Page 191 of One Hellish Love

When they finally came together, it was like nothing either of them had ever experienced before. Tears slipped from the corners of his eyes as he realized that this wasn’t just a dream—it was real and a glimpse of their coming future. Kashish felt her own tears spill over, her heart full and complete as she held him.

Rudra rolled beside her and kissed the top of her head, his hand stroking her hair.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this moment,” he whispered. “And now that I have you, I swear I’ll never let go.”

Kashish smiled, her heart feeling full and complete for the first time in years.

“You don’t have to,” she whispered back, snuggling deeper into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere either.”

With that promise, they drifted off into sleep, their hearts finally at peace—two souls, once scarred by the past, now healed and whole in each other’s love.

CHAPTER 60

Kashish woke up the next morning with Rudra beside her, his breathing steady, still lost in sleep. He looked younger, more peaceful, while she felt utterly different—drained, pale, and disconnected, as though she no longer recognized herself. Her heart pounded as she flushed, knowing exactly what had caused this change. It was him… Rudra Raheja, and the love they made the night before. The memory of those moments played relentlessly in her mind.

She could still feel the searing heat of his hands on her skin, his touch igniting a fire deep within her, sending electric shivers down her spine. The way he had pulled her closer, his body pressed firmly against hers, his breath hot and urgent on her neck, had awakened something primal, something she hadn’t known she could feel. Every graze of his fingers, every subtle brush of his lips on her skin seemed to unlock desires that had been buried within her for so long.

She recalled how his eyes, usually so guarded and intense, had softened in those intimate moments, darkened with a longing that made her heart race. They lay entwined, their bodies tangled in a way that felt like they were trying to merge into one. His lips had found hers again and again, hungry and insistent, drawing breath from her lungs and leaving her gasping for more. Each kiss deepened, more passionate than the last.

And then there was the way he had whispered her name, low and hoarse, filled with a passion that sent waves of heat throughher. The way he had held her as the night grew still, possessive and protective.

She shook her head, trying to stop herself from dwelling on it too much, knowing if she did, she’d never be able to face the day. There was so much to process about last night. She had never realized that baring your soul and body to someone who loves you without limits could be so liberating, so effortless. Yet, despite the intimacy, she had been so careful in her actions, worried that he might pull away. The fear of touching him to her heart’s content still lingered in her mind, even though it was he who had given her the right to claim all of him. But he hadn’t flinched, not once. It was as if that fear had vanished, and he owed her an explanation—how had he conquered it? Was it gone for good? She desperately hoped so.

Quietly slipping out of bed, Kashish made her way to the bathroom. Relief washed over her that it was the weekend; there was no way she could have focused on work with the constant flashes of last night invading her thoughts every second. Locking the door behind her, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had given herself completely to the man she loved. It felt foreign, uncontrollable, as though she had crossed a line she could never return from. There was no regret. As the water from the shower cascaded over her, she stood beneath it, letting it soothe her aching muscles and wash away the exhaustion of last night’s intensity.

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An hour had passed since Kashish had woken up, and her handsome devil was still sprawled on the bed, lost in sleep. She didn’t want to disturb him. Watching him like this—so calm, so peaceful—felt like a stolen moment she wasn’t willing to break. In the kitchen she stirred her coffee, desperate for its warmth to kickstart her day. Just then, a gust of wind brushed against her skin, and she knew he was behind her. Facing him again afterlast night was daunting, even though all the barriers between them had crumbled. Slowly, she turned, setting the mug down on the kitchen counter.

Rudra stood there, watching her intently. His hair was a mess, his eyes still heavy with sleep. How much rest had they even gotten? Barely four hours, she supposed. He let his gaze travel down her body, reading her every reaction before his eyes found hers again. Without a word, he stretched his arms out, beckoning her into his embrace. Without hesitation, she crossed the distance in two long strides, wrapping herself tightly around him. His arms circled her possessively, lifting her as though she were the most precious thing in the world. His fingers found their way into her damp hair, untangling the strands with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

“Are you okay?”

He had asked her that so many times since last night, but this time his voice carried a deeper need for reassurance. She simply nodded, snuggling closer into his chest. But then, she felt his grip on her loosen, his body tensing in a way she didn’t understand. Pulling back, Kashish followed his gaze to the wall in the living room, where her father’s picture hung. Rudra’s face hardened, and he abruptly pulled away, his expression shadowed by the bitter memories of the past

Reading the storm brewing inside him, Kashish cupped his face, forcing him to look away from the photo.

“Don’t coil yourself in the past again. It’s over, Rudra. We’ve come through it.”

Her words softened the tension in his features, and for a moment, he looked as though he wanted to believe her. He had to. They had come too far, endured too much to let those painful memories destroy what they had built.

“I just hope he approves of me… of having his daughter,” he whispered with guilt still residing in his heart somewhere.

“He will. Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s seen how you’ve taken care of me. You’ve always put my needs and my happiness above everything else. He wouldn’t have missed that.”

Her gentle explanation broke through his defenses, and in one swift motion, he pulled her in for a searing kiss, one that made her head spin. Every ounce of emotion he had bottled up spilled into that kiss, leaving her breathless. What had this man done to her? When they finally parted, Kashish placed a hand on his chest, studying his face. His expression wasn’t torn or fearful anymore. It was calm, his eyes urging her to continue.

“When did this happen? When did you get over it?” she asked, her voice soft yet curious.

“When I was in Paris,” he replied.

Kashish knew that this was going to be a story worth hearing. She walked to the kitchen, grabbed their coffees, and they settled on the sofa, ready to talk.

“Dr. Akash gave me the contact of a friend in Paris—Dr. Scott,” Rudra explained, taking a sip of his coffee. “I consulted him there.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, a little hurt.

“We weren’t even talking for those two months, remember? And I didn’t know if it would work. Fears like these don’t just disappear overnight, Kashish. Dr. Scott told me that too, in our first session. He suggested couple’s therapy, so you could understand my boundaries, my triggers... But I didn’t want you to see me struggle. I didn’t want you to be hurt by my fears.”

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