A few days went by, and it was finally time for Rishi to be discharged from the hospital. During his recovery, Aisha seamlessly managed both their businesses while also taking care of him, ensuring he had everything he needed. Ranvir had also stopped by to check on his brother, though his visits were brief and filled with an unspoken understanding of everything that had transpired.
The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a golden hue over the dimly lit room. The air was thick with something unspoken, something that had been brewing between them for far too long. Rishi lay against the pillows, fresh from the hospital, his arm still wrapped in a bandage, but his dark eyes held a different kind of hunger....one that had nothing to do with pain.
Aisha stood near the dresser, pretending to be busy with absolutely nothing, her heart hammering inside her chest. She could feel his gaze, burning through the thin fabric of her nightdress, searing against her skin like an invisible caress.
"You know," Rishi's voice was low, teasing. "I might be injured, but I can still see when someone's avoiding me."
Aisha rolled her eyes but didn't turn around. "Who said I'm avoiding you?"
"Then come here." His voice dropped, the roughness sending a delicious shiver down her spine.
She hesitated for a moment before turning, arms crossed. "You need rest."
"I need you." The way he said it, slow and deliberate, made her pulse race.
Aisha bit her lip, but before she could argue, he extended his uninjured arm. "Come here, love."
She exhaled sharply but walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed. Rishi reached for her, his fingers brushing against her thigh, tracing small circles over her skin. The simple touch sent heat rushing through her veins.
"You were worried about me, huh?" he mused, his fingers drifting up lazily.
Aisha scoffed. "Obviously. You almost died, idiot."
"Mmm." He smirked. "And you confessed your undying love for me."
Her cheeks flushed. "I was emotional."
He chuckled, tugging her closer. "Say it again."
She narrowed her eyes. "Say what?"
"That you love me."
Aisha huffed, crossing her arms. "I already said it."
Rishi tilted his head, his lips mere inches from hers. "Say it properly, sweetheart, or I'll have to make you."
Her breath hitched. "And how exactly would you do that?"
His fingers trailed higher, his smirk deepening. "Oh, I have my ways."
Aisha shivered as his lips brushed against her jaw, featherlight, teasing. "You should be resting," she whispered, though her voice betrayed her.
"I'd rather spend my energy on something much more fun," he murmured, grazing his lips along the sensitive spot beneath her ear.
She swallowed, her fingers gripping his shirt. "You're crazy."
"And yet, you love me for it." His voice was husky, filled with amusement and desire.
She exhaled sharply, meeting his gaze, her own filled with the same fire. "Unfortunately."
Rishi's laughter was deep, rich. "Then stop talking and kiss me, Aisha."
She didn't need another invitation. The moment their lips met, the world around them disappeared. The kiss was slow at first, filled with unspoken promises and longing. But soon, it turned deeper, hungrier....an expression of everything they had held back for too long.
His hands explored lazily, tracing patterns down her spine, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. He nipped at her lower lip, earning a soft gasp from her, and he smirked against her mouth.
"I missed this," he murmured, his lips trailing down her neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses along her skin.
Aisha sighed, tilting her head to give him more access. "We never had this."
Rishi leaned back, his gaze darkening. "Then let's make up for lost time."
Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, the door swung open, and the doctor cleared his throat loudly. Aisha jumped back, her face burning, while Rishi groaned in frustration.
"I see you're recovering well, Mr. Rishi," the doctor said with an amused smirk.
Aisha scrambled off the bed, mumbling something about needing air. Rishi smirked lazily. "Doc, you have the worst timing."
"And you have a head injury. Try to use it wisely," the doctor shot back. "You're being discharged today, so behave."
Hours later, after signing all the paperwork and ensuring Rishi was stable, Aisha helped him back home. The moment they arrived at his place, she hesitated at the doorstep.
"Alright, you're home. Get some rest. I should...."
Rishi caught her wrist before she could turn away. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Home?"
He tugged her inside, shutting the door behind them. "Not so fast, love. The night's still young. And I'm not done with you yet."
Rishi swept her into his arms effortlessly, despite his injuries, making Aisha gasp. "Rishi, your arm...."
"Shh, sweetheart. I can handle you just fine," he murmured against her ear, his voice thick with desire.
