“Lucas, what are you doing!” Jasmine yelps in surprise as her foot slips slightly due to the damp grass. My arm incisively wraps around her waist to balance her. “Be careful”

“How can I be careful when you have blindfolded me!” She says in frustration, stomping her foot and slipping again. I let out a sigh, tightening my grip and guiding her straightforwardly.

Just a few more steps more

I had been thinking about bringing Jasmine here since I saw this place. It's perfect — calm, away from the chaos and gives us some time for each other. I would have brought her here sooner but due to settling in, then the guests and her being busy with the wedding preparations didn't give me a chance.

I have hired the palace’s car for rent to travel to Udaipur and brought Jasmine here. Just to be extra sure this surprise doesn't get ruined I had to blindfold her.

She has been excited the whole ride, asking questions and guessing a million places — which gave me more ideas for our next date.

“Lucas!” Jasmine gasps as she hears the light ripple of water against the stone steps. Each ripple catches the silver moonlight of the moon causing a beautiful effect.

I glance at Jasmine who is clutching to my arm like her dear life. Her lips formed into an excited smile while her eyebrows are furrowed in slight suspension.

“Okay, now stay still” I guide her just a few steps away from the dome-like structure made near the bank of the lake. A lakeside gezobo is a perfect tourist spot and I was able to ask the staff to book this place without anyone interrupting us. And the perfect timing for this happens to be at late night.

“I am removing the blindfold,” I say, stepping behind her. “Stay calm” I add. She chuckles softly, her hands twitches “You know I can do everything except staying calm”

“Yes, true” Slowly, I united the knot and let the fabric slip to my hands. My heart raced with anticipation of her reaction, hoping and praying for her to like it as much as I did.

The moment her eyes opened, I saw a shift of emotions passing through her face. From excitement to silence and then wonder.

“Wow” she whispers under her breath but the breeze brought her words to me along with her scent. She steps inside the lakeside gazebo and looks around, her fingers grazing over the pillar but she stops herself from touching them as she moves around the small space — walking around the rugs and cushions before looking over at the lake.

And then she didn’t say anything for a while. Just stood there, lips slightly parted, taking in the moonlight glimmering off the lake’s surface.

The scattered diyas I have placed around the dome’s archways, their golden flames dancing along the breeze. The entire place looked like it had been plucked out of an old romance tale.

It took a lot of convincing and planning to arrange this place. I didn't want it to be extravagant or flashy but something memorable like her.

The dim light reflects on her from the diyas decorated around the place — casting a golden glow on her face in this dark night.

Yet not even the light from the lamps could match the brightness of her smile.

“So? How is it?” I ask, rubbing my palms together, suddenly feeling nervous along with my anticipation. “You did all this?” She asks, finally coming back to face me. My breath gets caught in my lungs seeing the genuine emotions in her eyes.

“Yeah, well I thought our first date should be—” the next second I find myself being embraced by Jasmine. Her arms tightly wrapped around my waist. “Memorable” I complete my sentence, followed by a contentment sigh.

“Thank you” she mutters, looking up at me.”This feels so magical, something like a dream!” I smile brushing her hair back, she leans into my touch “You are my reality”

“I didn't expect you to be so dreamy, Mr Williams” she whispers teasingly, my hand interview with her as I guide her further into the gazebo “Why? What did you expect from me?”

She hums softly thinking “Something like a sophisticated private date? But this is so Disney coded!”

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly — though I am proud of this set up and to be more than her expectations. “There's more” I gesture to the soft rug and embroidered cushions set on the floor. Then I lift off the cover from the low table set in the middle which is filled with all her favourite sweets.

Gulab jamuns dipped in the sugary syrup. Kaju katli wrapped in edible silver. Kheer is served in a delicate silver bowl. It took some time for me to understand these sweets but I successfully did it.

And most importantly her most favourite.

“Cinnamon Rolls!” She gasps in disbelief as she spots the box of cinnamon roll. She quickly removes her sandals and steps in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jasmine slowly kneels in front of the table looking at her favourite and back at me “Where did you find these?” She asks, barely containing her eagerness.

I smile at her reaction “I have my ways” I reply vaguely.

“Come on! Tell me!” She requests but I don't reply. Instead I remove my shoes and sit opposite to her “Try them first”

She gives me a side eye, followed by a huff as she sits down comfortably while crossing her legs. She wipes her hands with a handkerchief before picking up the cinnamon roll and eats it

She groans softly while savouring the flavour “It's been so long since I had these!”

