The happiness he felt hearing those words was limitless. He tightened his arms around her frame, causing her to squeal at the sudden tug that resulted in flushing her chest against his. It only took four words for his worries and vulnerability to end. This was only the work of Riddhima. She could solve just about anything for him in a heartbeat.

How could he not feel so deeply for her?

As she was pulling back, he kissed her cheek and she received the message. He jumped up on his feet, "Let's walk." He offered his hand for her to take, and slipping one in it, she let him pull her up. Purposely, he tugged at her with extra force. She wasn't that heavy that he need to do that. He grinned when she crashed into him and he caught her with a hand over her waist. It was just an excuse to touch her. One he didn't have before tonight.

She rolled her eyes, slapping his wrist away.

Still grinning, he teased. "Yo, don't be like Muski."

Riddhima snickered back, "Muski would have done more damage than hit your wrist. And, by the way, I reserve the right to hit you whenever you turn too cocky."

"What, your way to keep me in check?"

"Exactly." She started to walk, and he fell in step.

He reached for her hand, "There's nothing wrong in wanting to hold my girlfriend."

She tugged her hand out of his, having fun in troubling him and back to their playful banter from the intense conversation they just shared. "Oh? Now I'm your girlfriend? I don't recall saying yes to that, or you asking."

"It was implied, but if it's about asking..." He jumped a stride to stand in front of her causing her to almost run into him. He went on both his knees and joined hands as if to beg dramatically. "Ms. Basket Gupta, will you please do this guy, who is hopelessly in love with you, a huge favor and be his girlfriend?"

She answered bluntly, trying to keep herself from smiling. "No," and then she walked around him.

He exclaimed "No?!" and hurried back on his feet to trail after her. "What the hell do you mean by no? We just agreed on giving us a chance!"

She scolded him, pushing his shoulder to the side to resume walking. "My name is not Basket Gupta. Stop ruining my name."

She didn't get farther than a step, for he had grabbed her wrist. She tried to tug at it, but he wouldn't let go. He took the step forward to stand behind her. Leaning down, he spoke by her ear. "It is for me. Basket. Always."

She couldn't hold her smile back anymore, masking it in irritation for calling her Basket. Truth was, she loved it when he called her that. It made her feel special, that only he called her that. Only he had that right.

Knowing she had to be smiling even without having to lean over for proof, he continued by lowering his voice by an octave. "Now will you change that no to a yes?"

She decided to still test him, just wanting to know what he would do next. "If I don't?"

She felt his smile at her ear, "Then... I'd remind you we were at the beach and..." At once, she worked on sprinting away from him but his arms secured around her front, holding her to him.

Her mind flashed to when he had thrown her in the water at a beach in Goa. "Armaan, don't you..." She never got around to finishing her threat for he began a tickling assault on her.

It was never his plan to take her in the water. He knew what had happened last time. He just wanted to give her that impression.

She squealed and squirmed, fighting to get out of his embrace and escape his torture. She was highly ticklish, like any other normal human being. Trying hard to catch her breath, she gave in within a minute. "Okay! Okay! Fine. Yes."

As soon as he heard the word, he stopped. "Yes?"

She pushed him back slightly, bending over to even her panting. "Yes, you idiot." He patted her back when she coughed and after gaining composure, she stood up. "I'm going to get back to you for this."

"I'd like to see you try." He accepted her challenge with a mock.

She gave him a promising look. She wasn't the naïve Riddhima he knew during school days. She was sure she could whip up a good revenge plan. "Don't we have to pick up Khushi?" She suddenly recalled that it would be end of the work day for her.

Armaan informed, "No, I'd asked Arnav to drop her back when I couldn't find you and was looking for you."

"Do you really think pushing him to Khushi is a good thing?"

"Maybe not, but if anyone can get through her anger, I know it's him. They can't keep running away from the situation they are in. We talked and settled things. And, so can they."

