A X I

Later that evening, after a quiet dinner at a trendy vegan spot India had been dying to try, they found themselves in the bathroom of India's family home. The bright lights illuminating every pore and imperfection.

"Hold up," India said, squinting at Arell's face. "Is that a pimple I see?"

Arell frowned, leaning closer to the mirror. "Where?"

India hopped up onto the counter, her legs dangling as she pointed to a spot on his cheek. "Right there. Don't you have a skincare routine?"

Arell shrugged. "Soap and water?"

India rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh babe, no. We're fixing this right now."

For the next twenty minutes, Arell found himself subjected to a barrage of creams, serums, and treatments he couldn't pronounce. India's fingers worked deftly, explaining each step with the passion of a true skincare enthusiast.

"And finally, retinol," she said, dabbing a small amount onto his cheek. "Trust me, your skin will thank me later."

Arell leaned against the wall, watching India as she carefully arranged the products back into her cosmetics bag. There was something oddly intimate about this moment, more so than their heated encounters or even the ultrasound earlier that day.

"So," India said, breaking the comfortable silence. "How's therapy going for you?"

Arell nodded, surprised by how easily the words came. "It's good, actually. Really good. My doc is great, you know? I've been feeling... lighter, I guess. Like I'm not carrying so much weight around."

India smiled softly. "I'm glad. It's been helping me too. My therapist was talking about the importance of transparency in relationships, and it got me thinking..."

She trailed off, her eyes meeting Arell's. There was an intensity there that made his heart race.

"Do you think this relationship will work?" she asked bluntly.

Arell opened his mouth, ready to say he didn't know, but then he remembered his own therapist's words about emotional honesty. "I want it to," he said finally. "I really do."

India nodded, seeming to steel herself. "Okay, then let's spill. Everything. No holds barred."

For the next hour, they traded truths like currency. India asked if he'd cheated; Arell admitted to temptation but swore he'd been faithful. India confessed to the same, having thoughts of straying but promised she hadn't acted on them.

"I swear to God, Arell," she said, her voice deadly serious. "If you ever cheat on me, I will cut your dick off."

Arell couldn't help but laugh, even as he winced at the thought. "Noted."

The conversation flowed, touching on insecurities and pet peeves. Arell admitted that India's Instagram habits made him uncomfortable, the constant exposure grating on him.

India bristled slightly. "So you don't want people seeing what's for your eyes only?"

"I just... I don't know. It feels like there's no privacy sometimes."

India sighed. "I hear you. I can't promise to change everything overnight, but I'll think about it."

Arell nodded, taking in India's words as she leaned back against the counter, her eyes searching his face for some sign of agreement. He could tell she was trying to meet him halfway, but he also knew that changing her Instagram habits wasn't going to happen overnight. Still, the fact that she was willing to consider it meant a lot.

"Look, I get it," Arell said, running a hand through his hair, which had grown long and unruly over the past few months. "I know it's part of your brand, but sometimes it feels like… I don't know, like I'm sharing you with the world."

India's lips quirked into a small smile, her eyes softening. "You know I'm all about you, right? But I get it. I'll think about making some changes."

Arell sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, I appreciate that."

India's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she reached up and gently tugged on one of his curls, a playful smirk on her lips. "Damn, your hair is getting long. How do you manage to still look this good with all this wildness going on?"

Arell chuckled, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Barely, apparently. I was thinking about cutting it, but I haven't gotten around to it."

India shook her head, still playing with his curls. "Don't you dare. I love your hair like this. But it does need some taming." She paused, then her eyes lit up with an idea. "Let me braid it for you."

Arell raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "You can braid?"

India rolled her eyes, giving him a playful shove. "Boy, please. I've been braiding hair since I was a kid. Sit your ass down."

Arell smirked, sliding down to sit on the floor in front of her. India positioned herself behind him, her fingers deftly parting his hair. As she began working the strands into neat sections, she couldn't resist teasing him a little.

"Why you always gotta leave the toilet seat up?" she asked, her tone light but with a hint of genuine irritation.

Arell chuckled, leaning back slightly to give her more access to his hair. "You're really gonna bring that up now?"

India huffed, her fingers moving quickly through his curls. "Yes, I am. It's annoying. How hard is it to put the seat down?"

Arell shrugged, trying to keep still as she worked. "I don't know, I guess I just don't think about it."

India tugged a little too hard on one of his braids, making him wince. "Well, start thinking about it, mister. I'm not trying to fall into the toilet in the middle of the night."

Arell laughed, the sound rumbling in his chest. "Alright, alright, I'll work on it. But you gotta promise to stop leaving your makeup all over the sink. I can barely find space to brush my teeth sometimes."

India let out an exaggerated sigh, her hands pausing in his hair as she considered his words. "Okay, fair. But you gotta admit, you love watching me get ready."

Arell smiled, his voice softening. "Yeah, I do. Especially when you do that thing where you look at yourself in the mirror like you're the hottest thing on the planet."

India giggled, her fingers resuming their work in his hair. "That's because I am the hottest thing on the planet, and you're lucky to have me."

Arell shook his head, grinning.

As India continued braiding, the conversation drifted to other small annoyances they had with each other. Arell mentioned how she always left her shoes scattered around whatever hotel she would stay at and house as well it seemed, while India complained about his habit of leaving half-empty water bottles everywhere.

"But you know what really gets on my nerves?" India said, her voice teasing as she tied off the end of one braid.

"What's that?" Arell asked, curious.

