As Shivaay turned towards Annika he heard her whisper, 'Shivaay am sorry, I didn't mean to hit Reyansh. He came at me. Please believe me, please...' Annika sobbed trying to hold onto Shivaay as he tried to loosen her hold.

'Please Shivaay, I didn't do anything purposely please believe me. Don't leave me please. I didn't do anything purposely please don't hate me.' He managed to loosen her hold and look at her face which was tear stricken and fear all over at the prospect of him leaving.

'Look at me Annika.' He cupped her face and she looked up at him to only find love for her in his teared blue eyes which were turning red around the rim.

She instantly held his face wiping his tears and caressing his cheeks while he did the same with her and joined their foreheads. There was only one thing running in loop in his mind, ' why always Annika, why is it his girl everytime.'

Holding her close he picked her up in his arms and she snuggled into the crook of his neck. Her tears trickling on his neck soaking the collar of his kurta. He took her up to his suite which is private and walked towards the open area near the swimming pool. He sat down with her in his lap against the wall. He just wanted her close so close, that she could hear his heart beat, beating only for her and only the moon as the witness. The lights of the rooms hadn't been switched on except for the soft led lights acting as candles near the swimming pool casting a divine light all around.

He allowed her to cry for sometime just caressing her hair and kissing it multiple times. Annika could feel the love that Shivaay has for her through every stroke of caress and every kiss he laid on her. She felt like a small child cocooned into the arms of a parent.

She looked up at him with tears still flowing down her eyes when he wiped them slowly. She stared at his face, ' Shivaay I didn't do anything. A waiter called me to say that the team is calling me for some work, when I reached there only Reyansh was there. He tried to.. to..' she was finding it difficult to complete.

Gathering some courage she spoke, 'he tried to come close and in that fight I hit his head. I swear I didn't do anything please bel..' before she could complete Shivaay shushed her by keeping his finger on her lip.

'I trust you Annika, more than anything. In fact am sorry I wasn't there to protect you for the second time when you needed me the most' he looked down not able to meet her eyes.

'No Shivaay it isn't your fault.' She cupped his face bringing him closer to her. He then noticed the scratch mark on her neck, moving her hair aside he traced his finger on the nail marks, making her hiss in pain. She closed her eyes and again tears trickled down her face. He held her face with one hand and sucked her tears.

His other hand still rested on her waist. Slowly she opened her eyes to look at his blue orbs which were a very light shade like the calmness after a storm and he drowned in her honey orbs which screamed of love for him. He couldn't wait any longer and had to tell her what he felt.

Without saying anything he drew her closer to himself. He felt her breath against his chest and held her even tighter making patterns on her waist as she was still seated in his lap. This act made Annika shudder due to the proximity, as she held on to the collar of his sherwani. This made their upper body completely plastered. His other hand wound around her shoulder from the front. She was completely in his arms.

'Annika, I want to say something to you. This setting may not be right but the time is right.' He whispered into her ears. His lips caressing her ears with every word as if the soft strokes of a paint brush.

'I love you Annika Today, tomorrow and Always. You are the best thing ever happened to me, and I want to keep giving you the best of myself. I promise to be the reason of your smile and to walk through all the seasons of life holding your hand in mine. I promise to love you always with all I have to gut and all I feel inside.. in the only way I know how.. completely and forever.' She couldn't help but stare at him. This was actually happening. He actually loves her. He does, the same way as she does. Seeing her not responding and lost somewhere, Shivaay's heart started beating fast at the prospect of she not feeling the same way. He tried to move a little lest she feel uncomfortable with him. His sudden movement caused her to come out of her dreamland. His scared face made her realise her zoning out has given him the wrong response.

She held him by the shoulders, ' I love you to Shivaay. I have right from the first day. Call it feelings at first sight because I didn't know it was love until I spoke to Gauri and Saahil' she spoke sheepishly.

His face turning red with her confession.
'Are you blushing Billuji' , and his expression turned to frown immediately.

