Author's note: 18+! 👻

~~~

In less than ten minutes she got ready and checked herself in the mirror. She tied her hair in a ponytail with the help of a claw clip. The minimal makeup she could manage was lipstick and a pair of jade earrings which was a gift from her mother-in-law, Priyasha.

As she came out of the house, sure enough, there was a car waiting for her outside. Rafi was standing beside the car, waiting as well. As he noticed her, he said, "Sunny sir asked me to accompany you."

She blinked and nodded before climbing into the car. Rafi too got inside, beside the driver, as the engine came to life. The car rolled off the driveway and drove away from Ishani. The obscurity of the whole incident was scaring her as they ran through the streets to some unknown place. But at the same time, she felt thrilled. She didn't have any idea what surprise awaited her, but she had faith in her husband's way of dealing things. He mostly worked alone, but he had the capability to get several works done at the same time.

The car ride was mostly silent. She occasionally asked Rafi questions relating to the place they were going and he only answered he didn't have permission to talk about it.

She found it frustrating, but she maintained her composure in front of the other two.

An hour later, the car slid through the driveway of an old building. Shreya looked out the window and took in the exterior.

The building was nearly in a derelict state. The architecture clearly telling of its birth time, which was minimum a hundred years ago. The age-old pillars holding on the three-story building's weight. Cements had come off at several places, showing the red bricks underneath. The front yard had two mango trees, whose branches were reaching multiple windows of the second and third floor. Most of the window panes were broken. At one side of the house, there were some raw construction materials gathered. A motorbike was parked just beside it.

Shreya blinked, aghast. Where on earth was this place? And why was she even here?

She noticed Sunny and Neil waiting outside the front door. As the car came to a halt, he reached for the handle and opened the car's door for her.

"What's this place? And... where's he?" She asked as soon as she got out the car. Rafi followed suit.

"He's on the terrace. Go through this door and turn left. You'll see the stairs. Don't stop climbing until you reach the terrace. And..." he held out a torch. "Take this. You'll need it."

She stared at him mouth gaped. "What is going on? I don't understand."

"Me neither." Sunny shook his head animatedly. "I don't understand things that go on in his head most of the time. I just did as I was asked. I'm leaving now and taking this car with me." He went on breathlessly. "But, don't worry. It'll be back in two hours, most likely." He looked down at his watch and exclaimed, "Oh! It's really late. I'm off. Bye. Oh! And this." He pulled out Abhimanyu's phone from his pocket and shoved it into her hand. "Okay, bye-bye."

He climbed into the car hurriedly and waved at her while the car left the vicinity in a quick blur, leaving her standing there flabbergasted. What the hell!

She turned around. Rafi and Neil were discussing about who was keeping an eye on which side of the building while checking on their radium dial watch.

She huffed then asked, "Am I supposed to go there alone?"

Both men turned their heads towards her making her flush. Neil answered shortly, "Yes ma'am. We'll be surveying the surroundings and keeping a watch until the car comes back."

She sighed and looked down at her hands, one hand holding the torch and another holding Abhimanyu's phone along with the handles of her handbag. She closed her eyes for a moment. This was beyond expectation. Not that she was afraid of the dark, but the place was unknown to her. She didn't know what to expect once she entered the house. There could be anything lurking in the dark. Rats or moles or anything bigger than them. She inhaled deeply then opened her eyes and looked up. Apart from the two standing silhouettes of Neil and Rafi, she could see nothing. Great!

Huffing, she set off to go into the house. The door was already open. As she entered the house, all her courage left her whole being. It was pitch-black darkness inside. Her inside quivered as she stepped ahead. Whatever happened to the electricity, it made things more difficult.

"Abhimanyu?" She called out while switching on the torch.

There was no answer. Was it some kind of prank? But Abhimanyu was not someone who'd pull a prank on somebody. She moved the ray to the left and noticed the stairs some ten feet away. The stairs had no support underneath them, a brilliant work of old architecture.

She moved ahead carefully, vigilant of the eerie surrounding and reached the stairs. Her heart was beating so fast. Why on earth he'd call her inside this broken architecture? Could it be the property that was scheduled for auction today? It was the only possible place she could think of right now. Palpitations caused her to break out in a sweat. A scraping noise came flying in from her right side all of a sudden. She shrieked and jumped in alarm. Hastily, she moved the torch towards the right, but saw nothing.

Goodness gracious!

