As soon as the door to Revathi's flat clicked shut behind them, the quiet of the evening settled in. 

Shubman locked the door with a soft click, his hand still holding hers as he turned to face her. The lights in the flat were dim, the soft glow from the living room lamp casting a warm, inviting light across the space.

Revathi stood there for a moment, the nervous energy from the night still buzzing inside her. The evening had been incredible—the wedding, meeting Shubman's family, everything—but now that they were back at her flat, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of them.

Shubman didn't give her much time to think. Without a word, he stepped closer, his fingers gently grazing her jawline. 

His eyes were dark, heated, the playful teasing from earlier in the night replaced by something much more intense. 

He pulled her to him, his lips crashing onto hers in a kiss that was as sudden as it was electric.

Revathi's breath caught at its force. She hadn't expected it, but she certainly didn't mind. His lips moved against hers in a way that left her breathless, and she felt herself responding, her hands instinctively reaching for his chest. 

The kiss was hungry, filled with the desire that had been building between them all evening.

Her heart raced as Shubman's hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer, his body pressing against hers with a delicious pressure. 

She could feel the warmth of him, the strength of his arms, and the tenderness in the way he held her, even as their kiss deepened.

"Shubman..." she murmured, her voice thick with need, her hands tangling in the fabric of his shirt as she tried to keep herself grounded.

He pulled back for a second, his lips hovering over hers, his breath warm against her skin. "You don't know how much I wanted to kiss you tonight," he whispered, his voice low and husky. 

His hands ran up to her shoulders, and the feel of his fingers on her skin sent shivers down her spine. "You looked so damn beautiful, Revathi. I couldn't keep my hands off you."

Revathi's heart fluttered at his words, the flurry of emotions making it hard to think straight. He was here, with her, in her flat, and his touch felt like it was sparking something inside her that she didn't know she was capable of feeling.

She didn't know what she was supposed to say, so she simply leaned back in, capturing his lips again, this time with a renewed urgency. 

She was tired of the uncertainty and nerves that had clung to her since the wedding. She just wanted to feel him, all of him, to finally let herself indulge in their connection.

Shubman's hands slid down to her waist again, pulling her even closer, until there was no space between them. He groaned softly into her mouth, the sound sending a jolt of heat through her body.

"I've been wanting this for so long," he muttered, breaking the kiss for a brief moment, his eyes searching hers. "You're all I can think about, Revathi. All I ever want is you."

Her breath hitched at his words, and before she could respond, Shubman kissed her again, this time slower, more deliberate, as if he was savouring every second of it. 

She melted into him, her hands slipping up to his neck, tangling in his hair as she deepened the kiss, matching the intensity he was giving.

It felt like time stood still. She wasn't thinking about anything but the way his lips moved against hers, the way his body felt against hers, the way he made her feel like she was the only person who mattered in the world.

When they finally broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, Shubman rested his forehead against hers, his hands still on her waist, holding her close. 

"I'm sorry if I've overwhelmed you," he said, his voice softer now, almost apologetic.

Revathi shook her head, her smile shy but genuine. "No, don't apologize. I—I liked it," she admitted her voice barely above a whisper, her fingers still running through his hair as she pulled him back down to kiss her once more.

And in that moment, she knew. She knew that whatever happened, whatever this turned into, it was something she wanted. Something they both wanted.

The moment stretched out as their lips met again, this time with a slower, more deliberate rhythm, as if both of them were savouring the closeness, the intimacy. Shubman's hands moved gently along her back, his touch tender, but with an unmistakable desire underlying it. 

Revathi, still feeling the heat of his lips on hers, leaned into him, her fingers tracing the strong contours of his chest beneath the fabric of his kurta. 

Her heart pounded in her chest, every breath coming quicker as the world around her seemed to disappear.

Shubman broke the kiss again, but only to pull her even closer, his arms sliding around her waist as he lifted her slightly, just enough that their faces were level. 

"You're driving me crazy, Revathi," he murmured against her lips. "I can't get enough of you."

The words made her heart flutter, and she felt a little giddy, a little unsteady, but also completely alive. No one had ever made her feel this way before—not even in her wildest dreams. 

His hands were gentle, but firm in all the right places, and she could feel how much he was holding back, trying to keep it slow, giving her the space to catch up.

Revathi pulled back just a little, her lips tingling from the intensity of their kiss. She stared at him, catching her breath, her pulse still racing in her ears. 

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" she asked, her voice softer, more vulnerable than she meant it to be. "I mean, we've been taking things slow..."

He cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones as he smiled gently. 

"I want this, Revathi. I want you. But I don't want to rush anything. We go at your pace, always." His voice was steady, full of conviction, and it grounded her.

Shubman's eyes softened, and he kissed her forehead, a gesture so tender it made her heart skip a beat. 

"Just know this—every moment with you is exactly what I want. It doesn't matter what comes next. I just want to be with you, here, now."

She could feel the sincerity in his words, the deep affection, and something about the way he said it made her heart swell.

Revathi nodded slowly, feeling a wave of warmth rush over her. She closed her eyes for a second, letting herself just feel the moment. 

The butterflies in her stomach hadn't stopped, but now, they felt less like nerves and more like excitement, a thrill for whatever this could be.

"Okay," she said, her voice steady but carrying a playful edge. "Then... let's see where this goes."

Shubman's eyes lit up, and with a grin, he kissed her again, a slow, deep kiss, this time less urgent and more full of promise. 

He kissed her until she was breathless, then pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes, his fingers tracing circles along her back.

"We'll go as slow as you need, babe," he whispered, his lips brushing hers as he spoke. "I'm not going anywhere."

Revathi smiled softly, her hands resting against his chest, her mind racing with the possibilities of everything to come. 

She didn't know exactly what the future held, or where their relationship would take them, but in that moment, with Shubman holding her close, she didn't need to know. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly seen, truly wanted in a way that was both exhilarating and comforting.

And that was enough for now.

SOUP RANTS!

Welcome to the twenty-fifth chapter of this book!
them >
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yours truly,

soup 🫶