Page 33 of Shattered

“I’m totally down. I have a weak spot for food,” she says with a pout, tempting me to reach out and kiss those delectable lips, a desire that’s been building since the first day I laid eyes on her. Knowing that’s not in the cards right now, I divert my attention to my plate of sushi and dig in.

“So, I’ve been wanting to say this...”I begin, leaning forward with a grin. “When you first saw me at the coffee shop, I caught you checking me out. I even noticed a bit of drool there—not that I’m complaining. Just thought I’d point it out,” I tease, eager to see her face flush, which I absolutely adore. There’s something irresistible about making my woman blush.

Kavya almost chokes on her food.“You did not just say that!”

“I like being honest,”I shrug, feigning innocence.

“Please, don’t get ahead of yourself. I wasn’t checking you out;I was more annoyed at the way you were staring at me. So, technically, you were the one doing all the ogling!” she snorts, pointing her fork at me.

I tilt my head, “Hey, can you blame me? It’s not every day I meet someone as captivating as you.”

Her lips curl up in a half-smile, a twinkle in her eyes. “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

“Nope, just telling the truth,” I say, taking another bite of food.“And trust me,I’m not wrong in this case.”

Just as I finish speaking,the waitress clears away our table and gets the main course of ramen and chicken curry rice.

“So, what do you do for fun when you’re not working?” she shifts the topic, watching me intently.

I raise an eyebrow at her.“You mean apart from stalking you?”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a grin tugging at her lips.I can see she enjoys how my teasing flusters her. “Yes, apart from that.”

“I enjoy hiking and playing tennis with my dad. How about you?”

She nods slowly, a smile lighting up her eyes. “That sounds fun! I love reading and trying out new recipes with Sunita Aunty. Like I said, I love my food.”

“I love womenwho enjoy their food. Try this,”I say, mixing some chicken curry and rice before offering her a spoonful.She blinks, holding my gaze, then leans forward, wrapping her lips around the spoon and taking a bite.

“Yummy,” she moans softly, causing my dick to twitch. I curse myself for suggesting she try it, knowing that enduring the rest of dinner now will be sheer torture with a raging hard-on. It’s difficult not to touch or kiss her, and now hearing those enticing sounds. Damn, it’s like pushing the limits of my patience.

Thankfully, the rest of the dinner moves on smoothly, devoid of any unwanted distractions from those sounds coming from her sweet mouth. We shift to topics of our childhood memories, and I find myself captivated by her every word as she opens up about her past—from the bittersweet memories of her parents to the way her face lights up with joy when she talks about her sisterand their shared moments. There’s just anundeniable authenticity and comfort in her presence that grips me completely.The more time I spend with her, the stronger my connection and admiration grow. It’s as though every word she speaks adds another layer to my love and devotion.There’s this gentle vulnerability mixed with strength in her that pulls me in, and all I want is to be the one who brings her joy.In that moment, I make a silent vow to myself—to be her source of happiness,to keep her smiling, and to never let her down.

“Would you like dessert?”the waitress asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“No,I’m full,”Kavya quickly shakes her head.

“Just the check, please,” I tell the waitress, and she leaves.

After settling the bill, I hold Kavya’s hand and guide her toward my car. The drive home feels equally calming, just listening to her sweet voice filling the air and enjoying the sound of her laughter.There’s something so profound about this moment—just the two of us, no rush, no expectations, just enjoying each other’s company.

“We’re here,” I say as I pull into her driveway.

“Thanks for dinner,” she says, removing her seat belt and turning to me.

“The pleasure is all mine,” I murmur softly, cupping her face in my hand, my gaze unwavering as it meets hers. Her nervousness is unmistakable in the way she bites her lip, and the flicker of apprehension that shows in her wide brown eyes. I completely understand her anxiety, but I want to take a tiny step forward. She needs to accept that we’re both burning with the same desire. I want her to recognise that she wants this as much as I do, to feel the depth of our connection, and to let go of what’s holding her back. Gently, I ease her lip from between her teeth, my thumb lingering over her soft lips, loving their softness.

“I want to kiss you,” I whisper, noticing her breath quicken, the pulse in her throat throbbing against my wrist. My heartraces with the fear of her saying no, but when she doesn’t pull back, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.She gives the tiniest nod and closes her eyes, and that’s all the invitation I need.

I lean in, pressing my lips over hers, slow and gentle. She inhales sharply as my lips softly nibble hers. Her hands grip my shoulders tightly as I kiss her with passion. Fuck! She tastes exactly as I imagined—sweet and addictive. I don’t rush; instead, I take my time, tracing her lips with my tongue before meeting hers in a deep kiss. Our tongues intertwine,tentative at first, then more eager, igniting a fire within me both physically and emotionally.

When I reluctantly pull back, both of us are breathless, hearts racing.She blinks rapidly, then shakes her head as if clearing her thoughts to think straight.

“I... I… this...” she stammers.

I drop my forehead against hers. “Please tell me you’re not upset about the kiss,” I say quietly. “Tell me I didn’t misread it. Tell me I didn’t push too hard or too fast.”

“You didn’t. I wanted this,” she whispers back. “I... I liked it.”

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