The Devil’s Desire: A Passionate Romance

by M. V. Kasi

  She had never felt a fascination towards any man. Hell, until the moment she had seen this particular man, she was under the assumption she was a man-hater and was naturally repelled towards all of them.

  Maybe if he opens his mouth, this unnatural fascination would disappear.

  With that hopeful thought, she continued walking towards him.

  As though sensing her presence, he looked, and his eyes met with hers. She felt a strong bolt of electricity zipping through her as their gazes locked with each other. He was devastatingly handsome from close up.

  She held her breath and waited, expecting him to extend the friendly smile to her, but suddenly his smile dropped, and a dark, guarded look took over his face. His eyes swept over her face and flared slightly. It almost appeared as though he recognized her.

  But she knew it was impossible. She barely socialized other than with her university friends, and he was definitely not a university student. He appeared all man.

  She pasted on a cheerful smile despite being confused and slightly shaken by his reaction. “Hi. I’m Naina.” She desperately tried not to slur.

  The hostess intervened. “Can I help you, madam?”

  Naina shook her head. “Oh. I just wanted to introduce myself to this gentleman.” She smiled widely, hoping to get a smile out of him. She had seen the dimples on his cheeks while he was talking and smiling at the hostess. But they were missing now.

  “Madam, you are not allowed to—”

  The man cut off the hostess while she tried to say something. “That’s all right, Reshma. Go ahead with what we just discussed. I’ll take it from here.”

  “Sure, Shiv.” With that, the hostess left, leaving Naina alone with the man named Shiv.

  He had sounded like the manager, but power oozed from him. His clothing and expensive cologne didn’t seem like he was a paid employee. Was he a celebrity of some sort? Sportsman or an actor maybe?

  He did have the face of an actor. If he were one, then she would make sure she binge-watched all of his movies during her holidays.

  While she tried to guess who he was, he continued to watch her with a guarded look which was in no way encouraging.

  She felt awkward. She didn’t think she was a raving beauty, but usually guys at her university and even outside her campus hit on her and constantly tried to flirt with her. She had inherited the deceptively sweet, innocent and pretty face from her mother along with a decent hourglass figure which she maintained well with yoga. Even if she didn’t have a pretty face or a decent figure, her C-size cups always drew the attention of male gazes.

  Without making it too obvious, she pulled her dress lower at the waist, exposing a little more of her cleavage.

  That slight movement drew the attention of the man in front of her. His dark eyes swept over the length of her body, making her shiver with awareness. His eyes lingered on her exposed cleavage, hips and legs that were put on a display by her short, tight red dress that her stepmother gave her.

  His eyes flared again, and he looked pissed.

  Why is he pissed? And oh God, he looked even hotter when he is pissed.

  His body language was confusing. He looked like a man who usually made women feel at ease. Even if he were a celebrity, why would he be angry with a fan who was throwing herself at him? Shouldn’t he be polite while he brushed her off?

  Her eyes fell on his ring finger. Maybe he was married. Or had a girlfriend.

  There was no ring.

  “Are you married?” she blurted out.

  His jaw tightened. “No.”

  “Umm… do you have a girlfriend, or are you seeing someone?”

  “No.”

  It wasn’t any of her business, but she was glad he answered.

  Putting on a bright smile, she gave him a flirtatious look. Or what she hoped was flirtatious since she never flirted with anyone before. She tried to imitate what she had observed on others.

  “Would you like to dance?” she asked.

  His eyes flared yet again, and his gaze lingered over her flirtatious smile. She knew her lips were bright, shiny red, matching her short dress.

  “No.” His response was short and curt.

  “Umm… can I buy you a drink?”

  “No.”

  Her cheeks flamed at the blatant rejection. It was her first time trying to flirt with someone, only to fail royally.

  “Okay, then. Have a great day.” She turned to hurry back to her friends who probably witnessed the whole thing. But before she could step away, her elbow was caught by a firm grip.

