The first thing Reyansh felt when consciousness returned was warmth.
Soft. Gentle. Breathing against his chest.
He opened his eyes slowly, the early morning light spilling faintly through the curtains… and there she was.
Arina was curled snugly in his arms, her cheek resting just over his heart, her hand clutching his shirt as if she had been afraid he might slip away during the night.
For a moment, Reyansh simply stared.
Her eyelashes cast delicate shadows on her cheeks. A few strands of hair had fallen across her face, rising and falling with each quiet breath. Her lips were parted slightly—soft, warm, kissable.
Something inside him tightened.
There was a time—most of his life, actually—when he had woken up alone. Cold thoughts. Colder rooms. No one in his arms. No one reaching for him even unconsciously.
But now?
Her.
Every morning, it was her.
A slow, hungry smile curved at the corner of his mouth—wolfish, quiet, full of a dark sweetness he didn't want to name yet.
She had no idea what she did to him simply by existing so close.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering softly. She shifted slightly, snuggling even closer.
The smile deepened.
Mine.
The thought came naturally now. He didn't even fight it.
Not wanting to disturb her, he carefully—very carefully—slipped his arm out from beneath her and moved away. She made a small sound but didn't wake.
Reyansh stood by the bed, watching her for another moment before heading to freshen up. The cold water on his face brought clarity, but not distance—nothing could pull him far from the image of her warm and curled up in his arms.
He changed into his exercise clothes and stepped out for his morning workout. The physical strain helped settle the restless energy inside him—though not entirely. Not when the reason for it was inside the room, wrapped in his sheets.
---
When he came back, he stopped at the doorway without meaning to.
Arina was sitting in front of the dressing mirror, applying a little kajal with slow, practiced strokes. Her hair fell in gentle waves down her back, and the soft yellow saree she wore made her skin glow.
But it was her expression that held him.
Calm. Soft. Almost glowing.
As if she was… happy.
Arina noticed him through the mirror and instantly a shy smile bloomed on her lips. She looked away from his eyes as she whispered,
"Good morning."
Her voice was soft, breathy—more tempting than she realized.
Reyansh walked toward her, his footsteps slow, steady, deliberate.
"You're looking beautiful," he said quietly.
Her cheeks warmed instantly. "Thank you," she murmured, biting her lip before giving him a small smile.
That lip bite didn't escape him.
He held her gaze for a moment longer before looking away—because if he didn't, he might forget the plans for the day altogether.
"I'll freshen up," he said, and walked into the washroom.
Behind him, she exhaled lightly, trying to calm the flutter inside her chest.
---
Breakfast was already laid out when Reyansh entered the dining room—poha, fresh fruits, and the faint fragrance of sautéed mustard seeds lingering in the air.
Arina was arranging plates when he approached.
He didn't say anything.
He simply took her hand, warm and small in his, and guided her to sit down.
Then—without a word—he served her first.
Spoonfuls of poha.
A small portion of fruits.
A glass of water set beside her hand.
Arina just watched him, her eyes softening with each movement. This wasn't the cold husband people warned her about. This was someone who observed her quietly, intensely, and acted in ways that said more than words ever could.
A teasing smile touched her lips.
"Is my handsome and silent husband getting romantic?" she asked playfully.
Reyansh paused.
His hand stopped mid-air.
He looked at her—slowly—his eyes sharpening for a second before something warmer took over.
"You should get ready for your romantic husband then," he replied, voice low and deliberately controlled.
Arina blinked.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She didn't look away this time.
"I'm more than ready," she whispered back.
The way his jaw tightened told her he had felt that sentence far more deeply than she intended.
They ate quietly after that, their breaths brushing in the small space between them. The everyday domesticity felt intimate in a way neither fully understood yet—but both had stopped trying to deny.
After breakfast, Reyansh stood near the console, wearing his watch. Arina approached him, adjusting the collar of his shirt without thinking.
Her fingers brushed his skin.
He caught her wrist gently.
For a second, he said nothing. Just looked at her.
The same warmth he woke up with flickered in his eyes again—but this time, sharper. Possessive. Anchorless.
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
"Take care of yourself," he said.
Arina's heartbeat stumbled.
"You too," she whispered.
He nodded once.
Then he left for the office.
The door closed behind him, but the imprint of his lips remained on her skin—and the imprint of her warmth stayed on his palms.
And for both of them… it was enough to carry through the day.
---
"Where tenderness meets obsession, boundaries cease to exist."