Feels so good it must be love

"These two in a fight they're lethal. Around each other, they melt"

-Richelle Mead

After his talk with Rishabh, Neel was doing his best to figure out and truly understand his feelings towards his wife and what it meant for him to love her completely. He knew that Mishti deserved someone who could love her selflessly, with every bit of themselves, and the one thing he knew for sure with every fiber of his being, was that he didn't want anyone other than him to be that person.

The problem was that amid a brutal war between two families, Neel did not have the luxury of time to process all the new feelings and emotions that were burgeoning and the changes that were happening in his psyche. Between training sessions, gatherings, and secret meetings with his closest circles in the middle of the night, Neel had barely seen his wife over the last few days, which was why he had decided to let Rishabh take over the reins for a day and escape with Mishti to Liberty Island.

He had heard Mishti complaining once that despite going twice, she had yet to visit the crown area because Shruti refused to wait for over two hours in long lines under the hot sun, so he had pulled some strings and got himself easy access. He didn't enjoy touristic excursions as a rule but the way her eyes had lit up when he had told her where they were going was enough to make him feel like a king.

A wide grin had been gracing her lips ever since they had left the house, and after they came down from the crown and were eating ice cream whilst they walked the grounds of Liberty Island, she had stood up on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, "I almost feel like we're a normal couple, thank you for this," and then she leaned in to place the sweetest of kisses on his cheeks.

At that moment, Neel felt his heart growing three sizes as if somehow he was the Grinch and her light and easiness had made him forget who he truly was, it was amazing what this girl could evoke in him. Of course, he only needed to look back at the bodyguards following them or feel the gun tucked behind him to realize that he wasn't a normal person, but for a little while, holding her hands and hearing her giggle every few seconds, he could let himself pretend.

"I spoke to my dad yesterday," she told him as they drove in his black Mercedes for lunch at the pizzeria owned by Sikander's family; since that had turned out to be one of her favorite things to do in the city.

He cast a sideways glance in her direction and tried hard not to laugh as he watched her in the tight 'I love New York' t-shirt she had made him buy her. "What did he say?"

"I think he's getting better and so is mom," her voice lost the spark as she spoke about her family and Neel knew that her mind was taking her back to those painful moments when she had realized her brother was gone. "She wants to visit in a few days," her face brightened up slightly.

Neel nodded, he hadn't told her that he had been talking with her father as well, because there were still some things he wanted to keep hidden from her, not because he didn't trust her but because he wanted to keep her safe.

"I think it will be good for her and for you too," he reached across the gear shift and held her hand in his, he didn't miss the smile that appeared on her face at his actions, and he once again found himself wondering how was it possible that someone as pure and kind as Mishti could feel so strongly about a man like him.

Was she experiencing some kind of Stockholm syndrome?

"What do you feel like getting today?" he asked as they sat down in a little booth in the corner of the pizzeria, the staff as always greeted him excitedly and they even recognized Mishti now since they were there very often.

"Let's see..." she scanned the menu as Neel ordered a glass of wine for them and asked for some entrees. "Maybe we can have a Sicilian pepperoni or a Margarita or maybe both," she smiled cheekily at him.

"Both it is then," he handed the menus back to the waiter and asked for their pizzas. "I do appreciate a woman who can eat."

"You won't appreciate it when I'm the size of a house."

"Nonsense!"

"Honestly it's all your fault," she told him as she sipped her wine, "I hadn't known much about Italian food before I married you." Mishti's grandfather was an Italian man born in Napoli who had fallen madly in love with an Indian woman and while Ishaan had spent most of his life living in Napoli, Mishti had never been to Italy and even though her siblings were always trying to learn more about their heritage she had never really paid attention until she married Neel.

"Well of course," he said with a chuckle. "I had to find a way to let you sink into your roots darling, I want my children to be completely soaked in their culture."