  Surprised, she turned back to the man. Awareness and electricity buzzed through her body from where he held her.

  “Why are you flirting? Aren’t you committed to someone?” he asked.

  It was an odd question from a man who was approached by a girl at a club for a dance. Technically, she was committed to a man she never met and who her father had picked. Anirudh Shaurya, also called the devil, was a rich, powerful man whom she would have to marry as soon as she was done with her studies. She shuddered at the thought of marrying that man, especially after what her father told her about how cruel he was.

  “No. I’m not committed to anyone.” Was that why he was angry with her? She smiled once again. “I’m free.”

  The handsome man’s jaw clenched, and his thumb brushed against the soft skin under her elbow, making her shiver. Then, as though realizing what he was doing, he let go of her elbow.

  “Why the hell are you inside a nightclub?” he demanded. “You don’t look old enough to drink.”

  Naina’s face flamed. How had he guessed her to be under-aged when it came to drinking? Whoever looked at her always thought she was slightly older than her nineteen years of age. She was going to be twenty in a couple of months.

  Based on his odd line of questioning and his refusal to flirt with her, he definitely must be the manager of the club.

  “I am of age,” she said in a defensive tone even though she was lying. She let out another flirtatious smile.

  His eyes swept over her body again and especially lingered on her curves. Unlike most nineteen-year-olds, her body looked more womanly. His eyes fell on her deep cleavage, and his lips tightened once again. And then, with a look of disgust, he turned and walked away.

  With her face flaming once again at his rejection, she walked back to her table.

  Her friends were watching her with wide, curious eyes. “What happened? What did you say to make that gorgeous god angry?”

  She shook her head with a grimace. “I think he is the manager of the club, and I don’t think I’m his type. But hey, who cares. Let’s have another round of drinks.”

  Cheers erupted, and soon she drowned her first and only rejection in alcohol.

  CHAPTER 3

  Shiv was angry as he stepped out of the private elevator to the third floor of the club which was reserved only for the club owners and their private guests.

  He didn’t know whether he was angry at himself or the woman he had just met for the first time. He had known who she was right away. He had seen enough pictures of her and had enough information about her. He was even informed of her presence when she entered the club that day.

  And yet, he wasn’t prepared for her. Sunaina Bhasin.

  With her innocent face, pouty lips and a bombshell body, she looked like every man’s wet dream. The little hellion must have known that fact very well when she had stuck out her ample yet perky chest and smiled at him with her pouty lips before beginning to flirt with him. She had asked him to join her for a dance and even offered to buy him a damn drink.

  Under normal circumstances, he would have taken up such an offer because he liked bold and beautiful women who went after what they wanted. But he held back because the beautiful woman flirting with him would soon be married to one of his best friends. Anirudh was not only his best friend, but the close bond they shared made them more like brothers.

  Not that knowing who she belonged to had st
opped his body from reacting to her flirting. His body had thrummed with awareness and instant arousal at the slightest of touches when he had held her hand. His mind had thrown hot and sweaty visuals of them together where he did not-so-nice things to the woman who was almost committed in marriage to his best friend.

  He let out another sound of self-disgust.

  He had a wild date the previous night with two beautiful women, and yet meeting a spoiled nineteen-year-old brat revved him up like nothing before. Maybe he needed to set up another hot date with the two beautiful women to get rid of the strong yet unwanted attraction towards the wrong woman.

  “What happened?”

  Shiv looked at his friend. “Nothing much,” he told Vijay. “I instructed Reshma about what she needs to tell Tejas when he visits the club again. He had apparently spoken to some of the staff earlier this evening.”

  Vijay frowned. “He knows we are onto him. And yet, he is being insistent.”

  “He’s a determined cop who wants to catch us in the act. I know he’ll pay a visit sometime soon again.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Where’s Anirudh?” Shiv asked, looking around for his other friend.

  “He’s in the lounge.”

