Chapter 36

Kabir woke up to warmth. The kind that settled deep in his bones wrapped around him in a way that made him forget anything existed outside this room. The one that you get only by being next to her.

Aria was curled against him, her body pressed to his like she belonged there. Her breath was slow and steady, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that matched his own. The oversized sweatshirt he had pulled over her last night had ridden up just enough for his fingers to brush over the bare skin of her waist, a teasing contrast between soft and warm. He flexed his hand slightly, feeling the way she moved against him, how natural it felt.

The thought crept in—the part of him that was used to questioning everything, the part that expected good things to slip through his fingers before he could hold on too tight.

But then Aria sighed in her sleep, shifting closer, and the doubt vanished.

Because this—waking up to her, with her—felt too damn real to be anything but right.

For the first time in a long time, he let himself just have this. He let himself sink into her comfort against him, her scent, and the weight of her leg draped over his. He let himself imagine that this wasn't temporary, that this wasn't just a moment he'd look back on.

His fingers moved slowly over her skin, tracing idle patterns, memorizing every dip and curve. Then, unable to stop himself, he dipped his head, pressing a soft, lazy kiss to her shoulder. Then another. And another.

She stirred slightly, a faint hum slipping past her lips, but she didn't wake.

Not yet.

He smirked against her skin. He could fix that.

His kisses trailed lower, his mouth mapping the curve of her spine, the dip of her waist. He moved like he had all the time in the world, savoring the way she shivered beneath his touch. When he reached the inside of her thigh, he paused, exhaling a warm breath against her skin before pressing his mouth to the sensitive spot.

Aria's fingers twitched against the sheets, a breathy sound escaping her lips.

Still half-asleep.

Perfect.

He dragged his tongue along the inside of her thigh, moving excruciatingly slow, his grip tightening on her hips when she instinctively tilted toward him.

A soft whimper.

His mouth curved against her skin.

Then he tasted her.

Her back arched off the bed, her fingers immediately tangling in his hair as her breath caught in her throat.

"Kabir—"

"Morning, sweetheart," he murmured against her, his voice thick with sleep, with amusement, with something much deeper.

She gasped, her thighs trembling as he worked her open, his tongue moving slow and deep, taking his time pulling her into full consciousness with pleasure alone.

He could stay here forever.

And fuck, she tasted so good. Like sin. Like something he would never get enough of.

Aria's body tightened, her hips rocking forward, and he groaned, gripping her harder, dragging her through wave after wave until she shattered beneath him.

Her breathing was ragged as he kissed his way back up, pressing his lips to her stomach, her ribs, the softest part of her throat. He didn't stop until he was hovering over her, his forehead resting against hers.

"Should I give you all of me now?" he murmured, his voice hoarse, his body wound too damn tight with restraint.

Her fingers trailed down his arms, her nails scraping lightly against his skin. Then she nodded, breathless.

Kabir grabbed the condom from the bedside table, rolling it on slowly, deliberately, his eyes never leaving hers. He wanted her to see. To know exactly how much he needed this. How much he needed her.

He was about to pull her beneath him when Aria's hands flattened against his chest.

And then she flipped them over.

Kabir let out a gruff, surprised sound, his head falling back against the pillows as she straddled him.

His hands shot to her hips, gripping hard, but before he could do a damn thing, she grabbed his wrists, pinning them down against the mattress.

"Not this time," she whispered, a wicked smirk playing at her lips.

Kabir let out a low, wrecked laugh. His jaw clenched, his muscles coiling tight as she sank down onto him, inch by inch, watching him completely unravel beneath her.

"Fuck," he gritted out, his fingers twitching against the sheets.

She moved slow at first, teasing, torturing, making him completely lose his mind. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his head pressing deeper into the pillow as he struggled not to take over, not to flip them again and pin her to the bed and ruin her.

But then she moaned—a sweet, breathy, sinful sound—and he was gone.

His hips snapped up to meet hers, his hands flying to her waist, guiding her, matching her, pushing her higher.