Her glass of wine stopped midair when the words left his mouth; she tried to steady her racing heart as he watched her with a twinkle in his brown eyes "How many children do you want?" she whispered before sipping on her wine.

"Honestly?" she nodded at him. "Four or five."

"What?!" she shrieked almost spitting out her wine on him, "You can't be serious."

Neel laughed slightly when he saw the horrified expression on her face, "You ask me to be honest. I'm Italian, and I'm used to big families," even though he didn't dwell on it much, he realized that it was the truth. Before Mishti, he had thought about children maybe once or twice only, and that was also because he knew there was supposed to be another Chatterjee to continue with the empire, but now things had changed.

"Well no mister!" she said shaking her hand, "I'm not carrying five children in this petite body," she gestured to herself and Neel couldn't help but chuckle at her openness and light-hearted comments. "And I forbid you from having children with anyone else."

His eyes darkened slightly, "Why would I have children with someone else?"

She cast her eyes down and began to fidget with the edge of the tablecloth, "Well in this world most men keep mistresses, Neel, I'm not stupid. I know even my dad had a few slips over the years."

Neel was shocked to learn this because he had been sure Ishaan Khanna was completely devoted to his wife, but then again what meets the eye is not always the case. "But I wouldn't want that to be our marriage," she told him and he felt a surge of warmth spread in his cold heart because of this girl.

"That is not the kind of man I am Mishti. I am loyal to the bone," her brown doe-eyes softened as she looked at him and he leaned across the table to place a stray curl behind her ear, "And why would I want another when my wife is the one who drives me crazy?"

Her lips parted in surprise and desire, as he traced her lower lips with his thumb and she closed her eyes at the feel of the instant arousal shooting through her body. "Don't ever doubt me, Mishti, I will always be faithful to you," he retreated into his seat leaving her shaking and wanting more.

The waiter arrived with their food and the next minutes were ones of playful banter and delicious bites. "I will settle with two," he told her once they were over with one of the pizzas.

"Two pizzas?" she asked quizzically and he burst out laughing.

"No silly, two children."

"Really?"

He nodded in response, "When this is over and Salim is dead, because trust me he will be," his eyes went dark at the mention of his nemesis. "I would like for us to try!"

Mishti felt her heart lodge in her throat at the thought of Neel wanting a child with her. This was the logical course of action since they were husband and wife, but somehow the idea of carrying a part of him inside her, made her body feel all kinds of things, excitement coursed through her veins at the prospect. She was about to turn twenty-six in a few months, young to be a mother and yet there was nothing she wanted more in the world than to give him a child.

"Okay," she told him.

"Okay?" he asked with a raised brow, he had expected her to tell him it was too soon or she was too young, "Seriously?"

"Yeah!" she nodded as a wide grin appeared on her face and once again he felt completely taken aback by his feelings toward this woman. How was it possible that a devil-like himself could be worthy of an angel's love?

What did he do to deserve such love and kindness? He had been nothing but a complete asshole to her. "I can only hope to be a good father!" He hadn't expected these words to come out of his mouth but she made him so vulnerable in some ways that he couldn't help it.

"I know you will be Neel," she said reaching across the table and taking his hand in hers.

"I wouldn't be so sure," he turned his eyes away, not wanting to meet her stare. Now that he had her in his life he longed for a family but deep down inside he wasn't sure he wouldn't turn out to be just like his father.

"You won't" he raised his eyes to hers and wondered if perhaps he had spoken his thoughts out loud.

"I know what you're thinking and you're not your father Neel!" she said softly as she squeezed his hand. The precious moments where Neel let himself appear so vulnerable were very rare, and she found herself being grateful to be the one to whom he was opening up, even if it was only for a few seconds.

"Maybe not yet!"

She shook her head, "You won't be. I'm going to be here to help you." She gave him a reassuring smile and he felt the urge to cry like he had never felt before but he stopped himself. Neel Chatterjee hadn't cried in twenty years and wasn't going to start now so he only nodded and let himself be dragged into the calmness and peace he could only find in her eyes.