"Abhimanyu!" She called out, a little louder. "This is not fun! Abhimanyu?" She quickly climbed the stairs and didn't stop at anything until reaching the top. As a result, she was a panting mess in the end. The terrace door was open as usual. She gulped a big mouthful of air as she stepped onto the terrace floor, under the open sky.

"What took you so long?"

Shreya jumped in alarm at the voice and turned her head swiftly.

There she located a tall figure leaning on the parapet wall with his elbows.

"Abhi!" She gasped, exasperated. "What does all this mean?"

He didn't respond right away so she continued in an accusing tone, "I wasn't prepared for this. You could at least inform me! Even Sunny didn't tell me anything. What is this? Huh? And this place doesn't even have electricity! Who knows what's even lurking in the dark down there? Are you sure it's safe to be here alone? I mean Neil and Rafi are outside the building and you're up here...if anything..." She continued grumbling frowningly while eyeing around the place.

The terrace was huge. And empty.

Still standing next to the door, she took some deep breaths in order to calm her nerves.

A moment later, when she stopped her grousing, he said, "Leave the things in your hand inside and come here."

She frowned but did as he said. She placed Abhimanyu's phone inside her bag then put them down just inside the door. As she straightened up, a gust of chilly wind swept past her. A chill run down her spine as she looked up and realized it was cloudy. Surprisingly, the clouds looked moody, as if trying to compete against Abhimanyu's indifference towards their existence.

Taking her time, she strolled towards him. "Was there any forecast of rains?" she remarked uncertainly as she stood beside him.

Abhimanyu straightened up, then turned his head towards her. She gazed at him and regretted her decision. Although it was dark, she could distinguish his midnight eyes just fine. They twinkled unfalteringly as she sensed the heat of his stare. A silent moment passed before he buried his hands into his pockets and turned completely towards her making her flush on the spot. "I don't listen to the weather forecast. My work doesn't require it."

She could feel the heat creeping up her cheeks as his unwavering gaze prolonged on her. She knew he was checking out her attire. Shreya noticed he had undone his waistcoat's buttons.

She looked away, flustered, and asked to draw his attention elsewhere. "What is this place?"

"This was once an orphanage run by Mr. Basu. But I bought it today at the auction," he answered monotonously.

As she was already guessing so! "Oh! Congratulations! I wasn't expecting the property would be so... decrepit. Its condition is really...uhm, scary." She let out a nervous laugh.

"Were you scared?" He paused momentarily before adding, "Because of the dark?"

"Er... of course! How am supposed to pretend brave in this uninhabited and eerily dark place?" She paused briefly before asking, "How on earth was it an orphanage?" She reached and placed a hand on the parapet wall.

"Careful there. The condition of this wall is not good. It can collapse at any moment." He warned in his usual tone making her flinch and step back from the wall.

"Then wh-why were you leaning on it? Are- are you not afraid?" She shifted her accusatory gaze on him and their eyes met. As her vision adjusted to the night, she looked into his eyes through his spectacles. There was no bottom in that gaze that could stop her from falling. She could never pretend to be forgetful about the danger posed by that unwavering gaze that stared deep into her soul.

"I don't fear death, Shreya. You should know that by now." He was as calm as a moonless night. There was no trace of fear in those eyes. How it was so easy for him to speak of things most people would find uncomfortable?

She dropped her gaze and looked away. "But you should consider the emotions of others. What would they think if they lost you? Have you considered that?"

He remained quiet.

The wind was now blowing faster. A gust of cool air swept across her face, freeing a few strands of hair. They started dancing wildly around her face. The claw clip at the base of her neck did nothing to tame the flyaway hairs.

While they were focused on each other's presence, the overcast cloud had already spread across the sky. There was a moist feeling in the cool breeze as it raced around them. "It's going to rain." The words didn't quiet leave her mouth as a raindrop fell on her cheek.

Abhimanyu abruptly extended his arm, reaching behind her and released the clip from her hair.

"Wha-" Her hair flew haphazardly as she tried to gather them in her hands. She was flabbergasted at the crazy abruptness of his action. "What are you doing? Oh, my hair!" She whined and reached forward to take the clip from him. But he dodged her attempts.

"Give me the clip!"

He didn't respond to that verbally but passed the clip into his trousers' pocket in a quick motion.

She huffed and whined while continuing to tidy her hair. "Why did you bring me here anyway?"

"To celebrate. Many renowned people were after this property."

"And you beat them to it."

"Unquestionably so."

She complained, "It's past dinner time. Aren't you hungry?"

His gaze never strayed from her as he answered her. "I am."

She glanced at him. His answer and expression didn't match. His stoic face never explained what he was thinking.

