I know I know- it has been AGES! But I cannot emphasize enough on how hectic this month has been. I have finally moved into college and I had previously really underestimated what college can put you through!

But anyway, here I am now. My classes start from tomorrow and the professors have already started sending out reading lists, so there's that. I'll still try and sit down to write once in a while because I absolutely hate staying away <3 Also, a big hug to everyone who has been nominating my books for the Fanfic Awards! 

**

When Shivaay came out of the washroom after a shower, he found Annika still on the bed, sleeping with her face buried into the pillow. Shaking his head and throwing aside the towel he had been using to wipe his hair, he sat down next to her.

"Love?" He whispered, running his fingers along her bare arms. Annika moved a little, mumbling for him to let her sleep, but Shivaay was relentless. Leaning down, he placed his mouth on her ear, nibbling on her earlobe and making her giggle lightly.

"Wake up, I wanna kiss you," He murmured against her skin, placing a soft kiss on her jaw. Annika smiled at that, and finally opening her eyes, she sat up to face him, only to blush furiously. Sitting their wearing only black tracks, droplets of water still running down his body from his hair, her boyfriend- her extremely handsome boyfriend- stared back at her with a smirk on his face. 

His stupidly adorable face.

"What's wrong?" Shivaay asked, still grinning, as he trailed his fingers on her pink cheeks. Annika shook her head. She had seen him shirtless before, but now that she knew that she was allowed to do whatever she wanted- to his body- it made her feel shy. Getting up from the bed, Annika was about to make her way to the bathroom, when Shivaay pulled her onto his lap. Annika gasmped, trying to pull away, but his grip around her waist was strong. Scowling, Annika turned to face him.

"What do you want?" She asked, still trying to pry away his hands. He didn't reply, but leaned in to kiss her. But before their lips could meet, Annika put her palm over his mouth.

"I haven't brushed!" She exclaimed, appalled. Shivaay frowned at her, annoyed that she would stop him from kissing her for something as stupid as brushing.

"I don't care," He said, as if it was obvious. Annika glared at him at that, and finally managed to stand up. Placing a kiss on his cheek- which was enough to make him sigh in delight- Annika went off to freshen up. Ruffling his hair with a goofy grin on his face, Shivaay too changed into a white shirt and shorts, waiting for her to come out. When she finally emerged, dressed in a white top and bohemian shorts, with a thin white jacket on top, he stood up and without warning, took her in a breathtaking kiss.

"Jeez, Shivaay," Annika murmured huskily as he pulled away, "At least let a woman breathe."

Shivaay laughed at that, running his finger through her damp hair and massaging her scalp.

"I've always wanted to do that, you know. Kiss you when I see you looking all fresh and delicious from the shower. And now that I can, don't expect to be breathing too much from now on."

Annika couldn't even finish the eye roll as his sentence when he once again pulled her close and proceeded to pepper kisses of love on her mouth.

**

"Where are we going today?"

Munching on an apple, Annika asked this question to her boyfriend who was busy reading emails on his phone while also eating his omelette. Shivaay seemed to be too engrossed in his work to listen to her, and Annika scowled. Now that she knew he loved her, she wasn't embarrassed or guilty about the fact that she wanted all his attention. 

"Babe?" She called out again, gritting her teeth this time. When he only absent-mindedly hummed, Annika exhaled in frustration and got up. Throwing her apple crust in the bin, she looked around, and smirked when she spotted someone. It was a man- a cute one, who was probably a foreigner staying in the hotel. He was sitting alone on a table and eating his breakfast, and unlike her boyfriend, he wasn't busy on his phone or anything else. And because Annika knew jealousy was what worked best with the possessive man of hers, she sauntered over to where the blonde guy sat. He looked up as she approached, and she gave him a bright smile.

"Hi," She waved, and he gave her a confused smile. Annika tried not to look awkward, and from her peripheral vision, noticed that her boyfriend had finally noticed that she wasn't beside him. As he looked around and spotted her, seeing her with another man made him alarmed. Turning back to the foreigner who was now staring at her all uncomfortable, Annika grinned and sat down next to him.

"I'm Annika," She said, forwarding her hand which he shook. "And you are?"

"I'm Jake. It's nice to meet you." His voice was gruff, and he had a British accent. Annika had just asked him if he was from Britain, and he had started to reply, when Annika felt herself being pulled up from the chair by her wrist. She gasped, and turned around to bump into a very furious Shivaay's very manly chest.

"What are you doing?" He asked, referring to her but glaring at the poor British man who looked even more confused now.

"Um, why should I tell you?" Annika raised her eyebrows, and crossed her arms haughtily. Shivaay's eye flickered to her, and he frowned.

"....because I'm your boyfriend?"

"Oh really?" Annika asked, sarcastically. "Well, were you not my boyfriend when I  was asking you a question, just a while back?"

She almost shouted out the last part, fuming with her nose a little red. As annoyed as Shivaay was with her, he couldn't help but notice how adorable she looked. Sighing, and also throwing a last hard glare at the British man, Shivaay held Annika by the shoulders and led her away. When they had reached a corner of the breakfast lounge that was out of eyesight of everyone, Shivaay took her into a hug. Annika was stiff at first, still angry, but gradually she gave up and leaned into his perfect arms, wrapping her hands around his neck.

"I'm sorry," He mumbled against her hair. "I was busy reading this email and-"

"Why do you love me?"

Shivaay was taken aback by the question, and pulling back a little, he saw Annika's eyes welled up with tears. He cursed himself hard for making her this upset, and was about to apologize again, when she shushed him.

"You shouldn't love me, Shivaay," She whispered, her face now tear-striken. "I- I've been without love my entire life. Without love, without care, without anyone to ever pamper me. And now that I have you- I don't know what to do! I'm being selfish, and I'm greedy. I want you to only have eyes for me and only pay attention to what I say. I don't know how to act with people who love me, Shivaay. I'm not used to it. So you shouldn't love me, because I'll use up all your love and someday....you won't have any more left."

As Shivaay heard the confession of the vulnerable woman in front of him who he adored so much, his heart literally ached. Moments like these, the bitter realization of how hard his girl's life had been would dawn upon him, and he would want desperately to go back in time and give her every little thing she deserved, right from the beginning.

But since that wasn't possible, Shivaay Singh Oberoi was going to give her the happiness of an entire lifetime, within the rest of their life together. Cupping Annika's face in his hands that were slightly trembling after seeing her being so insecure, Shivaay placed a long, assuring kiss on her forehead. Pulling back, he stared deep into those brown orbs of hers that were the centre of his world.

"I will run out of myself before I ever run out of love for you, Annika," He said, and as Annika laughed admist her tears and he cringed inwardly at his over-sweet dialogue, the both of them leaned in to take the kiss they had so easily become addicted to.

**

I know y'all are tired of me saying this but, at times, you just write something that makes no sense to you and it makes you cringe. The above is an example.

Moodboard by ImLilMissComplicated <3

PS I have a story idea in mind so like, I might just pop up with yet another new book any time soon.