Ch 17- DEFEND

Richa’s fists were still pressed against his chest, softer now… but filled with lingering hurt.

“You should have said something…” her voice cracked again, weaker this time. “You just stood there while they talked about her like she was… perfect.”

Her hands curled into his shirt, gripping it.

“And I was just there… like I didn’t even exist.”

Aryaman’s gaze darkened—not with anger at her, but at himself. He let her words settle, let her feel everything she needed to feel… before he moved.

His hands came up, wrapping firmly around her wrists, stopping her restless movements.

“Enough,” he said quietly.

Before she could react, he turned her, pressing her back against the wall. The sudden shift made her breath hitch, her eyes widening slightly.

“Aryaman—”He didn’t let her finish.

His lips found hers again, deeper this time… slower, but just as intense. It wasn’t just hunger now—it was reassurance, possession, apology… everything tangled into one kiss.

One of his hands slid to her cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the tear that had slipped down.

“Don’t cry,” he murmured against her lips, before kissing her again.

Richa’s hands, which had been pushing him away moments ago, slowly softened… sliding up to his shoulders, gripping him instead.

He pulled back just enough to look at her.

“You really think I would stand there and let anyone replace you?” he asked, his voice low, steady.

“You didn’t stop them…” she whispered.

“I didn’t need to,” he replied, his forehead resting against hers. “Because what they said… doesn’t touch me anymore.”

His fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“But what you feel?” he continued softly. “That matters. Always.”

Her lashes trembled.

“I hated it…” she admitted again, more vulnerable now. “I hated hearing her name around you.”

Something softened in him completely at that.

His hand slipped around her waist, pulling her flush against him, leaving no space between them.

“Then don’t,” he murmured.

She frowned slightly. “What?”

“Don’t give her that place,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost intimate. “She’s my past. You’re the one standing here… in my arms.”

His nose brushed lightly against hers, a small, tender gesture that contrasted his earlier intensity.

“And trust me,” he added, his lips hovering just above hers, “if anyone ever tries to compare you again…”

His grip tightened just a little.“I won’t stay quiet next time.”

Richa searched his face, her anger completely melted now… replaced with something warm, something aching.

“You better not,” she whispered.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.“Or what?” he teased softly.

Her fingers curled into his collar again, pulling him closer.

“I’ll be worse than today.”

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly before leaning in again.

This time, the kiss was different.

Slower… lingering… filled with warmth instead of urgency.

His hand moved to her hair, gently pushing a strand away from her face before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead… then her cheek… then back to her lips.

“You’re impossible,” he murmured.

“And you still didn’t defend me,” she mumbled, but there was no real anger left.

He smiled faintly, brushing his thumb over her lips.

“I’m defending you now,” he said quietly. “The only way that matters to me.”

She leaned into him without realizing it, her head resting lightly against his chest.

His arms wrapped around her instantly, protective, firm… like he wasn’t letting her go anywhere.

After a moment, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.

“No one gets to make you feel less,” he whispered.

Her fingers tightened around his shirt again, but this time… she held him, not out of anger—

His hand traced her waist, pushing her more towards the wall,her breath hitched,his fingers reached to waistband, looking clearly in her eyes..

Making her saree lose,he untucked it from waist..

"What are..." Before she can ask,his fingers were quick, throwing saree away.

He bended himself a little, taking her petticoat rolling it upward till her waist" hold it"He commanded.

"Arya....."His fingers reached inside her inner thighs asiding her innerwear, circling it,her hands grabbed his wrist gulping down..

But he still traced her folds, pinching and circling the clot,His same fingers reached to his mouth, dipping into his saliva,she exhaled leaning her head back on wall.The same fingers covered with his saliva has now barged into her mouth then to her core, inserting init in rythmic pace,his thumb circling it,she is breathing heavily for her release,his another hand reached to her waist supporting her.

When someone knocked- Anika..

"Richa...can you come...I have to go shopping"She called from outside.

Richa looked at me still trying to get her breaths back.

She is going to answer her,when he inserted his finger harshly

Her moan came-ahhh...

Before she can release herself,and ends her restless,hepulled my finger out and stepped back with a smirk.

She looked at me with shocked expression" this is not fair"she exhaled.

" Everything is fair,of you want to complete,learn to beg...See you tonight.. darling" he tasted her with his finger and moved to bathroom.

When another knock..

"Coming Anika."she replied back.

When he came back,she is draping her pallu winked at her,and she looked at him with killing expression.

Aryaman opened the door..

"Where is she?" Anika asked me..

"Inside..ask her is she ok?" He said and left...

Leaving both of them alone.

Ch-18 DEFEND

She spent her day with Anika, shopping for college works files,papers, clips and all.