Her saree's open end was flying along with the wind. She attempted to hold it steadily by all means but failing miserably she looked at him pleadingly.

Meanwhile, it started drizzling.

"How are we celebrating in this weather? It's literally drizzling."

"I won't give up until it's pouring." His response was short and before she could register what he meant, he added, "You should get rid of that fabric obscuring my view."

"What?" Realization settled in as she finally understood why he brought her here. "Are you mad? I'm not doing it here." She looked up. The raindrops fell on her eyes, forcing them to close. She frantically looked back at him and saw him removing his eyeglasses.

No! This was not happening under the open sky and in this pouring rain!

Her cheeks were aflame as she noticed him running his hands through his hair after putting the eyeglasses into his waistcoat's pocket.

"You're insane!" she whispered.

After visiting the puja at Trishna's house, they had gone more than a month without being intimate. So why did he think of doing it so suddenly and in this strange location? He was seriously impossible!

Abhimanyu took a step forward and wrapped his hands around her waist. She placed her hands on his chest softly as he opened his mouth and said something completely unexpected of him. "Shreya... I feel as though I am losing control of my life."

She searched his eyes and whispered, "What do you mean?"

"Since you came to my life, I always feel like something is pulling me back." He paused momentarily making her apprehensive of the situation. "You won't believe how many wild fantasies I have had relating you during the past few days. And I find it to be both fascinating and puzzling because it is distracting me from my performance." He paused and looked into her eyes. Because of the rain it was hard to gaze unblinkingly. She frowned and tried to understand what he was saying. "You want to know why I brought you here? I brought you here because I want to show you what I have in my mind."

"You're scaring me," she mumbled, too scared to say anything more.

Abhimanyu however, continued in his usual tone. "Nothing ever mattered to me before I met you. But you...you, you, you! You make me want to make you mine." He paused momentarily before adding, "Just like this property, I want to own you."

She blinked, immobilized by that one word.

At the back of her mind, Vijay's warning rang dangerously.

"...but that doesn't mean you have to kill your desires every time he asks so. He doesn't own you, Shreya."

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu continued, "I feel like if I don't, you'll disappear. Just like a mirage. And everything I have been experiencing lately will go back to being my imagination. I won't like that. I don't like this. This is making me feel I'm losing my control. And I don't like to feel out of control."

Shreya didn't know what to feel at this moment. Was he trying to tell her how much he hated her presence because it made him feel disorderly? What was he trying to do?

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu lifted her up bridal style and sat her down on the uneven floor of the terrace.

"Abhimanyu...please. Stop scaring me." She pleaded while he removed his waistcoat and lowered himself on her.

"Everyone gets scared of me. I don't know why. I never really get angry with anyone. Then...why?" he pondered while tugging on the loose end of her saree. It got stuck because of the safety-pin.

"Open it," he ordered impassively while reaching for the pleats himself. His hand brushed on her bare waist just below her navel, erupting goosebumps across all her bare body parts.

"Abhimanyu!" She reached and held his hand from undoing her saree pleats. "This is crazy. It's raining and- and-" she searched for a reason to stop him. "And... we're not alone. Neil and Rafi are downstairs."

He freed his hand from her grasp and resumed his actions. "They're outside the building."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion for a second before realization washed over her. "You purposefully asked them to stay outside? Abhi!"

He didn't respond. She lay there, disconcerted. The coarseness of the floor beneath, prodded into her skin rousing her discomfort.

He shifted his gaze to her face and repeated, "Open it."

She'd be lying if she said she didn't want to do it. Letting her hold him in her arms is the only approved form of love language for him. And even then, it rarely happened. She would be denying her own cravings if she let go of this opportunity.

In just a few seconds, she gave in to his demand and reached for the safety pin. While she released the saree's anchal from the hold of the safety-pin, he removed her petticoat and undies.

"Wait!" She tried to ask him why he chose this unusual place by placing her hand on his chest. "Wait, why did you..."

He leaned down and captured her lips before she could complete her sentence. His lips moved softly at first while his fingers grazed over her abdomen airily. The raindrops blocked by his torso couldn't reach her directly. He left a trail of erupting goosebumps on her blazing skin wherever his fingertips touched it. A wanton moan left her suddenly making him withdraw his lips. Instinctively, she chased only to receive an abrupt pinch inches away from her navel.

"Ouch!" She glared up at him. There was a faintest hint of a smirk on his lips.