'Don't call me that. Someone should learn from you to turn a romantic situation to be unromantic.' She laughed at his dramatic dialogue.

He pulled her closer such that their noses were touching. His forehead touching hers. He kept looking at her eyes and then at her lips which looked so beautiful and plump, he had just touched it a few seconds ago but now wanted to taste them. Looking at him staring at her lips she gulped hard before saying, 'I haven't kissed anyone before.' He smiled at his naive girl and whispered against her lips, 'neither have I, your my first in everything' he was about to capture her lips when she moved back, 'haaaaw, but you have had girl friends before what were you doing with them if you didn't kiss.' This is Annika who can change the situation any time. Sighing he pulled her closer. 'We aren't discussing my girl friends right now. It's just about you and me.' She only shook her head at his intense tone.

Shivaay cupped her face with one hand on her cheek and the second one on her nape tilting her face and pulling her closer reducing the distance between them. Annika closed her eyes and on cue parted her lips when she felt his lips brushing against her. Shivaay pulled back for a minute to see any sign of discomfort but none was there. He came closer placing his lips on her. He remained in that position doing nothing just to feel her lips caressing them softly with his tongue. She followed him and did the same. It was electrifying for both of them. Her lips felt soft and delicate just like butterfly wings. He softly started to suck her lips which earned him a soft moan from Annika. He didn't want to scare her with the intensity of the kiss and hence took it very slow.

Slow languid movements of their lips just to feel each other. At one time her tongue touched his and he groaned pulling her closer tilting her head more and moving his hand up her back. She moved her hands up his back reaching his neck pulling him closer while massaging the small hairs at the back.

Slowly they departed from each other, but the effects still lingering on as Annika still had her eyes closed. He slowly placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She opened her eyes to look at him and with a shy smile placed her head on his chest to listen to his heartbeats which were beating at the same pace as hers. Their first kiss was magical and she will forever cherish this memory. Though she knew there would be more this will always be special.

He stood up and then carried her to his room. Placing her on the bed and turning to go towards the couch. 'Please Shivaay don't leave me tonight, please stay with me.'

'Am here only Annika on the couch.'

She shook her head. ' please can you sleep close to me.'

'Annika..I ... how.. I mean..'

'I trust you Shivaay.'

He smiled and came on to the bed. Before he could switch of the light his phone rang. ' Hi Om..'

'Shivaay is all ok.'

'Yes, all is fine. Please inform Dadi am going to be with Annika tonight and come back in the morning.'

Before Om could reply, Dadi spoke as the phone was on speaker, 'Billu it's ok. You stay with her and get her home tomorrow.'

'Yes Dadi I will.'

To make the situation light Rudra spoke. 'Bhaiya your alone with didi don't chance maro on her..' hearing Rudra both Annika and Shivaay started to blush. Thank god it wasn't a video call or else the teasing wouldn't stop. Shivaay tried to sound serious but the slight smile in his voice was evident when he said, 'Shut up Rudra. And good night all of you.' He hung up before anyone could say anything more.

'Kuch bhi bolta hai tu.' Dadi hit his forehead and went to her room.

'Om am telling you something is..'

'Rudra please I don't have time for this am going to sleep.'

'No one listens to me but am sure bhaiya and didi kuch Toh hua hai.. chal Rudra go to sleep put on your 007 glasses tomorrow when they come.' He pulled the duvet over him.

Shivaay and Annika lied down on the bed. Annika scooted closer to Shivaay. He looked at her face and knew she was still scared. He held out his arm and pulled her closer keeping her head on his chest and held her. Annika also wound an arm around his torso,kissing his chest near his heart.  He smiled at her actions and placing a kiss on her forehead holding her with both his arms they fell asleep now as lovers professed to each other.

Am going to be MIA for sometime due to personal reasons but will update soon as the dating phase has just started.. but updates will be slow. Since the dating phase is on the cover has also accordingly changed.. enjoy the start of this new phase... please do give feedback of something you would want to see in this phase and will try to put it in..