Once they were over with their food, he took her shopping, Mishti claimed nothing was going to fit her because of the pizzas they'd just devoured but humored him anyway and let him buy her a couple of things, mostly lingerie. It didn't matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to erase the grin from her face, and right now she felt like she and Neel were just like any other normal couple and it had been the perfect day so far.

When they arrived back at the mansion he went in to put on his trunks while she sat at the edge of the pool, scrolling through her social media, sipping a glass of strawberry lemonade from the pitcher Mrs. Sudha had made for them.

Mishti felt relaxed and happy for the first time in a long while, she had barely thought about Ansh bhaiya and her family today, she was feeling like a carefree and in love girl would for the first time and she wanted to prolong that feeling for as long as she could. She kicked her feet in the water as she smiled at the texts Shruti had been sending her with pictures of things she wanted to do on her honeymoon.

"What have you in such a good mood?" the sound of his voice snapped her out of her reverie and she turned to look at him, the sight of his naked torso glinting in the light of the setting sun, rendered her breathless. His eyes looked at her with so much heat that she felt her toes curling inwards and her whole body tensing up with arousal.

"You!" she grinned widely at him and watched wonderingly as he smiled in response. She loved moments like this, where Neel forgot he was the BOSS of all the bosses and let himself just be a young man spending time with his wife.

"Cheeky girl!" he said before sinking completely into the water and swimming towards her. The muscles in his back rippled with each stroke of his arms against the water; he was agile and smooth with his movements and when he rose at her feet, hair damp and droplets of water clinging to his chest Mishti felt the pull between her legs stronger than ever.

"Damn you're hot!" she muttered unable to contain herself, her phone long forgotten at her side while she ogled the fine specimen that was her husband.

He quirked an eyebrow in her direction "I'm hot? Sei la donna più bella che abbia mai visto amore mio (You are the prettiest woman I have ever seen my love" The words rolled off his tongue as he took one of her feet and started massaging it.

"Would you teach me?" she asked breathlessly as she watched his fingers working on the skin of her feet.

His lips tipped up in a smile, "To be hot? I don't think you need help in that department."

"Funny!" she stuck her tongue out at him and moved her feet a bit so water splashed on his face. He laughed and raised his glinting eyes toward her. "Italian. I never really learned, only the basics. Mom tried but I could never sit still during the lessons."

"I don't know why I don't find that hard to imagine," he said with a chuckle. "Of course, I'll teach you whenever you like," he placed one kiss on her ankle and dropped her feet so he could go back to do laps around the pool.

Mishti let her body drop back over her elbows as she basked in the last rays of the sun. A smile appeared on her lips as she recollected the amazing day she and Neel had shared and she was grateful to him for giving her such a precious gift amidst all the blood and tragedy they had been surrounded by lately.

Her mind went back to Ananya and how she seemed to be recovering from Ansh bhaiya's loss slowly as well. She wondered if maybe Sikander was being helpful in that department.

"Have you realized something is starting between Ananya and Sikander?" Mishti asked Neel when he Maira below her once again.

"I try to keep myself away from any personal affairs that aren't mine babydoll."

"It's just I think something is going on between them," she said as she looked at her feet lapping softly in the water.

"Does it bother you?" he asked quietly and she raised her eyes to find him staring at her with concern.

She shook her head, "No, I thought it would but it doesn't. I want Ananya to heal and to be happy... it's just..."

A knowing look appeared on his face, "You don't trust Sikander!"

Mishti let out a defeated sigh. How could she explain to him that she was afraid of how intense Sikander seemed to be? Almost as intense as her husband and she had no idea if Ananya was ready for something like that, "I trust him with my life but in other matters..."