She reached, grabbed the back of his, and pulled him down for another kiss. He didn't stop her. Rather responded quickly with an urgency. She felt completely lost but alive in his arms. She felt like having a mouthful of a dessert after starving for a month. The kiss promptly vanished the space between them as her heart exploded into stars and butterflies. He released her lips and placed a peppery kiss on her forehead before reaching behind his head and seizing her hands. She licked her lower lip while he pulled her hands down, put them above her head and pinned them to place with one of his hands. She frowned and tugged on her hands. But his grip was strong, without a doubt.

With his free hand, he reached below and touched her already burning bottom lips. The action made her bite on her lip tightly as a whine left her unnoticed.

The rain seemed to fall more densely.

He removed his hand from there and grabbed on her waist before leaning down once again. This time, he began kissing her sensually, taking all the time in the world. It went on for an infinite moment. She parted her lips. Partly because she wanted to allow him access to explore her, but more because she wanted his hands doing all those wonderful things, they were expert at, to her body. Shamelessly, she gyrated her hips and arched her back, making an effort to make him realize what she wanted...what she needed right now.

He seemed to notice her little ministrations as he paused kissing and said, "Stop moving, or you'll regret it."

She cast a grouchy glance before he said, "If you want it, ask for it."

"I'll let you do anything if you just touch me now," she expressed quietly just before her teeth dug onto her lower lip.

He observed keenly as his eyes dropped on her lips. "You seem to be begging for a bite so badly." Without giving her much time to respond he captured her lips and sucked on them fervently until his teeth seized her lower lip and nipped on it.

She hissed at the sudden pain and he released her. "Aah- what did you do?" She could taste the salty metallic taste on her lower lip as she licked on it.

He pecked on her lips once again before unbuttoning her blouse with his free hand. "Everyone should know you're taken."

"We're married Abhimanyu! Everyone knows that already."

"They doubt. Their gossips have always reached me."

"This's absolutely insane!" She mumbled as the rain showered onto them. He opened the front of her blouse and she cursed herself for wearing the front open bra tonight. However, Abhimanyu seemed to be pleased after encountering the situation. He opened the clasp, freeing her breasts from their cages before sitting up and started unbuttoning his shirt.

"Why are we doing this here?" She asked.

He kept on unbuttoning while answering her. "I realized something today."

"And what is that?"

"The CBT... it's challenging me."

"But you didn't even attend all the sessions."

"True. Still..." he finished unbuttoning the last button and flipped the sides behind but did not completely remove the shirt. "The therapist asked what my biggest fear is?"

He lowered himself once more and claimed her mouth. She circled her hands around his neck and let him take the lead. Their lips danced in sync. She felt the sting from her lower lip and realized it'd leave a mark. Mortified, she stopped kissing him and slackened her hold on him.

He released her and said, "My biggest fear would be your absence."

She sucked in a deep breath as her mouth fell open. She searched his eyes frantically. As his head has blocked the rain to directly hit on her face, she could see him without blinking her eyes.

He propped up on one of his elbows and with the backside of the other hand grazed along her chin.

"You are a threat to me, Shreya. I don't want you. But at the same time, I want you more than I mean it."

He placed a chaste kiss on her lips as her dumbstruck self couldn't move a single muscle. His fingers trailed down her chest to the belly until it stopped above her belly button. He lowered his head and planted a kiss on her navel making her squirm.

He whispered on her skin. "You don't know how much I am fighting everyday to make sense of it. I want to get rid of you in any sense, but every time that thought arises, I am slipping into the realm of my imagination." He went back up and asked, "Did you know why I didn't let you stay at your maa's during the puja?"

She only shook her head.

His hand moved upwards and grabbed her right breast before giving it a squeeze. She shuddered underneath him, miserably.

"Because I observed how you interacted with your former neighbor. I'm not sure what it was, but never again do I want to see you with him."

She began panting lightly on as he pinched and rolled her right nipple. She arched her back as their bare torsos collided with each other. He removed his hand from her nipple and pushed her down by placing his hand around her neck.

"Don't make a mess," he warned before withdrawing his hand.

She panted vigorously. "Are-are you talking about Sourav da?" She asked quizzically while he fumbled with his trousers' chain to free his erection. "My God! Abhi... he's like a brother to me!"

He remained quiet and positioned himself between her legs.

"You could've asked me there. I wouldn't've talked with him then. Why did you punish me by taking me back? I wanted to stay with my parents."

"You can. I said you can go."

"But I wanted to spend that time with them. It's gone now. It isn't coming back!" She argued. Now beyond frustrated.

