Content warning (16+) - Following chapter contains mature scenes. Reader discretion is advised.

Laxita's POV

Yesterday, Veer confessed his feelings to me. It still feels kind of surreal. I was feeling all ticklish and giddy on the inside. Was that how one feels when someone confesses their love for them?

He told me that he would give me a tour of the palace today. So, I got up early and readied myself. I donned my peacock green lehenga. It was a pretty set with blue-green lehenga, glossy blue blouse paired with a golden dupatta. The blouse was tied up with three strings from behind, it was kind of back-less. My aunt gifted it to me on my last birthday.

I let my hair loose as I had washed them today. They were still damp so I decided not to tie them. I applied kohl to my eyes and a rosy tint to my lips. Also, I opted for minimal jewellery.

Now that I knew that he had feelings for me, I was sure that he won't be able to take his eyes off me today. I smiled at my reflection at the realization.

I was adjusting my dupatta when I heard a knock on the door. That must be him. I rushed to the door to open it.

As soon as I opened it, I saw him standing on the other side. There was a small smile playing at his lips.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," I smiled.

He was looking dazzling today. His henna green kurta paired with a cream-coloured loin cloth fitted him in all the right places. He had rolled up his sleeves and had not bothered on closing his kurta up to the top. I shamelessly scanned him from top to bottom.

"You're looking so beautiful today." He complimented me.

"Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself." I grinned which made him laugh.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure. Where's my mind at? I didn't even ask you to come in." I shook my head. "Come in." I went inside the room and he followed behind me.

"There's something you forgot..." He started.

"I did?" I was puzzled.

"Yes." He came closer to me and gave me a hug. "You should greet your future husband appropriately."

I laughed. "Oh yeah? Is this how am I supposed to greet you everytime?" I stretched my arms to hug him back.

"Yes." He said somewhere above me. "Well, this is actually very comforting."

I pulled back from the hug to look at him. "Is this what you wanted to do today? Didn't you tell me that you will give me a tour of the palace?" I pouted and crossed my arms.

"I did but I got distracted by someone."

"So, now that's my fault?" He nodded. "You're impossible." I giggled.

"Alright, I'll stop. Let me give you a tour of the palace my lady." He gracefully extended his hand.

"As you wish, general." This elicited a laugh from him. He took my hand and we left the room.

The first place where we went was the soldiers' training arena. It was a vast open space, surrounded by a rock boundary with gates in all four directions. The sun was upon us and the soldiers were carrying out their morning drills. They stopped in their tracks when we stepped into the arena. Veer gestured his hand for them to continue. He went up ahead to introduce me to all the commanders and vice-commanders.

"I saw you that day but I didn't get to talk to you. You're even more beautiful up close." Commander Shalini said.

"Thank you." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear shyly. The compliments hit differently when they are being given by a fellow woman.

"Sister-in-law, we meet again!" Commander Raghav came running towards me.

"Oh yes, we do. I am sorry that I didn't recognize you. You were one of my students."

"No issues. You remember me now that's what matters."

Veer told me that he was cornered by all three of his friends as soon as he returned. He gave them all the remaining details, including his confession. The interrogation lasted until late night. That's why he went to sleep late and right now he was supposedly sleepy and tired. You know, it doesn't even show on his face that he's sleepy. Prim perfect at all times, I see.

"I hope you're having a comfortable stay here." Commander Chitrasen inquired.

"Yes. I have literally the best room."

"Good to know."

After a few exchange of words and greetings, we left the arena. The next spot was the palace garden. The garden was lush green with numerous trees and bushes. He told me that many herbs from the garden were used for medicinal purposes. He also showed me the queen's favourite flowers which he had 'accidentally' destroyed in the past.

We sat near a pond, under the shade of a banyan tree. The hot breeze of the afternoon brushed my face like a caress. It also made my hair fly in wayward directions.

"Are you tired?" He asked.

"No. I am enjoying the tour."

He smiled and turned his gaze back to the pond. We sat in silence for a while. Soon, it was time for lunch. We got up and headed towards the kitchen.