The world blurred around them. There was only heat, only pleasure, only the sound of their breathing tangled together.

And when they both shattered, it was together.

Aria collapsed against his chest, breathless, shaking, still completely tangled in him.

Kabir's hand slid lazily up her back, his lips pressing to her temple, her jaw, her lips.

"You're not going anywhere, Aria," he murmured, his voice hoarse, raw. "Not now. Not ever."

She was silent for a second.

Then, softer than he expected, steadier than he was ready for—

"Then don't let me go, Kabir."

His fingers tightened against her skin.

He wouldn't.

He fucking wouldn't.

Aria let out a soft hum of contentment, pressing her face into his neck, completely at ease.

And for the first time, so was he.

Kabir sat at the breakfast table by the pool, watching as Aria stretched, her body still loose and relaxed from everything they'd done earlier. The sun cast a golden glow over her, illuminating the still-damp strands of her hair, and he couldn't look away. She was breathtaking but more than that—she was his.

She reached for a croissant, smirking as she broke off a piece. "We sure worked up an appetite," she mused, her voice teasing, knowing.

Kabir huffed out a low laugh, shaking his head. "A little brat, that's what you are."

"Mm," she hummed, taking a slow bite, licking a stray crumb from her lips. "You love it."

Yeah. He did.

They sat too close, their legs brushing under the table, the warmth of the morning lingering between them. The resort staff had set up an elaborate breakfast spread—fresh fruit, eggs, coffee, pastries—but Kabir didn't care about any of it. Not when Aria was sitting next to him, looking as satisfied and radiant as she did.

He had barely taken his first sip of coffee when Aisha appeared.

She took one look at them, her gaze flicking between the way they sat too close, how relaxed they looked, how Kabir—who was usually buttoned-up and composed—was sitting there in just linen pants, completely at ease.

And then, she smirked.

"Well, well…" Aisha crossed her arms, clearly amused. "Looks like you two had a great morning."

Kabir didn't even hesitate. He just smirked back.

Aria laughed, shaking her head, completely unbothered.

Aisha was still watching them, looking far too pleased with herself.

She opened her mouth—probably to make another snide remark—but Kabir cut her off.

"Cancel everything," he said smoothly, reaching for his coffee.

Silence.

Aria froze mid-bite.

Aisha blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

Kabir, unbothered, leaned back in his chair, watching Aria with a lazy smirk. "I'd rather spend the day with you."

Aria's brows lifted. "Kabir, we both have work."

He sighed, reluctant. "Fine." Then, looking at Aisha, "Bring everything here."

Aisha narrowed her eyes. "You expect me to bring an entire day's worth of work to the poolside like this is some honeymoon?"

Kabir's smirk deepened. "Did I stutter? Also, if we were honeymooning, I'd say goodbye to work."

Aisha stared at him for a second, then shook her head, looking at Aria like she had personally tamed a beast.

"Wow," she muttered, crossing her arms. "You really are good for him."

Kabir just grinned into his coffee.

Aria laughed, rolling her eyes. "Just bring the damn work, Aisha."

Aisha lifted her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But don't expect me to pretend I don't see all of this."

She turned to leave, still muttering under her breath.

Just before she was out of earshot, Kabir leaned in, his voice low and devastating in Aria's ear.

"Though, if we're being honest, sweetheart… we should've had breakfast in bed. You would've been on top there too."

Aria choked on her coffee, her head snapping toward him, eyes wide with mortification.

Kabir, completely unrepentant, sipped his own coffee, watching her with a lazy, infuriatingly smug expression.

Aisha paused, glanced over her shoulder, rolled her eyes, and kept walking.

"God, cringe" she muttered.

Aria glared at Kabir.

"You're lucky I like you, Mr. Oberoi."

Kabir just grinned. "I'm very lucky, sweetheart."

She groaned, tearing off a piece of her croissant and throwing it at him.

Kabir caught it effortlessly, popped it into his mouth, and winked.

And just like that, the morning moved forward.

Like this was normal.

Like this was how it was supposed to be.