Saurav looked confused for a second, then realization dawned on him. “The night I came home drunk?” He chuckled, though the sound was low and rough. “A woman tried to make a move on me... If I didn’t have such a beautiful wife, I might have let her.”
I forced a smile, but the warmth didn't reach my eyes. Before I could pull away, Saurav caught me by surprise, his mouth crashing onto mine. He kissed me rough, hard and passionately.
“I’ve missed you all these months, Kavya,” he breathed sharply, pressing his forehead against mine. His scent was intoxicating. “I hate you for putting me through this, but I can’t shake this feeling... it’s like...” He searched my face, his gaze burning. “...like I’d take any kind of hell from you, as long as you’re with me.”
His words ripped through me.
Saurav swept his laptop off the table in one swift motion and lifted me onto the wood. He devoured me, kissing my lips, my jaw, and my neck. He kissed me like a man who had been starving for years, and I was the only thing that could satisfy him. Without breaking the kiss, he pulled his shirt over his head. I pressed my palms against his bare chest, savoring the heat of his skin.
I raised my arms as he slid my gown off, leaving me exposed to his hungry gaze. “I missed every inch of you,” he groaned. He unhooked my bra, his hands calloused and warm. He took one breast into his mouth, sucking and teasing the nipple until I was breathless. I arched my back, closing my eyes and wrapping mylegs tightly around his hips. I could feel his hardness straining against his jeans, pressing into me.
He ran his tongue down my stomach, lower and lower, tasting every inch of my skin. He pulled back just long enough to shed his jeans. I gasped when I felt the scorching heat of him against my thighs.
“Oh God,” I moaned as he slowly pushed inside. I gripped his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as the initial sting of him stretching me turned into a deep, pulsing pleasure. It had been so long; I felt a sharp ache as he buried himself fully within me.
Saurav stayed still for a moment, looking into my eyes with raw desire. He cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheekbones. “I love how much you ache for me,” he smirked, biting my lower lip. “You’re goddamn beautiful, Kavya.”
I tried to smile, but it turned into a wince as he began to move, thrusting deeper. At first, he was slow and agonizingly gentle, but then his pace quickened. He began to pound into me, harder and faster, making the table shake with every heavy strike. Tears gathered in my eyes from the sheer intensity of it. I reached up, pulling him down by his hair to kiss him deeply.
“I love you, Saurav,” I whispered against his lips.
He froze.
The heat in the room vanished instantly. He looked at me, slowly pulling out of me. The sudden coldness made me shiver. I felt a wave of regret as he turned away, picking his clothes up from thefloor and pulling them on without a word. He tossed my gown toward me.
“Get some rest, Kavya,” he said, his voice flat.
“Saurav?” I clutched the gown to my chest, feeling foolish and exposed. He didn't look back. He simply walked out of the room, leaving me shivering on the table, humiliated, confused, and completely alone.
_________
Chapter 43
KAVYA
Only twenty-four hours remained before my flight to Switzerland. My life was packed into a few heavy suitcases; my documents were tucked into my purse, and my one-way ticket felt like a lead weight in my hand.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door. I was drowning in a quiet kind of grief because Saurav hadn’t noticed a thing. He hadn’t even stepped foot into our bedroom for days. He had become a ghost in his own home, choosing to sleep in the cold silence of the study or the guest room rather than be near me. His rejection wasn’t loud or angry; it was silent, and that hurt so much more.
I was a fool. I was the one who had confessed my feelings when things finally seemed okay, only to watch his face turn to stone. With one confession, I had ruined everything.
The clock on the wall ticked mockingly. It was 11:30 PM, and Saurav wasn’t home. For the past week, he had buried himself in his father’s office, returning to the villa only for a few hours of restless sleep before disappearing again.
He finally arrived at 1:30 AM. He looked exhausted, his tie loosened and his eyes bloodshot. He had a flight at ten in the morning to start his new assignment; mine was at one in the afternoon. By the time he left this house, I would be preparing to leave it forever, too.
I opened the front door before he could ring the bell. He flinched slightly, startled to see me.
"You’re still awake?" he asked. His voice was flat, devoid of the warmth it once held. He dropped his laptop bag on the table and walked toward the kitchen without looking back.
"I was waiting for you," I said, following him like a shadow. I didn't know why I kept trying. Perhaps I was looking for a reason to stay.
He poured a glass of water and drank it in one frantic gulp. "I told you not to wait. I’ve been buried in my father's business affairs." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "There’s still so much to do. I’ll have to leave the rest to Uncle Dhruv... or maybe to you."
My heart wrenched painfully in my chest. He actually thought I would still be here when he returned. He had no idea that I was leaving the country.
"You’re leaving tomorrow morning?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Yes." Saurav looked at me then. For a split second, something flickered in his eyes, regret? Pain? but he crushed it instantly. "I have two days of travel before I reach Assam for my new post."