Dhruv's POV

Her cheek was still resting against my collarbone, her breathing steady now.
I tightened my arms around her, but the warmth in my chest twisted into something heavier. Fear. Fear of losing her made me feel so vulnerable. Today's event happened because someone was targeting her because of me. If not, that person would have targeted Nanda Industries or her before our marriage. I need to eliminate all dangers. Nobody should even think about hurting my wife. She is my life. My anchor. If I can't even protect her, then what is the use of my power? Whoever is the one hiding behind and targeting my wife better beware of me.

That afternoon slammed into my mind without warning.

Flashback.

Aakriti was lying limp on our bed, her skin cold against my hands, lips pale. I'd been counting her breaths like each one was borrowed time. When she'd finally stirred, relief had hit me so hard I almost laughed.

"Aakriti?" I'd said, too loud, too desperate.

She'd blinked slowly, eyes darting around the room as if it wasn't hers. As if I wasn't me.

"Why... am I here? What happened?"

The question had ripped something out of me. She wasn't been acting—there was no trace of her usual sharpness, no calculation. Just confusion.

She doesn't remember anything. Not even meeting her mother.

I'd swallowed everything I wanted to say—that she'd scared me more than anyone ever had, that she'd clung to my hand before going still, that I'd thought I was losing her—and instead told her the cleanest lie I could.

"You overworked yourself. Fainted."

And she'd nodded, that quiet, mistrusting nod that said she knew I was hiding something but didn't have the strength to demand it.

"I even broke my promise," I said, my voice rough, my eyes locked on hers. "Not to touch you without your permission. But when you fainted... I couldn't stop myself. I had to hold you. I will hold you, Aakriti, whether you give me permission or not."

Her gaze wavered, her lips parting just slightly. "You don't need my permission to touch me." she replied, her tone tired... But the faintest tremor in her voice told me she meant every word. Her words meant acceptance not just to my touches but also towards me.

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The memory made my arms tighten around her now. She might have forgotten that event, but I did not. Every second of it was carved into me.

I moved my face closer to her hair, breathing her in like it could erase the echo of that moment. This woman has the power to drive me crazy and keep me sane at the same time.

 I buried myself in her neck. Sniffing her perfume. Getting dizzy in her fragrance. I softly kissed her there, and she shivered, letting out a small moan. She gripped my hair, but when I thought she would pull my head away, she did the opposite.

I sucked her skin as if hungry. She whimpered on every contact. I gently grazed my teeth on her neck and bit her with a slightly greater force.

"Dhruv." She moaned seductively, making me wish to devour her completely.

I continued. I switched from biting to sucking her skin. I did it many times and finally let her go when her skin changed color.

I pulled back just a bit, enough to look at her. Her eyes held something I hadn't seen before. Not fire. Not ice.

But something more dangerous.

Something raw. She was panting, but her eyes flashed with desire. She looked away, calming her beating heart.

But before she could do anything else. I pulled her and kissed her. Not a gentle and soft one, but a passionate one fought for dominance.

After a few minutes, I didn't move.

This time, I let her decide what came next.

Her breath still warm against my cheek, her fingers still tangled in my hair—trembling, but not retreating. I looked at her, really looked, and for once... didn't take the lead.

I allowed her to be the one in control. And something in her shifted when she realized that.

She cupped my cheeks, deepening the kiss.

Her lips parted, not to speak—but to kiss me again. Slower. Deeper. No longer just need, but intent. She moved with the confidence of someone reclaiming her space—not just in the room, but in me.

I held her as if anchoring myself, one arm wrapped firmly around her waist, the other sliding up her back, feeling every shiver that ran through her.

When we finally broke apart, breathless and raw, I didn't let her go.

Her forehead pressed against mine, both of us trying to catch our breath. Her hands were still on my face. Mine was still around her waist. As if neither of us could trust our balance if we pulled away.

"That... was unexpected," she whispered, her voice rough and husky.

"That," I said with a shaky breath, "was pending."

"I don't know what this is yet." She said softly.

"We have a lot of time to figure it out." I said, and kissed her again. Softly. This time the kiss was more like a promise to her.

She slept, resting her head on my chest. The past few days must have been very hectic for her. I should take advantage of her sleep. Only then can I take her there.

I messaged my assistant to come into my cabin without knocking.

He entered, and I picked up Aakriti in my arms. He opened the door and followed us.

Everyone was staring at us with their mouths wide open.

"Are you going home?" Karan asked in a low tone. I shook my head.

I moved towards the parking area and sat with her in the back seat of the car. I messaged my assistant the address, and he started driving.

We were about to reach there in five minutes. Aakriti woke up. She was still on my lap.

"Where are we going?" She said in a sleepy voice. She gently caressed my shirt with her cheeks. Behaving like a spoiled child. So adorable.

"We reached." I said, and she opened her eyes.

"Why are we here? Are you injured?" She asked me.

"No. We are here for you. We are meeting a psychologist." I said, not meeting her eyes. I am sure she is ready to burst out in anger.

"This is low, even for you." Aakriti said in anger. Getting down from my lap and settling beside me.

"Bringing you here for a checkup so you don't have a panic attack or faint because of lack of sleep isn't low. It's care and desperation to make sure that you are alright." I said softly.

"I'm not going in." She said stubbornly.

"You are. You're going in, sitting down, and you're going to talk to someone who can actually help you. Because I do not wish to see you have another panic attack. It scared me more than it scared you. You might be ok with traumatizing yourself, but I am not ok with seeing my wife in that state." I said firmly.

"I don't need a therapist. I need people to stop breathing down my neck. If she had not come to meet me. I wouldn't have gotten a panic attack." she said softly.

A heavy silence fills the car. Dhruv turns toward her, eyes searching hers.

"You don't get points for suffering in silence, Aakriti." Dhruv said softly.

"I'm not some fragile little thing that needs rescuing." She said, trying to sound strong.

"No, you are the strongest person that I have ever met. And I wish you to not suffer from this pain."

"You think I want to feel all this. The moment my nightmare started again, I knew that I needed to go for therapy again. But do you think it is easy? Sitting there in front of a stranger. Voicing out all your fears. Recalling all the events that you desperately want to forget. Questioning yourself again and again: 'Do I even have a trauma, or is it just me overreacting?' The last time I went to therapy was when I was on the verge of dysfunction. Ansh forced me. It was not easy. I don't want to go through all that again." She said, and tears, which she tried to hide for a long time, started sliding down her cheek.

"Please. Just one session. You don't have to be fixed. You just have to show up." I begged her, wiping her tears gently.

Aakriti's eyes flutter shut. Her breath trembled.

"One session. That's it." She said after a long pause.

"That's enough for today." I said.

"I hate you." She said after understanding my words. But I love you, my wife. I hope for you to heal from all your trauma.

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