The night had fallen softly over the city, wrapping everything in a calm, silvery quiet. The hum of distant traffic was the only sound, but inside Karan's apartment, a different kind of heartbeat filled the space. One of anticipation, closeness, and a longing that had been years in the making.
Karan and Arthit sat on the couch together, limbs entwined, the warmth of each other's bodies a balm against the months and years of separation.
Arthit leaned back, resting his head on Karan's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "I forgot," he murmured softly, "how safe it feels… being here. With you."
Karan's fingers moved automatically through Arthit's hair, brushing it gently, memorizing the way it felt after all this time. "I never left you in my heart," Karan whispered. "Even when I was away, you were always here… always with me."
Arthit tilted his head up to look at him, eyes glimmering with emotion. "And I waited," he said quietly. "I counted every day, every hour, hoping… that somehow you'd come back. That we'd get this… chance."
Karan cupped his face, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "I'm here now," he whispered. "And I'm never leaving. No matter what."
Their lips met then, softly at first, almost a question. Karan's hand slid down Arthit's arm, holding him closer, seeking warmth. Arthit responded instinctively, hands roaming Karan's back, pulling him in, pressing closer, as though to merge into one.
The kiss deepened slowly, teasing and tender, conveying everything words could not. Every touch was a confession, every sigh a promise. They were making up for lost time, yet savoring each second with careful, deliberate patience.
Arthit broke the kiss just enough to rest his forehead against Karan's. "I want to know everything about you," he whispered. "Not just the body… but the way you think, the way you dream, the way you feel."
Karan smiled softly, brushing his thumb across Arthit's lips. "I want the same," he said. "I want to know every part of you, and I want you to know every part of me."
They leaned back into the couch, holding each other close, fingers tracing gentle paths along skin and fabric, memorizing curves and lines. The air between them was charged with quiet longing, punctuated by soft murmurs and gentle laughter.
Arthit tilted his head, lips brushing against Karan's jaw. "I've imagined this," he murmured, voice low, "so many times. Every touch, every kiss… I thought about how it would feel to finally be with you like this."
Karan shivered at the words, heart racing. "I've imagined it too," he admitted, voice catching. "And now… now it's real. I can feel you. I can touch you. I can love you… and I won't let anything take this from us."
Arthit smiled, pressing a lingering kiss to Karan's chest. "Then stay with me," he whispered, voice almost trembling. "Hold me. Don't let go. Not tonight, not ever."
Karan pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him like a promise. "I'm yours," he whispered. "Forever."
They moved together slowly, exploring the comfort of closeness, the intimacy of being in each other's arms. Their touches were careful, reverent, as if afraid to break the fragile perfection of the moment. Kisses deepened, hands wandered gently, and the soft sighs and whispers between them created a rhythm that was theirs alone.
Arthit's fingers traced the line of Karan's shoulders, down his arms, lingering where he could feel his warmth most. "I've missed this," he murmured. "I've missed you."
Karan pressed a kiss to the back of his neck. "I've missed you too," he whispered. "More than I can ever say. And now… now I'll make up for every second we lost."
The hours passed without notice, each second stretching into eternity as they clung to each other, speaking softly, laughing softly, and touching softly. Every look was a declaration, every caress a confession. There was no fear here, no hesitation—only love, raw and unfiltered, filling the space around them.
At one point, Arthit curled into Karan's chest, wrapping his arms around him tightly. "I never want this night to end," he murmured, voice muffled against Karan's shirt.
Karan pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head, holding him close. "It won't," he whispered. "Even when morning comes, even when the world comes calling… this—us—will stay. I promise you, Arthit. Always."
Arthit lifted his head slightly, brushing their lips together in a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of years of longing, of separation, of love that had never wavered. "Always," he echoed, letting the word linger between them like a vow.
They lay together as the night deepened, tangled in each other, hearts beating in sync. Every kiss, every touch, every whispered word was a promise. They were no longer apart. No longer longing. No longer afraid.
As the city outside slept, Karan and Arthit found a world of their own—soft, tender, and infinite. A world where love was the only law, and every heartbeat was proof that they had finally come home… to each other.
Karan pressed his forehead to Arthit's, voice barely audible in the quiet apartment. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," Arthit replied, letting his fingers drift lazily through Karan's hair. "I always have. I always will."
And as they drifted into sleep, wrapped around each other, the world outside ceased to exist. There was only warmth, only hearts entwined, only the unbreakable bond of love finally realized.
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End of chapter 35