Neel took hold of her feet again and pressed them against his chest, "Don't be judgy sweety. There's so much more than what meets the eye." He made sure to look at her when he said those words and Mishti could see traces of vulnerability in his eyes, something he only ever allowed her to see.

"I guess," she said with a small smile as she watched his hand caressing the skin of her legs.

"If it truly bothers you I can speak with him."

Her eyes widened in horror, "Bappa no, no, please," she shook her head, dismissing her earlier comments. "I'm just being silly don't mention anything."

Neel nodded and pressed another kiss to her ankle, his hands trailing upwards until he reached the hem of her skirt.

"Neel..." she breathed out huskily. All senses were on high alert, as desire started to take command of her senses.

"Yeah?" he asked seductively as he parted her legs and placed them both on his shoulders.

"Aren't you worried about Salim and the whole thing with Shruti?" she tried to inquire but he kept distracting her.

He chuckled and bit the creamy flesh of her thighs playfully, "Nope!"

"Seriously?" she said trying to hold a serious conversation with him as his hand and mouth touched her in all the places he knew drove her mad.

He shook his head as his lips continued to trail up her thighs, "Nope I won't discuss any of that today."

"But Neel..." she half whined, half moaned as his head disappeared below her skirt and he placed a kiss just right next to where she needed him the most. She felt heat lap up her entire core as a delicious sensation made her rock back and forth as she pushed up toward his face.

She felt him huffing against her skin, only to watch his face reappear seconds later, "This is our time out darling, today is just about you and me so stop fishing for information." His eyes looked pleadingly at her and since he never looked at her that way, Mishti decided to comply and stop asking questions.

"Okay," she nodded and almost sighed in disappointment as he moved away from her and started swimming on his back leaving her wanting his touch all over her body.

"Good!" he said as he lapped back, his torso on complete display for her hungry eyes. "Talk to me about your business instead."

"Phew I don't think you can call it a business," Mishti answered as her hands played with her cleavage absently.

"Don't underestimate yourself my darling!"

He started swimming back towards her, with his head out so he could hear what she was saying, "The web page is going great, Rishabh knows his stuff." She smiled remembering all the amazing things her brother-in-law had managed to add to her website. "And I think we're going good for starters; Shruti has been helping me she's good with numbers."

"Yes she is!" he smiled at her. "Why don't you let me help you? I know people; I could help you launch it," he braced his arms on the concrete next to her and pulled himself up. Mishti almost had to fan herself while she looked at him because she was sure no other human being could look as hot as he did exiting a pool.

"Neel I already told you why I don't want you to help me."

He sat next to her and gestured for her to give him some of the lemonade so she refilled her glass and handed it over to him. "I know but me helping you wouldn't mean it doesn't belong to you," he sipped as he stared at her with warm eyes. "It would still be yours."

"I don't know," she was still hesitant but at least seemed more open to exploring the idea of him helping her out.

He placed the glass behind him and leaned towards her, "Just think about it sweetheart," he kissed her cheek and she nuzzled into his face.

"Neel..."

He chuckled against her skin and pulled away, "Yes Mishti?"

"What is going on with you and Pari?" the minute the words left her mouth the smile died on his lips, "I saw a bunch of calls to her on your phone."

His eyebrows rose so high she thought they were going to reach his hairline, "You went through my phone?" He gave her a quizzical look, "How do you even know the code?"

Mishti shrugged embarrassed, "I pay attention." She lowered her eyes and started fidgeting with the hem of her dress, "It wasn't intentional, I saw a message from her and I couldn't help myself." She was silent for a few seconds before taking courage and lifting her eyes to him again, "Are you mad at me?"

"No, I'm more shocked than anything," he stretched his hand and caressed her cheeks. "My little felon," he leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips, "But let's not make that a custom, all right?"

"Promise!" she nodded, "So?"

Neel sighed, "I don't know, there's something that worries me about her. When we were in Mumbai she wanted to say something to me but you interrupted us and then she seemed just too scared to speak."

