In seas of flame, my plunging soul is drown'd,

While altars blaze and angels tremble round.

Love finds an altar for forbidden fires.

                                                                                Alexander Pope.

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Only Sanskaar knew what it took for him walk away from that 'heated moment'. The intense desire he felt to grab her into his arms scared him for a while. Broad daylight, in middle of his cabin which has very possibility of someone walking in or peeking in, his thoughts felt outrageous and it hit him them, he wouldn't have bothered at all, let consequences go to hell, He wouldn't have cared, which was not a good sign.

For someone who held control over his feelings and actions which he had been quite proud of, past few minutes proved otherwise and all because of 'her' - this elfin woman who managed to turn his world upside down in just one encounter and she does it every now and then. Two steps were all it would take and he exactly knows how she would melt in his hands ...

oh! How much he wanted to...

But he didn't. In a clash of wills and desire, he chose what seemed to be sane. He tore his gaze away with a herculean effort and silent walked towards the door. He heard an intake of breath, breaking the deafening silence in the cabin. He was not oblivious of the effect he had on her and she was equally relieved as he was.

She was! Definitely. She couldn't have looked away from those passion flaring eyes, holding her to ground spelling out a dark, deep desire. She couldn't have walked away when her every being screamed to be engulfed in those strong arms and one step from him, she would have crumbled willingly however insane it was. It hit her then .. she wanted to. She wanted him with an ache she never felt before. She waited with bated breath and watched him walk away in silence.

Disappointed or relieved, she had no clue but her breath found its way back.

He stopped for a minute at the door, turned towards her, his hand gripping the handle so hard turning his knuckles white and it opened smoothly after a minute. He was holding it for her, Swara realized. She took slow measured steps, her eyes refusing to leave him and just before stepping out, their gazes clashed at the entrance.

Sanskaar lost his breath.

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A keen observation would have made it clear: Sanskaar Maheshwari had not been his usual self for the next few hours. He felt restless and rigid with tension coiling up his insides, it screamed for release and he knew who could put him to rest - Swara.

What was it in her eyes? For the first time, she didn't avert her eyes and shy away, met him eye to eye. Has he been reading too much or they spelled the same burn and yearning? He had no answer but the ache didn't dull down a bit. It just seemed to aggravate with passing minute.No meetings, no amount of efforts helped him to quell this fire. Is it because he walked away at the verge of need or ...

Insane you are Sanskaar? What's wrong with you? He condemned the direction his thoughts were heading. And rest of the day proved to be a sheer unending torture. Sanskaar was thankful he had meetings all day long... she was out of his sight. A glimpse of her would undo him. When he walked back, the office was deserted, she was missing too.

He should have taken a breath of relief, He didn't. He didn't move, his eyes fixed on her place. When he walked into his cabin, he didn't like the silence and it no longer buzzed with life as it did in the morning. She was missing and gone for the day.

Good for them both.

Sanskaar tossed his waistcoat aside and undid a few buttons of his shirt in need of some air. Maybe it would cool him down. The glass cabin offered him a view of the dim lit garden which he would have enjoyed in other scenarios, but today he felt tangled in his own emotions.

Why is it someone walks into your life and it never remains the same? Was it meant to be that way, for good or bad? Sanskaar shook his head. Too much philosophy does no good but what about his troubled state of mind. He always found himself drawn towards her, but today was different and hard hitting. The morning scene played in his mind with that came images of Swara and that moment where everything else froze. He felt the same need coursing through him with ferocious intensity, again.

Sanskaar ran a hand through his tousled hair. Not done! This... He couldn't deny the sexual tension brewing between them. It felt too much to bear.

And then it caught his ears. Knock on the door followed by the faint sound of footsteps. He froze. The familiar fragrance wafted through the air in dull notes but it was his heart that kicked up its beat. She's still here.

No!

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Swara knew there would be no looking back if she walks in. Torn between the extremes of rationality and temptation last few hours had not been easy for her. What transpired between them in the morning was hard to ignore, not his impulsive action but the unspoken. She couldn't deny the heat and undeniable pull, she felt at those few moments. She had been fighting all the while trying to keep calm and settle dangerous desire he seemed to evoke with the slightest touch. She had been physically present but her thoughts were not. She didn't want to face him not before she pulled herself back together. And she decided.

'Stay away' every bit of her rational mind warned, but she didn't want to and for once with absolute clarity, she knew she didn't want to run away from him this time. She wanted to seek forbidden...Him

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He stood with his back turned to her. With her every step towards him he could feel the palpable heat building up in the air.

"You shouldn't be here, Swara."

His voice stopped her in tracks. She couldn't decide if it was an order or plea. Either way, he didn't want her here. But she had no intentions to back out. She took one more step.

"Leave.! "His tone bordered on curt. Why she has to make it tough? Can't she just walk away and leave him alone to suffer?

For the first time, Swara wanted to defy ."What if I don't want to?"

It was his turn. He was not sure. Did he hear her say? He turned back and she was right before him. Her hair let loose, she ditched her blazer which left her in a plain white shirt and black trousers, hugging her slender frame. Her eyes open to read spelling no hesitance and steely determination. For a minute Sanskaar couldn't help but stare at her in wonder. Each shade of her fascinated him. What was she? Shy or Bold, A Child-woman throwing tantrums or the one before him who looked like she knew what she wants.

He had every intention to find out...

