The next morning, Astha walked into the office, balancing a file in one hand and her coffee in the other, determined to keep things professional. But the moment she stepped inside, she felt it—Arin’s gaze. It was subtle yet unwavering, like a constant hum in the air between them.
She sighed and made her way to her desk, pretending she hadn’t noticed. She had barely set her things down when a familiar voice spoke beside her.
“Morning, wife.”
Astha nearly choked on her coffee. She turned to Arin, wide-eyed, before whispering harshly, “Arin! I told you not to say that at work.”
He grinned, completely unrepentant. “Relax. No one’s listening.”
She gave him a glare. “Go to your office.”
“I will,” he said, placing his hands in his pockets. “After you say good morning properly.”
Astha sighed. “Good morning, sir.”
Arin chuckled, shaking his head before finally walking away, leaving Astha rolling her eyes and trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck.
The Unspoken Tension
By mid-day, the office was buzzing with the usual energy, and Astha tried to focus on her work, but it wasn’t easy when Arin seemed to exist just at the edge of her awareness.
It wasn’t just his presence—it was the way he moved, the way his eyes found hers across the newsroom, the way his fingers brushed hers when he handed her a file, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down her spine.
This was dangerous.
She had always kept her personal life separate from her work. Always. But now, for the first time, she wasn’t sure where one ended and the other began.
A Late-Night Drive
By the time the office emptied out that evening, Astha found herself working late. She was the last one left when Arin appeared at her desk, leaning against the partition.
“You’re still here?” he asked.
She stretched, sighing. “Yes. Almost done.”
He studied her for a moment before saying, “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“I have my car,” she said.
“I know,” he replied. “But I’d rather drive you home.”
She hesitated for a second before nodding. “Fine.”
The drive home was quiet at first, filled only with the low hum of the radio. Then, out of nowhere, Arin asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Astha exhaled, staring out of the window. “That we’re terrible at keeping things professional.”
Arin chuckled. “I don’t see the problem.”
She turned to him. “Of course you don’t.”
He smiled, then reached over to take her hand, resting their joined hands on his thigh. “Astha, we are married. Maybe not in your world, but in mine, we are bound in ways that no law can undo.”
She glanced at their entwined fingers, her heart pounding. “I know,” she admitted softly. “But I also know that if we’re not careful, people will talk.”
Arin exhaled. “Let them.”
She looked at him, slightly frustrated. “You don’t get it. I don’t want people thinking I got ahead in my career because of you. I’ve worked too hard for that.”
His expression softened. “I know.”
“Then help me keep this under control,” she whispered.
He brought her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles. “I will. But when we’re alone, Astha, you’re mine. And I won’t pretend otherwise.”
She swallowed hard, her heart flipping at the intensity in his voice.
For the first time, she wasn’t sure she wanted him to pretend either.
A Night of Confessions
When they reached their apartment complex, Arin turned to her with a smile. “Do you want to come to my place?”
Astha hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.” Shanaya was with her parents tonight, and the idea of being alone in her flat didn’t seem as appealing as it usually did.
Arin’s face lit up with delight. “Good,” he said, leading her inside. As they stepped into his apartment, he pulled her close, his lips brushing her ear. “You know, I never really had a proper wedding night in your world.”
Astha raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Who said we’re married in this world?”
Arin leaned in, his breath warm against her skin as he whispered, “I do.”
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
He grinned, tightening his hold on her. “And yet, you’re here.”
Astha let out a mock sigh. “Clearly, I have a thing for impossible men.”
Arin laughed before tilting her chin up, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that left no room for arguments. The kiss deepened, slow and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world to savor her. His hands slid down her back, pulling her flush against him, and she felt the strength of his embrace, the warmth of his body enveloping hers.
Astha curled her fingers into his shirt, tilting her head to give him better access as his lips traced a path down her jawline, lingering at the pulse point on her neck. She let out a soft sigh, her breath hitching when he pressed a kiss against her collarbone.
“Stay,” Arin murmured against her skin, his voice rough with longing. “Stay with me tonight.”
She lifted her head, meeting his gaze. His eyes burned with something raw and unguarded, something that made her heart twist.
She knew what this meant.
And for once, she wasn’t afraid.
Astha reached up, cupping his face, brushing her lips against his in a silent answer. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
A slow, satisfied smile spread across his face before he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her toward the bedroom.
That night, in the quiet of his world and hers, Arin finally made love to Astha with the tenderness of a man who had waited a lifetime for her. And for the first time, she let herself belong—to the moment, to him, to them.
And just like that, she stopped resisting.
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