India leaned forward, resting her chin on his shoulder so that her lips were close to his ear. "How you always take forever to text me back," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

Arell's heart skipped a beat at the proximity, the scent of her perfume filling his senses. He cleared his throat, trying to keep his thoughts focused. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

India pulled back slightly, giving him a pointed look. "Oh, you're terrible. I'll text you something sweet, and you'll leave me hanging for hours."

Arell turned his head to look at her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Maybe I just like keeping you on your toes."

India rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Well, it's working. But seriously, could you at least try to be quicker? I get anxious when you don't reply."

Arell nodded, understanding the underlying concern in her words. "I'll think about it."

India seemed satisfied with his response, and they fell into a comfortable silence as she continued braiding. Every now and then, her fingers would brush against his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. Arell found himself hyper-aware of her every movement, the way she leaned into him, the way her breath hitched when she was focused.

"Your hair is so soft," India murmured, almost to herself, as she ran her fingers through the freshly braided sections. "I love it when it's long like this."

Arell's gaze softened as he watched her in the mirror, her eyes focused on his hair with a mixture of concentration and affection. "You know, you're really into this whole braiding thing," he teased.

India shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Maybe I just like playing with your hair. Or maybe it's an excuse to get my hands on you."

Arell's heart skipped a beat at her words, the flirtatious tone making his pulse quicken. He turned slightly, catching her gaze in the mirror. "Oh yeah? You don't need an excuse for that."

India bit her lip, her eyes locking onto his with a heated intensity. "Maybe I just like watching you squirm."

Arell couldn't help the smirk that spread across his face. "Who says I'm squirming?"

India raised an eyebrow, her fingers still working on the last braid. "Oh, please. I can see you trying to keep it together."

Arell's laughter echoed through the room, the sound rich and full of warmth. India's playful expression made him chuckle even more, but he wasn't about to let her get the upper hand so easily. As she finished the last braid, her fingers still lingering in his hair, he turned slightly in his seat, catching her wrist and gently pulling her closer.

"Oh, you think I'm squirming?" Arell challenged, his voice dropping a notch, the playful edge still there but with an added depth that made India's breath hitch.

India grinned, tugging her hand back just enough to show she wasn't intimidated. "I know you are," she teased, her voice light but carrying that familiar mischievous glint. "You just don't want to admit it."

Arell raised an eyebrow, tightening his grip slightly as he stood up, towering over her. "Is that so?" he murmured.

India's eyes flashed with excitement, and without warning, she gave him a playful shove, trying to push him back.

Arell barely moved as he let out a deep chuckle, catching her by the waist and pulling her closer, his fingers splayed across her lower back.

She tried to twist out of his hold, but Arell's grip was firm, unyielding. "Let me go," she mock-demanded, her tone still laced with laughter as she pushed against his chest.

He shook his head, his smirk widening.

India giggled, her attempts at escape half-hearted as she realized he wasn't going to let her go that easily. She knew she wasn't going anywhere, but the playful struggle only made the tension between them more electric. "Fine, you win," she conceded with a huff, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Damn right I do," Arell said, his voice still low as he brought her closer, his hand slipping up her back in a possessive yet tender gesture.

"You're such a pain," she whispered, her voice betraying how much she didn't mean it.

Arell grinned, one hand drifting up to cup the side of her neck, his thumb brushing against her jawline. "You love it," he shot back.

India's breath hitched slightly as his fingers trailed down to her collarbone, brushing against the skin just above the neckline of her shirt. "Maybe," she replied, her voice soft, her eyes locked onto his.

Arell's hand continued its slow exploration, slipping down to rest against the curve of her breast, his thumb brushing over the fabric in a way that sent a spark of heat through her. India bit her lip, her body instinctively pressing closer to his.

"So, when do I get to meet Ares?" she asked, her voice breathless as she tried to redirect the conversation, though her body was clearly still focused on the closeness between them.

Arell's gaze darkened slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned in closer, his hand still resting intimately against her. "Soon," he murmured. "He's gonna love you."

India felt a shiver run down her spine at the sensation of his breath against her skin, but she managed to keep her voice steady. "You think so?"

Arell nodded, his other hand slipping to her waist, pulling her even closer. "I'm sure."

India smiled, her hands sliding up to rest on his shoulders, her fingers playing with the collar of his shirt. "I hope so. I can't wait to meet him."

Arell's thumb brushed over her breast again. "You're gonna love him. He's beautiful, strong, loyal… everything you could want in a dog."

India's breath caught slightly as his words seemed to take on a deeper meaning, her body reacting to the way he was touching her.

"You better not spoil him too much," she teased, trying to keep the conversation light even as her body responded to his every move.

Arell grinned, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist, slipping just under the hem of her shirt. "Oh, I'll spoil him alright," he said. "Just like I'm gonna spoil you."

India's breath hitched again, her heart pounding in her chest. "You're full of it, you know that?"

Arell's grin widened, his hand sliding up her back again, pulling her closer until their bodies were pressed together. "And you love every minute of it."

She couldn't deny it. The way his hands moved, the way his voice dipped lower, making her stomach flip—it was intoxicating. But she wasn't about to let him have all the control.

With a teasing smile, she leaned in, brushing her lips against his in a soft, fleeting kiss, just enough to leave him wanting more.

Arell's eyes darkened with desire, and in one smooth motion his strong arms lifted India effortlessly onto the counter, their bodies pressed together in embrace. His hands traced the contours of her back, sending shivers down her spine as he explored the curves beneath her shirt.