Chapter 22: Completely Into You

Vidhi woke to strong hands gently caressing her back. As her mind cleared, memories of the day came flooding back and she lifted her head from Anirudh's chest and looked up into his dark crystal eyes. Every time she saw them, they took her breath away. Two irises and pupils in each eye, all burning a deep hue in his face.

"Hey sleepy head." He said, his deep voice resonating through his chest and making her stomach clench.

"Hi." She responded.

She watched him a moment. She had never seen him look so peaceful, so serene. In that moment, she felt they were the ancient worshipers of love, enjoying the soft moonlight cascading through the windows and the quiet of the night.

"You were watching me sleep?" She asked only half joking.

Anirudh nodded. One hand lifted to her face and he pushed her soft brown hair back over her shoulder and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"You look beautiful when you sleep." He said, his reason simple yet still eliciting a primal response in her core.

Even though her muscles ached, her body cried out for him and she pulled him closer by his shirt. He cushioned his head on one muscled arm and his free hand fell to her thigh. His fingers played over the bare skin of her leg and she felt her cheeks heating.

"How did I fell asleep?." She said in a small voice. "I don't remember."

"You were tired after lunch." He replied in gentle acceptance.

Vidhi let out a digh. Her eyes dropped to his chest. His fair skin, like hers, was glowing in the scanty moonlight. Shakily she brushed her fingers over the tattoo on his chest. She felt him jump, tensing under her touch and she immediately yanked her hand back.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." She said quietly.

Anirudh took her hand in his and brought it back to his chest. Her skin was soft and warm against his and he watched her face as she explored the half heart tattoo curved on his torso.

"This is beautiful!" Vidhi remarked.

"What does the words mean? Which language is it?

"You'll know once it's time." He smirked but Vidhi felt his muscles tense.

"Sometimes it feels you are the closest I ever had, and then, at times it feels I don't know you at all."

"Why? I haven't hidden anything from you." Anirudh's voice was light, joking, but there was a darkness in his eyes that betrayed his tone.

"You sure?"

Anirudh laughed emptily.

"Such a curious little one you are."

He lifted his hand and Vidhi felt herself flinch involuntarily. But, his touch was gentle as he brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"Don't doubt me, please. Whatever I have done, it's all to be with you."

Vidhi frowned at his confession. "But what have you done?"

"I told you about the curse in our family, remember? Let's just say I chose to bear it for an eternity so that you could be spared of the sufferings."

Vidhi felt her throat closing at his words. "Sufferings of what?"

Anirudh sighed. "Sufferings of a life without love. Sufferings of a life without the ones you love."

"And, so you have choose to suffer?"

"No Bondita. I chose you!"

Vidhi touched his face gently. She could feel the cold calmness, as his eyes reflected an undeniable void in them. Leaning down she kissed him.

"You're a good man." She told him and felt him smirk against her lips.

"You think so?" He asked.

"More than that. You're good at heart. You put other people and their happiness before your own, not many people do that."

"A good man?" Anirudh repeated with a derisive laugh. "I don't know how many people would agree with you on that one."

"I don't care what other people think or what they say about you. I know what I think and I know you're a good person. I'm glad I have you."

Anirudh was quiet. He didn't know what to say. She spoke with such gentle, naïve honesty that his stomach flipped and his chest ached. Vidhi cupped his cheek in her small hand and her gaze locked onto his.

"Your eyes, are incredible." She said in wonder.

Anirudh laughed in surprised. The sound, like his demeanour, was strangely appealing and she relished in the feeling of normality.

"No one has ever said that before. Thank you."

"No one?" She pressed.

"Most people who see them are in a very different situation than you. No one sees me up close like this in my home, on my bed."

"Yes... Your home... This massive deserted palace...!"

"Bondita, there is much more to it, I've just never shown it to you." Anirudh explained. "There are bedrooms, a ballroom, even a library."

"A library."

"An extension of the books from all across the world. My own personal collection."

"Wow! These is! Why didn't you tell me before?" Vidhi demanded.

"Because I know one day or the other you'll find it yourself. The Library is Bondita's favourite place."

"Anirudh can I ask you something?" She asked meekly.

"Yes."

"You never speak of your family... What about your parents?"

"My family, my parents. My time in Heaven and my life in hell. The creation of the world and the history of humans. Stories of every race on earth and hundreds that died out thousands of years before you were born."

"Don't do poetry with me." Vidhi murmured.

"What about your father? Abhinav Roy Chowdhury."

"Who?" Vidhi felt him almost jumped up at her question.

"Anubhav Roy Chowdhury, Bondita and Anirudh Roy Chowdhury's son, isn't he your father?"

"Oh... That way." Anirudh smiled gently.

"What about him... He is old, and well."

But when on our first day, why did you say that your parents are dead?" She asked but Anirudh shook his head violently.

"No!  He isn't. I said because we aren't in good terms."

Vidhi flinched at his hard tone and the sudden dangerous flash in his eyes. Anirudh sighed and his hand started to stroke her skin soothingly.

"You ask too many questions Bondita, as always... Just trust me. I don't want to lie to you, so the less you ask is better."

"OK." She said sadly.

Anirudh reached up and tangled his fingers in her hair. He pulled her head down and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"One day I'll tell you everything. One day you'll share everything with me." He promised.

Vidhi felt an instant warmth in his words. She held the back of his soft hair and suddenly plunged her mouth into his, kissing him passionately. His wild scent and taste overwhelmed her and she lost herself in his frenzied kisses and soft grasping hands. His skin thawed  against hers but she chased the soft heat.

Anirudh's eyes opened and he looked down her curved body. Her pale skin was covered in a white satin robe, there were red marks on her thigh where he had kept his hand.

"I did those?" He asked.

Vidhi followed his gaze and saw the marks on her. Handprints on her thighs, redness from his rough grip.

"I have a sensitive skin, and you are... You are a bit too strong." Vidhi chuckled nervously, not willing to ruin the moment.

"Did I hurt you, ever?" He asked touching the marks on her neck that he had just noticed... Red marks where he had held her to pull her closer to him.

"No." She held his wrist and shook her head.

"But I bruised you."

"I've a sensitive skin I said, I bruise in a strong breeze." She said flippantly.

Anirudh smiled, a true smile. He flipped them abruptly so he hovered over her on the bed. His eyes were playful and her heart leap at the sight.

"You're so beautiful Bondita, as always." He said dropping his head to her neck and kissing her throat. There were marks there as well and he could feel they were hotter than the rest of her skin.

"So are you." Vidhi responded sincerely.

Anirudh kissed over her collarbone, up her throat and gently bit her earlobe. Vidhi squirmed beneath him, a soft giggle falling from her lips.

"That tickles." She said breathlessly.

Anirudh didn't stop. Slowly he dragged one hand down her stomach and over her hip. His fingers stroked her inner thighs and she gasped at the shock that gripped her stomach.

He didn't lift his head as he spoke darkly into her ear. "Do you still love me Bondita?"

"I... I don't know." She fumbled.

"Why did you say still?"

She couldn't help herself from asking the question.

Anirudh smiled against her skin and slowly pushed his hands up her body, caressing her waist up her soft tender breasts. A sharp noise of pain reached him and he yanked his hand back and pushed himself away from her.

"I did hurt you." He said his words quivering with a suppressed agitation. Not at her, but at himself.

"No, you didn't hurt me. I'm just a bit sore." Vidhi sat up and reached for him but he shook his head violently and stood from the bed.

"I need to be more careful with you." He said mainly to himself.

"Anirudh." She started but he cut her off.

"I have to go."