The Softer Devraj

Chapter 11: No Strings, Just Heat

Days blurred into nights, and nights into something far more reckless.
Arnav and Ruhi had stopped pretending they were just boss and assistant a long time ago.

It started with teasing glances across the office her biting her lip when he caught her staring, his smirk that promised trouble. 

But soon, it was more than glances. It was stolen moments, wild laughter, and heat that lingered long after they'd walked away from each other.

They were never official. 

Never together.

Yet, every time they were in the same room, the air burned.

Ruhi, who always swore she didn't believe in men like him, found herself caught between wanting to run away and wanting to never leave.

Sometimes, he'd call her late at night just to hear her voice.

"You're awake?"

"You called, didn't you?" she'd reply, lazy and bold.

And somehow, she'd end up in his car twenty minutes later no explanations, no promises.

Their nights were wild, spontaneous, unapologetically chaotic.

Dinner dates that ended with them kissing in parking lots, laughter echoing between them.

Drives to nowhere, music loud, her hair flying, his hand resting dangerously high on her thigh.

It wasn't love. 
It was addiction raw, magnetic, uncontrollable.

They made no promises.

No declarations.

But every touch, every kiss, every stolen glance screamed of something far more dangerous than love.

When Ruhi walked into a room, he forgot who he was supposed to be.

When Arnav looked at her that way like she was a challenge he couldn't win she forgot every reason she had to stay away.

The city lights blurred past as Arnav's car sliced through the night.

Music hummed low, the kind of rhythm that matched the tension sitting thick between them.

Ruhi leaned back in the passenger seat, legs crossed, a teasing smile on her lips as she looked out the window.

"You always drive like you're running from something," she murmured, eyes still on the road.

Arnav's lips curved. "Maybe I am."

"From what?"

He glanced at her, eyes glinting under the dim lights. "You."

Her breath hitched before she could help it. 

The way he said it low, lazy, dangerous made her pulse skip. 

She turned to look out the window again, pretending it didn't affect her. But Arnav wasn't fooled,  he never was.

At a red light, he leaned closer, his voice brushing against her ear.

"You keep saying we're not dating, Ruhi. But you can't even look at me without biting your lip."

She exhaled sharply, turning to face him, her defiance barely holding up.

"And you can't stop looking at me like I'm something you want to ruin."

He chuckled deep, low, infuriatingly calm.