TOXIC IN HIS TOUCH

" The First Time "

The night was quieter than usual.

Kriti was curled up in bed, hoodie half-zipped, a book open in her lap that she hadn't flipped the page on in ten minutes. Her mind had been doing somersaults all evening flashing back to Arjun’s voice, the way his fingers brushed hers in the library, the way his eyes refused to look away during lunch.

She was about to turn off her lamp when she heard it.

A soft tap against her windowpane.

She froze.

Then another tap.

She got up slowly, heart suddenly thudding in her chest. She pulled the curtain aside and there he was.

Arjun.

Perched outside on the ledge like he belonged in some YA movie. Hoodie on. Hair a little messy. And in his hands?

A small bottle of wine and a white paper bag.

She blinked, slid the window up halfway. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Delivering joy,” he whispered, grinning. “Also escaping boredom and my cousin's wedding Zoom call.”

Kriti stared at him. “You’re insane.”

“Only for you,” he muttered, then caught himself. “I mean for this. For this plan.”

She rolled her eyes, backing away to let him climb in. “If you break your neck on the way in, I’m not calling an ambulance.”

He landed with a soft thud, brushing his palms together. “Noted.”

He held out the paper bag. “Warm brownie from that café you love.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How do you even know what I like?”

Arjun just shrugged. “I pay attention.”

That made her pause.

And when he pulled the small bottle of red wine from his jacket and set it on her desk, Kriti stared at him like he’d brought the entire moon in his backpack.

“Movie?” he asked casually, already reaching for her laptop.

She laughed under her breath. “You are actually insane.”

But she didn’t say no.

They curled under the blanket half a foot apart at first, pretending to focus on Netflix. The room filled with the soft hum of the movie, the clink of glasses, and the smell of warm brownie.

But they weren’t really watching.

Because the heat wasn’t from the blanket anymore.

It was from his leg brushing against hers. The subtle shift in his breathing. The way he looked at her like he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep pretending he was here for the movie.

Kriti looked up at him just as he was looking at her.

Neither of them moved.

And then everything moved.

The dimly lit laptop screen provided the perfect cover for their stolen glances, the flickering screen casting an ethereal glow on their faces. Arjun's leg had been brushing against Kriti's for what felt like an eternity, each accidental touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body. She could sense his desire, a palpable tension in the air, as his breath quickened and his eyes darkened with an unspoken hunger. It was as if the movie, with its predictable plot and over-the-top drama, had become a mere backdrop to their own unfolding story.

Kriti's heart raced as she lifted her gaze to meet Arjun's, her boldness surprising even herself. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, the world around them ceased to exist. The rustling of popcorn bags, the whispered conversations, and the on-screen antics faded into obscurity. It was just the two of them, suspended in a bubble of anticipation, their unspoken desires hanging heavy in the air.

Arjun's gaze intensified, his dark eyes smoldering with a raw, primal need. Kriti felt her cheeks flush, a mixture of excitement and nervousness washing over her. She knew this was uncharted territory for her, but the thrill of the unknown only served to heighten her senses. As their eyes remained locked, the tension between them snapped like a rubber band, propelling them forward into the unknown.

With a slow, deliberate movement, Arjun's hand slid up Kriti's thigh, his touch sending shivers cascading down her spine. Her skin tingled beneath his fingers, every nerve ending alight with anticipation. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his, the contact tentative yet charged with an unspoken hunger. Arjun responded, his kiss deepening as his hands roamed, unbuttoning her blouse with practiced ease.

Kriti gasped as Arjun's fingers traced her collarbone, his touch both gentle and possessive. Her body arched into him, a silent invitation for more. He whispered her name, his breath hot against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Kriti," he murmured, his voice thick with desire, "I've wanted this for so long."

His words sent a jolt of excitement through her, and she felt her inhibitions melting away. Arjun's hands cupped her breast, his thumb grazing her n****e, and Kriti's head fell back in pleasure. She was acutely aware of her inexperience, but Arjun's guidance was both gentle and insistent. He threaded his fingers through her hair, urging her down, his eyes burning with a mixture of lust and tenderness.

"You're doing amazing," Arjun whispered, his voice hoarse with need. Kriti looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of uncertainty and desire. She wanted to please him, to lose herself in this moment, to surrender to the overwhelming sensations coursing through her body.

Arjun's hands tangled in her hair, urging her on, his hips bucking gently in response to her touch. Kriti felt a surge of power, a heady mix of excitement and nervousness as she deepened her exploration. She was learning, her mouth and hands discovering the intricacies of his desire, her body responding to his unspoken cues.

As the theater around them faded into obscurity, Arjun pulled Kriti up, pressing her against the wall, his lips devouring hers. His belt unbuckled, and Kriti's fingers fumbled with his zipper, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She was teetering on the edge of the unknown, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Arjun's hands gripped her hips, guiding her, his touch both firm and tender. With a slow, deliberate thrust, he entered her, and Kriti's body tightened around him, her nails digging into his back as he moved. Her cries were muffled against his neck, the sensation overwhelming, her body responding to his in a primal dance.

The room spun around them, the world reduced to this singular moment. Arjun's name was a ragged exhale on Kriti's lips as their bodies moved in unison, their desires intertwining. She felt her control slipping, her body surrendering to the pleasure coursing through her veins. Arjun's hands roamed, his touch both demanding and gentle, urging her toward the precipice.

As their passion built, Kriti's inexperience melted away, her body responding to Arjun's with a natural rhythm. Their movements became more urgent, their breaths coming in short gasps. Arjun's name was a mantra on her lips, a testament to the power of their connection.

In the aftermath, as their hearts slowed and their breaths steadied, Kriti rested her head on Arjun's shoulder, her body still trembling with the echoes of their passion. She felt a sense of wonder, a mixture of excitement and trepidation as she reflected on what had just transpired. It was her first time, a moment she had both anticipated and feared, and yet, with Arjun, it had been nothing short of extraordinary.

Arjun's arms tightened around her, his touch protective and possessive. "You okay?" he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Kriti nodded, her eyes closed as she savored the moment. "More than okay," she whispered, a smile playing on her lips. She felt a sense of liberation, a newfound confidence that came with surrendering to her desires.

The air had changed.

No more teasing. No more walls. Just silence, like the world knew something sacred had just happened.

Kriti lay half-curled against his chest, their breaths matching pace, her fingers idly tracing the lines of his collarbone.

“I didn’t plan this,” she whispered, almost to herself.

Arjun looked down at her. “Neither did I.”

She was quiet for a long beat before saying, “You’re the first.”

His fingers froze where they were drawing soft circles on her back. He lifted his head slowly, eyes meeting hers.

“I know,” he said quietly. “I mean, I wasn’t sure. But I felt it.”

Her voice trembled slightly. “I thought I’d feel scared after. But... I don’t.”

Arjun’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You don’t have to explain.”

“I just... I didn’t want it to be random,” she said. “And this doesn’t feel like that.”

He nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not.”

Kriti closed her eyes for a second, breathing him in.

“Don’t vanish tomorrow.”

“I won’t.”

A promise. Spoken like a vow. Sealed in silence.

He kissed her foreheadno rush, no lust just quiet reverence. The kind that wrapped around her chest and made her feel safe.

They didn’t say the word “love.”

But they didn’t need to.

Because whatever this was?

It was real.

And it had only just begun.

To be continued