Mishti huffed in response, "Scared? Of what could she possibly be scared?"

Neel's eyes were hard as he looked at her, "Not what but who."

It took Mishti a few seconds to understand what he was trying to say and whom he was referring to, "You don't think..."

A frosty mask settled on his face as he said curtly, "He's been on the top of my list of suspects from day one Mishti."

"Neel I've known the man since I was ten," she said, "His mother used to be a maid at the house there's no way he has ties with the Russians."

His jaw clenched as irrational anger coiled in his stomach at the idea of Mishti defending that man, "It's just a gut feeling."

"What did Pari tell you?"

"Nothing, she just ignored my calls and then texted me saying to let it go. Which only makes me mistrust him more."

"Yeah!" Mishti said looking lost as she thought about what Neel was telling her and she wondered if she truly knew who Veer Verma was and what exactly her sister's role was in the matter.

"But stop, today is about us," he placed a hand underneath her chin and forced her to stare at him.

"It's not that easy," she said in a soft voice and Neel caught himself wishing once again that he could give her more than this life, filled with violence and death.

A grin appeared on his face as he vowed to make her forget about everything but them, even if it was just for today, "Yes it is" He took hold of her and dived into the water with her body clinging to his.

"Neel!" Mishti shouted as she tried to take her soaking hair out of her face, "I can't believe you did that, this is my favorite skirt."

He let out a carefree and throaty laugh, "I can't believe I didn't do it sooner!" He took hold of her waist and in no time he had her pinned against the pool wall, "You drive me crazy Mishti." In a matter of seconds his eyes went from playful to hungry, "Sei il sole della mia vita amore mio."

"What did you say?" she asked breathlessly as his mouth descended onto her neck and her legs opened so he could step into them.

He nipped at the wet skin of her neck as he whispered, "You are the sunshine of my life." His hand went inside her skirt which was currently floating around her waist and started lowering the lacy thong she was wearing.

"Neel - someone might see," she hissed as her eyes searched in alarm at their surroundings. The sun was almost hidden so the backyard was cast mostly in darkness.

He chuckled, "No one is here baby doll." She stepped out of her underwear and he groaned in appreciation as his fingers made contact with the soft hot skin of her center.

"But..."

He raised his hands and pressed her lips to his, "Hush!" he whispered against her mouth. "Give yourself to me darling."

"Oh, Neel!" She moaned as she felt him inserting a finger into her waiting heat. Her legs opened wider as she threw her head back and thrust her chest out to him desperate to feel his tongue on her hardened nipples.

"Do you want me?" he whispered huskily as he eyed her breasts through her now transparent white I love New York shirt.

"Yes!" she hissed, almost moaning with a yearning to feel his thick arousal against her, inside her!

His eyes were almost black with lust as he lowered his face and latched his mouth onto one of her breasts, Mishti groaned in complete pleasure at the feel of his wet mouth around her heated flesh, "How much?" he asked as he retreated his hands from her.

Mishti groaned in displeasure, "Stop it!"

"Tell me!" he said with a chuckle and her stormy eyes opened up.

She took hold of the waistband of his swim trunks and pulled him to her violently, "I fucking need you inside me right now, so stop playing with me and fuck me already!" she unlaced them and lowered them enough to free him

His eyes almost rolled at the back of his head when she took him into her hands, "You have no idea how hard your words are making me right now, I feel like I will explode if I am not inside you right now," he muttered.

"Oh I do!" she said mischievously as she ran her hands up and down his erection seductively she grabbed him and guided him to her waiting heat and he hissed at how wet and hot she was for him.

She spread her legs even wider to accommodate him and once the tip was at her entrance he couldn't control himself and thrust inside. The air got sucked out of both of them with the force of his thrust, "Fuck!" he muttered as he let his head fall into the crook of her neck, both of his hands braced behind her as his hips dove into her with an animalistic strength.

