the shoulders, and slipped down her sides, rubbing the curve of her waist to feel the rustling silk of her dress against her satiny skin.

"Aur tum bhi thak gayi hogi toh main kar deta hun... tumhari maalish." He whispered in a husky voice.

All she could do was swallow hard as his hands moved behind her, pressing a little, "Aaram mil raha hai na?"

She opened her mouth to speak but the words refused to find a way out as his one hand cupped her face, his thumb caressing her lower lip, a little harder than his usual feather touch. He lifted his thumb to see the stain of her pink lipstick on his skin.

"Yeh nishan kahin aur zyada achha lagta hai." He said in a low voice, eyeing her lips that quivered.

A gasp escaped her mouth as she wasn't prepared for the sudden jerk that plastered her to his chest, making her hands clutch his shoulders.

"Naina, saari shaam main intezar kar raha tha kab yeh mauka aayega... tumhari yeh dress, aur tumhara woh waada... ek pal ke liye bhi mere khyalon se nikal nahi paaya." He gazed into her eyes.

Hers clouded with confusion, "Kaunsa waada?"

He waited for a few seconds, to see if she recalled, but her brows didn't ease out. His gaze dropped to her shoulder. Putting two fingers in her neckline, he pushed it aside a bit. The red elastic band made him draw in a sharp breath. Her mouth rounded in realisation.

"Yeh waada." He fingered the strap of red, his voice gruff.

She closed her eyes as his lips brushed against her shoulder. Her hold on him tightened when his teeth scraped her skin, and he left a mark right next to the red band.

"Jaan, har ek rang ki itni meethi yaadein di hain tumne ki saare rangon se pyar ho gaya hai. Uff Naina, tum pagal kar deti ho mujhe." His face settled in the groove of her neck as he murmured against her skin.

He could feel her throat move under his lips as she gulped. Her hands slipped down to his chest, and went behind his back. Her fingers dug into his muscles, making her press more into him. The heat from his chest seared her, and she threw her head back giving him more of her skin to explore. He grabbed the offer, peppering her neck with kisses before moving down to her collar bone. Each time his teeth left a mark on her soft skin, he blew over it, making her stop breathing.

Her eyes were still shut when he lifted his head to observe the reddish signs of his love on her milky white skin. His eyes turned hungry for more of red.

Naina straightened to look at him when his fingers grazed the back of her neck.

"Pehle se red pehna hai tumne... kya iraada tha?" His lips twisted into a half smile as his fingers fiddled under her bun, searching for the zipper.

The colour deepened on her cheeks. Making use of his loose hold, she pushed him back and ran out to the balcony.

"Nainaaa." He whined, and dashed after her.

The night was bathed in white glow. Glittering stars made the sky appear to be celebrating... along with them.

Amidst them stood his moon... looking gorgeous in the moonlight from an almost full moon. His blood already humming with desire he took long strides and roughly pulled her to himself. She didn't protest, melting in his arms, consumed by the same longing surging through her. Her face turned up at him. But he did not go for what she expected, rather lowered his head to her neck, breathing in the deep scent that always intoxicated him. Her warm, soft body moulded perfectly against his hard toned muscles, making his blood pound in his ears.

He looked at her eyes that had turned almost as black as the night. Her lower lip trembled in anticipation at his unabashed look. Unable to hold himself any more, he dipped his head to cover her mouth in a long hard kiss that left her breathless a few minutes later.

"Naina, idhar dekho." He whispered when her eyes remained hooded.

The veil of lashes lifted slowly, gazing at him shyly.

"Pehle khud yahan tak laati ho aur ab aise sharma rahi ho. Naina, teen saal hone wale hain hamari shaadi ko. Yeh tumhare gaal aaj bhi aise hi laal hote hain jaise uss pehli raat ko the." With his one arm around her waist to keep her pinned to him, he skimmed the back of his other hand against her cheek.

Her lashes dropped again, her cheeks flaring up. With a sigh of longing, his eager fingers reached the zipper behind her.

"Sameer... yahan..." She looked up in alarm.

"Yahan kaun hai, Naina? Yeh jagah toh kahin se dikhti bhi nahi sivay garden ke... aur abhi garden mein koi nahi aa sakta." He mumbled in a throaty, thick voice.

She looked up... at the sky. He followed her gaze, and his brows furrowed. Her flushed face glowed in the moonlight.

"Chaand?" He looked up once at the moon, then back at her, amazed.

She wound her arms around his waist, and hid her face into his chest.

