She gulped a mouthful of water, her mouth open in a silent scream. This was one of her worst nightmares. She thrashed about, trying to break to the surface but Vansh’s hold on her kept her in. “Open your eyes,” his words came to her, sounding muffled. “Open your eyes now!” Her eyes flew open, the whites even more visible in her panic. Her chest felt tight, her lungs gasping for air. Everything was dark around her, except for Vansh. His body was glowing eerily, a faded blue like a beacon in the blackness. He looked unearthly, with a dark smile on his lips, his black robe flowing in the water.
He cupped her face gently, his palms warm against her cheeks. “Don’t hold your breath. Inhale. You will find you can breathe.” She shook her head, gesturing upwards frantically. Her lungs were bursting. He was going to kill her! “Riddhima, look into my eyes,” he spoke urgently. “I will never hurt you. This is magic, sweetheart. I can speak underwater, see? So can you. Now inhale. Like this.” She followed his lead, expecting water to smother her. But cool air entered her lungs, making her gasp greedily. “Yes. Just like that.” He sounded proud, raising her hackles.
“You are a monster,” she hissed angrily, pushing at his chest. He didn’t budge an inch, looking down at her with tenderness. “How dare you do this?! I can’t swim!”
“You can do anything, my love. You only have to say the word and I will make it happen.”
She pushed his hands away from her face, looking around wildly. The flow of the river was calmly carrying them along. Her panicked attempts had dislodged huge amounts of mud in the waters, nearly obscuring her vision. But she could see tiny silver fishes darting nervously around Vansh. It was surreal, this world of his. “I believe you,” she stated, looking back at him. His scar was glowing a dull orange, giving him a menacing appearance. “I believe now that you are a spirit. But this…this isn’t my world. I can’t…won’t be your wife.”
He trailed a finger down her arm, gazing into her eyes speculatively. “Why? What do you have in yours that you won’t accept me?”
“That…” she trailed off, his touch on her skin distracting her. “…is not the point.”
“What is?” he asked, a satin softness to his voice. She kept her eyes on his, the naked desire in them stirring unnamed feelings within her. He cupped her cheek, his fingers disappearing into her hair. Catching her by the nape, he pulled her closer slowly. “What is the point, Riddhima?” He was looking at her lips again, his gaze hooded.
She took in a shaky breath, still surprised that she could breathe underwater. “You are a spirit. I am a human. You are…dead. I am alive. Isn’t it obvious?”
“No,” he whispered, his fingers massaging the back of her neck. “I am more alive than you can even imagine.” Before she could respond, his mouth crashed down on hers. There was a potent hunger in his kiss, like he was starving, and she was his sustenance. It scared and thrilled her all at once. She had never been kissed before…could never have imagined being kissed like this. He smelled like the rain, his earthy sensuality evoking molten lust in her body. His lips moved over hers ardently, urging…demanding a response. To her amazement, she wanted to give him one. She began to kiss him back, leaning into his body in her daze. He pulled her flush against him till not an inch remained. They flowed in an embrace above the silty riverbed, oblivious to everything but the touch of the other.
His hand tangled in her hair, as he took her lower lip between his teeth. She groaned as he ran his tongue teasingly over the plump flesh. Her mouth opened, inviting the tip of his tongue to play. He explored the silken dampness beyond, caressing her tongue in an intimate dance. Suppressing another moan, she pushed at him till his mouth broke from hers. They stood there, breathing hard, staring at each other. “You…you must not,” she raised a reproving finger, her lips tingling from the bristles of his unshaven skin. “You will not do this again.”
The corners of his mouth lifted in a slow smirk. His eyes glinted mischievously. “Oh, but I will, my darling. I will do it again and again till you ache with need. I will touch you till you writhe beneath me, begging me to devour you. I will kiss you till you are as much mine as I am yours. And then I will kiss you some more.”
“You are raving mad,” she whispered, her treacherous heart beating wildly at his words.
He extended a hand towards her, a brow lifted in challenge. “Come. Let this madman show you his world. If you still choose yours, I will let you go.”
Her eyes searched his suspiciously. “Do you promise?”
“No.” Before she could protest, he took her hand, tugging her swiftly up the surface. Her head rose over the gently flowing waters, relief flooding in her system. She sucked in a big gulp of air, kicking frantically in the water to stay afloat. The bridge seemed far away now, the lanterns illuminating where they stood earlier. “We don’t need to go there.” His voice spoke from behind. She turned, feeling imbalanced and instinctively grabbing him for support. He looked pleased, much to her chagrin.
“Does your world only consist of this bloody river and an old bridge?” she snapped. To her surprise, he grinned, twirling her like they were in a ballroom. He pulled her against his chest, capturing her left hand in his right.