"Laxita, let me show you the royal kitchen." Veer flared his hand dramatically.

"Oh, wow. It looks great." I indulged him.

The entire kitchen was filled with delicious odours. The food was being cooked in big utensils and it looked so savoury that my mouth watered. The kitchen staff set our plates in the dining room for us to begin our lunch.

The food lived upto it's odours. It was one of the best meals I ever had. Today's lunch was especially prepared for the guests from Soma Sangha.

Only the two of us were present in the dining hall. I was informed that we were early, the rest of the royal family and the army will eat later.

For the rest of the day, Veer and I wandered off into the different parts of the palace. I didn't even realize when the day ended and it was already nightfall.

"This is the last destination for today - the palace library." He declared.

The library was humongous. I had to crane my neck to take a look at the entirety of it. Wherever my eyes went, I could only see shelves filled with books. It seemed old but it was well-maintained. Since, it was dark, the library was dim-lit with torches at the far corners, away from the books.

I was awestruck. "This is amazing."

"The books in here dates back centuries. You can even find the books from the time of the first king. Records, charts, maps - anything you ask for can be found here. The books have different topics - army, war tactics, medicine, politics, history, geography, religious scripts, ancient scriptures and what not." He explained.

"Wow. I have never seen a library this big. Even Soma Sangha doesn't have such a vast library. Truly fascinating."

"For that same reason, many mages come here to read various books and records. The doors of the library are opened for the mages with proper permissions."

I glided my fingers across the books' bindings. The knowledge here was immeasurable. It seemed my kind of place.

"Come, let me show you around." He said and led me to the the other parts of the library. We slowly explored the library and I tried to record everything in my mind. If time permits, I want to read one or twenty books from this library.

Veer came to halt at a point. There were two shelves which were as tall as the ceiling, facing each other. In between those two, there was a small couch. It was a perfect cozy spot for readers like me. And also, it was the most secluded area of the library.

I went up to one of the shelves and took out a book. It was about the history of Somapura. "Am I allowed to read books from here?" I asked.

"Yeah. If you want to." He came closer to and stood behind me. "But do you think I brought you here to read books?" He said, his lips skimming my ear. My pulse quickened with anticipation.

I turned around to look at him. "Then, why did you bring me here?"

"Are you asking the obvious?" He took the book from my hand and placed it back on the shelf.

I lifted my shoulder and casually shrugged. "How am I supposed to know why you brought me here?" I asked boldly. "What are your intentions Veer?" I added, it was barely above a whisper.

"When it comes to you, my intentions are definitely not pure." He slid his palms across my waist and pulled me closer. I looked into his eyes, those beautiful hypnotic eyes. "For the entire day, I was dying to get you alone. So, I found the perfect place for it. Nobody comes here at this time of the day as it's already dark. There's still time until dinner so no one would be searching for us."

"You meticulously planned everything." I was impressed.

"I did." He bent down and placed a brief kiss on my lips.

When I looked at him again, I saw that his eyes were glazed all over and were heavy with desire. He smelled like citrus and musk. It was tantalizing.

My heart pounded so loudly that I was afraid that he would hear it. "That was our third kiss." I said with a shaky breath.

"You don't have to count them anymore. I will kiss you so many times that you'll eventually lose count." Don't say such things Veer. My fragile heart's already suffering.

He then proceeded to place a kiss on my forehead and my eyes closed because of the impact. I fisted his kurta to gain composure. "Veer..." I called out his name.

"Don't call out to me in such a seductive voice. I'm barely hanging by a thread."

My eyes snapped open and I took a good look at him. Our faces were close and our were lips almost touching. Honestly, it was too much.

His hold tightened around my waist and he slammed his lips on mine. It was like our kiss back in the forest - passionate, deep and all consuming. He sucked my lower lip and pried opened my mouth. Our tongues fought for dominance. I felt weak in my knees but his hold on my body kept me stable.

I was the one who pulled away first and I murmured something along the lines of - 'Can't breathe'.

I turned back and faced the shelf again. He took my hair and parted it to one side. Then, he snaked his arms around my torso and buried his face in the hollow of my neck. "Itni aasani se kaise jaane du?"