He looked at her and bent down taking her nipples into his mouth and she pushed herself against him, the sight of her breasts outlined in her transparent t-shirt and the feel of her wet and hot sex as his fingers plunged inside her heat was almost enough to make him explode.

"Neel!" Mishti whined as her hands went to his back and gripped the skin there, she was feeling him up, deeper than she had ever felt him before. Although their sex life was beyond spectacular and each experience was pleasurable beyond belief, this time everything felt surreally perfect.

"Do you feel that Mishti?" he panted against her neck as his hand went between her legs to work on her sensitive clit. "Tell me how much you love it."

Her nails dug into his back as she thrust back into him, matching his rhythm push by push, "Oh my God I do, damn it, Neel!"

He raised his head and stared into hers, "You're mine," his eyes were almost frantic and looked feral as they looked at her, "Always mine!" He took her lips in a bruising kiss as his rhythm sped up.

"Fuck!" he groaned against her mouth as he felt the heels of her feet digging into his backside

"Yes please, just..." his hand flickered over her clit once more and Mishti exploded around him, her walls clenching and milking everything out of him. Neel grunted incoherent words as his orgasm swept him up and brought him back down as he slumped against her, his member still deeply rooted inside her.

"Oh wow!" Mishti laughed breathlessly as she caressed his face, "Best day ever!" He dropped his forehead against hers.

"Completely agree!" He grinned. "Let's go babydoll, the day is not over yet."

He took her in his arms to their bedroom, water dripping on the marbled floors as he walked. He stripped her completely at the entrance of the shower, their soaked clothes falling on the floor with a thud loudly before he pushed her inside and proceeded to devour her against the shower wall once again.

He worshiped her body like it was the finest treat and when she slid her hands along his erection feeling the texture of his skin, he hissed and let out a groan of pure need as he hardened even more under her eager fingers. She stroked him from the base of his shaft up to the sensitive tip which she raked with her fingernails, her fingers tightening and loosening around his hard cock rhythmically, taking him to the edge and stopping. "Mishti, don't tease," he groaned desperately as he pushed himself into her hands. She got down on her knees and as she finally took him in her mouth he swore as he arched his back and let out a loud swear breathlessly, "Oh Fuck Mishti!"

Mishti remembered once when she and Ananya were younger they had watched a video of a girl sucking her guy's dick and Mishti had sworn to never, under any circumstance, do that because it was just too gross but right now she couldn't think of anything better than having him inside her mouth.

She was no expert, she had never done it before but she tried to do it like a pro, and from the way, he was squirming and groaning and how hard his hand was pulling at her hair she imagined she was doing alright.

He knew she hadn't done this before and that turned him on even more. Knowing that it was his cock that was in her mouth and no one else ever had the pleasure of having her tongue wrapped around them taking them to unbelievable heights of pleasure. She looked up at him mischievously and he thought he would come right there and then at the look in her eyes. She gave it her all and he could feel her tongue everywhere as she sucked and nipped and licked him into oblivion when her hands squeezed his balls lightly he almost came there and then. He writhed around in pleasure, the muscles in his neck corded over as he threw his head back and groaned gutturally.

She looked up at him naughtily as he twisted his neck around and said, "Stop... Otherwise, I will come in your mouth..."

She simply looked up at him, breathed deeply to take him further into her throat and he screamed as he hit the back of her throat, she chuckled at his response and the vibrations caused by her laugh were enough to take him over the edge.

Neel looked down and saw Mishti's head bobbing up and down around his length and swore that there was no more thrilling sight, "Fuck it, Mishti, you're going to kill me." She smiled and flicked her tongue around the mushroom's head before hollowing her cheeks and taking him almost completely inside her.

