The air between them had thickened — not just with the silence of reunion, but something deeper. Familiar, heated, forbidden.
Meera was pressed against Abhimanyu's chest, but his hand only gently rested on her waist, thumb drawing soft, hesitant circles.
"You should rest," he murmured, voice low. "You're still recovering."
"Mental exhaustion," she corrected, fingers now slowly tracing his collarbone. "Not paralysis."
He raised an eyebrow. "Still not healed."
She leaned in closer. "Still not blind."
Abhimanyu chuckled under his breath, trying to play it off — but she saw it. That flicker of heat he tried so hard to bury.
"Sleep, Meera."
"You first."
So deciding to take a shower first and then join Meera to sleep, Abhimanyu headed towards their bathroom.
Water hissed behind the frosted glass. Steam curled around the bathroom mirror, blurring reflections.
He stood under the cascade of hot water, back turned, muscles taut, unaware she had walked in.
Meera, biting her lip, stepped closer — no hesitation now.
She knocked lightly on the glass wall.
"No," came his amused, firm voice. "Out. Right now."
"Too late," she said cheerfully — already slipping the door open and stepping inside, completely bare and grinning like sin itself. "I've made up my mind."
Abhimanyu turned instantly, shocked — the water running down his face doing nothing to hide the smirk tugging at his lips.
"Meera—"
She pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't worry. I come with a well-researched plan."
He blinked.
"I googled six ways to seduce your emotionally constipated CEO boyfriend who also might be your soulmate."
He stared at her, dumbfounded.
She lifted one leg dramatically. "Step one. The forbidden leg pop."
It slipped. She wobbled.
Abhimanyu caught her instinctively.
"Step two—" she tried again, breathless now, "Shower make-out. Very cinematic. Very hot."
"You're going to fall and crack your skull."
"No, I'm going to make you forget you're noble."
He couldn't help it. The laugh broke from him — loud, deep, echoing against the tiles. His hand clutched her waist to steady her, but the way his head tilted back, eyes shut — it was pure, uninhibited joy. The kind she hadn't seen in him since… ever.
"God," he gasped between chuckles, "you're ridiculous."
She beamed. "But effective?"
He looked down at her, completely soaked, hair clinging to her shoulders, expression triumphant and shameless.
"The most effective disaster I've ever loved," he said softly.
And this time — he didn't resist when she kissed him.
The kiss started out teasing, playful — lips brushing, nipping, retreating — but soon it deepened, charged by the electricity crackling in the air between them for weeks.
His hands slid up her back, fingers spreading across her bare skin like he was trying to memorise every inch. But even then, there was hesitation in his grip. A whisper of restraint.
Meera pulled back slightly, eyes dark and gleaming beneath the water.
"Don't hold back," she said, voice low. "Not with me."
Abhimanyu exhaled. "I'm afraid I'll break you."
She smiled, soft but sure. "Then shatter me. I trust you."
The words cracked something inside him.
He kissed her again — no hesitation this time. It was heat and hunger, all the longing they'd buried between therapy sessions and whispered promises. The cold marble pressed to her back as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around him as if her body had known this moment long before her mind did.
Water slid down their bodies like silk. Her mouth found the hollow of his throat, his shoulder, then his ear.
"I missed you," she whispered.
He groaned. "You're impossible to forget."
She leaned back slightly, hands cupping his face. "Then show me."
————————————————————
Wrapped in sheets, skin flushed, they lay tangled together. Her head on his chest, his fingers trailing slow, reverent circles on her spine.
There was silence. Not the uncomfortable kind — the sacred kind. As if both were still recovering from the weight of all they'd finally let happen.
And then, she spoke.
"Still think I'm not ready?"
He chuckled. "You're mad."
"You love that."
"I do," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "And for the record… you seduced me like a complete fool."
She looked up, smug. "A sexy fool?"
"The sexiest."
They both burst into laughter, for once not afraid of what came next.
THE NEXT MORNING
The sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, golden and soft, wrapping the room in a gentle glow. Meera stirred first, still curled up against him, her bare leg tangled with his. She blinked, adjusting to the light, then smiled faintly.
Abhimanyu was still asleep — shirtless, arm wrapped protectively around her waist, the faintest crease between his brows as if he was still carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken thoughts even in sleep.
She reached up and gently ran her thumb across that frown, smoothing it out.
"You look less scary when you're asleep, Mr. AR Enterprises," she whispered.
He stirred.
"I heard that," he muttered, eyes still closed.
She giggled, stretching like a cat against him. "Good morning, CEO sahib."
He cracked one eye open, sleepy and amused. "Good morning, seductress. Did you come to your senses yet?"
"Nope." She kissed his collarbone. "Still very committed to being your favourite distraction."
He groaned. "You're going to ruin me."
"Already on it."
They shared a long, lazy kiss — the kind that had no urgency, just warmth and slow fire. Then she pulled back, brushing her fingers through his hair.
"Today," she whispered, "let's not think. Let's just be."
He looked at her — and for once, he didn't argue, didn't plan, didn't control.
"Okay," he said softly. "Just us."
————————————————————
Abhimanyu was buttoning up his crisp white shirt in front of the mirror when Meera padded up behind him in his oversized shirt, arms crossed, eyebrows raised.
"Wow," she said. "From 'just us' to boardroom mode in under ten minutes. That's gotta be a record."
He smirked at her reflection. "Emergency meeting. One of the subsidiaries crashed the numbers overnight."
Meera leaned against the doorframe. "And what about your brand ambassador? Am I needed today, sir?"
He paused, turning to face her. "You're asking like this is a job."
She shrugged, mischievous. "I mean, technically, I'm employed under AR Enterprises, reporting directly to the boss, who, by the way, hasn't even briefed me properly."
He stepped closer, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. "You want a briefing?"
"Please," she deadpanned. "And a calendar. And a car. And my PA."
He kissed her forehead. "Your first shoot's in three days. I'll send someone to walk you through the concept today — just relax until then."
She narrowed her eyes. "You're trying to keep me away from the office."
"I'm trying to give you space to breathe," he said quietly, gaze sincere. "You're not ready for cameras and chaos."
"I'm not porcelain, Abhimanyu."
"No," he said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "you're fire. But even fire needs time to rise again."
She stood still for a beat, his words settling deep into her.
Then: "You're annoyingly good with words."
"And you're dangerously good at making me late." He kissed her quickly and turned, grabbing his coat.
Meera called out just as he reached the door, "Hey, Mr. CEO — don't forget your asset!"
He looked back, eyes crinkling with a rare smile. "How could I ever?"
And with that, he was gone.