The Fragile Moment

The car screeched to a stop in front of an unfamiliar building, sleek and heavily guarded. Aksh yanked the door open and pulled her out, his grip tight with restrained fury. His men scrambled as he stormed inside, his presence a violent force of nature.

The moment they stepped into the grand living space, he let go of her and spun toward his security team, his voice like a whip.

"This is the second time," he thundered, his rage like a living fire. "The second damn time they got to her. What the hell am I paying you for?"

The guards flinched but remained silent, heads bowed.

"She could've died tonight!" His fist slammed against the marble counter, making her jump. His breaths were ragged, fists clenched at his sides.

One of his men dared to speak. "Sir, we increased security—"

"Not enough," Aksh cut in, his voice deathly quiet, far more dangerous than his yelling. "If any of you fail me again, you won't live to see another sunrise."

The room fell into a thick silence.

She watched him, her heart hammering. He was furious. Not just at his men. At himself. She could see it in the tightness of his jaw, in the way his hands shook with barely suppressed rage.

Without another word, he dismissed them.

The doors closed behind the last guard, leaving them alone.

The tension in the room didn't fade. If anything, it thickened, coiling between them like an unspoken force.

His back was still to her, his shoulders heaving as he tried to steady his breathing.

She stepped forward hesitantly. "Aksh—"

"I could've lost you."

His voice was raw, filled with something dangerously close to agony.

She barely had time to process before he turned and closed the distance between them in two strides.

His hands cupped her face, his touch rough, desperate. His forehead pressed against hers, his breath warm and uneven.

"I can't…" He exhaled shakily. "I can't lose you."

Her heart clenched.

"You won't," she whispered, reaching up to cradle his face in her palms. "I'm right here."

His grip tightened, his thumb brushing over the faint mark on her throat where the knife had pressed. A muscle in his jaw ticked. "They touched you." His voice was hoarse. "They dared to lay a hand on you."

She shivered, not from fear—but from the intensity in his eyes.

Dark. Possessive. Wild.

Then, before she could speak, he kissed her.

It wasn't soft.

It was raw, fierce—a claim. A silent vow.

Her hands fisted into his shirt as he backed her against the wall, his body pressing into hers, heat radiating between them. His lips moved with urgency, as if trying to erase the fear, the danger, the memory of what had happened tonight.

She melted into him, her own desperation matching his.

Because tonight, she had nearly lost him too.

And neither of them could afford to waste another moment.

Aksh's breath was ragged as he hovered over her, his forehead pressing against hers. His hands trembled slightly where they rested on her waist, his fingers tightening as if anchoring himself.

Then, just as the last thread of distance between them was about to snap—he stopped.

A sharp exhale left his lips, his muscles going taut.

She blinked up at him, confusion flickering in her gaze. "Aksh?"

His jaw clenched, his eyes squeezing shut for a moment before he pulled away, shifting to sit on the edge of the bed. His hands ran over his face, fingers raking through his hair as he exhaled deeply.

She sat up, her pulse still unsteady. "Did I—?"

"No." His voice was hoarse. "It's not you."

He turned to face her, his expression torn between frustration and restraint. His thumb brushed her cheek, his touch still gentle despite the storm raging inside him.

"I want you," he admitted, his voice rough with emotion. "More than I've ever wanted anything in my life." His eyes darkened, his grip tightening ever so slightly. "But not like this. Not tonight. Not when you're still shaken. Not when I'm this—" He exhaled sharply. "This angry. This reckless."

She swallowed, her chest tightening at the raw honesty in his words.

He leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead, his lips warm against her skin. "You deserve more than a moment fueled by fear and adrenaline." His voice dropped to a whisper. "When I have you, I want it to be because you trust me completely. Because you're safe. Because you choose me, without hesitation."

Her heart clenched.

She cupped his face, tilting it toward her. "I do trust you, Aksh."

His throat bobbed, his eyes searching hers for something—reassurance, control, maybe even salvation.

A bitter chuckle left his lips. "Then trust me to do this right."

She didn't argue. She only nodded, her fingers tracing the edge of his jaw before she leaned into his warmth.

Aksh sighed, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. They stayed like that, tangled in each other, listening to the sound of their breaths slowing, of hearts still racing but steadying.

And as the night stretched on, she realized—this wasn't him rejecting her.

This was him protecting something fragile, something sacred.

Them.