He was waiting for my reply.

His eyes never looked away from mine as he smirked. He must have felt accomplished after asking me that question, and if I didn't praise him for that, it would be a waste of his talent.

Abi's face lit up when I smiled at him while one of my hands reached his chest. I rested my hands there, feeling his heart beating under my palm. This caused him to arch his eyebrow questioningly. I kept smiling at him sheepishly while bringing my other hand close to his cheeks and rubbing the corner of his lips lovingly.

Looking into his eyes with intensity, I asked "Would you prefer my answer in words or in actions?" I winked, amusing him. I'm sure he must be flying in his fantasy world by now.

He gazed at me from head to toe, making goosebumps arrive on my skin with the kind of intentions he looked at me before he purred "Actions."

As soon as he said that I gave him a victory smile and did something he wouldn't have expected for sure. I crushed his foot hard with my pointed heels.

" AHHHH. WHATTHHELL!!" Jumping and fumbling around, he screamed out of pain and got away, just as I expected.

"Not fair Aru "Abi said, still trying to ease the pain while shooting daggers at me.

"Suits you well" I laughed.

How dare he make me go through a hell of overthinking with his silence, and now he expects me to respond sweetly to his toe-curling, body-tantalising, and breathtaking kiss? No doubt the kiss was too good—in fact, one of the best kisses to date. But I can't take that as an answer. If I did, he would continue this behavior, leading us to tear each other's clothes off in bed rather than sorting out misunderstandings through conversation like adults.

"Just because the kiss was good... it doesn't mean that I'll easily let the 'you are making me wait for long' part slide" I said between laughs as I took off my heels and collected my handbag from the floor.

"But I was just saying that I haven't lost interest in you... not now... not ever" He took off his shoes and grabbed the car keys, phone, and wallet from his pants pocket to place them on the table.

"Too late" My response was curt. Before he could protest, I walked inside the bedroom and shut the door after me.

"Aru, open the door. This is not done. I was upset when you questioned my integrity for you. How can I lose interest in you? I can't even process a day without you. You're as important as oxygen for me to live. Then how can you ask such a question? I was really upset. That's why I chose to stay silent till we reached home" he explained, standing on the other side of the door.

He's right.

I shouldn't have questioned his honesty with me, but he should have cleared without delay. I agree that he didn't intentionally make me wait for long in the rain, he was in a helpless situation too. Nevertheless, he could have eased my anger during the car conversation itself instead of waiting till we reached home. Now he must face punishment because I'm too annoyed and not in the mood to be convinced by him. Let's see how long he can bear.

Grabbing the chestnut brown satin gown, which has a deep V-neck that would tempt him like it always does, I went inside the bathroom with a signature smirk, thinking about my evil plan for him.

After approximately fifteen minutes, I came out, wrapping my hair in a towel. I walked to the door and opened it, only to find him slumped on the couch. He got up, noticing my presence, and I could feel his heated gaze on me while I mindlessly walked into the kitchen with a water bottle from the fridge. Drinking water, I looked at him from the corner of my eye and found him still gazing at me with his mouth slightly open. This is going to be fun.

"Go change your clothes before cooking dinner... I'm tired" I said, making myself comfortable on the other side of the couch and grabbing the TV remote without sparing a look at him. He sat there for a few minutes, ogling me, before he got up and went inside our bedroom, murmuring something under his breath. After a few minutes, he came out wearing a white T-shirt and black track pants. Running his hands through his semi-wet hair, he glanced at me before walking to the kitchen. He looked fresh, hot, and eye-pleasing for sure.

I always find his hair attractive. No matter how bad the weather is or the day, his hair always plays a leading role in making him look a lot hotter than he already is.

Many times, I must remind myself to stop staring at him.

Because it's hard to not stare at him.

Thanks to him for not wasting any more minutes, he straight away went to the kitchen and started to cook. Neither of us tried to make any conversation since I was hungry and angry. He knew talking to me during this crucial time would put his life at risk. My man is smart!

I was changing channels to find something interesting to watch when I heard my phone beeping. It's my younger sister - Keerthana, who called. For the first time, I was pleased to see her name on the caller ID, as I had no source of entertainment right now. I couldn't talk to Abi since I was supposed to be mad at him. But all my enthusiasm vanished when I heard what she was saying.

"Hand the phone to Mama."

Such a brat!

"That's so rude, Kittu. You didn't even greet me. Where's your manners?" I huffed, glancing at my husband, who was smiling while hearing me.

"Ughh, don't waste my time. Just give the phone to Mama. I've got something important to ask him" she groaned in desperation, making me roll my eyes.

"Then you should have called his phone." I snapped at her, feeling irritated at how my sister Favours him more than me.

"I tried, but his phone is switched off," she answered on the other side.

"Oh, better luck next time then." With that, I was about to end the call but stopped in mid-air when she yelled in her high-pitched voice. "Stop playing around di. It's about my college. Can you please give the bloody phone to him?"

"Okay, say please or else" and even before I could complete it, she roared the word "PLEASE!!" in such a high-pitched voice that I had to hold my phone far away from my ear.

Having no choice, I stood up and went to him. Abi was kneading the dough with all his focus buried deep in making the dough soft when I stood right near him and said" Here, talk to her. She has something important to ask you about."