Came home with tired face as she stepped in her room,she saw him sitting on couch while working on laptop.

She glared at him when he looked up to make his vision back to screen.

When an idea pops up in her mind,she rushed to him,but got tripped in between...

Richa- aa....

But Aryaman is fast enough to hold her ..

"Are you blind or what?" He scolded and picked her in hia arms taking her to couch and sat,her sitting in his lap.

"You forced me to marry me,right?" She asked.

"Yes...." He said immediately.

"Now you will afford my all expenses" She said with a smirk.

He raised his brow to say clearly.

" Give me your card...I have to go shopping Tommorow" She asked putting her palm infront of him.

He looked at her for few moments, taking out his wallet,he put card in her palm.

She got little shocked,anyway smiled.

"You teased me in morning"

"Yess"

"So?"she said..

"Don't you hate me... because I married you against your will" He said.

"I...I do..."She stammered a little.."but....

"Learn to beg "He said putting her strand behind her ear.

"You're impossible"She said standing up from him..

"I know"He said and put his focus on screen again.

She moved to change her clothes coming back..

Richa stood in front of him, arms crossed, clearly annoyed… but there was something else beneath it—something he had planted there himself.

Aryaman leaned back casually on couch watching her with that knowing smirk.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she snapped, trying to sound angry, but her voice lacked its usual sharpness.

He tilted his head, eyes dark with amusement. “Because I’m waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you to do exactly what I told you this afternoon.”

Her breath hitched.

That moment flashed back instantly—him cornering her in the hallway, whispering near her ear, *“learn to beg"

She had pushed him away then, flustered and furious.

But now… here she was.

“I’m not going to beg,” she muttered, looking away.

Aryaman chuckled softly and pushed himself off the desk, slowly walking toward her. “Then why are you standing here, Richa?”

Each step he took made her heartbeat louder.

“I just—” she started, then stopped, frustrated.

He stopped right in front of her, lowering his gaze to meet hers. “Say it.”

Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.

That confidence… it broke her last bit of resistance.

“Aryaman…” her voice softened, almost unwillingly. Her fingers slowly curled into his shirt. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you already know what I’m going to say.”

He smirked. “Because I do.”

Her cheeks flushed, but this time she didn’t step back.

“You said… you wanted me to ask,” she murmured, her forehead almost touching his chest now.

His expression changed—less teasing, more intent.

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then finally, in a quiet, breathless voice—

“I need you.”

The words hung between them.

For a second, he didn’t move… just looked at her, as if savoring the moment he had been waiting for all day.

“You really came just to say that?” he asked softly, but there was a rough edge under it now.

She nodded, barely

“Say it properly.”

Her grip on him tightened. “Don’t push it…”

“Richa.”That tone.

She closed her eyes for a second, then looked up at him again, completely vulnerable now.

“I want you.”

That was all it took.

His restraint snapped—not into roughness, but into something intense and consuming. He pulled her close instantly, one arm locking around her waist.

Throwing back couch this time .

“I warned you,” he murmured against her, his voice low and dangerous. “Once you say it… I don’t hold back.”

Him sitting on couch with her on lap ,both legs at each side.., removing her clothes in urgency.

The lights dim,air passing through windows.Her hands gripping his shoulder.

He removed his Bra, attacking on her bossoms ,biting it , sucking it and nibbling it while grasping another.making her head to Lean back..

His hands touched his waist, fingers moving around navel while kissing her on her jaw.

He laid her on couch, hovering over her, removing her innerwear leaving her naked under the sim glowing lights.

Her hands reached to his cheek and pulled herself up to kiss his lips..

He sat on floor pulling her core towards him and his mouth dipped on her core, tasting her all.His tongue lapping on her folds,her hands grabbing his hairs ,he pressed his waist a little to support her hips on one place.

She exhaled heavily, grasping for breaths but finding none.

His mouth working on her folds and hands on pressing her bosoms..

He holds her legs by ankle putting them on his shoulders and pulling her more to him.

He stood in urgency, removing his pant and boxers in one go.. Pulling his shirt immediately, leaning a little towards drawer near couch , pulling a condom packet,tearing it with his teeth and rolling on his hardness while she looked at his pace.

Him pulling her towards him, making her stand,her one leg on couch and other on floor when he tipped himself on her entrance, looking directly in her eyes .

He pushed himself,her nails digged in his shoulder blades,him pushing holding her by her waist supporting her.

He pushed himself again hitting her spot making her release on him..

He flipped her,her hands on headboard of couch,He pushed himself again in her getting his pace while she moaned,groaned feeling him inside her.

Her legs bent when she got tired,but his mouth find her tasting her all and kissed her , placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

He moved to dispose himself and came back, laying close to each other.