He hooked one finger under her chin, lifting her face to himself,

Meri baahon mein simat ke
mera chaand aaj bhi aise sharmata hai

Mat dekh idhar o aasmaan ke chaand
iski adaa pe jo dil mera behek jaata hai

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Next moment, his mouth was over hers, kissing her fervently. She staggered with the intensity... his arms tightened to hold her flushed against him. She leaned back into his kiss, completely surrendering to the arms that surrounded her. His lips plundered, his tongue probed, his teeth nipped, his hands explored... she was driven to a new height of yearning.

When his arm went behind her knees to lift her up, she eagerly slipped into them. His eyes were fixated on her as he took quick steps towards the room. Her earnest fingers reached his buttons, seeking the feel of his skin under them. She was still on the second one when he put her down in the room. Her hand clutched his shirt, and the buttons met the fate they were destined for... falling on the floor with a light clank. He did not wait to open the two at the bottom, and pulled his shirt away, the last two buttons flying off to far corners.

His breath got caught in his throat when his eyes finally met the sight of much coveted red. Desire flared on his face as he lowered her on the couch.

"Kitna tadpati ho, Naina. Tumhe pata hai na tumse ek pal ke liye bhi door nahi reh sakta main." His guttural voice made her shiver even before his lips touched the creamy expanse of her skin.

She was lost in his ministrations, drowning in the haze of pleasure that surrounded them.

When they lay in the bed later, he wasn't able to sleep.

"Kya hua, Sameer? Tumhe aaj neend nahi aa rahi?" She lifted her head from his chest when his hand closed over hers.

"Tum mujhse naaraz toh nahi ho na?" He gave her an apprehensive look.

She sat up, perplexed, "Naaraz? Kis baat ke liye?"

"Naina, aaj jab school ki baatein hui toh fir se iss baat ka dukh hua ki maine kyon tumse school mein kabhi baat nahi ki... kyon tumhe aisa mehsoos karaya ki main tumhe dekhta tak nahi hu." He pursed his lips, his heart filling up with guilt again.

She cupped his face, placing a kiss on his forehead, "Humne faisla kiya tha na purani aisi koi baat nahi sochenge jisse dukh ho. Mere liye itna kaafi hai ki main tab bhi tumhare dil mein thi. Uske baad jo hua woh hamari kismat thi, Sameer lekin uss kismat ko bhi hum bura nahi keh sakte. Uski wajah se hi hum dubara mile... aur iss tarah mile ki fir kabhi judaa nahi hue. Tab nahi dekha lekin ab tumhari aankhen mujh se kabhi nahi hat ti."

He gazed into her eyes lovingly, "Meri aankhen tumse hatna chahti bhi nahi. Sabse anmol ho tum mere liye... aur sabse khoobsurat."

"Tum hamesha mujhe itna hi pyar karoge na?" She didn't need the answer, but hearing him say it made her heart flutter every time.

He took her by surprise... shaking his head with a stony expression, "Mushkil hai, Naina. Jitna pyar abhi karta hun itna toh nahi..."

"Isse bohot zyaada pyar karunga." He smiled at her unblinking, stunned expression.

She threw a cushion at him, gritting her teeth, "Sameer ke bachhe, jao main naaraz hun ab tumse."

Chuckling, he pulled her to make her fall over his chest, "Meri bacchi toh aaram se so rahi hai... aur rahi baat meri biwi ki, usse main mana hi lunga... zyada der gussa nahi kar sakti woh mujhpe."

"Kisi galatfehmi mein mat rehna, Mr Maheshwari, jo naam diya hai na aapne mujhe, uske saath gussa bhi mila hai... aapke jaisa." She twisted her mouth, giving him a stern look.

"Achhaww." He was amused, "Aaj dekhte hain kitni der tak chalta hai yeh gussa."

Before she could stop him, he started to massage her back, keeping her on top of him.

"Yeh... yeh kya kar rahe ho?" She wriggled, but he held her close.

"Maalish kar raha hun... tumhe manane ke liye." His hands moved all over her, rubbing over her night suit.

"Bas karo, Sameer." She lifted herself, his hands causing goosebumps on her skin.

He rolled over, pinning her on the bed, "Abhi toh shuru kiya hai. Achhe se maalish karni padegi jisse gussa bhi khatam ho jaaye aur thakaan bhi chali jaaye."

Her fingers dug into his back when his hands refused to stop. She threw her head back, a deep sound escaping her lips.

The sight, the sound, the feel... everything made him mad for her once again. Giving in to the fire that leapt up again, he lowered his face to claim her parted lips... and she responded ardently, returning the kiss with same passion.

No, the chapter isn't small... it's just that I have off late developed a bad habit of writing very long ones. This is the regular length of my earlier updates.

Next update on Sunday evening