"Can I kiss you?" He asked breaking the silence.

He couldn't hold himself from asking her the question. The way she bite her lips make his senses go weak. He had always wanted to kiss her again from the day once he tasted again. Only he know how much he control himself when he sees her.

As for Nandha, her face flushed red at his question. She was seeing a completely different person. She neither said yes nor no. She closed her eyes and parted her lips. Taking this as an yes he crashed his rough lips into her soft ones. She felt the kiss different from the one they had before. This one was soft and passionate so different from the one they shared during her stay in Hastinapur, which was rough and dominating.

His one hand trialed down to her waist pulling her more close to him while his other hand caressed her checks. Her small soft body was completely pressed against his bulky one. She felt weird sensation in her tummy as he kissed her. She too started responding to the kiss with the same passion. Her soft ones moving against his rough ones. The kiss soon turned into a heated one.

She wrapped her hands around his neck pulling her more closer to her. A soft moan escaped her mouth as she felt him bit on her lower lips. She parted her lips letting his tongue enter her mouth. He kissed her, tasting every bit of her mouth making her moan in pleasure. She tasted like honey making him wanting more. She was his new addiction which he never want to let go off.

Soon they pulled apart due to lack of oxygen. Duryodhana started trailing wet kisses on her neck making her legs curl in pleasure. If it wasn't for his hands holding her she would have fallen on floor unable to handle the pleasure she felt as he continued kissing neck. He bit her neck making her moan in pain but soon the pain turned into pleasure as he sucked and kissed on the place.

Duryodhana removed the knott of her blouse making her shiver. He halted in his action and looked at her. Feeling her shiver he understood that she was not ready for it. He didn't want to just force his rights on her. He wanted her to be his willingly, without any hesitation and the most interesting part was he was ready to wait for her. Don't know what magic she had done on him but he had started to care about others feelings and emotions.

Nandha opened her eyes and looked at him in confusion. She didn't understand why he suddenly stopped but a part of her felt happy and relief seeing him stop. She may have allowed him to kiss her but that does not mean that she is ready to take their marriage to next level.

"I think we should stop here before it gets out of my control." He whispered against her lips.

She nodded her head not knowing what to say. She was too dazzed off to know what was happening around her. The kiss was so strong that it had made her lose her sense.

"Go and change and then we can sleep. We had a long day today and you need rest." He said.

"Yes aryaa." She obeyed his words without any objection.

She changed herself into a simple white lehenga. She removed all the jewels that were adorned in her body. After removing the jewels and dress she found herself light in weight. She kept her chudamani and sindoor as such.

O Mahadev she felt as light as air now. She thought to herself after changing from the heavy dress.

She went towards the bed and found Duryodhana already lying on the bed waiting for her. With his eyes he motioned her to come and lie beside him. Passing a small smile to him she went and laid beside him.

A gasp escaped her mouth as she felt his cold hands wrappings themselves around her bare waist. He pulled her closer to himself. She looked at his face and found his eyes already closed. Hesitating slightly she placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes letting the tiredness get her.

****

Morning came with a lot new hopes and expectations for both Alakanandha and Duryodhan. They slept peacefully in each other's arms unknown to the storm that was about to strike in their lives. The storm that was going to bring sleepless nights and endless tears.

Nandha was the first one to wake up. She opened her eyes and found herself in someone's embrace. At first she was confused seeing her surroundings but soon the memories of the past few days came to her memory. Now she is no more the Rajkumari of Amernath but the future queen of Hastinapur.

She looked at Duryodhana who was still sleeping beside her. He looked no less than a small baby while sleeping. She cannot believe the person who is sleeping beside her like a baby is a cold hearted murderer who did not even have a bit of guilt for killing his own cousins. The words of Maharani Gandhari came to her mind.

"he is not as heartless as people say"

"he was guided wrong in childhood"

"he is just a child who was neglected of a childhood"

"he loves you so much putri."

"Please guide him in the right path."

Maybe she was right. Her Aryaa might not be a completely heartless person. His yesterdays actions proved that to her. He could have used his husbands rights on her but he did not. She felt herself slowly melting in actions. She then remembered the promise that she had made to her mother-in-law. The promise to make him a better person.

She looked at Duryodhan's face and whispered, "I promise you aryaa I will soon heal all your wounds. I will give you all the love that you were neglected off. I will make you a better person from the monster you have become."

Not being able to control herself she started tracing his face with her finger. His beard was pricky yet they were soft. Her fingers trailed from his forehead to his jaws. Her fingers stopped at his lips. They are rough yet so soft. She felt heat raising to her cheeks as the memories of their kiss the previous night flashed in her mind. She couldn't believe that she lost control over herself. If he had not stopped the kiss then she had no idea how they would have ended up.

"Thinking about the kiss last night?"

"Yes. How do you kno-" She looked at Duryodhana with her eyes wide.

"Babydoll the reddish hue on your cheeks gave away your thoughts and I am so glad it was about our moment last night." He whispered caressing her cheeks.

"You are awake." She said still looking at Duryodhana with wide eyes.

"Babydoll I was awake from the time you traced my lips with your soft fingers." He said as he pressed a kiss to her fingers.

"I...um....you....we...er." Nandha stammered not knowing what to say. The redness on her cheeks increasing each second making Duryodhana gulp.

"Babydoll please stop blushing. Your blushes are making me lose my control." He whispered looking at her.

Nandha looked down not knowing what to say. Her heart was thudding widely in her chest feeling the heated gaze of her husband. The both sat in silence. She silently tried to move his hands that were wrapped around her waist but found it impossible as he kept tightening his hands around her waist.

"We.....I should get ready. Mata wanted us to attend the puja " Nandha mumbled.

"Mmmm." He hummed but didn't move his hands and kept looking at her.

"Aryaa...um...your....hands." She said indicating to his hands on her waist.

"Oh yes." He said moving his hands.

As soon as he moved his hands Nandha got up from the bed. With one last glance at him she went to freshen up.

Duryodhana kept looking at her until she was out of his sight. With a sigh he rolled on the bed and closed his eyes.

*****