  Shiv and Vijay walked towards the lounge where Anirudh was smoking a cigar. He was watching the VIP section with an intent look.

  Is he looking at Sunaina Bhasin? Did he see her flirting with me a while ago?

  Shiv knew that Anirudh trusted him more than anything. The three of them never doubted each other’s intentions—which was why the inappropriate feelings Shiv felt towards Anirudh’s almost-fiancée made it sick. His body still felt primed and ready, urging him to go back to the VIP lounge and take up the offer to dance, just to hold the bombshell body in his arms and find a chance to kiss the soft, pouty lips.

  “Damn. I need a drink.”

  Shiv headed towards the private room that doubled as the nightclub office. Entering the code, he pushed the door open and went inside to go straight to the bar area.

  He downed two shots of scotch before placing the glass on the counter. The sound of the door opening indicated that his two friends joined him inside.

  “Drinks?” he offered.

  “No thanks,” said Anirudh before heading towards the wall with multiple screens of camera feeds of the club.

  Shiv clenched his jaw, hoping the alcohol would act soon and numb out the foolish burning and guilt he felt while Anirudh continued to watch Sunaina Bhasin.

  Turning away, he looked at his other friend. “The usual?”

  Vijay nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Scotch on the rocks coming up,” he said.

  Fixing two drinks, he headed towards the leather couches that overlooked the dance floor with a one-way mirror. His eyes automatically began to search for a bright red dress over a curvy body.

  What the hell is wrong with me!

  Letting out a soft curse of self-disgust, he tore his eyes off the dance floor and sat with his side facing the dance floor. “I’m travelling to Russia tomorrow.”

  Vijay took a sip of his drink. “After what happened yesterday, I think it’s better if I join you.”

  Shiv shook his head. “No. Your presence is needed here to track the new shipment that’ll be sent in two days.”

  Vijay frowned. “I don’t know if it’s advisable for you to go alone, Shiv. Anirudh or I should accompany you. Vicktor might—”

  “Anirudh needs to deal with the last night’s destroyed shipments. The Colombian cartels are already at the tipping point.”

  Anirudh joined the two of them in the seating area. He lit a cigar before handing it to Shiv and then lighting one for himself.

  “Vijay is right, Shiv,” he said. “One of us should accompany you tomorrow to Russia. The danger is too high right now. Vicktor almost got you killed the last time.”

  Some of the shrapnel from the bomb explosion was still lodged inside Shiv’s body even after five years. But the trip to Russia was a personal one. He didn’t want to involve his friends in the dangerous mission.

  “I’m going there only for talks with the investigators and law enforcement. I’m taking Vasu and four more men with me. They’ll cover my back like they did yesterday.”

  He briefly went over the details of where he plans to go in Russia, but at the end of it, the worried frowns on Vijay’s and Anirudh’s faces remained.

  “Let’s talk about what we need to do with the new government sanctions.” His friends knew he was deliberately changing the topic, but they let it slide.

  “You think we should agree to negotiate on the price based on that?” Anirudh asked.

  Shiv shook his head. “No. We cannot back out now. It’ll send the wrong message, especially after yesterday’s attack.”

  “You are right. But the alternative message is a good option too,” Vijay added.

  The alternative message being that Shiv would confirm he would be marrying Mohan Somraj’s daughter. They could use that as a negotiating chip with all the kingpins.

  Mohan Somraj had been calling almost every day, trying to get Shiv to agree to the marriage soon. And on that particular day, the cunning old man had even sent his daughter to the club. Aditi Somraj was seated in the VIP section, but Shiv was yet to make an effort to meet her or even see her.

  Another face popped into Shiv’s mind. A deceptively innocent and pretty face with bright red, pouty lips that begged to be kissed and would feel wonderful while doing certain other things.

  Fuck!