("How can I let you go so easily?")

He took my dupatta and threw it away on the floor. The cool air of the night brushed my exposed skin and I shivered.

My breath hitched when he started kissing my collarbone. "Veer, please." I pleaded and arched my back.

"Please what?" He continued his sweet torture.

"I-I can't take it anymore."

I broke free from his embrace and went up to stand on the other corner of the shelf. My heartbeats were frantic and I was out of breath. I didn't hate it. It was just all so new. I didn't know how to react.

Veer took a seat on the couch and it creaked under his weight. "Are you shy my lady?"

I faced him and said, "What do you think it is?"

He smirked and held out his hand. "Come closer. You're standing too far away."

I took his hand and went ahead to stand in front of him. He had a control over my body and mind, they weren't listening to me but they were obeying his words. What has he done to me?

"Nah, you're still too far away." He tugged once, my left knee falling to the worn leather at his side. He tugged again, not satisfied until I was balanced above him. In one fell swoop, I was on his lap. He hummed under his breath, contentment in the lazy slouch of his body, my thighs neatly bracketing his hips.

I rested my hands on his shoulders for some semblance. This was such a seductive position. His hands were resting on the small of my back, constantly stroking and drawing lazy circles. Gosh, this was so embarrassing. "What are you doing?" I asked between heavy breaths.

"Showing you how much I love you." My heart skipped a beat at his words. "If you don't like it, we'll stop. Just say the word."

"It's not like that..." My voice trailed off and he smirked. "Does that mean you like it?" I stayed silent and lowered my gaze. "I take your silence as a yes."

He hooked his finger under my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. "You're all red, like a tomato."

I frowned. "Are you calling me a tomato?-" He kissed me again. This time, it was not rushed like the previous one. It was slow, languid and he took his time to explore my mouth with his tongue. I melted in his arms. He kissed, nipped and sucked my lips until they were swollen.

He pulled away to admire his work. "You look so pretty with flushed cheeks and swollen lips." He gently stroked my lower lip with his thumb and the sensation drove me wild.

"Who's the reason for it?" I asked, looking into his eyes. He smiled and said, "That's why I said, you look so pretty with flushed mmph-" I covered his mouth with my palm. Who knows what he might say after that. I didn't know how he was saying such things with a straight face.

"Why are you so unfazed even after our kiss?" The words escaped my mouth before I could control myself.

He abruptly stopped smiling and his mood shifted. Was he mad?

To my surprise, he took my hand in his and said, "So, you think that I am unfazed?" He placed my hand over his chest. "Do you really believe that it doesn't affect me? You can't be more wrong." His heart was pounding, just like me.

"Your heart's beating so fast." I whispered.

"And, who do think is the reason for it?" He threw my question back at me.

His arms gripped my back tightly and he placed the softest of kisses on my neck. When I didn't say anything, he started placing open-mouthed kisses on my neck. I gripped him tightly as I feared that I would fall.

"Veer...." I moaned out his name.

"Don't call out my name in such a sexy voice. Otherwise, I will be forced to take you here and now." Butterflies erupted in my stomach because of the possibilities. He nuzzled his nose on my neck as if to calm himself down. "You're driving me crazy Laxita." Says the one who drives me crazy with every single touch.

"I could say the same about you." He whipped his head to look at me. The smile which erupted on his face was the sexiest one I had seen till this date.

He continued to drive me wild with his touches, his hands roamed my back as if they owned every bit of my skin. His calloused and rough hands came in contact with my highly sensitive skin. My breath hitched. "What are you doing right now?"

His tongue darted out to wet his lower lip. He knew what he was doing. He moved closer and took my lower lip between his and nibbled. "Touching you. Making myself believe that all of this is real." My pulse raced. "Your skin is so smooth" - a peck - "and you're reactions are so adorable that I can't just stop myself..." Another peck.

He pulled back to look into my eyes. We just stared at each other in silence for a while. He looked so gorgeous that I was having a hard time in keeping my hands to myself. I slowly lifted my fingers and glided them through his hair. He kissed me then, his hand threading through my hair and angling my mouth to his until our lips met. This kiss was aggressive, hungry even.

