Author's POV
After dinner, the cold wind grew stronger around the campsite. Students slowly walked toward their assigned tents, laughing softly and rubbing their hands for warmth. The bonfire was dying down, and the night sky turned darker, filled with quiet stars.
Ansh stayed behind for a while, checking that everyone had gone inside.
Preeti stood near the entrance of their tent, unsure whether she should wait for him or go inside alone. Before she could think too much, his voice came low and calm.
"Preeti, go inside. I will come after making sure everyone is in their tents."
She nodded quickly and stepped inside.
The tent was small, cozy, and warmer than she expected. She sat down on the blanket-covered ground and opened her phone mostly to distract herself.
Of course, there was no signal.
Still, she pretended to scroll, pretending she wasn't nervous.
A minute later, the zipper moved.
Zzzip...
Ansh entered the tent, and the sound of the zipper closing behind him made the space feel even smaller... more private... almost too intimate for her innocent heart.
Preeti's breath hitched as he filled the space with his tall, quiet presence.
"You didn't tell me you were also coming?" she asked softly.
He looked at her for a heartbeat... and something warm passed through his eyes.
"Did you think I would let you come without me, princess?"
Her stomach flipped.
His voice in that small tent sounded deeper... smoother... almost dangerous.
He removed his jacket, leaving only his white T-shirt that fitted perfectly on him.
Preeti looked away so quickly she almost twisted her neck.
Ansh sat down opposite her, stretching his long legs. The tent suddenly felt half its size.
Preeti kept pretending to check her phone.
Ansh kept watching her.
Not annoyed... not angry...
Just watching, like she was something he couldn't stop looking at.
She could feel his eyes on her.
Her ears warmed.
To break the silence, she whispered, "It was a great day..."
"Yes, it was." His voice dropped lower. "And we can have a great night too."
He leaned forward and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Preeti's mind instantly flashed to the movie scene Alia had shown her.
Her face turned tomato-red.
Ansh noticed.
"What happened, Mrs. Raj?" he asked quietly.
Whenever he called her Mrs. Raj, something inside her tummy fluttered.
Like tiny butterflies waking up.
"N-nothing..." Preeti said, forcing a smile.
Ansh leaned back slightly, but his eyes never left her face.
"By the way," he said, voice smooth, "I was not satisfied with your kiss yesterday."
Preeti's heart almost jumped out of her chest.
He leaned toward her slowly.
She remembered the movie scene again... and the way the actors kissed.
Her cheeks burned hot.
"W-what do you mean?" she stammered.
Ansh smirked and moved closer, the air between them tightening.
His gaze dropped to her lips.... Slowly before returning to her eyes.
"That cheek kiss?" he said with a soft scoff.
"That is not what I wanted."
He raised his hand and touched his finger to his lips.
"I want it here."
Preeti's throat dried.
She didn't know what to do.
She didn't know how to say that.
"I... I can't... I don't know how to..." she whispered, half sentence dying in her mouth.
But maybe he understood.
Ansh chuckled softly, and the sound sent a warm shiver through her.
He reached out, his fingers sliding under her chin.
He lifted her face gently until she had no choice but to look at him.
His thumb brushed her bottom lip such a soft touch, but her entire body reacted.
Her breath caught.
Her hands trembled on her lap.
"Princess..." he murmured.
"You don't have to explain anything. I understand."
Her eyes widened.
He understood... without her saying.
"I just want your permission," he whispered, "to steal your first kiss, wifey."
Preeti froze.
Her heart beat so loudly she thought he could hear it.
She felt scared... shy... confused... but also something warm... something she never felt before.
Without realizing, she nodded.
Just a small nod.
But it was enough.
Ansh smiled, a slow, soft, dangerous smile.
He leaned in, his breath brushing her cheek, her skin, her lips.
"Just follow my lead," he whispered.
And before she could think anymore
He captured her lips.
Not softly.
Not shyly.
Not like it was her first kiss.
He kissed her like he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
His lips pressed into hers with heat and need.
Her breath caught in her chest she froze, tiny and tense under his touch.
Her fingers curled into the blanket, trying to grab something, anything, as the kiss deepened.
Ansh cupped her face with both hands, guiding her gently but firmly.
He tilted her head a little, making their lips fit better.
His thumb stroked her cheek, calming her, claiming her.
Preeti's body reacted before her mind did.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
Her lips softened under his.
Her breath came in tiny, shaky gasps.
She was nervous.
She was innocent.
She was overwhelmed.
Her heart was beating too fast too loud like it wanted to jump out.
Ansh pulled back only a little, just enough for her to breathe.