  Shiv felt like a damn pervert. He downed the rest of his drink, trying to get rid of Sunaina Bhasin’s face from his mind. Once again, he felt guilty for lusting after a woman who his best friend would marry.

  “I guess we must decide now. And I must say the lures are pretty hot. I’m tempted to be reeled in.” He chuckled, hoping to dissipate the confusing feelings inside him. “What do you think, Anirudh? You’ve been quiet all along. Don’t you think the baits are hot?”

  He wanted Anirudh to acknowledge Sunaina Bhasin. Maybe then, Shiv could get the fact inside his head that she was off-limits even if it was to fantasize.

  A knock on the door interrupted Anirudh’s reply.

  “Who do you think it is?” Vijay asked with a frown.

  No one was allowed on the third floor except for the three of them or specially invited guests. They hadn’t placed any order for the staff to bring it up either.

  “I’ll check.” Anirudh answered the door.

  There was a soft buzz of conversation. Shiv could hear a feminine voice but couldn’t see outside the door. His eyes automatically went to the dance floor once again, looking for a red dress.

  “Who was it?” Vijay asked when Anirudh returned.

  “Aditi Somraj.”

  Surprised, Shiv dragged his eyes away from the dance floor to look at his friend. “What? How did she get the elevator code?”

  Anirudh went to the screens with the camera feeds. “Somraj must have set up spies within the staff. I’ll interrogate whoever served that table tonight.”

  “I told you Somraj is desperate if he is resorting to such stunts,” Vijay remarked. “He’s already let most of the city know about a possible match between Shiv and his daughter.” Vijay turned to Shiv. “We are running out of time, Shiv. It’s time to set things on the path we decided.”

  Shiv took a deep breath feeling the pressure. “I know.”

  Shiv already knew he had to accept Somraj’s alliance. It will make his and his friends’ goals much easier. But it wasn’t an easy decision.

  “You are invited to Somraj’s party next week,” Anirudh stated. “He’s going to want an answer from you before that.”

  “I know that too.” With a sigh, Shiv got up and picked up the thick folders lying inside the office desk. Going back to the couch, he opened the first file that contained pictures of a woman. They were pictures where the woman was unaware she was being photographed.

  Aditi Somraj was
indeed quite pretty. Beautiful, in fact. She was also level-headed and mature and didn’t interfere with her father’s business. The only flaw was that Aditi Somraj wanted to marry someone else. She had a boyfriend who was also present at the club right then.

  In the big scheme of things, a boyfriend shouldn’t matter or interfere with the plans, but Shiv used it as an excuse to hold off giving a concrete answer or making any official commitment.

  Unlike Anirudh.

  Anirudh’s grandfather had already made a verbal commitment to Home Minister Bhasin that Anirudh would marry Sunaina Bhasin as soon as she completed her education.

  Shiv’s eyes fell on the other folder in front of him. He didn’t have to flip it open. He had read that file too when he, Anirudh and Vijay tried to analyze whether there was a trap in that offer. Although the file didn’t contain many pictures, it contained information about Sunaina Bhasin.

  Sunaina Bhasin grew up in a household that was well-known for perversions. She was exposed to drugs, orgies and many other things that her father did to attain political power. She had a far from normal upbringing. No sane man would want to be tied to someone like that in a marriage.

  But Anirudh didn’t seem to care. Compared to their ultimate goal, it was a small sacrifice that Anirudh was willing to make.

  Just like he was considering marrying a woman who was in love with another man.

  Unable to control himself, Shiv flipped open the folder. He stared at Sunaina Bhasin’s picture in the file. She was scowling at the camera. It was obvious that she was forced to pose for the pictures. But despite the scowling, there was no escaping the sensuality that oozed from her. And what had intrigued him the most, were her eyes. Despite her young age, her eyes appeared wise and mature as that of an old soul, as though she had seen enough of life and formed an understanding of it.

  “I want her.”

  Shiv frowned, wondering if he had said those words aloud. He then realized that those words came from Anirudh.