She nodded, agreeing that they needed to. Khushi was masking her feelings in anger, and she did have a good reason to. Arnav had really hurt her trust just when she had started to let him in, and he had also been the cause for her father's current bed-ridden state. She had every right to be mad at Arnav, though Riddhima wished she knew Arnav's side of the story.

"When do we tell her about us?"

"In a few days, maybe?" Armaan answered as he sorted through his own head filled with uncertainty on what the right thing to do would be. "I don't know, I kind of want to tell her, but she has a lot going on herself. Maybe when things settle down and she's less stressed, we'll tell her? It'll give us the time to adjust to this too."

She too believed they needed to grow comfortable in this first, work on figuring more things out before they let the world into their lives. "Yeah, that's probably for the better."

===

Riddhima walked in the kitchen at the Raizada house where the marriage celebrations were to take place to see if she could help with any last-minute things. There were still around 3 hours remaining before everyone would start coming. Garima, Armaan and Khushi's mother, told her there wasn't anything and she could just go and relax. When she complained she would just get bored, Garima asked her to go get mehndi applied on her hands. Riddhima readily agreed, walking back to the living room. She loved it, after all.

She was so immersed in watching the lady put it on her that she hadn't realized when Armaan had entered the room. He was simply leaning back on the wall and watching her. Riddhima got tired of her tippet, which was slipping down her neck and bothering her hands. He chuckled, amused at hearing her mutter random words to express her frustration.

The lady got up to get a sugar-lemon paste. Seeing that no one else was in the room, Armaan took pity on her and walked up to her, sitting down right behind her. He took it from her shoulders. She glanced behind her, surprised to find him so close to her. He took the end of the tippet and slid it around her waist, causing her to hold her breath in. Pulling it around the back and to her side, he tied it.

She forced herself to not look back at him. He was dangerously close to her and she was afraid she would kiss him and anyone could walk in at any time. His breath falling on her now exposed nape was sending butterflies in her stomach.

He was smiling playfully, knowing just what it was doing to her. He let his fingers on her waist linger, wander, just a few seconds longer.

"Armaan," She spoke his name in a breathy whisper, almost a warning, but was it really? Her eyes were closed and it could be interpreted as an invitation to just kiss her.

The distance between their faces decreased with every passing second. Armaan couldn't think of one reason why he shouldn't. "Basket." His gaze flickered from locking with hers to her rosy lips. She rested her forehead against his as he lifted his hand to her nape. "You are a walking temptation; do you know that?"

She smiled feeling his lips dangerously close to the corner of her mouth and released a sigh. Temptation? Ah yes, right now, she could say a thing or two about it. "How about tonight after the celebrations, we sneak out a bit early?"

He pulled back just enough to look at her, reopening his eyes. "From my own sister's wedding celebrations?"

She pointed out, "Her wedding is tomorrow."

"Then, I say, I haven't heard a better suggestion in a long time." Very nonchalantly, he grabbed the sweets sitting on the floor next to him and walked off as if they had not just made a plan to do what they were doing to.

===

Riddhima sat up from the laying position at the grumbling of her stomach. They had spent the evening away at the beach. People had started to leave soon after darkness had seeped in, but they had decided to stay and watch the stars. She had her head on his folded arm before since they didn't have a towel or anything with them, this trip to the beach unplanned, and she wasn't ready to get sand in her hair.

"Can we go home already? I know I didn't say I was hungry before, but that was almost 5 hours ago!"

Armaan's gaze flickered to hers as his arm wrapped around her elbow, pulling her back down. "Few more minutes."

She still fought and sat up again, "Do you actually want to kill me from starvation on the first evening of our relationship?"

He rolled his eyes at her exaggeration. "Fine, there's this great Chinese joint not far from here. Let's go."

She stood up with him, but continued to insist, "No, Armaan. You're taking me home. I got food poisoning the last time I ate at a joint off the street. I'm not going through that again."

"That was when you had returned from Australia not more than two days ago! Your stomach was still adjusting. You'll be fine now."

She grabbed his hand, pulling him back from walking. "I know what you're doing."

"I'm not doing anything."