His tendency to have everything in his control was getting in between. The more she was trying to be submissive to him, the more he was getting demanding. This was not what she expected when she arranged for his CBT. It's like grinding herself between him and the rest of the world. Either way, she was the loser.

He thrust a finger in earning a gasp from her. "I have replayed this scene more than a hundred times in my head. You're beneath me, writhing from pleasure and screaming my name..."

The switch in their conversation was confusing her as he worked his finger in and out. Her eyes began closing in pleasure as he added another finger. "Then...then why-why didn't you... co-come closer to me... after that... night? It's-it's been... over a month." She stuttered as she held onto him.

He did not reply immediately. Rather kept on thrusting his fingers into her. She could feel an orgasm building inside. "Because I was unwilling to admit it."

She closed her eyes completely and let the rain wash over her face. "Aa-admit wh-what?"

"That you've invaded the corner in me where I don't want to be with anyone. You've threatened me, and I felt falling prey to your innocent demand."

"Wh-what is...it?"

He stopped teasing her bringing her back from her high. "That I should care for you." He moved back and slapped on her inner thighs making her legs spread wider before positioning himself at the entrance of her.

The cold raindrops fell on her bare sizzling skin. Now, nothing was more important to her than having him inside her.

"Do you want..."

She heard him saying some words to her but they seemed incoherent to her as she interrupted him in between. "I want, yes, I want. I want all of you. I want to feel you inside me, deep inside me. I want you to cum inside me, hear you moan my name and do me harder than the last time each time we come closer."

"Shreya!" he grunted at the same time thrusting all the way inside her.

She moaned promiscuously while he continued pumping in and out of her. Lowering his head, he took in her left nipple into his mouth and sucked on it. She screamed aloud his name again as he flicked it with his tongue before tugging on it. The pace gradually increased as she lost her ability to speak and saw stars in front of her eyes.

She heard him whispering to her ear, "I like it when you say my name like that."

Writhing helplessly, she held his head close to her chest while he moved rhythmically making her moan shamelessly.

After what felt like a small eternity, she felt she was nearing her pleasure. "I- I'm... fast-faster!"

He silenced her with a kiss as the shockwaves of pleasure crashed down onto her. Shortly after he grunted his release into her, prolonging her climax as she clamped down onto him for dear life. Waves of pleasure rippled throughout their mingled bodies as the rain washed away the remnants of the sin they just perpetrated.

Abhimanyu collapsed on top of her, covering most of her body. She clutched onto his clothed back as he buried his face into her nape placing soft kisses on it.

As they came down from their high, she whispered into his ear, "Do you care for me?"

"I do," he mumbled into her neck before placing another kiss. "You're only meant for me. You can't leave me. You can't live without me."

It seemed he interchanged their positions in his last sentence. At the back of her mind, a nagging voice warned her about the troubled future. But she knew she couldn't give up on him. She inhaled steadily before saying, "You're right. I won't leave you but only if you promise me something, and you will if you really care for me."

He remained silent for a moment, probably weighing on the possibilities. Then hummed, "Mmhmm."

"Promise me you'll attend your CBT sessions regularly from now on."

He remained quiet for a short while. Then ever so quietly, agreed to her. "Okay."

She tightened her hold on him and showered his head with several kisses. "I love you."

However, their moment of bliss was short-lived. His phone suddenly rang off.

"Go, answer it." She urged as he groaned a little and slid off her. The phone kept on ringing. It must be urgent. Who could it be?

Abhimanyu stood up and helped her to a sitting position. She nodded at him with a smile then gestured towards the phone. He turned his head towards the door aloofly, then released her hand and strode towards the door while adjusting his trousers.

The phone stopped ringing for a moment. But, again started ringing.

Abhimanyu picked up her bag; inside the phone kept ringing. He pulled it out and answered it impassively. "What is it?"

Meanwhile she got to her feet, adjusted her bra and blouse, and tied her petticoat. She was on the way to tuck the wet saree pleats inside her petticoat while he returned and grabbed her hand suddenly.

She looked up at him curiously while he stared at her expressionlessly. His stoic face gave nothing out whatsoever. So, she asked casually, "What happened? Was it Sunny?" and went back to tuck her saree.

Her hands, however, went completely still when he spoke next. "Mr. Basu has been murdered tonight."

~~~

Author's note – Alright, now we'll dive right into the Book #3, Healed by Honey. And tell me how was this chapter? 😎 I'd love to know your reviews on this book. Honestly, when you interact with me, I really love it! So, please do.