"You know... I thought you'd got cold feet about the wedding" she told him dizzily. "I believed you were back early to dump me-"
"No, I was too scared I was losing you. I didn't know what Shreya had done but I should have known she is upto something"
"But how could you even find out that I was seeing her yesterday? The bodyguards?"
"No. Aditya. He phoned me yesterday and informed me that Shreya had invited you and that he didn't get a good vibe from that"
"Adi??"
"He is a pain in the a** at times. Very immature too. But he loves you a great deal. He was worried for you" Armaan said making her smile
"I know"
"So tell me about Ishana" Janani prompted and Armaan sighed
"There is nothing much to say Janani. I had a short affair with her. There was nothing serious" Armaan said
"If there was nothing serious why did Shreya say that she begged you to marry her"
"I had no idea about her pregnancy. Out of blue, she proposed marriage. But then it is common among my circle where woman always say they need an open relationship in the beginning and later change their mind. So I didn't take it seriously and told her there will be no future for our relationship. Then she went on saying she loves someone else more to carry on with this relationship. Call me a narcissist ,I thought she was trying to make me jealous" Armaan said
"And were you jealous??"
"God no!! I have never experienced that until you came into my life" Armaan said as he sat next to her on his bed
"You never felt anything for anyone before??" Janani asked amazed as to how a person could survive without love for such a long time
"I have seen the destructive power of love first hand Janani. And I had always had my guards up where women are concerned.I sincerely believed that it would only be safe to love a child, which is why I planned the surrogacy arrangement."
"You do think in some seriously screwy ways sometimes" Janani told him gently.
"It seemed perfectly logical to me at the time.Our mother did a lot of damage and I didn't want to be burned again."
"It was still a little over the top" Janani criticised. "You may have decided to live without love but most children want two parents."
Armaan shot her an impatient look. "All right, I'm selfish...and maybe I didn't think it all through the way I should have done. But look how it turned out" he said with a sudden grin. "I got you... Have I still got you?"
"It would take more than Shreya to scare me off."
"Yet you actually thought I could be about to dump you?" He looked disappointed. "What made you think so? I cut my trip short and travelled all night to get to you because I heard that you were upset."
Janani stiffened. "Who said I was upset?"
"I promised not to name names"
"I wasn't upset yesterday" Janani insisted out of pride. "I was just working through some stuff and thinking a lot. Getting married is a big challenge."
"Especially when the groom is someone like me" Armaan slotted in without hesitation. "Someone too proud and private to share his feelings"
Janani wrinkled her nose "I sort of understand that, although that doesn't mean I approve of you being that secretive."
"And the prospect of marriage must become even more challenging for a woman when the bridegroom hadn't yet admitted that he loves you" Armaan said smoothly "That wasn't just secretive, that was stupid, because if you'd known how much I love you yesterday you would have laughed in Shreya's face and I wouldn't have been panicked into rushing halfway across the world to assure myself that you weren't going to desert me."
"I wouldn't desert you...or the kids" Janani said, still working very slowly through what he had said. "You love me?"
"Insanely." A flood of dark colour accentuated his high cheekbones. "The thought of life without you downright terrifies me.The last week without you have proved hell. I've never missed anyone or anything so much in my life..."
"Never missed anyone??" She asked in daze
Armaan leant back against headboard of his bed pulling Janani into his arms.
"Janani, does it take a hammer to knock an idea into your head?" He groaned. "I phone you every hour on the hour and you think that's normal? I have your whole family here to keep you company so that you can't even look at another man while I'm away. Don't you ever get suspicious,darling? You think I don't realise that wet blanket, Vikram, is sitting out there waiting for you, hoping like hell that I'll screw up and lose you?"
"But I don't fancy Vikram...and even when you upset me or I get annoyed with you, I still fancy you" Janani confided a little desperately, because he was smiling that wicked smile of his that made her heart beat crazily fast.
"Is that a fact??" Armaan teased shifting slightly so that Janani is now lying on the bed and he is hovering over her
"You really do love me??" Janani asked again as she cupped his face with both her hands
He took hold of her left hand and kissed on the engagement ring
"Why do you think I chose Ruby for you??" Armaan asked huskily
"Because you think red is my colour??" She asked blushing hard
Armaan laughed
"That too. But the reason why I chose Ruby is because, the stone symbolises love and passion. What I feel for you ,Janani" he said as he pressed a kiss on her jawline
*slightly mature. Do not read if uncomfortable*
"Maan.." She moaned as she felt his stubble pricking her skin sensously
"I missed you like hell" he said as he trailed kisses towards her lips
Their lips moulded together revelling in their love which soon turned demanding and passionate
Armaan trailed his lips down the column of her throat to her collar bone and he sucked in her skin making her hiss in pain and soothed it sensously with his tongue
He pulled the pallu of her saree down and groaned at the sight of her blouse clad bosom. He kissed her on her cleavage and Janani arched her back pressing herself more to him. Her hands slipped beneath his shirt carrying on her own explorations making him groan
His hand cupped her right breast as he kissed her on the left through the clothing
"Maan.." Janani moaned as she felt him touch her there for the first time. She had never been touched so intimately and she wanted more
****
Armaan came out of his haze as he heard her moan and pulled away slightly breathing hard
"Armaan??" Janani protested at the distance
"If I don't stop now, I won't be able to control anymore" Armaan whispered
"Then don't " Janani said pulling him in for another kiss which Armaan resisted
"I love you too much to make your first time a simple roll in the hay Janani. I want you to be my wife when we make love. I want your first time to be special. And I don't want to break your parent's trust in me.They left you alone with me because you have been upset.And because they trust me with you"
Janani felt her chest expanding. Could she love this man any more??
"I love you. Loads and loads" Janani whispered looking into his eyes with all the love in her heart
"You do? But why??" Armaan asked. He wanted her to love him the way he loves her, but he had always believed that he is unlovable.
"That's the weird bit... I truly don't know. One minute I was fancying you like mad and the next I was wanting to make your life perfect for you" Janani laughed
"God!! I must be the luckiest man in the world. I have the most gorgeous loveliest kindest woman who loves me and two adorable babies. What more can I ask??" Armaan said as he kissed her forhead
"I'm the luckiest woman as I got the whole package" Janani grinned at him to which he grinned back which soon turned to a scowl
"What did you mean by having no more children"
THE END
A/n
Let's hope they will talk it out about having more babies
And guys.. This is a wrap up
Anyway, a hot epilogue would follow 🤪🤪
Thankyou all for the support throughout the book. It was a wonderful journey which would have been downright boring without your vote and comments
Will be back with the next story on Friday...hope to see you all there
Love you ❤️