Ishan chokes out a breath. Why was it so difficult to breathe around this man?

"Well, I'm waiting," his expression was smug, but Ishan could see his breathing getting heavier.

"You're being really bossy, you know?" They both carry the conversation into the room, and Shubman leans against the wall, his fingers brushing Ishan's claim away.

"But Kishan, I didn't hear you say 'no'," Shubman says, smiling.

Ishan blushes and feels the urge to climb onto him. But he needed to clear things up first.

"I've wanted to ask," he swallows before saying the next line, "But do you actually like me? I mean, is it a... body thing? Or is it like..?" He lets the sentence trail off, not wanting to suggest love.

Shubman's entire body grows tight at the sentence, his smile slipping off, his face grows concerned as he says, "What? I don't feel... it's not just lust, Ishan. Did I make you feel that way? I am sorry if I did. I guess I've a hard time keeping myself off of you," he bites his lips, contemplating, "Ishan, what I feel for you is love."

Ishan thinks he hears the universe pause. His heart starts pounding harder than ever before.

Shubman pauses, a frown on his face from thinking, "I don't know how to describe it, but I want you to know. I guess... it's the little things. The way you can barely hold your laughter back, the way your eyes light up when someone suggests a prank, the way you cuddle up to me at night and deny it in the morning. For me it's not a body thing, it's an 'Ishan thing'."

"I don't know when I realized it, I guess it was when you were talking that one time and I thought I could listen to you forever. I just wanted to be near you all the damn time. But soon, being in your radius wasn't enough. I wanted more. More of you, all the parts you kept secret, all the worries that you kept to yourself, I want to make them mine. Yes, I wanted more of your touch, but it was not just physical desire. Ishan, I'd still want to f**k you if your body was a warped twig, but after I'd heard your voice in my ear, telling me a stupid joke."

He laughs at the last admission, and then looks nervously at Ishan. "I mean it's the first time I've felt this for a person. So I guess I f**cked up a lot, didn't I? I mean, the girls in our room and all that."

Ishan, who had been listening to his voice speak as if from a distance, feels high. It was unbelievable, the rush in his blood, the happiness in his veins. It was like someone had released a million butterflies in his chest.

"Well... silence was not what I had been hoping for," Shubman tries to joke but his voice sounded uncertain.

"I love you, Shubman."

Shubman closes his eyes, breathes in a deep breath, a slow smile playing on his lips. "Can I record that?"

"You don't have to," Ishan laughs, "I'll say it every day. I love you I love you I love you."

Shubman looks like someone had just switched on the moon for him, the expression on his face was pure bliss.

"So... we are... dating?" Shubman asks, "Or maybe you should tell me why you thought we shouldn't."

Ishan sits down on the couch and Shubman joins him. And he begins. Voicing every single concern, every single worry, every single thought that haunted him. All about Kartik, Rakhi's article, the penguin girl, his friendship with Dhruv, his concern about his parents' reactions.

Shubman listens patiently, not interrupting once. After Ishan has finished, he lays his head tiredly on Shubman's shoulder. They both sit quietly.

"What do you think is the worst thing Kartik can do to us?"

"Get us kicked out of the team?"

"He would need others' permission."

"They would agree at once, when he tells them we're gay."

"True. But we'll deny it. He's the only one who saw. We'll say he wanted vengeance on us because we always created trouble for him."

"Better yet, we'll keep it a secret. We've slipped once or twice, but from now on, we'll keep it behind closed doors."

Ishan nods, "But if anyone finds out... somehow? And leaks it to the public?"

Shubman stays silent. Ishan realizes bitterly that there was no solution. Neither to his parents' mindset. They had talked about things but that didn't mean they were going to change.

But he juts his chin out, "I guess we'll just have to fight together."

Shubman kisses the top of his head, "I guess we'll have to."

"I think our teammates would support us," Ishan says thoughtfully.

"They can be idiots, but they will. I'm sure." Ishan feels his toes curl as Shubman presses another kiss, this time on his forehead, his hand gently toying with Ishan's earring.

"Shreyas bhai already knows. And all he has expressed is disinterest," Ishan tries to continue, losing his voice slightly as Shubman kisses the tip of his nose.

"Stop talking about that life ruiner," Shubman says, finally turning his attention to Ishan's lips.

"Walking in on us doesn't make him a life ruiner," Ishan says, after he breaks the light kiss. Truth was Ishan had also harbored certain petty resentment toward Shreyas as well, "We probably scarred his eyes."

"I'm glad we did. He stole my precious view."

"I can fix that," Ishan says softly as he lifts his shirt off his body, his pulse growing quicker. It was a bold move but his nervousness melts at seeing Shubman's eyes on him.

The look in them, it wasn't lustful. More like, enchanted.

Shubman cups his cheek in his hand, and leans in to kiss him. His breath hot against his mouth, Ishan melts into the kiss, deepening it, lacing his fingers through his hair.

Shubman lets out a groan and roughly hoists Ishan off the couch by his waist.

"Bedroom," he says, his voice low and husky.

Ishan just nods, fire in his veins. There was no worry in him, no reservations and no inhibitions. He knew Shubman would take care of him and all he felt was an unbearable impatience at being separated from his lips, "I love you, Shub," he murmurs in his ears, burying his face in the nape of his neck.

"F**k, Ish, at least let me get to the bed," Shubman says hoarsely.

They get to the bed, at this point both their breaths were coming out in gasps. Shubman gets on top of him, their kisses becoming devouring, hard, filled with unmistakable want and need.

Shubman takes off his shirt in a swift motion, "You," he says, "Do you want me?" Ishan could tell Shubman desperately needed his confirmation, the security of his answer, for tonight. A promise that things would remain the same.

Ishan was only too happy to provide it, "Yes," he says, reaching his hands up to caress Shubman's face, "Be quick. It's hard to wait."

The words seem to tear away all of Shubman's doubts and control. The animalistic look in his eyes as he bends his head down makes Ishan's body warm up with heat. His head jerks up at the open mouthed kisses on his chest. Shubman leaves a trail of kisses from Ishan's midriff to his thighs. His hands touch him with burning desire, igniting his body wherever they went.

"I love you, Ishan. Let me show it to you tonight."

Ishan tips his head back, tasting the words. They were sweeter than candy.

"Please do."

--------*****--------

So, guys... we've reached the end. Thank you so much. I love you. I love you. I love you.

I can't believe the story is finished. I loved writing it as much as I love breathing. Writing this was like drugs, so freaking addictive. I probably would have wrote about them forever, but exams in December were like hello, miss, how do you do? I don't know if I'll even have the time to stay on wattpad. And I have no idea how I'll cope with not writing this story anymore.

Anyway, I wanted to say, no, beg ya'll to write something as well. If you want to write something, please just do it. Don't second guess anything, just begin writing.

(On a side note, I wanted to ask you... what song do you think goes with the story? I was thinking Apna Bana Le and Peace.)

Again, love you forever. Thank you for the happy experience.
❤