"You said you don't do pecks, but I don't mind giving you one," Piya murmured, her gaze darting everywhere except toward him.

"I never said I didn't like them," Abhay countered, his voice soft. "In fact, I don't mind receiving them from you. So, feel free to give me some whenever you want." His lips tingled faintly where hers had touched, a sensation he hadn't expected but welcomed.

Piya offered him a shy smile, still avoiding his eyes. "That's... good to know." Her voice was awkward, and the embarrassment lingered. After all, that had been their first kiss as husband and wife. "Let's call it a night, shall we?"

"Come on, I'll show you our room," Abhay said, stepping back and freeing her from his teasing trap.

Piya blinked, taken aback. "Our room?" Wait. Did he mean... they'd share a room? Her heart thudded nervously in her chest as she trailed behind him, watching him carry her luggage upstairs. She tried to distract herself by observing the house. From what she could estimate, it was around three hundred square meters—spacious, minimalistic, and carefully designed, much like the suite he'd stayed in during their cruise. Though the furniture was sparse, every piece served a purpose. With an open-plan living room that connected to the kitchen and dining area, there was plenty of room for Mallows and Milk Tea to play freely.

At the top of the staircase, Abhay gestured toward the end of the hall. "That's my study," he explained. He pointed to the nearest door. "This is my room, and those two are vacant rooms. You can pick either one."

Piya's confusion grew. "Oh, so we're not sharing a room?"

Abhay caught her expression and couldn't help teasing. "What's this, Piya? Did you really think we'd sleep in the same bed?" He arched a brow, smirking mischievously. "My, my. I didn't know you were this eager to jump on me!"

It took a moment for Piya to process his words, and when they finally sank in, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Your shamelessness never ceases to amaze me!" she huffed, yanking her luggage from his grasp and storming toward the room nearest his study.

Before she could slip away completely, Abhay followed her, gently taking her chin in his hand and tilting her face up toward him. Her brown eyes widened as they locked with his, innocence and surprise evident in her gaze.

"Never forget that I see you as a woman," he murmured, his voice low but sincere.

For a few seconds, they simply stared at each other. Then, without a word, Piya pushed him back, her expression a mix of flustered frustration. Abhay stood in the hallway, grinning like a fool as she closed the door behind her. He couldn't get enough of her reactions—they were priceless.

On the other side of the door, Piya leaned her back against it, releasing a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Letting her luggage and Abhay's shirt fall to the floor, she slid down into a squat, burying her flushed face in her arms. Her heart was racing, and she tried to steady it with a deep breath.

"Abhay, what am I supposed to do with you?" she muttered to herself.

Meanwhile, Abhay entered his own room and flopped onto his bed. Staring at the ceiling, he allowed himself to reflect. Life had been dull and predictable before, but now—with Piya around—it felt as though everything had shifted.

He loved teasing her, sure, but it wasn't just about the fun. Every moment he spent with her tested his self-control. She had no idea how much she affected him. What would she say if he admitted that he wanted more than just playful banter? That he wanted to hold her, protect her, and never let anyone hurt her again?

But Abhay knew better. Piya wasn't ready for something deeper, not after what she'd been through. She was still healing, still finding her footing after her heartbreak. He didn't want to push her or force anything on her. She deserved time—to heal, to move on, to figure out what she truly wanted.

Still, a part of him couldn't help but wonder. If they had met earlier, without the weight of a contractual marriage hanging over them, would things have been different? Could he have fallen in love with her the way he now found himself on the brink of doing?

"What ifs won't change anything," he reminded himself. All he could do now was go with the flow, hoping that no matter what tomorrow brought, Piya wouldn't lose that radiant smile of hers.