He carried her to the bedroom, his lips tracing a heated path along her jawline as he set her down gently. Their eyes met....filled with hunger, longing, and something deeper. Aisha's breath hitched as he captured her lips in a slow, intoxicating kiss, his fingers teasing the straps of her dress.
Aisha bit her lip, tilting her head playfully. "You talk too much, Rishi."
He smirked, his fingers ghosting over her exposed collarbone. "And you love it."
She shivered under his touch but rolled her eyes. "You wish."
Rishi chuckled, his lips brushing against her ear. "I don't have to wish, sweetheart. I already know."
Aisha sighed, gripping his shirt. "You're insane."
"And yet, you can't stay away," he teased, pulling her closer.
She narrowed her eyes. "Maybe I should."
He leaned in, his breath hot against her lips. "Try me."
Instead of answering, she captured his mouth in a deep, slow kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair as he groaned against her lips. The teasing melted into something more....something raw, unfiltered, and consuming.
Rishi trailed his fingers down her spine, making her arch into him. "Still want to leave?"
She smirked breathlessly. "Shut up and kiss me, Rishi."
"With pleasure," he murmured before claiming her lips once again, letting the night take over.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered against her lips, his fingers skimming her bare skin.
She exhaled shakily, her fingers threading into his hair. "I don't want you to."
That was all he needed. The night unfolded in tangled sheets and gasping breaths, teasing touches that turned into desperate grips. "Rishi..." Aisha's voice was barely a whisper as his lips traced a path down her neck, making her shudder under his touch.
"You're driving me insane," he murmured against her skin, his fingers dancing along her bare spine, igniting a fire wherever he touched.
She arched into him, her nails digging into his shoulders. "Then do something about it."
His smirk was dark, filled with intent. "Oh, sweetheart, I plan to."
Aisha smirked, her fingers toying with the hem of Rishi's shirt. "You're awfully confident for someone who just got out of the hospital."
Rishi leaned in, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered, "And you're awfully tempting for someone who pretended not to care."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh please, don't flatter yourself."
His fingers slid down her arm, his touch featherlight. "Flatter you instead?" he murmured, trailing soft kisses along her collarbone. "Because, sweetheart, I can do that all night."
Aisha shivered, her breath hitching as she pushed against his chest lightly. "What happened to taking it slow?"
Rishi chuckled, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss. "What happened to not teasing me?"
She gasped softly when his fingers brushed the sensitive skin of her lower back. "You love when I tease you."
His smirk darkened. "I love making you breathless more."
Aisha moaned as his lips trailed down her neck, her fingers threading through his hair. "Rishi..."
He groaned, pulling her flush against him. "I love the way you say my name like that. Do it again."
She tugged at his shirt, her lips brushing against his jaw. "Make me."
He stripped her slowly, savoring every inch of her, kissing her everywhere, while she did the same, her touch igniting every nerve in his body. His lips mapped her skin, sending shivers through her as he claimed her with deep, lingering kisses. Aisha gasped, breathless under his touch, her body arching in silent invitation.
When he finally entered her, she moaned softly, her nails digging into his back as she whispered his name. "Harder, Rishi" she pleaded, her voice laced with desperate need.
He groaned in response, his movements growing more urgent, more consuming. The world outside ceased to exist as they lost themselves in each other. Tears of relief mixed with passion as Aisha clung to him, and he kissed them away, licking every drop of her tears, murmuring her name between breaths, between kisses, between the wild rhythm of their bodies surrendering completely to the night.
He tightened his grip on her, pulling her flush against him, his lips grazing her neck before pressing a slow, lingering kiss that sent shivers down her spine. "You're mine, Aisha," he murmured against her skin, his breath warm and teasing. "And I'm never letting you go."
He gripped her hips firmly, pulling her closer as he drove into her with more intensity, his name tumbling from her lips in breathless moans.
Their bodies molded together, lips crashing in a heated frenzy, hands roaming with unrestrained hunger. Each touch, each whispered sigh, sent sparks dancing between them. His fingers traced fire along her skin, her breath hitched as his lips explored with maddening patience. The room was swallowed in their passion, the only sound left was the desperate, intoxicating symphony of their shared desire.