Resting his head against hers like they were dancing, he hummed a lilting folk tune. The song played over her nerves, seeming to soothe the coiled tension in her body. She felt like she was in a dream, being courted in a river by a ghost. A ghost who knew some very nice songs, she admitted sourly. “How about a little adventure, my sweet?” His breath caressed her collarbone, sending a tingle of awareness through her. Before she could gauge his meaning, the river swelled beneath her. Like a giant wave, they were thrown forward. She shrieked, gripping his hand for dear life. He laughed, holding her tighter as they bounced like a boat caught in turbulent ocean waves. They travelled through the rapidly churning waters, turning corners at full tilt. Adrenaline coursed through her blood as they rounded another one. It was like being on a giant water slide in the dark, only more dangerous. Any moment, she expected to be torn into pieces by hidden rocks or fallen debris. But if there were any in the waters, none hit them.
Finally, the flow softened again, bringing them to a near halt in the now calm river. She pulled her hands free, pivoting and hitting the laughing spirit behind her. “You nearly gave me heart palpitations! What is wrong with you?! I thought I was going to die!”
“Ah, if only…” he clutched his chest comically. She nearly choked on her anger. The insufferable man! “Then you would have no choice but to stay here with me.”
“You think you are so hilarious,” she seethed, hitting his chest again. “But you are just a sad lonely ghost in a creepy forest, trying to browbeat a girl into marrying him.” She saw his eyes harden but her own anger was too great. He caught her hands and yanked her close, his eyes boring into hers.
“I want to give you nothing but joy,” he bit out, his fingers digging into her shoulders. “Isn’t that what you desire? Isn’t love what you wished for tonight? I am here, offering it…for eternity.” He shook her slightly, a pained expression on his face. “I watched you for months in the village. You were so full of life, Riddhima. I saw you tend to hurt animals, soothe a child’s bruised knee, run around with fireflies. I was there when you wished upon stars, wanting more than this life. I have watched you hug your parents, tease your brother. I was there…when you lost your family.”
“No,” she whispered, a sheen of tears blinding her vision. Her shaking hands clutched the front of his robes. “No, you were not there. You were not…You have no idea.”
“I was…I know,” he spoke in a low voice, sorrow reflected in his eyes. “And then I was with you in the forest. Watching over you. That’s why the violent beasts never found your hiding place. I can’t forget the way you looked when you knew about your family-“
“No, Vansh!” she screamed, the tears flowing freely. She shook him, her body trembling with the force of her emotions. “No, you were not there! If you were, you would have helped them, done something. Anything. You are a spirit. You have so much magic! Why…why didn’t you do something? Why did you let them die, Vansh?”
“I couldn’t, Riddhima!” Vulnerability laced his voice, making her angrier. He had no right, no bloody right to appear helpless. “I can never change fate. They were meant to die that-” She slapped him, her body vibrating with grief and rage. It didn’t even faze him. He wrenched her into his arms, holding her tightly as she sobbed. “Ssshhh, my beautiful brave girl. I’m sorry. No one will ever hurt you again,” he murmured against her wet hair. “You will never be lonely again.” She gasped and cried harder, her tears flowing like the bursting of a dam. She clutched at his back, wanting to be closer to his comforting warmth. He ran his hand soothingly over her spine, patiently allowing her to wail and feel everything she had held back. She wanted to lose herself in his strength, cease to exist till the pain was over.
After what felt like hours, she lifted her head off his shoulder. Sniffling and hiccupping, she averted her eyes, feeling terribly self-conscious after her outburst. He offered a dry cloth, wiping a trail of tears on her cheeks with his thumb. She took it gratefully and blew her nose noisily, turning her reddened face away. “Can you float?” The strange question made her lift her eyes warily to his.
“Maybe. Why?” she asked in suspicious and dread. She was in no mood for any more adventures tonight. Smiling mysteriously, he urged her to lie on her back. She acquiesced, wondering what nerve-racking experience he had planned next. It made her nervous to give in to the waters again, but she took courage from his hand holding hers. She let go of her body, throwing her head back and submerging her ears. The muted sounds of the river calmed her raw nerves. She turned her face to see him floating alongside her, a reassuring smile on his lips. The river was gentle, the waters cradling them tamely. It was almost cathartic to be held this way in the lap of nature.
As she looked at the sky, tiny specks of yellow light shimmered around her. They looked like stars falling down to earth. For a moment, she was stunned, wondering what kind of magic had been conjured up by Vansh. Then as recognition dawned, she squealed excitedly. “Fireflies!” She glanced at him in delight, then stared in awe at the enchanting sight. Hundreds, thousands of fireflies had lit up the whole area, their warm light adding to the dreamlike quality of the surroundings. She giggled like a little girl, trying to touch some of the flickering insects that flew by.