Placing my elbow on the table and resting my chin on my palm while watching her. She takes a couple of rolls without speaking but her reactions say it all. Finally getting her natural and genuine smile back on her face.

Discreetly, I grab my video camera from under the table and turn it on

She quickly catches it, her eyes widened as she sees the lens pointed in her direction. Her hand holding a roll pauses midair while she quickly swallows “Hey! Don't do that!”

I chuckle closing it “Okay okay, eat in peace” I reply keeping it aside, letting my heart capture the moment instead of a device.

“This is so amazing!” She says moving onto the next sweet, “I still can't believe it! You remembered all of this?”

“I listen carefully” I reply, remembering how many times she has ranted about the desserts from here and need to have them. I might be staying calm about her reactions but internally my heart is leaping at every smile and happiness she portrays.

A sense of contentment washes over me

“Okay, this is genuinely the most romantic thing anyone has done.” She says, licking the syrup off her spoon, her tongue flickering on the metal before wiping the syrup from her lips.

The sudden heat increases inside despite the cool breeze tonight. I clear my throat and look at the lake to divert my mind away from her lips.

I have been wanting to kiss her, hold her, keep her close but couldn't. I have been doing my best to control myself but with each second it's become hard to ignore this feeling.

I look back at her slightly only to notice that she has stopped eating and just staring at the water. I frown in confusion and follow her gaze — thinking she might have spotted something but there's nothing but the still water.

She notices my gaze at her and quickly looks away, a sudden wave of embarrassment crossing her expressions. My confusion deepens at this reaction “Jasmine”

“Yeah?” She responds quickly while continuing to eat and avoids my eyes. The moment of realization hits me when I see her take a glance at the water again. A sigh of disbelief escapes my lips “No, Jasmine. I am not gonna drown you”

She bites her lower lip at my words, confirming my prediction. If this happened a few months back then I wouldn't blame her for thinking that I brought her here to drown her. Our past history has been anything but trusting each other.

“You can't blame me! You pushed a guy in the fountain the last time we were near a water body!” She adds defensively. My mind reels back to three years ago at our university's halloween party. “You haven't let that go, have you? It was genuinely a dump”

She scoffs, crossing her arms, not buying my lie even a bit “You, Lucas Williams who does every very keenly just accidentally bumped into the guy? You want me to believe that? And logically, how can a small dump make a guy fall into a fountain? You have the strength of hulk or something?” her eyes narrows “I went to grab a drink and by that time that aladdin became a shark fin”

I try to hold back my laughter at her words that didn't make sense. “Okay, I will tell you the truth” I know it's time.

Jasmine's eyes widens at my words, she lowers her arms waiting for my answer.

“I didn't see you both earlier but I saw you going to take drinker, I was minding my business when I saw that guy talking about you to his friends” I clear my throat a bit thinking on how to not make this sound bad “That he found a good lay for the night, he was planning to take you back to them”

Jasmine's face drained at the realization “I should've talked to you but that moment I lost my temper — I hit him and threw him in the water. I know we had our differences that time but that doesn't mean I would ignore something that would genuinely harm you. I was pissed at Liam too knowing he mentioned that there was a guy dressed in aladdin to you”

“I am so sorry” She says softly, her expressions guilty “I didn't even think like that. And it wasn't Liam's fault either, Liam came for Stella and I didn't wanna be third wheel so I jokingly said I need to find an Aladin. I should've been cautious with the people I engage with. Thank you for looking out for me, back then and now too” she mutters looking down

“It's alright. That time was something else. I don't blame you for getting angry” I say with an assuring smile

She looks at me, her lips pressed together “I have really misunderstood you but I promise I will never misunderstand or judge you. No matter what” She announces keeping her hand on her chest like an oath “Okay?” A smile breaks on her lips

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. Looking at her trusting smile shakes me inside — the moment of happiness being taken over by my guilt “No matter what? What if I am hiding something from you?” I ask, my tone suddenly serious.

Jasmine catches on at the seriousness of my words, she lowers her hand but her smile lingers “If that happens then I will let my heart decide”

“Because you trust your heart with everything?”

She shakes her head, her smile reaching her eyes “No, because my heart trusts someone with everything” she says, looking at me with a gentle expression.

Someone

It's Me.