"When I do this," he pulled his mouth from mine with a gasp and started to press deep, sucking kisses to my neck. I shifted my legs wider around him and wrapped my hands around his shoulders. "When I do this, you blush harder."

His one hand found the strings of my blouse and he started playing with it. He gently rubbed the knuckles of his other hand on my bare back. I arched my body because of the sensation. He hooked one of his fingers in the bottommost string of my blouse and tugged it loose. I gasped and tightened my hold on him. This was all too much at once.

His face was still buried in the crook of my neck and I was panting heavily. Some incorrigible words escaped my lips. I didn't even know what I was saying. The only thing I remember is that I was moaning out his name.

He stopped toying with the strings and pulled back to see me. Both of us were breathing heavily, our eyes lidded and our lips almost touching. He placed his palms on the sides of my waist to stabilize me.

"Do you realize how enticing you look right now?" He asked in a scratchy voice and I could only muster a shake of my head in response. "Every band of my restraint is snapping. You have no clue about what's going on in my head Laxita." My name sounds so seductive when he says it.

His thumbs started drawing lazy circles on my waist, driving me crazy. Before I knew it, his thumbs travelled upward and brushed the underside of my breasts. His fingers were cold against my warm body. "V-Veer, I-I...it's feeling strange." I managed to choke out.

"It's not strange love. It means that you're feeling good." He gently scrapped my ear with his teeth.

"I-I can't take it a-anymore." I said, barely above a whisper.

"What do you want me to do? Hmm?" Another brush of his thumbs, this time even higher up on my chest.

"I don't know...just ahhh..." He placed a scorching kiss on the sensitive skin under my earlobe. If his fingers ventured even further, I would go insane.

My thighs accidentally brushed against something hard. Was that? "Love, you need to stop wiggling in my lap, or else I would be forced to succumb to my desires." He rasped. My eyes widened at the realization.

Suddenly, we started hearing voices from the other side of the library door. Veer removed his head from my neck and stared at me. He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "I think dinner's ready. We should leave, before they come searching for us. If they see you in such a disheavealed condition..." His voice trailed off.

He was right. I was half-naked, sprawled on his lap. If anyone saw us in this compromising position, it would be the end of the world for me. "We should leave." I managed to say.

"Yes, we should..." He proceeded to place one searing kiss on my cleavage. I moaned so loud that I feared that the people on the other side of the door would hear us. "I think I am ready to leave now." He said with a smug grin.

I punched his shoulder with my fist and he groaned in pain. "Ouch. What was that for?" He asked, his expression contorted.

"You kept teasing and torturing me."

An instant smile bloomed on his face. "But you liked it, right?" I can't argue with that. I gave him my angered expression but it only made him laugh.

I lifted up from his lap and fixed my clothes. He came behind me and tied the strings of my blouse. I picked up my discarded dupatta from the floor and wrapped it around my body.

"Shall we leave?" He extended his hand and I begrudgingly took it. He pulled me closer until we were face to face again. "This is just the beginning Laxita. We are going to get married soon. So, brace yourself because I plan to be even more shameless from here onwards." He said with a wink. My face heated by his statements. "Also, if I were you, I would cover my neck properly." Realization dawned on me about what we just did. I quickly adjusted my hair to hide my neck.

After that, he led me outside the library and we made our way towards the dining room.

We saw everyone at dinner but I could hardly focus on the conversation. I was too shy to even maintain eye-contact with Veer. And that shameless jerk smirked everytime he looked at me.

I don't even know how the dinner ended. I called it a night and rushed back to my room. I was sure that everybody was perplexed with my sudden change in behaviour but I couldn't help it.

As soon as I laid on my bed, I kicked my feet in the air because what just happened? What we did in the library was downright obscene. Although, I tried to show my anger to him, deep down I really liked it. And I think, he knows that too.

Looks like it's another sleepless night for me, all thanks to a certain someone.

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Hello Cuties🥰

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Why am I sweating? Did the temperature rise? (Ufff🦋)

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