CH-19. React

The room was too quiet.

Richa noticed it the moment she stepped in.

No music. No phone calls. No distant conversations from staff.

Just… silence.

Aryaman sat on the couch, flipping through a file, his expression unreadable as always.

But something was off.

He didn’t look up.

Didn’t acknowledge her.

Didn’t even react to the sound of her heels against the floor.

Richa frowned slightly.

“Back already?” she said casually, dropping her bag.

Nothing.

Not even a glance.

Her brows knitted.

“Aryaman.”

Still nothing.

He turned a page.

Calm. Controlled. As if she wasn’t even there.

Her irritation sparked instantly.

“Oh, so we’re doing this now?” she muttered, crossing her arms.

She walked closer, stopping right in front of him.

“Didn’t know I became invisible.”

Silence.

Her jaw tightened.

“Fine,” she scoffed. “Ignore me. I don’t care.”

She turned to walk away—

“Dinner at eight.”

His voice.

Finally.

Like she was just… another person in the house.

Richa turned back slowly.

“That’s it?” she asked, disbelief creeping in. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

He looked up this time.

“Is there something else?” he replied calmly.

The lack of emotion in his tone hit harder than any anger.

“What’s your problem?” she snapped.

“No problem,” he said, going back to the file.

That did it.

She walked back, snatching the file out of his hand.

“Stop acting like this!”

His gaze lifted again.

“Like what?”

“Like I don’t exist!” her voice rose. “At least when you’re angry, you act like a human being.”

Then—

“Maybe I’m tired of reacting,” he said simply.

Her chest tightened.

That wasn’t the answer she expected.

“Or maybe,” she shot back, “you just don’t care enough anymore.”

The words hung between them

She expected him to snap.

To grab her. Argue. Prove her wrong.

But Aryaman just… watched her.

Quiet.

Unmoving.

And that silence—

It started to suffocate her.

“Say something!” she demanded.

Nothing.

Her anger started mixing with something else now.

Something uncomfortable.

“Why are you doing this?” her voice dropped slightly.

Still no answer.

Her throat tightened.

“Fine…” she whispered, more to herself. “Stay like this.”

She turned and walked toward the bedroom.

But her steps slowed.

The silence followed her.

Sat with her.

Night fell.

The house dimmed.

But the distance between them only grew.

Richa sat on the bed, knees pulled slightly closer, staring at nothing.

He hadn’t come to check on her.

Hadn’t called her for dinner again.

Hadn’t done anything.

And that hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She walked out, finding him exactly where she left him.

Same couch.

Same calm posture.

As if hours hadn’t passed.

Her chest tightened again.

“How long are you going to keep this up?” she asked, her voice no longer sharp… just tiredd

She walked closer.

Slower this time.

“Aryaman…” she said, softer.

Still nothing.

Her eyes burned slightly.

“I’m talking to you.”

He finally looked at her.

And for a second—

Because his expression was so controlled… so distant… that it felt like a wall she couldn’t break.

Her voice trembled slightly despite her effort.

“You think this doesn’t affect me?”

She let out a shaky breath.

“I’d rather you shout,” she admitted quietly.
“Fight with me… say something… anything…”

Her voice cracked at the end.

“But this…” she whispered, “this feels worse.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

And that broke something in her.

“Fine,” she said, her voice barely steady. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t matter enough for a reaction.”

She turned again—

But this time, her wrist was caught.

Her breath hitched.

Slowly, she turned back.

Aryaman stood now.

His grip wasn’t harsh.

But it wasn’t letting her go either.

For a moment, he just looked at her.

And when he finally spoke—

His voice was low.

“You only notice me,” he said slowly,
“when I stop giving you attention.”

Her breath stilled.

His hold tightened just slightly.

“Every time I react…” he continued, his gaze locked on hers,
“…you push back harder.”

“So I stopped.”

The words sank in.

“That’s not fair,” she whispered.

“Neither is what you do,” he replied quietly.

Silence fell again—

But this time, it wasn’t empty.

“Then don’t stop…”

His eyes darkened slightly.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t… ignore me like that,” she said, looking at him.

His grip loosened slightly.

But he didn’t step away.

Didn’t break the distance.

“You don’t get to decide when I react,” he said quietly.
“And when I don’t.”

Her heart clenched.

“I know…” she admitted.

A pause.

Then, barely above a whisper—

“I just… don’t like it when you don’t.”

That did something.

Something subtle.

But real.

His hand slowly slid from her wrist.

Just enough to notice.

That night—

They didn’t fight.

But the silence between them—

Was no longer empty.

It had meaning now.

He placed a kiss on her forehead before dozing off.

......