Page 14 of The Escape

Meher lowered her glass as he continued, “Because you’re in it.”

The simple answer made her pause. Ayaan watched as a faint flush crept across her cheeks.

“King-1 Queen-0,” he said.

Meher looked at him, confused, and he immediately clarified, “I’m still capable of making you blush after all these years. That deserves a point.”

She shook her head, but she was smiling. “Don’t get too pleased with yourself.”

“Too late.” Ayaan leaned back against the tub. “In fact, after all these years, I’ve just become better at knowing exactly what makes you blush like that.”

Meher studied him for a few seconds before placing her champagne glass on the swivel table attached to the side of the jacuzzi. Then she shifted forward.

Ayaan’s hand immediately left her foot. “What are you doing?”

“Coming closer.” She gave him a look. “Do I need a reason?”

She moved through the warm water, until she was close enough to reach him. She straddled his lap, placed one hand against his shoulder and leaned forward, pressing a slow kiss to his lips.

Ayaan kissed her back just as gently, with no urgency. His arms wrapped around her waist as he drew her closer. Water splashed over the edge of the jacuzzi with their movements, but neither of them cared.

When she finally pulled back for breath, their foreheads remained pressed together, their breaths mingling between them.

“No matter how long we’ve been together, one touch of your lips still manages to make the rest of the world disappear, Meher.”

She smiled softly before settling down right next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder. “We really needed this.”

Ayaan kissed the top of her head. “We did.”

Her expression softened, but then her lips curved into a small pout as she looked up at him again. “Although I still miss the kids.”

“Don’t remind me of them, because I miss them too much.” He brushed a damp strand of hair away from her face before drawing her closer again. “But tonight, and for the next four days, I have my wife all to myself.” A slow smile touched his lips. “And I don’t intend to waste a single second of it.”

Her smile turned softer. “Me neither.”

He kissed her again, this time with more urgency than before. Outside, the ocean shimmered beneath the moonlight as Ayaan and Meher finally allowed themselves to forget everything else and simply lose themselves in their love.

And somewhere inside the room, on the coffee table, the black king chess piece stood silently watching them. The same piece Ayaan had never stopped carrying with him wherever life took him. The only chess piece that had witnessed every version of his life, every victory, every battle, and somehow, through all of it, had still stood strong.

Raghav and Siya

The lights of their water villa had been dimmed, leaving the bedroom washed in a warm golden glow. The only shadow moving across the walls was the silhouette of Siya straddling Raghav on the bed, their bodies joined together. The room had fallen almost completely silent, except for their uneven breathing and the occasional broken sound escaping between them as they both chased their releases.

And when it finally came, the overwhelming rush of pleasure was enough to leave them both momentarily blinded. It was only when the intensity began to ebb that Siya collapsed against him, completely spent.

Raghav immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her firmly against his chest. He pressed a slow kiss to the top of her head, his own heartbeat still racing beneath her cheek as he tried to steady his breathing. Neither of them spoke for several minutes. They simply remaining wrapped around each other as they gradually came back from their high.

Eventually, Raghav shifted and rolled them onto their sides without letting her go. He kept one arm securely around her waist, drawing her back against him as they settled beneath the sheets.

While Siya was still catching her breath, he looked far too satisfied with himself as he watched her. Her face flushed, hair was scattered across the pillow, lips slightly parted and one hand resting against his shoulder were a sight he could watch forever.

Sensing his quiet gaze, Siya slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.

“You know,” she murmured, her voice still slightly breathless, “I thought this trip was supposed to help me recharge. I came here thinking I was finally going to relax.”

His mouth curved into a slow smile. “You are relaxing.”

“No.” She pushed lightly against his chest. “I am exhausted.”