Page 117 of Reckless Dare

“Abhi, what’s wrong?” Ava asked.

His chest was heaving and cold sweat broke on his forehead. His body was reacting to the nightmare he often had around the time of his aunt’s death anniversary.

“Abhi? You are scaring me. Please tell me you are fine.”

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he nodded. “I’m fine,” he said.

He pulled her close, until her soft body lay on his chest. She clung to him, hugging him close until her warmth seeped into his cold body.

They lay like that silently for a while. Even as his heartbeat settled down, he could feel hers racing. He knew she was still worried about him.

“I had a nightmare, Ava,” he said. “I usually have these flashes of memories every year around this time.”

“This time?”

She looked confused and he debated if he should say anything. He had shared everything with her except for the part about his aunt.

“It’s my aunt’s death anniversary next week.”

He saw the shock in her eyes. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t mention it to you.”

She looked at him and hesitated a moment before she spoke again. “Were you close to your aunt?” she asked softly.

He nodded, thinking of his aunt’s sweet and beautiful face. “Yes. She took care of me since I was an infant. At that time, my parents were traveling a lot on business and they left me with her. She was like a mother to me.”

“How did she pass away?” Ava asked.

Pain throbbed inside his chest along with anger. He was angry with the man responsible for his aunt’s death. But he couldn’t let that dictate how he felt for Ava.

“A drowning accident,” he replied softly. “I was seven and was around when it happened.”

She looked stunned. “Oh, Abhi. I’m so sorry.” He felt her arms around him tighten as she offered him more comfort.

“It happened a long time ago,” he said. “And I’m making peace with it.”

He did make peace with it. Not with the death of his aunt, but the fact that he couldn’t change the past or hold Ava responsible for someone else’s mistakes.

Ava was the best thing that happened in his life. And he didn’t want to lose her for anything.

He knew he had lost his heart to her the moment he saw her. But it took a while for him to realize that.

He gripped her tightly. A gasp escaped her when he rolled them until she lay underneath him. He looked at her beautiful face as she touched his cheek to comfort and soothe him.

“Hold me, Ava,” he said while he pushed her legs apart and sank deeply into her.

She gasped and clung to him as he joined their bodies desperately.

The images that were etched in his brain from witnessing the death of his aunt disappeared as he lost himself in the arms of the girl who held his heart.

*****

The cool breeze of the ocean blowing over her sweat-dampened bare skin made Ava shiver slightly. Abhi wrapped his arms around her until his warmth once again enveloped her.

Letting out a sigh, she snuggled against him. They had just made love, but Ava’s mind wasn’t completely at peace. Abhi had told her about his aunt’s death.

“I will be gone for a few days until next week,” he added.

---