She bobbed her head to the side, "I don't believe there is 'fool' written across my forehead, Armaan." Dropping the sarcasm, she continued. "I know I haven't let anyone wish me past few years, but stop trying to stretch this out till midnight, okay? I'll let people wish me tomorrow. Heck, we'll even go out and celebrate if you want."

His eyes lit up, "Seriously?"

She chuckled, "Sure."

He was quick to drop it then and agreed to take her home. He had been stretching this till midnight, wanting to be the first to wish her a happy birthday. Now that she'd said she'd let him even when they were home, he hoped this birthday of hers really would bring out new beginnings.

===

Riddhima and Armaan stepped into the elevator to take up to the penthouse. The second they were inside, Riddhima folded her leg backward to get rid of her heels but was clearly struggling against the layers of the sari she'd worn for tonight. "Stupid heels. Who even invented them?"

Armaan laughed in amusement and just to rile her up a little, moved closer after pressing the penthouse button and restricted her movements by standing right in front of her.

She glanced up with a questioning look.

He replied by moving his hands to rest on her hips and stepping even closer if it were even possible. She very well got his memo. "Armaan, my feet really hurt."

If she thought she could escape, she was wrong. His lips neared hers. "I plan on worshipping every part of you..." She inhaled sharply, taking in his scent with her, on hearing his words that was firing up her skin. "So... what are you complaining about?"

She opened her mouth to speak but he rendered her speechless with lips moving in perfect synergy with hers. Her protest come out in the form of a pleasurable moan as she felt her back against the wall of the elevator and his body in front of her holding her there. His grip on her hips tightened nudging her lower half closer to his, feeling the need to be even closer to her - only for a groan to escape his throat at the wonderful friction.

When out of breath, she pulled back breaking their heated kiss with a gasp. He had never quite kissed her like that, with such want, such raw desire. He rested his forehead against hers for a brief moment, chest rising and falling rapidly. His attention shifted to her chin and kissing down her throat with protest from the elevator dinging.

He knew it was too early to have reached the pent house. She nudged him back just as the doors opened and with a frown, he shifted his feet till he was standing next to her. She kept her head dipped, knowing her face would be flushed red.

The older lady that stepped in eyed them before turning to press the button to the floor she was going to get off at.

He reached for her hand and interlocked their fingers. She glanced up sideways and smiled back at him, taking deep and even breaths to get it in control. Her thumb grazed the back of his hand as the seconds ticked by, the door reopened to let the lady out and less than a second later, it stopped again.

Riddhima entered the penthouse first and blindly reached for the switch board out of instinct. Armaan closed the door behind him and leaned back against it, waiting for her reaction. She turned towards the place and paused. She had decided to finally take off her heels and proceed in but the scene in front of her demanded otherwise.

There was a pathway of magenta lilac petals from the doorway to the bedroom. She looked back at him with a surprised grin, "What's this?"

"Follow it," he suggested nodding towards the path. Excited, she turned to it again. Once again forgetting the stilettos, she proceeded to take a step towards it. He pushed off the door, calling out. "Wait."

She paused and he reached her. Her brows narrowed in confusion. He kneeled on the floor beside her. Reaching for her hand, he brought it to his shoulders so she could hold on to him before he reached for her feet. Holding her ankle, he unstrapped the footwear off, one after the other. Her left foot, he placed atop his knee for a brief moment, leaning in to kiss the edge of her toe. In an uncontrolled reaction, it curled in with a tickle while it also sent an effect to her stomach.

He reached for her hand on his shoulder and as he stood, she returned her foot to the floor. When before she was walking beside the path, he nudged her to walk over it, feeling the fresh, soft, petals under her bare feet. With her free hand, she lifted her saree a bit so it wouldn't come under her feet and accidentally trip her. When they reached the bedroom door, he forwarded his hand to twist the knob and push it open.

Her jaw momentarily dropped at what she was seeing. It was even more beautiful than the living room. Candles were lit all around the room. The path continued to the bed and the bed itself was decorated with petals spread all over it. It even smelled wonderful. She couldn't pinpoint which fragrance it was but she loved it. It was almost exotic, tropical. They were coming from the candles.