My heart drops at her words, I don't know to be thankful or to apologise to her for trusting me so much. I stare down at the desserts laid out,  my hand slightly trembles under the table. My heart hammered against my chest with a new sense of dread.

“You haven't had anything, try something” Jasmine's voice rings through my head. As I lift up head, I see her sitting down beside me holding a bowl of kheer “Try this, it's not that sweet”

I look at her — her soft expressions and those brown eyes which know how to compose themselves despite everything. I have been worried about her family hurting her while I forgot that I could be that reason too.

“Lucas?”

I take a deep breath trying to calm myself “It's nothing, I am sorry about that”

She shakes her head “Don't worry. You know what you should do now?”

I finally look at her — she smiles “You need some sweetness to fill your life and get everything out of your head!” She comments, grabbing a kaju katli and feeding me. I blink in surprise at her speed before I could protect, I find myself eating it. Her sudden change of subject lightens my mood.

“Okay, sweets are the solution to all problems?” I ask looking at the half pieces of the diamond shaped sweet in my hand. She shrugs her shoulders “I think? Sweet makes me happy”

I hum while nodding and finishing the rest of the sweet “I think I can say the same”

She looks at me and blinks “Really? Do you like sweets now?”

I look at her “Yeah, I love Milaya”

She blinked again, her lips parted slightly like she wanted to say something but she didn't. She laughs softly “You are very charmingly flirty” she comments. The side of my lip curves into a smirk “Yeah” And then she did something I hadn't expected.

The unexpected softness of her lips against mine catches me off guard. This is the first time she has intended a kiss. I feel my whole body tenses up, my heart seems to have skipped a beat.

She pulls back slightly, her eyes flickering to my eyes and back at my lips. Her cheeks flustered as she speaks “The brownie points, the reward, remember?”

I am too dazed to remember

Yeah, the reward.

I immediately respond back, turning to face her completely. My hand coming to cup her face and drawing her closer. Her arms wrap around my neck as I lean down for better access.

Her scent, her taste and feeling fills my senses, drowning out every thought that wasn't about her.

A deep involuntarily groan escapes my lips, my tongue slides into her mouth seeking for more but I still couldn't get enough.

Our lips move in an intense pattern, each kiss growing more passionate and needy. My hands slid down her hips pulling her onto my lap, her body pressed against mine. She responds back quickly, her fingers tangling into my hair as she pulls me closer too.

I am completely lost in her.

I slide one hand into her hair, tilting her head back and deepening the kiss. A soft hum escapes from her lips, her eyes closed in a blissful expression as she kisses me back.

Her lips are soft and hot against mine that nearly drives me insane. I have never felt something like this I feel with her. Every bit of her, every emotion and personality, every spoken and hidden words makes me fall deeper for her

My hand slides up to her waist, caressing her sides. I slowly guide her on my lap, her legs on either sides of me as she settles. “Is this alright?” I whisper against her neck, my lips brushing against skin seeking permission.

“Yes” She whispers in a breathless pant. Her cheeks flustered in pink hue, her hands clenching my shoulders for support as she kisses me again — her cold hands cupping my face.

I press my hand on her lower back making her arch towards me. A gasp escapes her lips giving me a chance to move my lips over her jaw and down the line of her neck.

I could see her pulse increasing but she tiltis her head slightly giving me more access. My lips brushes against her sensitive skin — making her tremble against me. The atmosphere grows more warmer and bold.

“Milaya” I whisper against her lips, the word rolling off my tongue in a way that immediately draws her closer “The perfect word to describe you”

The way she responds to me, the way her body melts against mine — it's intoxicating. I find myself craving more.

“Lucas”

A low groan escaping me as I bury my face in the crook of her neck and breath slowly “Yes, I know. I am sorry”

“You always leave me breathless” She manages to blurt out. I chuckle and look up at her with a crooked smile “You are saying that as if you didn't enjoy it” I tease, squeezing her waist gently.

“I never said I didn't enjoy it” She replies, brushing her lips against mine. I lean closer for another kiss but she moves back “Enough for today” 

I sigh softly and nod despite wanting more. She smiles at my reaction and caresses my hair before trying to get up.

But I hold her back “Stay like this” I says, adjusting her so she is facing the table and her back is pressed against my chest. My heart races faster at our position.

“You are taking advantage again” Jasmine says but her tone is rathe

r teasing than accusing. She leans back against my chest getting comfortable. “Again, I am not complaining”

“I know” I brush my lips against her ear and press a kiss to the side of her head.