Her breath caught as she stole a look at Vansh again. His expressive eyes were glittering with dark desires. The air between them crackled with a simmering tension. “I want to make love to you,” he stated quietly. She was unable to look away, her pulse thudding beneath his fingers. “God help me, woman. I can’t stay away anymore.” His silken rough whisper was more potent than an aphrodisiac. He straightened, drawing her close and lifting her in his arms. She couldn’t summon even a whit of protest, her arms locking around his neck. Cool night air embraced her wet body, but she wasn’t affected by the cold. She hadn’t been for a long while.
He stepped out of the river easily, the waters seeming to make way for him. The fireflies danced around the clearing, making her feel like a fairy tale princess. He placed her on soft grass, eyeing her like a prized treasure. She blushed and looked away, feeling more exposed in wet clothing on dry ground than in the river. He raised her chin with his finger, making her meet his torrid eyes. “I want you to understand this. You are mine, Riddhima. You have been for a long while. I will not insult your intelligence by claiming you have a choice in this. You do not. I hope that with time, you will come to care for me…to perhaps, even love me. But you must know this – I will never let you go. I have waited too long to let you go.”
She felt a lump in her throat, her heart squeezing painfully. He was acting like a possessive lout, but he had been so kind to her tonight. Kinder than anyone after her family’s demise. He had teased her, laughed with her and held her with tenderness. He had stirred feelings in her that she had thought dead.
Placing a hand on his face, she leaned in to kiss him. Her lips touched his, a petal soft brushing against his. Surprised, he held still for a moment. When he responded, she felt him holding back, trying to be gentle with her. She didn’t want gentle anymore. She slipped her tongue past his lips like he had taught her, her hands slipping past his robe to brush against his abdomen. She felt his muscles contract against her palm. His breath hitched at her boldness, bringing her a pure feminine thrill at her effect on him. His tongue became bolder, thrusting, withdrawing, exploring her mouth in sensuous strokes.
She moaned into his mouth, her hand running feverishly up the damp skin of his chest. It felt smooth and hot, the sinewy muscles bunching under her fingers. “Woman,” he growled, trailing tiny kisses along her jaw. “You will be the death of me.” The irony of that statement made her chuckle, then sigh as he possessed her with soul stealing kisses down her throat. She whispered his name as he licked the water droplets off her skin, his stubble burning a searing path down to the rapidly beating pulse in her neck.
He cradled her body, easing her head down to the thick carpet of grass underneath. She stared fascinated at the intense hunger in his eyes. “You are so handsome,” she whispered wonderingly, tracing his features with her hand. Her fingers brushed his forehead, running down his nose, exploring his deep scar. It was glowing faintly, a mark of the violence inflicted on him in the past. She raised her head to kiss it, cupping his face in her palms.
With a groan, he covered her lips with his, kissing her like he wanted to devour her. In one swift motion, he tugged the sleeve of her kurti down, tearing the cloth in his fervour. His mouth fastened on the throbbing pulse of her neck, trailing kisses down to her collarbone. His tongue laved at the taut skin, dipping languorously into the hollows. Her back arched in pleasure, her breathing escalating into deep, uneven surges. Her thumb brushed against the scar on his face; she yearned to heal him like he had healed her. “Your skin…” he spoke huskily, placing little bites on her neck. “…is like silk. I want to bury myself in your body.”
His hand tugged at the ends of her kurti, pushing it up and over her head impatiently. A shy blush creeped up her neck as his eyes slid down her body, covered only by a thin chemise. He caught the hand she raised to cover herself, pinning it against the ground. He stared at the shallow rise of her breasts, the dark nipples visible over the cream cloth. Whispering her name reverently, he bent his head to press his lips over the hardened buds. His other hand creeped up her ribcage, pushing the chemise over her breasts. A sound of fearful pleasure tore from her throat as the tip of his tongue circled the edge of her nipple, teasing her beyond sensibility. “Vansh, no…I…I haven’t…ever…,” her words ended on a sharp gasp, as he took a nipple between his lips and sucked hard.
“Yes, Riddhima,” he purred, his breath hot against her skin. “I know, my darling.” His teeth grazed the tip, making her breathe in quivering sobs. Her captive hand gripped his tighter, seeking an anchor. Her body no longer was her own, consumed by his fiery kisses, his masterful hands discovering every sensitive area.