Her hand slid out of his as she looked around, reaching the bed and picking up a petal in her hand. "This... how?"

He informed walking to the dresser, "Rahul owed me lots of favors. I cashed in one of them," and moved the candle to a side so he could lean back on it.

She faced him arching a brow, "Really?" It felt unreal to believe he did all of this... or rather, had Rahul do it because he couldn't do it himself, being occupied with his sister's wedding celebrations.

He forwarded his hand. She walked towards him and slid her palm into his. "Our first time... did you think I wouldn't make it special?" She smiled, touched by his gesture. He brought her closer running his finger through a lock of hair before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "My only regret is I couldn't do this all for you myself."

She shook her head tucking her head to the crook of his shoulder. "No, babe. This is enough for me. Thank you."

He smiled wrapping his arms around her frame. "I love you." Her appreciation was all he needed.

"I love you," she whispered back and wrapped her arms around his back to hug him while kissing the end of his cheek. Then exhaling, she stepped back. "Give me a minute?"

"Okay," he replied in confusion wondering what she was up to when she disappeared in the washroom. A minute was more like 15 minutes and he'd moved to sit on the bed while waiting.

When she returned, she ran her hand through messed hair, "I thought disrobing a sari would be easy."

Her words, however, were ignored as he took in her appearance. His eyes roamed her figure from top to bottom in appreciation while only wishing the red night gown she was wearing wasn't a disturbance.

She began walking towards him and it may be her normal walk but the slow speed of it made it all the more seductive. He gulped when she placed her hand on his shoulder while standing, her knees brushing his legs. "I thought you might like the color."

"Uh..."

She chuckled inaudibly at his lost response. Her inner self-esteem naturally received a huge boost. Slightly, she nudged him by the shoulders asking him to move back. As he did, she climbed the bed straddling him while unbuttoning his collar button. Her eyes traveled back and forth from his gaze to his shirt. With every breath, freeing him from the piece of button before finally, pushing it off his shoulders. Blinking to reality, he finally offered his help and sliding his arms out of the sleeves.

Shifting back some more so his feet weren't dangling off the bed, he placed his hand on her back and moved in in for a kiss. Riddhima, however, had different ideas. Her hand on his chest, she pushed him back to lay on the mattress and leaned in. He thought she would kiss him when her lips were a fraction away from his. She grinned against them and instead trailed hot kisses down his throat.

He groaned when she slightly nipped at his skin right over his pulsing neck. She wouldn't kiss him on the lips like he was yearning for and his hands on her back wandered down her curves till they met her bare skin and made their journey upwards again. This time, fingers digging into her thighs and under the silky material. His other hand rested on her hip and nudged her up even as her lips traveled to his abs, kissing each one and every inch of bare skin.

She was thoroughly teasing him, rising the heat and her center so close to the growing bulge in his dress pants but she purposely wouldn't touch him. When her lips pressed over the lowest ab, he groaned and flipped the tables on her. "Enough," he muttered.

Her head met the pillow as a gasp escaped her lips. At once, his body aligned to hers, hips over her own. She moaned feeling his arousal over the thin material of her gown and he swallowed the sound in a deep kiss stealing her breath away as his hands continued to explore her skin.

Coming up for air, he kissed down her shoulder while murmuring an instruction. "Up." Knowing she wanted this as much as him, she arched her back off the bed assuming he'd just push it down as his fingers seemed to be playing with the straps on her shoulder.

She thought wrong. He pushed it up and pressed his hard muscles to her stomach, skin to skin, losing themselves in the passion and each other; figuring out what they were doing along the way for they were each other's first and thus marking the beginning of a very long night.

===

authors note:

Uh, hot enough? It felt a bit dry to me but lemme know your thoughts in comments! I've hit a bit of writers block for this book and so its taking me longer to update... :( but, as always, thank you for your love and patience <3 :*