Chapter 3: Catalyst
The rain hammered against the windowpane, an insistent, relentless rhythm that echoed the pounding of Revati's heart. She stood in the dimly lit hallway, her breath visible in the chilly air, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped the handle of her umbrella. She had been walking back from the library, her head buried in notes and textbooks, when the rain had started. Now, drenched and shivering, she found herself outside Raj's door, too cold and tired to make the trek back to her own dorm room.
She knocked once, twice, and then again, each tap echoing through the quiet hallway.
After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Raj. He was dressed in a pair of low-slung sweatpants and a t-shirt that clung to his muscular frame, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His hair was disheveled, as if he had run his fingers through it one too many times, and his eyes were half-lidded, lazy.
"Revati," he drawled, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "What brings you here on such a stormy night?"
Revati bit her lip, her teeth sinking into the soft flesh.
"I-I got caught in the rain. I can't go back to my dorm like this."
Raj's smirk widened, and he stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter. "Well, you can't stand out here all night. Come in, get dry."
She stepped inside, her shoes squelching on the worn carpet. The room was a mess, papers and books strewn across the floor, empty pizza boxes piled in the corner. The only light came from a desk lamp, casting long, jagged shadows across the cluttered space.
Raj closed the door behind her, the click of the latch echoing in the small room. Revati shivered, her teeth chattering softly.
Raj handed her a towel from a chair nearby. "Here, dry off."
Revati took the towel, her hands shaking as she rubbed it over her hair, then her face, and finally down her body. The cold air prickled her skin, but the warmth of the towel was a welcome relief. She looked up, catching Raj watching her intently, his eyes darkening with each passing moment.
A slow, predatory smile spread across his face.
"You know, Ravi's out with a group of girls from the pharmacy department," Raj said, his voice low and gravelly. "I think he's going to be busy for a while."
Revati's heart froze in her chest, her breath hitching. "What do you mean?"
Raj took a step closer, his gaze raking over her. "I mean, he's not coming back anytime soon, and you're here, all wet and shivering."
She took a step back, but her back hit the wall behind her.
There was nowhere to go. Raj moved closer, his hands reaching up to cup her face, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks.
"You're cold, Revati," he murmured, his voice a husky rasp. "Let me warm you up."
She swallowed hard, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She could feel the heat radiating off him, see the desire in his eyes. She should leave, she knew she should. But she was rooted to the spot, her body betraying her mind.
Raj's hands slid down her neck, her shoulders, until they rested on her hips.
He pulled her toward him, his body pressing against hers, the heat of him searing through her clothes. Revati could feel his arousal, hard and insistent against her stomach. She gasped, her eyes widening as she realized just how turned on he was.
"Raj..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding rain outside.
He captured her mouth with his, his lips crushing hers in a fierce, demanding kiss. His tongue thrust into her mouth, tangling with hers, and Revati couldn't help but respond. She melted against him, her body pressing closer, her hands reaching up to tangle in his hair.
Raj groaned into her mouth, his grip on her hips tightening as he ground his cock against her. He could feel her nipples hardening through her shirt, and he wanted more. So much more.
He broke the kiss, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He trailed his lips down her neck, nipping and sucking, leaving a trail of hickeys. Revati arched against him, a soft moan escaping her lips.
"Fuck, Revati," Raj growled, his voice guttural.
"You taste like heaven."
He licked a path down to her collarbone, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. Revati's head fell back, her eyes fluttering closed as she lost herself in the sensation.
Raj's hands moved to the hem of her shirt, his fingers brushing against the cool skin of her stomach. He tugged the shirt up, revealing her flat, toned abdomen. Revati raised her arms, allowing him to pull the shirt off completely. She was left in her bra, her nipples visibly hardening under the thin fabric.
Raj's eyes darkened as he took in the sight.
"Fucking gorgeous," he muttered, his voice hoarse with desire. He reached behind her, his fingers deftly unclasping her bra. The straps slid down her arms, the bra joining her shirt on the floor.
Revati's breath hitched as she stood before him, completely bare from the waist up. She could feel the cool air prickling her nipples, making them even harder. Raj's gaze was locked on her chest, his pupils dilated, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
"Goddamn, Revati," he growled, his hands cupping her breasts.
He kneaded them hard, his thumbs flicking over her erect nipples. "You're fucking perfect."
Revati gasped, her hands clenching in his hair. She could feel the heat pooling between her legs, her clit throbbing with every touch. She arched into him, grinding against him, seeking more friction.
Raj chuckled, a low, dark sound. "Eager, aren't you?"
He captured one of her nipples in his mouth, his teeth scraping against the sensitive flesh. Revati cried out, her hips jerking.
The sensation of his teeth on her nipple was intense, sending electric shocks directly to her pussy. She could feel the wetness growing, her panties becoming damp.
"Yes," she moaned, her fingers tightening in his hair, urging him on.
Raj chuckled again, the vibration sending more shivers through her body. He switched to her other nipple, his tongue lapping at the peak before his teeth closed around it. He sucked hard, and Revati could feel the pull all the way down to her clit.
"Fuck, Raj," she panted, her head falling back against the wall.