Clutching a fistful of his soft hair, she dragged his lips back to hers. His fingers pulled at the strings of her salwar, the thumb caressing her pelvic bone intimately. His mouth occupied hers with amorous kisses, while his fingers reached past the dark curls into the throbbing flesh between her thighs. Her feet arched into the ground, as she gasped at the delicious new sensation. He murmured words, words that she didn’t quite hear as he parted her folds and stroked right where she burned the most. His lips broke from hers, his eyes watching her face as he slipped a finger into her moist core. An agitated moan escaped her. She blushed furiously, seeing him watching her.
“Don’t look at me,” she admonished, turning her face away. His finger withdrew almost completely, then entered her again insistently. She gasped in pleasure, squirming against his passionate onslaught.
“I can’t look away from you,” his voice was gruff against her ear. She felt his lips close over her earlobe, his devilish nibbles driving her crazy. The finger in her wetness set an unbearable rhythm, teasing and stroking till she couldn’t hold back loud helpless cries. “Yes, my love. I ache for you too.” He parted her legs with his thigh, moving to straddle her. His hardness brushed against the inside of her leg, while his finger circled her sex with light fleeting touches. An unknown tension coiled within her, making her press against him feverishly. His eyes glittered with dark fire as he levered himself over her. They ensnared hers as she looked up at him, an unbearable yearning in their depths.
She wanted him. Wanted him with an intensity she had never known in her sheltered life. Her body trembled with the force of her need. If she could have found the words, she would have begged him to join his body, his soul with hers. Hesitantly, she reached between them, towards the hard length of him, wrapping her fingers around the silken base. He hissed in pleasure, the scar on his face glowing red. Unlike before, it didn’t scare her anymore. She knew he would never hurt her. Boldly, she guided him to the damp opening between her thighs, her eyes looking unashamedly into his.
He lowered his hips, pushing the tip of his arousal into her. “Does it hurt?” she blurted out, feeling uncomfortably stretched as he went deeper. He gave her one of his slow smiles, a playful look in his obsidian eyes.
“It is supposed to hurt the first time. But not for you.” Immediately, she felt an easing in the stinging pressure in her sex. Before she could appreciate the usefulness of magic, he moved with a hard thrust, sinking fully inside her. She gasped in surprise, clutching the sinewy muscles in his back. He bent to kiss her, a languorously long one that sent tingles of pleasure shooting down her spine. In sharp contrast to the movement of his lips, he thrust into her with a crushing rhythm, his features harsh. “You are mine, Riddhima,” he growled against her lips. “I will mark you in places you never knew existed. I will throb inside you till the end of time. I will brand you, Riddhima. With my hands, my body, my soul. Like you branded me.” He set a punishing pace, his body slamming into hers as she groaned against his mouth. It was a heady mix of pleasure and pain, the unleashing of his passion calling to the primitive core of her being. He gripped her bottom as he pounded deeper into her. “I will consume you, my darling…And you will find…it is still never fcking enough.”
The wave of her climax washed over her, his words pushing her to the peak. She felt herself tumble over the edge, raking her nails down his back. His mouth covered her screams of rapture, his body still thrusting into her pulsating sex. With a final thrust, he spoke her name, like a prayer, like his salvation… his hand gripping her hips tightly as he found his own release inside her.
“Vansh…” she whispered, holding his powerful form tenderly in her arms. He pressed a shaky kiss to her sweaty temple, rolling them both to the side. His hand slid down her naked back soothingly, his breathing laboured. “Is it…always like this?” she ventured hesitatingly. “Or is it because you are a spirit?” She felt his chest vibrate as he chuckled, looking down at her in amusement.
“It’s like this because we are meant to be,” he told her, holding her closer. She desperately wanted to believe in the finality of those words. She felt safe, protected in his embrace. He was still a stranger to her, a spirit who had declared her as his tonight and brooked no argument. And yet, despite everything that set them apart, he felt closer to her than any other man had been. She felt alive in ways she had not believed possible. Who was he? Who had he been? Why did he want her? Will she ever know?
“Vansh, I-” He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her questions with a stern look.
“Go to sleep, Riddhima,” he told her firmly. “Questions in that pretty brain can wait.” A wicked light shined in his eyes as he looked down at her naked body. He trailed a finger over the curve of one breast, watching the nipple harden in response. When he met her irate eyes again, the vulnerability in them surprised her. “We have forever for your questions. And I have…a lot to tell you…to show you in my world. Rest while you can, my love. I intend to take you on many adventures soon.”
She raised her head to nip his nose in punishment, settling down comfortably in his arms. He chuckled softly, pressing her head to his chest. As her weary body gave in to her dreams, her heart soared in tandem with his rhythmic breaths. Whoever he was, whatever he had been. He felt like home. And there was nowhere else she would rather be.
***