Illumined Desires

AYANNA

It's been several weeks to that dreadful incident, Ikshit was now back home and recovering, his arm in a sling and his movements slow and careful.

I'd been hovering over him like a mother hen, making sure he was resting and taking his medication. I knew I was being a bit much, but I couldn't help it. The thought of anything happening to him again made me sick.

I stirred the soup, my eyebrows furrowed in concentration before I poured it in a bowl and walked upstairs to our room.

I slowly opened the door, trying my best to be quiet in case Ikshit was still asleep, but he wasn’t. He was sitting up in bed, his back against the headboard and a laptop on his lap while Raayan stood by the bedside.

I frowned,walking over to them and placed the bowl of soup on the bedside table.

"Mrs. Raichand." Raayan greeted me, his head bowed at me before I nodded back at him as in greeting and turned towards Ikshit.

"You should be resting." I said, giving Ikshit a disapproving look. He didn't seem fazed. Instead, he looked up at me with his usual maddening smile.

"Mhm." He hummed, averting his gaze towards the laptop again.

"Don't 'mhm' me, mister. You are going to rest now." I scolded, swatting his hands away from the laptop and snatched the damn thing away from him.

I heard Raayan gasp at my brazen behaviour. His reaction was understandable, really. No one in their right mind would dream of speaking to Ikshit in this manner, literally.

Except for me, of course.

Ikshit, on the other hand, just stared at me for a moment, before his lips curled up into a small smile and he reached out for my hands, pressing soft kisses against my palms before caressing them.

I felt warmth spread through my body at his touch, my irritation slowly melting away. Damn this man and his ability to disarm me with just a touch.

I was vaguely aware of Raayan murmuring a polite 'good day' before quietly slipping out of the room, leaving Ikshit and me alone.

Silence settled between us as I stood there, my hands still in his.

"Have the soup before it gets cold." I said, my voice cutting through the quiet.

Ikshit simply hummed in response, his eyes still fixed on me with that same small smile on his face.

I felt my heartbeat quicken at his intensity. It was like he was staring into my soul, studying me closely.

After a few moments, he spoke suddenly, "Come here.”

"No, have the soup first." I said, hands on my hips.

Ikshit chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "Always so stubborn."

He reached out and tugged at my wrist. I resisted, but he was stronger, and before I knew it, I was being pulled onto the bed.

"Be careful with your arm!" I yelped, catching myself before I ended up sitting on his lap.

He just ignored me and pulled me closer, his free arm wrapping around my waist. I could feel his breath on my neck, his warmth seeping through my clothes.

”Why do you insist on being so difficult, Aaya, hmm?” he hummed, his voice low and soft.

I scowled at him, but didn’t try to pull away. It was difficult to maintain any kind of facade when he was being like this.

"Me, difficult?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "Remind me who's the one supposed to be resting because he got himself shot.”

Ikshit just chuckled at that, his arm tugging me closer still. I could feel his heart beating against my chest.