They stood facing each other inches apart. Swara trembled as his hand coiled around her waist with undying slowness. He didn't grab her, instead, it was a soft, firm grip and she was pressed against him in a flash. Swara bit back her gasp at the feel of his hard taut strength against her softness., yet she didn't blink. She sighed at the caress of his thumb over the cheek

'Stubborn' he murmured softly with a flicker of amusement in his eyes."I never knew you could be one."

Stubborn? She never was until today. She had always been a shy obedient kid but she just did throw a temper tantrum in the morning and if she had even been bold it was only that night for him. He seemed to bring a side of her to life which she never knew existed, a side she has never known. It felt new and dangerously exciting.

Try me! She dared, her gaze level with his and he was no longer smiling. .His eyes turned a shade darker accepting the challenge. Damn this girl! She could kill him with a stare and a word. In one swift move, she was backed against the glass wall, his grip still strong. He leaned forward and she felt his breath right over hers. Her insides swirled with desire.

"Did some tell you stubbornness comes with a price?" he whispered straight on her lips, his eyes burning into hers.

What?

Her trembling lips brushed over his. That broke his last flimsy restraint holding them apart.

This!

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He captured her lips with a searing need. He thought he would take it slow but the minute he tasted her, every sane, rational thought flew out. Intoxicating and irresistible. The way she melted against him made it no easy, neither her slender fingers weaving deeply into hair, not the little moan of pleasure from her throat or her sweet gasps. She was his ..all his

Swara could hardly catch her breath but she didn't want to, not when she was being kissed by the man of her dreams, owning her in every way. She arched against him and kissed him back with clawing need. She held onto him with seeking of her own. Her sweet mouth, her feminine body locked against his, her inviting heat burning into his scorched him as the brush of her fingers over his naked skin. Only she could arouse him to such levels with a simple touch.

A thousand sensations swamped through her blazing with an intensity ever felt before as his kiss deepened and turned ravage. Every pore of her skin screamed to be taken. As he heard, he left her mouth and looked at her drawing rapid breaths. Her skin deeply flushed, she looked at him finding her own breath, her eyes wide open filled with liquid desire, calling him in. He wanted to hear her say.

"Tell me you want this as much as I do."His hands curled around her nape gently, but his breathy voice shot sensations down her spine. She nodded still lost in a daze of passion.

He dragged her mouth back to his...and this time he kissed her like starved soul. Then it softened throwing her from one extreme to another. He took her slowly this time, savoring every bit of her taste...and Swara felt her knees turning weak with desire. He murmured soft endearments in between sprinkling little kisses all over her face and blazed a searing trail from her mouth to the curve of her neck till she couldn't take it anymore and cried his name with pure pleasure.

And what that did to him was indescribable. This is how he wanted her...melting in his hands helplessly taking his name and it felt like sweetest sound.

'Say it again' he murmured tracing her neck with softest kisses sending her into a frenzy. She clung to him, her arms around his shoulders sighed his name and he finished with one more kiss. Her feet gave up, but they were no longer on the ground. She was floating in his arms swept off the ground and they were moving, didn't matter. She was cradled in his arms, held close, her hands twined around his neck, face buried into his neck, heat now swelled to warmth.

He sat gently on the sofa wrapping her close, feeling her breath turn more steady as her trembling form. His finger stroked over hers softly as his lips brushing across her hair. Swara never felt more loved. It felt like a dream and she didn't want this to end. She held onto him feeling his heartbeat and loved the feel of his fingers brushing her hair in little gently strokes. The silence between them felt heavenly.

"I love you Sanskaar .." she murmured in a very low tone hardly audible. Just like heard, he held her chin lifted her face to his gazing at her softly, reverently. His eyes reading hers spelled the same ardent love as his muffled words against her lips.

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They drove back in comfortable silence. Swara pondered upon the change of equation from their first drive together. Beethoven played in background soothingly. Swara closed her eyes. With just a few more days to go where did they stand? What comes next.Questions.they troubled her a while, but she pushed them aside.

She didn't intend to ruin these moments coming to her. She wanted to live them how many ever she can snatch ...with him. All these years she had been living her life in questions, fears, and doubts for once, she didn't want to. It felt she was set free from the chains she bound herself ...and she was flying like a little butterfly fluttering its way out soaring high.

Free and at peace

Sanskaar knew this night has changed everything just like the one two years back. This time there were no apprehensions and no masks. A glance at her peaceful form brought him back memories of their first drive...this night had been magical too, in a different way. The breeze danced loosely around them swaying her hair to and fro...and he didn't hesitate this time, gave in to his urge.

She opened her eyes at the touch of his fingers brushing away loose tendrils of her cheek. She turned to him and everything else was forgotten. A loving touch of his hand over hers and a gentle squeeze faded away every doubt.

After reaching her place, Swara was in no hurry not when she was in his arms gazing into his eyes, feeling warmth enveloping her.

"What if I don't let you go, Miss Bose?" He asked and looked like he wouldn't, but the mischievous glint in his eyes gave him away.

"What If I don't want to?' Swara murmured lowering her eyes and lifted them back at his words

"Then don't," he asked so earnestly and Swara wished she could stay forever, right here with him. "This night is going to be very long, Swara" he murmured. She closed her eyes and reveled in a loving kiss on her forehead, whispering assurances and promises.

Good night.

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Swara waved her hand and watched him drive away. Indeed it's gonna be a long night, Swara smiled and mused.

"Mind telling me what's going on, Swara?"

And she froze at the familiar voice.

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