Shreya knew that whatever Charan did was actually keeping her in mind. She knew he kept his distance because he did not want to scare her or push her to her limits.

But then there was also this teeny tiny vulnerable part of her that kept nagging her that she had done something wrong and that is why he did not come for more.. Maybe she seemed too desperate.. maybe she did something to put him off.. maybe he did not like her being too forward.

These 'maybe's were endless and was driving her crazy very slowly.

But at that moment when she was struggling to breathe after their intense make-out session, all her emotions just came crashing down making her extremely grumpy and livid. And as always she did not hold back anything.

Once Charan made sure she couldn't move anymore, he just kept staring at her waiting for her to calm down which she did after a while.

When Shreya met with his gaze, she could see that slight regret in them. And she hated seeing them in his eyes. She was not going to let him regret something he had did for her sake. So she just leaned forward and pecked on his cheeks. She then pulled back and gave him a smile that said everything was perfectly fine with them.

Charan let out a sigh of relief. He sat back up with her on his lap and hugged her close.

"I'm sorry.. I did not mean to hurt you. I just thought you would.. I just did not want you to be uncomfortable.. Sorry.." He apologized, just the same.

Shreya pulled away and looked at him and spoke, "Charan, if I am uncomfortable with something.. I will tell you. As you know, I am not really good at retraining myself when it came to things like that. But at the same time.. I do not want to impose on you either.. I just.. I was just trying to.. I just didn't want you to.."

She paused and let out a slightly frustrated groan not knowing how to continue from there. But then her ranting started. Her mouth just flew at its will without any consent from the brain as she blabbered away.

"Argh.. you just drive me crazy. I.. I always know what I want from a person and I never shy away from asking for it from them. But with you, I don't know why I end up second-guessing every damn shit and drive myself crazy.. I go around with this constant fear that I will end up messing up something.. or say something stupid or do something reckless. And after that starts these stupid idiotic questions that keep popping up in my head.. What if he thinks I am desperate?? Maybe I am pushing him?? What if he did not want to do anything?? I am not desperate.. let me tell you.. .. Okay, that's a lie.. Maybe I am a little bit desperate. But that's not the point.. the point is, I don't know how to deal with all these questions and doubts.. So can you just be yourself and stop walking on ice picks around me.. I just end up overthinking everything when it comes to you unnecessarily.. And I know it's not your fault.. I just.."

Before she could finish her sentence, a pair of familiar lips crashed against hers and shut her mindless blabbering. This time around the kiss was apologetic and painstakingly gentle.

"God, you talk too much sometimes.." Charan groaned pulling away breathlessly.

Shreya rested her head over his shoulders and mumbled, "Sorry.. I end up talking shit sometimes.."

"Don't be.. I like it when you talk unrestrained.." Charan mumbled against her skin making her shiver as his lips nibbled on her neck finding her sweet spot while his hands pulled down on the zipper on her sweatshirt at a torturously slow pace.

After half an hour of the intense make-out session, Shreya laid cuddled up against his bare chest. Her lips were swollen and red while her neck sported a wide array of hickeys. Her chests heaved up and down as she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. A thin layer of her camisole separated their skins.

Charan peppered her with small pecks all over her head and temples every few seconds while his hand stroke on her arms gently calming her down.

Once she got her breathing under control, Shreya talked once again breaking the silence between them.

"I wanted to talk to you about something for a while now.. I just didn't know how to bring it up.."

"What is it??" Charan asked slightly curious.

"I just.. I know we never talked about the future.. but I just wanted to discuss somethings," She paused biting on her lips. Charan did not interrupt.

But then Shreya looked up at him and asked, "Do you see a future with me?? Do you want a future with me??"

"Yes.." Charan answered bluntly and asked back, "Do you??"

Shreya gave him a bright smile and said, "Hell yes. And I want it all.. Marriage, kids, hearts, and flowers.. the whole nine. I want it all.. with you. Just with you.."

Her whispers resonated against his ears in that empty room making his heart do a flip. He pecked on her temple and said, "good.." His voice was raspy with emotions.

"But Charan.. I can't do anything of them for a while now. I don't even know how long it would take. I have some unfinished business and it might even take years to settle. And before I settle them, I can't do anything even if I wanted to. That is why I stirred clear of anyone all these years.. but then when you happened to me.. I couldn't resist. But I don't want to tie you down to me and put you or Akira at risk. So this.. whatever we have is going to be at a stalemate till then.." Shreya said seriously.

"Does this have anything to do with why Akira was kidnapped back then??" Charan asked, at last, the question that's always been at the back of his head all these while.

Shreya nodded her head solemnly.