I opened my eyes to his sleeping figure. His breath came out in shallow gasps; brushing against my face which was only inches away from his. It took me a moment to realise that he was holding me against his chest. His both hands were tightly wrapped around my waist and my one leg was sandwiched between his. I felt a smile breaking against the corner of my lips at his display of possessiveness. It made me blush and I tried to gently pry away my arms that were bundled against his chest but couldn't do much except freeing one hand slightly.

Unconsciously, I brought that hand to caress the skin under his eyes. His eyes twitched and I ceased all movement, until he exhaled a small sigh. With a gulp, I returned to my prior activity; my fingers hovering over the corner of his lips.

Exhaling a sigh, I dropped my hand and closed my eyes. The events from yesterday had returned like a dam broken loose. However, when I glanced up, my heart stopped for a moment, as I found him staring right back at me. For a few moments, I could only gape at him in shock and when the effects of shock started wearing off, I turned my gaze down to my hands pressed flat against his chest.

"Good morning." His husky voice brushed against my ears like a warm tremor. In return I felt the muscles of my neck tightening whilst I burnt holes into his chest. Not daring to look up until he loosened his hold and brought one hand to tug back the loose strands of hair falling on my face.

"Did you sleep alright?" He murmured in that hoarse and sexy voice and I could only blink with a gulp. It was actually beyond my comprehension how I could get any sleep in this position at all. Since, I was a knacker for proper sleeping etiquette.

My response came in a nod after a while. I heard him exhale a soft sigh before pulling me against his chest. His arms once more encaging me with his chin resting softly atop my head.

"Do you want to do something fun today?"  I felt his voice reverberating against my head which made me twist my neck to peer at his face.

"Fun?" I questioned, quirking both eyebrows. His response came in a heart squeezing smile and he dropped a peck against my forehead; making my heart skip a beat. I hadn't yet recovered from this torture when he murmured again.

"Yeah—and I love you so very much." He remarked simply with an adorable smile. I was completely caught off guard by that follow up and could only gawk him with blush creeping up my cheeks, alongside a painfully thumping heart.

"—Rayy—an—!!" I rebuked with a groan turning into a puddle and hiding my face against his chest. Whereas the assailant, could only laugh at my discomfort and tightened his embrace.

——————————————

"One chocolate chip and a vanilla, please." I stood in my place gawking the man preparing my icecream, whilst Rayyan paid for it. He let go of my hand for a moment only and then returned his hold as if it were the most natural thing to do. I would've felt more tingly if I wasn't drooling over the icecream cone that Rayyan just took from the dude and handed to me.

"Zai—wait here for a moment." He moved away but I was too busy devouring my icecream to care about him. There was one more change that I had noticed—his nickname for me. And I would be lying, if I said I didn't secretly love it.

'Maybe I could have given him a nickname too—if I cared about him like that. But I think I love saying his full name.' My thoughts were interrupted, when I saw Rayyan jogging towards me—with a bouquet of Red roses, wrapped in burlap and adorned with baby breaths.

"Hi. I wasn't gone long?" He huffed while extending to me the flowers, which I was still gawking at, in shock.

"You don't like roses?" He inquired with growing concern but I kept my gaze glued to his the bouquet in his hands.

I hated them. Not just the cliché of it but also their scent. If I were to choose a favourite flower, it would be jasmine for it's beautiful scent or sunflower for their value. But I didn't dare say that and took the bouquet with trembling hands; holding them close to my nose.

"I love it. They are beautiful." I gasped out slowly and looked up enchanted, to meet his anticipating gaze. A triumphant smile erupted on his features and he once again took my hand, intertwining his fingers, this time.

In that moment I felt that I might actually have had just now built an unexpected infatuation with the genus Rosa.

That day, he took me for sightseeing. From the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Zoo, Circus, Museum and Cathedral; we went almost all around Bristol. It was my first time exploring the city and it turned out to be more fun than I anticipated. Thanks to him. I almost admitted to myself. Almost.

"Rayyan—wouldn't you be missing out on work? You are usually a workaholic, even on weekends—" I inquired as we walked around the street to his car.

"I am alright, today. I don't have court until Wednesday, so it will workout, somehow. Plus, I have wanted to go on a date with you for a while now—" He added solemnly, clutching the wrist above my gloved hand which was in his hold. Immediately, I halted in my steps; without meaning to.

"It's not a date—!" I quaked out. He turned to me with a tilt of head and a lopsided grin.

"It's a date." He returned simply.

"It's not a date." My reply came without a break.

"It's a date." I gawked at him speechless, until he inched closer and took my face in his hands.

"I love you Zaira. So much. I never knew it was possible to have this much love for one person." He peered down at me lovingly. I felt frozen on my spot. Shooting me a small smile, he let go and once more began dragging me alongside him. Moments passed, before I heard his voice again.

