IT WAS DECIDED that Misha would travel to Mumbai first, while Virat would remain in Delhi for a fortnight, settling his business with his manager Bunty.

Virat hated to part ways with Misha again, but she had recovered from the awkwardness faced with Naina, and her immediate priority was to resume her work at the hospital. She was determined to finish her residency in Life Beat as soon as possible.

While in Delhi, his best friend, Karan had accused him of not being particularly attracted to Misha. It was of course an offhand jest, intended to spur him in action because Karan was always like that, trying to rile him up, yet the claim made him almost angry. The attraction and desire he felt for Misha had been so urgent and present for so long, ever since they had their first kiss—that it felt like almost a shadow now, a hulking reflection of himself that hounded his every step. But instead of weightless and easily ignored, his desire was a pressure that never let up, a pulsing, insistent burn.

Let it burn, Virat had told himself. He would rather burn alive than relive the look of panic on her face when she leapt from his lap. He could not pursue her in the usual ways. He would wait and watch and proceed with extreme caution, his burning desire be damned. Their relationship was not all about sex, after all.

Outside the airport, while they were still in their car, Misha stared at him in adoration. "I will miss you so much, Virat." Her hand looped around his neck, bringing him closer. He took in the stars in his eyes, the scorching heat he felt because of her touch, her breathtaking scent in. It was killing him.

"I'll miss you more, Mish." He waited for her to initiate, take control. She brought her lips closer to him. And closer she came, so close yet so far. He wondered how long would it take before—

The thoughts eluded when she testily slipped her tongue inside his mouth. Virat wanted to chuckle at her coyness, but that would have surely dampen her confidence, so he brought her closer by the waist. Several moments later, they disentangled themselves from each other, catching their breaths.

"That was the best one we had so far, I am an amazing kisser." She grinned to herself, and seeing her so happy made Virat's heart all squishy and soft. She exuded such innate confidence, it was impossible to distinguish Misha before the incident, and post the incident.

No, he knew that whatever happened that night didn't make or break her and her character; his protective instincts and "considerate" attitude as she often called it, had nothing to do with that night and everything to do with her.

"It is my greatest pleasure to date the most amazing kisser." He kissed her button nose.

"So simply dating her is your greatest pleasure?" she teased.

Virat paused, reared back, and stared into her face. She looked at him from beneath lowered lashes, an expression of mischief and affection and need. He made a strangled noise and descended on her mouth again. 

"Mumbai cannot come soon enough," he said between kisses. "Not soon enough."

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SHE WAS ABOUT to unpin her hair when the door flew open, and Virat strode in. "Misha," he breathed.

His coat swirled around his ankles, and he kicked the door shut with his boot. He looked even more handsome than she remembered, better than he had when he'd been in years. She ran to him and he caught her with open arms and spun them both.

"I thought you'd never arrive," she breathed out when his breath tingled her neck. 

"It took an eternity. Bunty threatened to resign if I didn't complete all my business obligations." he replied. "How was your day, love?"

Misha pulled away and smiled. How long had she been waiting for this feeling of contentment of having someone she could wait for, or who could wait for her and they talked the most habitual things with such intimacy. "Great. My roommate isn't going to come home tonight." She felt herself blush. She said, "I mean, she is not going to be here for a week—something about wedding in her family, and I wasn't sure if you wanted to—"

"I want to be wherever you are. Don't ever doubt that," his words almost came in a growl, and then kissed her until her knees grew weak.

Misha laughed and drew herself closer, kissing him. They swayed together, devouring each other, hands roaming, barely remembering to breathe. 

"Mish, wait," Virat said, breaking away. "I need to pause." He grabbed her waist and squeezed. "I will require, I'm afraid, intermittent breaks."

"No—" she implored, clinging to him, and he laughed and staggered back. She went with him, refusing to let go. There was a chair nearby and he fell into it, taking her down with him. 

"Misha," he breathed, dropping his head on the back of the chair and staring at the ceiling. "I will die from wanting you. Too late. I'm already deceased. You carry on with my ghost. But he cannot resist you either."

"You are very solid," she said, tracing her finger on his abs. "For a ghost."

"'Solid' is a nice way of putting it very love," he said. "But, Misha? Neither of us should rush this. I'm determined. In this, we will require pauses."

Misha studied him. He was joking, but his handsome profile was strained. 

"Did I . . . ? Have we—?" She didn't know what to ask. "Are you . . . titillated?" Oh, she was still too much of an ingénue to say the word horny to her own boyfriend.

Virat laughed. "Oh, yes. I'm so titillated that it hurts. I'm in pain, Misha. But it is the most glorious pain. I simply need some respite on occasion. I won't toss you onto the bed and . . . frighten you."

Misha considered the bed. She thought of being tossed. "That sounds exciting, actually," she said. 

Virat squeezed his eyes shut. "It is exciting, and we will get to that—but first, you and I will take things very slowly. We will pause, as I've just said, to make sure that I am always in control of my passion and that you feel very safe."

Now Misha considered this. "And one day, I will say when we pause and when we are excited. One day, I shall be in control," she declared. 

"God, I fervently hope so," he sighed, and he kissed her again, and she realized with relish that the pause had ended, and she pounced on him. 

After five minutes, when Virat's shirt hung loose from the chair and Misha's hair was a tangled silk cape around them, the power went off. 

"The power in this locality excels at pauses," Misha sighed, pressing her forehead to Virat's in the subtle darkness.

"Well, that makes one of us."

I hope the chapters aren't too short. I just realized how much I adore writing about couples who are together! Also Virushka are pregnant, and I'm just so excited - it's almost like I'm going to have a baby :D

Also check out my  other book: "A Lot Like Love" which I will be continuing after this one is finished x