Page 23 of Since You Came Along

‘I asked Siya once,’ Meera said, sipping her tea. ‘All she said was they’ve met before and to drop it. Then she walked out of the room.’

Raghav laughed. ‘At least you got a reply. I asked Abhay, and he punched me in the shoulder. That’s his way of warning me to back off.’

‘That sounds like him,’ Meera said, shaking her head with a laugh.

By the time they decided to head back home, it was well past two in the morning. The scent of the sea mixed with the lingering promise of rain.

The breeze tugged at Meera, and she shivered. As they walked, Raghav reached out and took her hand. She didn’t pull away, too engrossed in telling him a story about how she’d chosen to be a professor.

‘And that’s when I knew teaching was what I wanted to do,’ she said, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles. ‘It just felt… right.’

‘That’s how I felt about playing the guitar. I spent most evenings practising. Abhay hated it at first, but once I dragged him to classes, he got hooked. Now he plays the piano better than I play the guitar.’

‘You two go way back, don’t you?’ Meera asked, glancing at him.

‘Yeah,’ he said, nodding. ‘He’s like a brother to me. He has been my rock through thick and thin.’

‘Abhay is a great guy,’ Meera said with a grin. ‘I like him.’

Raghav smirked. ‘He likes you too.’

‘Well, obviously. He’s smart,’ she quipped.

Before she could say more, Raghav tugged her hand, pulling her towards him. The movement caught her off guard, and she stumbled, flush against his chest. One of his arms slipped around her waist, steadying her.

‘I like you too,’ he murmured, his voice low and steady.

The world seemed to pause. The soft drizzle of rain that had started moments ago grew heavier, cold droplets landing on them. Meera could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm, strong and reassuring. Her breath hitched as she looked up at him, raindrops clinging to his hair.

She said cheekily, ‘Thank God for that. It’d be so awkward if you didn’t, considering I’m your wife.’

Raghav smirked, his burning gaze never leaving hers. ‘Is that so?’ he asked, his husky voice making her shiver with need.

Raindrops from his hair fell onto her nose and lips, and his eyes followed their path. Her breath caught as he pulled her closer, and for a moment, she wondered if time had stopped altogether.

‘Mhm.’

‘Well then,’ Raghav murmured, his voice smoky and husky as his thumb brushed along her jawline, stopping to graze herlower lip. ‘What would my wife say if I told her I really, really want to kiss her?’

Her breath hitched at the touch of his thumb pressing on her lip. The sensation sent a spark through her, spreading a warmth to her core. She felt her cheeks flush as his hooded eyes bore into hers, filled with a longing that made her heart race.

‘She’d say do it already,’ she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft patter of rain.

That was all Raghav needed to hear. His gaze flickered to her lips before his hand cradled her cheek, his palm warm against her cool skin. Slowly, he leaned in, closing the space between them until his lips brushed hers in a featherlight kiss. It was tender, almost reverent, as if he were savouring the moment.

He kissed her softly at first, his lips moving with deliberate care, but his restraint was a fragile thread. He didn’t want to overwhelm her. Yet when he pulled back, his name escaped her lips in a breathless protest and the restraint snapped.

He pulled her against him, one hand tangling in her damp hair, the other slipping around her waist to hold her tighter. His lips captured hers again, this time with an urgency that set her senses ablaze. He poured every unspoken word and feeling into the demanding kiss.

Meera responded fervently, her fingers clutching his shirt, and her nails dug into his back as if she couldn’t bear to let him go. When Raghav bit her lip, she let out a soft moan that sent shivers racing down his spine. He groaned, deep and guttural, as the kiss deepened, their breaths mingling in the cool night air.

But then, somewhere behind them, a sharp whistle pierced the haze of their moment.

Raghav stiffened and broke the kiss, twisting to see who had interrupted. His eyes scanned the darkness, his heart hammering. Without waiting to explain, he grabbed her hand and said, ‘Run!’

‘Raghav, what—’ she began, but he didn’t let her finish.

‘Just run!’ he urged, tugging her along as they darted through the rain.

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