All Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty One

I run up the stairs, skipping two steps at a time, but Dhushyanth's longer legs seem to have caught up to me despite his age, as I hear the thumping of his feet get closer to me.

"Caught you," I hear him call out, his arm winding tightly around my waist, and lifting me off the ground, making me squeal.

I hold his arm with both of mine and try to get rid of his hold over me, when he sets me down, but Dhushyanth holds my right arm and twirls me around, holding it behind my back.

I bite my lower lip as I look up at him, his face darkened with a lethal smirk. "Ready?"

I feel my heart thudding against my chest; the phenomenon feels strange. It doesn't feel like physical exertion. It feels strange for being around Dhushyanth.

I find myself nodding, strangely enamoured by his eyes. They seem different.

Are they looking at me different?

Am I looking at them different?

I don't know, and I can't tell, especially when Dhushyanth leans down for a hungry kiss, capturing my lips with his own, causing my eyes to flutter close.

He bites my lower lip, causing me to moan into his mouth, the sensual pain brings me back to the situation at hand. I wrap my arms around his neck to stabilise myself as he pastes wet kisses down to my sweet spot, just below my ear.

I crane my neck to allow him space, giving him ample opportunity to leave love bites. I've never known Dhushyanth to not grab an opportunity with open arms, especially when I'm in his.

"Hold tight," he warns, his hands making their way downwards from my waist, and giving my butt a squeeze, before he hoists me up with his hands under my thighs.

My core pulsates, as if sensing the proximity of his touch, even underneath the Kurti and leggings.

He pushes the door open with my back against it, and kicks it close behind us, leading to a loud noise.

~.~.~.~.~

Somehow, at the end of it, I end up on Dhushyanth's chest, spent and satisfied, and he massages my scalp with one hand, using his hand to hold me in place with the other.

"This is unusual," I acknowledge, tracing patterns between his collar bones and chest that is marked with a couple hickeys.

"It's new," he interjects, disagreeing with me. "Everything about this is new."

"It is," I agree, feeling my heart pace up again.

"Do you like it?"

I turn to fully place my weight on him, propping my chin on his chest. "I think I like it," I confess, honestly. "You are a good cuddler."

Dhushyanth chuckles. "I'm glad you think so, ma'am."

"I think you need to let me go," I break to him, slowly, caressing his jaw. "I need to clean up, and we need to get some food."

"I thought you didn't want any food," he teases, "or was that before an intense cardio session?"

I laugh back at him. "Shut up," I slap his chest, lightly, before shifting to leave the bed. "Give me your t-shirt," I ask, pointing to Dhushyanth's t-shirt that had found its place on the floor, earlier.

"Why?" Dhushyanth asks.

"So I can go and get more clothes," I answer, nudging him, so he's pestered to do it.

"Wait," he says, holding my arm. "Will you give Kurnool a thought, at least?"

I blink back at him. "I'll go," I answer. "I thought you understood when I was messing with you, earlier."

"I thought you were dodging the question," he admits, his lips widening into a huge smile. "We'll get everything set up for you, in Kurnool," he tells me, his voice getting louder with excitement, "Do you want art supplies? Books? Anything else?"

"I think it would be too busy for anything of that sort, Dhushyanth," I point out, "and painting and stuff- they're all hobbies, to indulge in when I have nothing to do. I'm sure this isn't going to be a trip for leisure."

Dhushyanth's smile tones down, considerably. "You don't have to do anything for the elections—"

"I don't think I will go campaigning," I agree, "and I don't think I will speak to anyone from any channel, but I know the environment around elections- there's always things to do, even when you're not doing these things; and I'm sure it's going to be twice as intense with both you and Mamayya contesting the elections."

"You don't have to—"

I find myself getting annoyed at his insistence to not do anything. "Am I just going to sit around like a doll if I go to Kurnool with you?"

"No," he's quick to deny, seemingly intimidated as he shakes his head in response to my narrowed eyes. "I just don't want you to feel pressured into anything."

"I assure you, no one ever pressures me into anything."

I only realise the words I'd uttered after I say them out loud, causing an awkward moment's silence between the two of us.

"I meant," I amend, "I won't let anyone, anymore," I correct myself, sheepishly.

Dhushyanth shakes his head as he bursts out laughing, causing me to join in quickly.