His lips hovered just above hers, brushing her softly as she gasped for air, cheeks burning bright.
"Blushing huh?" he whispered with a dark smirk.
Her lashes trembled.
Her lips were red from the kiss.
Her whole face glowed with warmth and confusion.
Before she could even answer, his hand slid behind her neck again, holding her firmly.
"This time," he murmured, voice deeper than before,
"I don't need permission."
He kissed her again.
This kiss was deeper... slower... more claiming.
Her lips parted slightly in surprise, and he used that moment his tongue slipped in with one bold stroke.
Preeti jolted softly, a surprised sound caught in her throat.
Her hands reached for his shirt without thinking, gripping it because she felt like she might fall.
The kiss grew intense, warm, hungry.
Ansh moved with certainty; she moved with innocence.
He pulled her closer, swallowing every sound she made, kissing her like the moment belonged only to them.
He didn't let go until she was breathless, her chest rising and falling quickly.
He pulled back just an inch, his lips brushing hers as he spoke:
"Now you can talk."
Preeti tried.
She really tried.
But the only thing that came out breathless and shy was:
"A-ap... bohot besharam hain..."
(You are so shameless)
Ansh laughed softly, brushing a thumb across her warm cheek.
"You haven't even seen my real shamelessness, Mrs. Raj," he said in a low voice.
"I'll show you that in my room someday. For now... sleep."
Her cheeks turned even redder, and she quickly hid under the blanket, her lips still tingling from the kiss he had just claimed.
Preeti's POV
It didn't feel like the movies.
It didn't feel slow or gentle.
It felt like fire.
Real fire.
Warm, strong, and too close.
His lips pressed against mine with so much confidence.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
I didn't.
I felt my body freeze at first.
My fingers curled into the blanket.
My heartbeat was running faster than my thoughts.
Is this how a kiss feels?
Is this how it's supposed to be?
Why does everything feel warm?
Why can't I breathe properly?
I felt butterflies, hundreds, flying inside my stomach.
My lips were trembling against his.
My whole face felt hot.
My chest felt tight, like the air was stuck inside.
He kissed like he was claiming something that belonged to him.
Hot... strong... almost hungry.
His hand slid into my hair, pulling me a little closer.
I gasped softly against his mouth.
He noticed.
Ansh pulled back half an inch, just enough for me to breathe.
He looked at me, really looked, and smirked.
"Blushing huh?"
I covered my mouth and looked down, but he wasn't having it.
His hand moved from my waist to the back of my neck, lifting my face again.
Before I could even say "wait"
Before I could even take a full breath
His lips were on mine again.
This time deeper.
And when his tongue slipped inside in one bold move.
I froze.
My breath escaped in a tiny sound I didn't recognize.
My fingers gripped his shirt without knowing when they moved.
My mind went blank.
My body felt weak.
I didn't know where to put my hands.
I didn't know how to respond.
All I knew was this was my first kiss with my husband.
With the man whose touch made my heart forget how to behave.
Finally, he pulled back, but barely.
His lips brushed mine as he spoke, voice dark.
"Now you can talk."
I was breathing so fast I sounded like I had run a marathon.
"A-ap bohot besharam hain..." I whispered without thinking.
Ansh laughed softly... not offended...
but amused... pleased.
"You haven't even seen my real shamelessness, Mrs. Raj," he murmured near my ear.
"I'll show you that in my room someday. For now... sleep."
My cheeks burned so badly that even the cold night couldn't cool them.
I quickly lay down and pulled the blanket up to my face.
Author's Pov
Ansh stood, brushing the dust from his pants.
He moved toward the zipper.
"Where are you going?" Preeti asked in a tiny nervous voice.
"For an important call."
He smiled at her softly.
"You sleep, wifey."
Wifey.
The word danced in her mind like a sparkler.
He stepped out and zipped the tent closed.
Preeti hugged the blanket and touched her lips gently.
They still felt warm.
Still felt his pressure.
Still felt the movement of the kiss she never expected.
He called her Mrs. Raj.
He called her wifey.
Did that mean she was finally... really... his wife?
Could she tell everyone now?
Her heart felt nervous and happy at the same time.
She was still lost in her thoughts when suddenly—
THUD.
Something heavy fell outside the tent.
She sat up quickly.
"Ansh?" she whispered.
No answer.
Worried, she stepped out of the tent.
It was dark.
Cold.
Quiet.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
"Ansh? Are you..."
A cloth suddenly pressed against her mouth from behind.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist.
Preeti tried to scream, but the cloth had a sharp, strange smell.
Her vision blurred.
Her legs weakened.
Her eyes started closing even though she fought to keep them open.
And she fell unconscious.
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