"Fuck!" he bucked his hips against her and his hands gripped her hair even more tightly. "Step away doll, please." She made no sign of wanting to stop as she continued taking him even deeper and dug her nails into the skin of his buttocks. "Darling I'm going to come, move." The coil in the pit of his stomach started to grow and when she hummed around his length he couldn't hold it anymore. "Fuuuuuck Mishti" He threw his head back as he unloaded everything inside him into her waiting mouth and she swallowed like a champion

She released his length with a pop and smiled mischievously at him and cutely wiped her mouth with the back of her hands, "Yum' she said cutely before leaning down and pressing a last kiss on the tip of his cock. "Bappa Mishti!" he took her underneath the armpits and forced her to stand up. "What in the world was that?" he asked breathlessly.

"If I have to explain that to you then you're not as smart as you think you are," she said with a smile that earned her a slap on the bum by him.

"Sassy girl!" he drew her into his arms. "Would you marry me woman?" she threw her arms around him as he pressed her to his body.

"Yes I will marry you!" he grinned at her and his eyes shone with adoration for her before he leaned down to kiss her. They remained in the shower kissing before he started lathering them both up and then rising.

After they finished their shower, he excused himself to go and check on some business while Mishti sat at her dressing table brushing her hair and applying cream to her skin. She didn't want the day to end, she wanted to keep living in this blissful bubble where they were just a young couple, where she had married the most interesting and confusing man and the worst of her problems was knowing what he truly felt for her.

She didn't want the day to end because deep down she knew that tomorrow reality would come crashing down on them. Because then she wouldn't be able to ignore the threat of the Russians who were after them or the fact that her brother was dead and that her husband was in danger every time he walked out the door.

"Shut down that little head of yours," Neel said softly as he walked into the bedroom and saw her sitting on the dressing table with her eyes lost somewhere else. "The day is not over!" Mishti sighed and turned around in the chair to stare at him.

Even in a pair of pajama pants and a simple grey t-shirt Neel was still the most handsome man she had ever met, "I'm sorry!"

"Don't be!" he walked closer and extended his hands toward her, "Come, let's have dinner!" She looked at him questioningly but accepted his proffered hand.

He walked her to one of the guest rooms at the far end of the hallway, "Okay this is weird!" Mishti whispered and he only chuckled in response. When the door to the room opened, Mishti felt her breath hitch in her throat.

Blankets and pillows had been placed on the floor at the foot of the bed creating another bed of sorts, little tea candles were scattered on every available surface that wasn't the floor, a bottle of wine was resting on a chiller and the coffee table, there was lasagna, cheesecake, and garlic bread sticks.

"Neel this is..." she trailed off as her eyes went to the huge flat screen strategically placed in front of their made-up bed and she couldn't help the light-hearted laugh that came escaped her when she saw the movie it was paused at, "You're going to watch Howl's moving Palace with me?"

She had once mentioned to him that it was her favorite movie and he had confessed to never having watched an animated movie in his life, and her heart had ached for that little boy who was cheated of his childhood.

"Well I thought I might give it a shot!" he smiled sheepishly. "Come on!" he tugged at her hand and she went willingly as her eyes filled with tears, "Hey, don't cry," he stood up in front of her and used his thumbs to erase the tears from under her eyes, "I didn't do this to make you cry."

He looked so out of his depth that Mishti wanted to sigh with love for him, "It's just... I'm happy," she smiled through her tears and saw his face relaxing before he leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead.

They sat down among the pillows devoured the food and watched the movie, which Neel had to agree was better than he had thought it would be; Mishti couldn't help but think that perhaps he did love her but had no idea that he did. How could a man who had been shown nothing but cruelty in his life know what love truly was?

A lot of people spoke those three words daily without truly meaning them, Neel said he could never love her and yet he did amazing little things that showed her how wrong he was.

While she snuggled into his arms and watched Howl and Sophie dancing on the screen she realized that she didn't care if he ever uttered those words to her because in every touch and every glance, he proved that he was so much more than the monster he pretended to be, and that he cared for her far more than he dared to admit, and that honestly was enough for her.