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His hand, still resting on her thigh, moved in slow, deliberate strokes—up and down, not rushing, just memorising the texture of her skin beneath his palm.

Nandini shifted even closer, half-curled against him now, her leg draped fully over his lap beneath the table. Her hand slippedbeneath his jacket, sliding against his chest, the pads of her fingers tracing the lines of muscle beneath the fabric of his shirt.

He dipped his head to the crook of her neck, his lips brushing lightly over her fluttering pulse. She gasped again, one hand clutching his collar while the other buried into his hair. He kissed the sensitive spot again, this time letting his lips linger. Her head tilted to the side, offering more of her skin to his mouth.

“Shaurya…” she breathed, and just the way she said his name made his control crack a little more.

Her body curled closer, her hips pressing into his side, their warmth locked together in the booth’s secluded cocoon. Her cheeks were flushed, her breaths quick and shallow as her half-lidded eyes drank him in. His fingers continued their slow, teasing path beneath the table, tracing small, deliberate circles along her already heated skin.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispered against her shoulder, already knowing she wouldn’t.

She shook her head. “I won’t,” she whispered back.

And they didn’t. Not for a long while.

When they finally pulled apart, just enough to catch their breath, Nandini rested her forehead against his, a soft smile playing on her lips.

“Romantic enough for you?” he asked in a teasing voice.

She bit her lip, grinning. “You’ve just raised the bar dangerously high, Mr. Ahuja.”

He brushed his lips against her cheek again and whispered, “Then I guess I’ll have to keep outdoing myself.”

And in that quiet corner of the world, they continued with what they were already doing. Kissing and loving each other like there was no tomorrow.

*****************

It was already 10:30 p.m. when Nandini’s phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Varun’s message:

On the way to drop off Priya. She should be home by 11 sharp. Time to wrap up, lovebirds.

Nandini smiled faintly and glanced at Shaurya. “Time to go. Grandpa’s clock is scarily accurate.”

Shaurya chuckled, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “I hope he doesn’t have satellites tracking your location.”

They both laughed as they made their way towards the club’s exit. Nandini slipped her arm through his as the crisp night air spilled in through the open glass doors leading out to the parking lot. As they stepped out, the noise of the club dulled behind them.

Just as they reached the exit, Shaurya suddenly stopped. “Give me a minute,” he said, stepping back.

She looked at him curiously. “Where are you going?”

“To the washroom,” he replied, winking. “Should’ve gone before we left.”

Nandini rolled her eyes but smiled. “Alright. I’ll wait right here.”

He turned, then glanced back. “Don’t wander off, okay? Just stay near the doors. I’ll be quick.”

“Yes, Mr. Protective,” she teased. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Shaurya smirked and headed back inside.

By the time he stepped out of the washroom, drying his hands with a paper towel, his mind was already back on her—on her sexy red dress, her happy smile, and the way she had said yes to forever.

He couldn’t wait to speak to Grandpa tomorrow and make all of this official. With that thought in mind, he walked out, and there she was. Nandini stood by the exit just as she’d promised. But she wasn’t alone.

She was speaking to a woman whose back was to him. Elegant posture, black sequin dress, sleek hair tied in a low bun. Something about this woman… the way she stood, the set of her shoulders, seemed... painfully familiar.

As Nandini talked to her, she smiled warmly, clearly respectful, maybe even a little proud. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you here,” she said.