RYKER HAD FALLEN asleep after their activities from the day. The last thing he remembered was watching Laavanya fall asleep in his arms after he had switched positions with her again and made her come. Twice. They were both tired and exhausted from the day. He could never forget the way she smelt, the way her lips moved when she moaned his name and god, he could never forget how she tasted.

Before he had fluttered his eyes close as the deep slumber took over, all he remembered was how she felt in his arms.

Heavenly.

The moment he woke up, he knew something was missing. She was no longer in his arms. He sat up quickly, his heart was sinking as he realised that she had escaped when he was asleep. A deep weight began to crush his chest. He picked up his boxers and t-shirts and quickly put them on. He began looking for his phone but it wasn't in his bedroom. He rushed to the living room—wanting to call her when his eyes fell on Laavanya sitting in front of his canvas.

He paused mid-way.

She didn't notice his presence. She dipped her paintbrush in blue paint and brushed it against the canvas. A soft smile was playing on her face. She was wearing the same shirt he had knocked out of her body. She wasn't wearing anything underneath and her hair was a mess.

She looked like an angel.

Ryker moved towards his canvas and picked up his paintbrush–that was when she noticed his presence.

"Hey," she beamed.

"Hi," he muttered. "I thought you left."

"I almost did," she admitted, putting her brush down. She got up and walked towards him. He turned to Laavanya and snaked his arms around her waist. He pulled her between his legs and she chuckled at his gesture. She kissed his forehead and weaved her fingers through his hair while he watched her like she was his galaxy. "I don't want to run away from you but..." she sighed. "This thing...us. It scares me. Cameron and I just broke up and I don't think I am ready for anything. I don't want you to be a rebound. And I don't want you just for sex."

"That's okay. We can go slow." He kissed the arm that circled around his neck. "I haven't been with anyone in a while too. It will take me time to learn too."

She traced designs on his forehead. The pad of her finger sparkling electricity everywhere they touched. "I liked hating you."

He chortled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she said. "But I like liking you more."

"Well, that's a good thing." He lifted her legs up and made her wrap them around him. He left a couple of soft kisses on her collarbone and averted his eyes back into her eyes. "Do you like this?"

"Mhmm..." She giggled. "It definitely goes in the pro list."

"Is there a con list too?" She nodded at his question. "What does it say?"

"I can't think on an empty stomach."

"Do you want me to cook something for you?" He asked. "It could go on my pro list."

"Hmmm..." A toothy grin shot on her face. "Can I watch you cook?" He gave her an affirmative nod. She got down from around his hips and began following him into the kitchen. She sat on the opposite side of the counter and rested her arms on her elbows as he took out the materials to cook her the pasta recipe he had learnt from his grandmother. "Take off your t-shirt."

"What?"

"I want to experience that scene from the romance novels where the girl is watching the male lead cook shirtless. The good thing is I can drool without feeling ashamed." Her eyes gleamed under the light of his kitchen.

"You are unbelievable." He laughed and pulled his t-shirt off. "Happy?"

"Very." She clapped her hands like a kid.

He continued making the dish while she silently watched him move around the kitchen, asking questions once in a while. He never had anyone in his kitchen except for Rain. Laavanya was watching him with a smile on her face. They hadn't discussed their future or their activities on his bed but he liked this.

He wanted this.

He had hoped for this.

He didn't realise how lonely he felt in his lavish apartment until the thought that Laavanya will eventually leave occurred in his mind. But he pushed that thought away and poured the cooked pasta in the red sauce.

"You should make a pro and con list about me too," she said.

"Maybe I will."

"What will the con list have?" He showed her his fist and began counting in his head. She remained quiet until his fake count reached ten. "Alright, I don't wanna hear it!" She scrambled to his side and slapped his arm. He spun towards her when she asked, "Tell me what the pro list will have."

"It's a very short list." He tucked a strand of her loose hair behind her ear. "Everything."

cutest chapter i've ever written.