The office hummed around him, computers clicking, phones ringing, staff moving efficiently. Rudra remained seated, dark eyes fixed on the cupcakes and coffee in front of him.
He lifted the coffee cup first, inhaling the gentle aroma. It wasn't just coffee; it was warmth, care, thoughtfulness — a reminder that somewhere outside the empire he commanded, someone cared.
Rudra took a slow sip, feeling the warmth slide down his throat, grounding him in a way he wasn't used to.
Then, carefully, he unwrapped the first cupcake. Soft, fragrant, perfectly sweet. He took a bite, savoring it quietly, letting himself enjoy it without rush, without the usual precision or control.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, Ayaan's small, shy smile appeared — the same one from the café, the ghostly hug, the playful message. Rudra's chest tightened almost imperceptibly.
He… really knows me, Rudra thought, dark eyes softening. Knows what I need without asking.
A second bite, and a quiet acknowledgment escaped him — a small, nearly invisible smirk that no one at the office could ever interpret. This wasn't just about sugar or caffeine. It was care. Thoughtfulness. Connection.
He sipped the coffee again, and his thoughts wandered further, tracing the curve of Ayaan's smile, the nervous flutter when they last met, the way his touch had left him quietly unsettled.
It's… dangerous, he admitted silently, a rare, private confession. And yet, I can't stop thinking about it.
For the rest of the morning, Rudra continued his work — perfectly composed, impeccably professional. No one noticed anything. No one saw the warmth behind his dark eyes, the faint flicker of softness in a man who had never allowed such things in his life.
And yet, in his private corner, he lingered over the cupcake, sipped the coffee, and let himself feel something entirely new: quiet happiness, gentle anticipation, and the subtle pull of someone who had quietly begun to inhabit his world.
To be continued.....