"You know, I might've been in love with you since the first time I saw you at the Haveli. Although, it wasn't until recently that I realised that. Initially, I believed that I was marrying you to repay the debt of my lies, but that day after the reception party—when I saw you near the banyan tree, I realised it then; that all this time I have been in love with you—I was just too thick headed to notice it—" I didn't dare blink and held my breath.

"I used to hate the Haveli—always attributed the worst days of my life to it. But, I think I am glad for it now. Because if I never went there then I might not have met you—or married you." He turned to me with a smile which felt to me like a million knife stabbing my heart. Unable to say anything, I kept my head down and traced my steps back to the car.

—————————————-

I walked over to the balcony, holding my hot cocoa in one hand and Rayyan's black coffee in the other. After taking my seat beside him on the cushioned floor, I handed him his drink, which he took with a thanks before returning to his MacBook.

It was getting chilly, but the drink was keeping me warm. His words from before kept ringing in my ears and I shivered from the memory of it, rather than the cold. However only a moment later, his one arm was wrapped around my shoulder; pulling me against his chest.

I flinched from the sudden contact but he was completely oblivious to the tingles that his touch were giving me. I would rather die than admitting it, but his touch always left me wanting for more. And despite myself, I felt leaning against his broad chest.

"You like skinship a lot, don't you?" My voice quivered. I decided from cold.

"It's unimaginably hard to stop yourself from touching the person you love—" He stated blankly, without tearing his gaze from the computer. I eyed him and then his case about some murder trial.

"Do you even think about anything else besides—?" I felt my voice cracking with embarrassment and deliberately left my sentence unfinished; directing my gaze to his long fingers working on the keyboard.

"No." His reply came immediately and he didn't even blink.

"You—! didn't even—think before answering!" I stuttered, blushing furiously.

"What's there to think?" He returned with a soft chuckle; eyes never leaving the screen. I could only watch him speechless.

'I should be afraid but I am not—and what's with this chilly excitement—'

"—well—? Does it get easy?" I grabbed my remaining wits and questioned. Only momentarily, his eyes flickered to mine.

"Nope. Harder—" His gaze was once more fixated to the screen. I gulped, focussing my gaze on the screen instead of the heat radiating from his hand against the skin of my chest which I could feel even through multiple layers of clothing.

"So—how—" I felt my voice trembling.

"How—? Well, I have great self control. Also the reward is worth the toil. The harder the challenge; sweeter the reward." He added slowly with a soft smile.

"And I—I am a challenge for you?" I didn't seem to believe his words.

"You're my reward. And nothing matters to me more than earning your trust and love—" He exhaled a long sigh and finally turned to me. I didn't know what to say. My heart was hammering painfully against my chest and I silently kept staring; not realising that I was holding my breath.

"I don't feel bad for you—not even one bit—" I returned in a small voice with quivering lips and a slight shake of head. Not daring to take my eyes off of his; which were now gleaming with amusement at my words.

"If you're feeling so bad for me, then give me a kiss—" And before I could say anything, he softly took hold of my hand and placed a kiss on the inside of my palm. I flinched from the soft brush of his lips against my skin; turning up to gawk at him in shock who was still eyeing me with a lonesome look. I could do nothing but look away.

"Okay—I'll put you out of your misery—" I returned with a gulp. His eyes widened in surprise awaiting my next words eagerly, like a child waiting to open his presents.

"That is—if you manage to stop yourself for—umm—1 year—?" I returned sheepishly and caught a horrified look on his face, which made me giggle, unintentionally.

"You are setting me up for failure! Might as well fail me already—!" He declared with a pout which immediately changed into an evil grin.

"Maybe I should just eat you right now—" He grinned mischievously, inching closer. Pushing aside his laptop, in one swift motion he pulled me onto his lap. I gaped at him wide eyed. With my hands resting flat against his chest and heart thumping in anticipation, I watched him, who peered down at my face with a small smile.

"I love you Zai—so so much—" His voice was a soft brush against my lips while his thumb lightly caressed my cheekbone. Following this, he placed a small kiss on my cheek. His touch lingered for another moment, before he pulled me into a tight hug. I didn't say anything, but returned his embrace with a smile while relishing in the soft circles he was rubbing on my back.

—————————-

Later that night, I came into his room with my pillow and laid on the bed beside him.

"Rayyan, will you cuddle me?" I asked with my back turned to him. Moments later, I felt his hands wrap around my waist; underneath the duvet. I inhaled a sharp breath at his touch but didn't stir, until I felt the light hum of his raspy voice laced with sleep and passion, against the nape of my neck.

"Are you testing me?" Instead of answering, I turned in his embrace; hiding my heated face against his chest. My heart beating loudly against his.

"No....punishing...." I murmured with a sigh and closed my eyes, basking in the heat of his love.

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EID MUBARAK! ❤️🥰