Page 70 of Protect my Heart

I kiss her again, slower this time, letting my hands slide around her waist, feeling her body melt into mine. She’s warm and soft and responsive in a way that makes my head spin.

Then her fingers tug at my t-shirt.

I break the kiss, blinking. “Anu… what are you doing?”

She looks at me with those mischief-soaked eyes. “Doing what I’ve wanted to do since you walked out of the bathroom half-naked earlier.”

I chuckle, can’t help it. “You want me, my beautiful wife?” I bite her lower lip and she shudders under my touch.

“Is that a question?” she deadpans, tugging at my shirt again. “Either reject me or do something about it, Aarav.” There’s a slight whine to her voice that does dangerous things to my self-control. It’s addictive.

“God, you’re so desperate,” I tease, brushing her damp hair back.

She narrows her eyes. “You’ve got five seconds before I start biting.”

I lean in, brushing my lips against her ear. “Are you sure, Anu?" My forehead touches hers, "We can’t take this back, baby. Once we cross this line…”

She pulls back just enough to look me in the eye. “Please, Aarav. I need this. I need you.”

She leans in for a kiss but I place a finger on her lips, I clear my throat. “Anu,” I say.

“I have a confession,” I inhale deeply. I don't know what she will think about me but to me this is important, I need her to know what power she holds over me.

God, why is my mouth so dry? “I’ve never had sex.” I whisper.

She stares at me like she’s not sure she heard it right. Then lets out this breathy laugh. Not mean, not even surprised in a mocking way. Just… processing.

“Wait—you mean like, never?” she asks, blinking. Her eyes bright.

I nod, staring down at my hands. “Yeah.”

Her eyes are wide now. “You’re a virgin?”

I nod again. I am not at all ashamed of it. She steps closer, slowly, like she’s trying to figure out if I’m serious. “Why?” she whispers. And that’s what undoes me. The way she asks it so softly. Not judging. Just… trying to understand.

“I was waiting,” I admit. “For you.”

She stills.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again,” I continue, feeling like every word is peeling something raw open inside me. “I didn’t know if we’d end up in the same place again, but even when I didn’t know where you were, even when I told myself to move on, it was always you, Anu. I couldn’t even imagine it being anyone else. I didn’t want it to be.”

She doesn’t say anything. She just looks at me like I’ve shifted her whole foundation. Like maybe she wasn’t expecting me to care this much. Or be this… open.

“Aarav,” she says, breathlessly, as her hand caresses my cheek, “What if you never found me?” She asks, her eyes wide but so soft, I cannot look away.

I huff a bitter breath and glance away. “ If I hadn’t found you again?” I smile, “So what. I still wouldn’t have. I stillwouldn’t have given that part of me to anyone else, because… I don’t know. It’s always been yours. I belong to you. I think I always have.”

She’s in front of me now. Quiet, but her eyes—God, her eyes. There’s no teasing there, no disbelief. Just something deep and honest and maybe a little stunned.

She lowers herself to her knees in front of me, gentle fingers reaching up to touch my face. Her thumb grazes my jaw like she’s memorizing it. Like she’s afraid I might vanish.

“You’re an idiot,” she whispers, a crooked little smile on her lips.

I laugh, more out of relief than anything else. “Yeah. Probably.”

Her hand moves to my chest, resting there like she can feel my heartbeat. “A beautiful idiot,” she adds, and then she leans in and kisses me.

Soft. Slow. Like she’s trying not to spook me. And I kiss her back. Because how could I not?