Inhaling the aroma of the potato masala curry that he cooked, I felt my stomach groan in hunger. It seems like he already made the curry, with only the chapati left. He looked up at me, questioning, and then gestured with both hands "Sticky with wheat flour."

"Dramatic idiot" ' I mumbled, holding the phone near his ear for him as he smiled and muttered a thank you before continuing to talk to her while kneading dough.

Standing beside him with my phone in my hand and close to his ear, I kept making faces as they both talked about which college would be best for Kittu's fashion design course. They talked for a few minutes before he gave her suggestions for Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru for fashion design courses and let her decide where she wanted to pursue her studies before ending the call. By the time they ended the call, he was done kneading dough, and the gravy was already ready.

"You should eat. I'll make chapati hot and fresh" he suggested when I was about to leave the kitchen. I nodded and went back to put his and my phones in charge, then came back to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, he made chapati, asked me to serve myself, and began with dinner. Washing my hands, I grabbed a plate and served myself hot potato curry and chapati. Fetching a water bottle from the fridge, I sat on the kitchen counter close to where he was standing to make chapati.

Tearing a small piece of chapati, I took enough of the gravy and blew on it, as it was too hot to handle.

"Umm, AAAAA" I shoved the morsel near his mouth, gesturing for him to open his mouth.

He looked at me perplexed, but I shoved the food in his mouth anyway and took the next piece of chapati and gravy to eat. I know he's hungry, too. That's why, despite his sweet offer of having hot and fresh chapati while he makes them, I couldn't think about eating alone. He can make chapatis while I'm feeding him and myself. It's a win-win idea.

"Stop staring at me and eat. I know you're hungry too." I spoke while shoving another piece of morsel in his mouth, for which he smiled and began to eat with me. We didn't talk much for the next few minutes as he kept making chapati, and I fed him and myself until we both were full.

After dinner, I helped him with vessel washing and cleaning the kitchen counter along with the gas stove. Being domestic and doing everything together has been our unspoken rule since we got married. However, sometimes one of us must do everything if the other one is busy with something else, yet we manage it well.

Half an hour later, we were both done cleaning the kitchen and left for the bedroom after double-checking if the window and main door were locked. The last time wed forgotten to check the balcony door, and the next morning we woke up with a stray cat sleeping between us.

Finally, I met my second love - my bed. My first love is undoubtedly- books.

It was a hectic day and getting drenched in rain added so much strain to my bones that I just wanted to embrace sleep now.

But my husband had other plans, as he kept watching me with his eyes as wide as an umbrella when I laid on my side of the bed, pulled the duvet over me, and turned off the light.

"Are you really going to sleep?" I heard him asking in his softest tone.

"No, I'm planning to play tennis. You wanna join?" I mocked him. Within seconds, I felt the other side of the bed dip as he lay down, and after turning on the bedside lamp, the room was dimly lit.

"You know, that's not what I meant to ask," he said hesitantly.

"I'm tired... and sleepy" I answered shortly with no intention of dragging it.

"Oh, so you wore this sexy gown to sleep?" I heard his hinting question, and I opened my eyes with a knowing smile.

"Not actually... I wore this because I wanted to appear sexy in someone's dream." I giggled, thinking about how silly I could be at times. But my giggles only lasted for a few seconds as I was abruptly pulled close to him, making me gasp.

Surrounding his arms around me securely, Abi warned me in his dangerously deep voice. "That someone better be me, or you're going to regret saying it in many positions tonight."

" Shut up." That's all I could think of as a comeback, for which he cackled, tightening his grip on me. The room was so dim, cool, and extremely calm that I could hear both of our hearts racing.

A moment later, I felt his face nearing me, his warm breath on my neck, and it made me conscious as I tried to move away, but he held me tight and slowly nuzzled his nose into the nape of my neck. My heart pumped faster, feeling the warmth of his body against my skin. And I know where it is going to lead us. His hands began to roam sensually on my body while he planted wet kisses on my neckline. His touch was gentle like a feather, and I couldn't help but melt under his touch.

" I'm sorry. for making you wait that long. I promise I won't repeat this ever. please. I'm sorry. Sorry. sorry" he chanted while covering every inch of my neck with his kisses.

He's too good to be mad at for a long time.

Every time we argue, or I get upset with him, he finds his way to fix it, and I certainly feel more assured because of his willingness to sort out the issue before we sleep instead of dragging it out for days.

"Abi, not tonight... I'm tired." It was a mere mumbling of mine, and he stopped everything the moment he heard me.

"I guess... you really wore this gown to sleep.and appear sexy in my dream" he chuckled before he pressed his lips on top of my head and wrapped his arms around me.

"Fine, let's just sleep like this," he said, bringing a smile to my lips.

I knew it. I knew he would not impose his needs on me if I expressed my disinterest. These are the times I feel grateful for choosing this man as my husband.

Humming in response, I put my hands on him and held him closer. None of us said anything, but we were both wide awake for some reason. I don't know how, but suddenly I just couldn't sleep like this without doing anything that I anticipated from him.

A few minutes passed in thick silence when I decided to gather my courage and say it. "Abi"

"Hmmm" came his half-sleepy reply that almost convinced me to back up, but I hadn't yet. Biting my lower lip out of shyness, I spoke in a low voice"We can do it if you want."

And the next second, he said something that I didn't expect, for sure.