by M. V. Kasi
Hearing her gasp, he looked up from his phone, and his eyes flashed and hooded.
“You should lock the bathroom door!” she shouted before turning and running away.
The image of his nearly naked, wet and muscled body was burned into her brain along with the look on his face. She hurried out of the bedroom. She didn’t know exactly where to go, so she went towards the living room.
Her heart thudded and her cheeks burned in embarrassment. Oh God! She didn’t know why she ran. It was instinctive. Maybe she should have simply excused herself coolly and shut the door and waited in the bedroom until he came out. She should have been indifferent and played it cool. But instead, she reacted like a frightened schoolgirl.
Dammit!
She lingered in the dining area, holding her nightclothes and feeling ridiculous. She knew she couldn’t stay there forever, even if she wanted to. She had to face the devil. And besides, even her books were inside the bedroom.
Slowly and reluctantly, she headed back to the bedroom. With her heart thudding wildly, she pushed open the bedroom door.
He was talking on the phone, leaning his palm against the glass wall and watching the city view. Thankfully, he was dressed in a t-shirt and shorts.
Without making any sound, she hurriedly tiptoed to the bathroom. She locked the door, shutting herself inside.
Oh God. Was this going to be the norm from now on? She didn’t think it would be so hard.
Even though he had stated they would be sharing the bed, she should have insisted on a separate bedroom and bathroom when they negotiated the conditions of their marriage.
Maybe it wasn’t too late. There was no reason why he would refuse if she gave a strong reason for wanting a separate bedroom.
With that hopeful thought, she took a quick shower and stepped out of the bathroom.
He was done with the phone call, but he was looking at something on the phone with a frown. As though sensing her stare, he looked up.
“Uh… hi. How are you?” she asked. Immediately, she felt stupid.
His eyes flashed in amusement. “I’m doing great. Let’s have dinner.”
She didn’t want to have dinner together. It would feel too intimate. She opened her mouth to give an excuse saying she wasn’t hungry right then, but she stopped. She realized she’d rather have intimate dinners than sharing the bedroom with him. And if she had dinner with him right then, he might be in better spirits to accept her condition of separate bedrooms.
She followed him. Instead of going towards the dining area, he went towards the back of the large living room. Sliding open the balcony door, he stepped outside.
Immediately, she saw the small, round table with covered dishes. There was also a lit candle in the center. With dim blue lighting from inside the swimming pool and the night sky lit up with city lights and stars, the setting was way too romantic.
Her face heated in embarrassment yet again when she realized why Sitaram didn’t insist on staying until she had dinner. It was either him or Geetabhai who had set this up knowing the devil was back home. She suspected Geetabhai.
“Coming?” the devil asked while she stood hesitantly near the balcony doors.
Feeling embarrassed and awkward as hell, she joined him.
She tried hard not to stare at the rippling muscles on his biceps and chest while he opened the lids on the dishes.
“Want some?”
Embarrassed at being caught staring once again, her eyes flew to his. He didn’t look amused or smug. In fact, he had a totally unreadable look on his face.
“The chicken. Would you like some?” he asked.
“Yes,” she squeaked out. She tried not to look in his direction. She stared at the city view and then at her plate where he served the food.
The sound of the bottle being popped open had her turning to him once again. He was opening a bottle of champagne.
“No! I don’t want any!” she said hurriedly. “I-I mean, I have to finish an assignment tonight.” More than the assignment, she needed to have all her senses on alert around the devil. She couldn’t afford to lower her defenses.
He didn’t say anything. He poured some into his glass.
“Uh… I want to discuss something important.”
He sat back and looked at her while sipping his drink.
“This is my final year, and I don’t want any distractions. I stay up late sometimes to finish my assignments or to study. And so… because I don’t want to disturb you and based on what I discussed with you before … about needing some time… I think it’s better if I move into a different bedroom.”
She had more or less rambled due to her nervousness, but she was glad she got all her points across. She sounded logical without offending his ego.
He was still watching her while sipping his drink. “No.”
She was stunned by his short answer. “What do you mean by no!” she erupted. “I just told you why—”
“I don’t care about the light. You can stay up however long you want. But when you sleep, I want you in our bed.”
“But—”
“That’s non-negotiable.”
She simmered with anger at his highhandedness.
The rest of the dinner was silent and tense. Or at least it was for her. He looked relaxed while having a delicious dinner next to a breathtaking view.
She was staring into her plate when felt his eyes on her. “You mentioned your assignments take a long time to finish. Would you like me to talk to your professors?” he asked.
Her eyes flew to his. “What!” she cried out in shock. “You might be powerful, but can’t threaten just about anyone and everyone!”
He looked amused at her outburst. “I meant if I should ask your professors to help you or tutor you. I would of course pay them for the services.”
She relaxed slightly. “No. I don’t need any help. I’m among the top in my class.”
“I see.” There was a small smile on his face.
She continued to stare at him, not knowing whether he had really meant about speaking to the professors about tutoring services or threatening them.
“Dessert?” he asked.
She hadn’t eaten much because she was angry and nervous about the upcoming night. But when he opened the lid on the dessert, and the delicious smell wafted into the air, she couldn’t resist despite her anger. She nodded curtly.
He served a generous portion into a bowl and offered it to her. At the first bite, her eyes almost fell closed, and she wanted to moan out loud at the scrumptious taste. But she stopped herself. The last thing she wanted was to attract his attention in any way.
She finished her dessert and got up to clear the dishes when he stopped her. “Leave it. The cleaning staff will clear them out in the morning.”
She wanted to protest, but she didn’t want to argue with him. She nodded and went back into the penthouse on the pretext of finishing her assignment.
But she was too angry. How dare he say no to separate bedrooms! She didn’t want to sleep next to him.
She didn’t trust him. He could do anything to her in her sleep. He even kissed her once when she had slept! Her cheeks heated when she recalled responding to his kiss.
No. She won’t allow him to manipulate her. She had to think of something.
Slowly, an idea began to form in her mind. It was a good plan to keep the devil away from her.
***
Shiv never thought he could feel relaxed, amused and turned on at the same time. There was a madman still on the loose, and half of the powerful criminals were on edge when a shipment of weapons worth nearly a billion dollars was discovered and seized by the government.
And yet, all those troubles disappeared to a far corner of his mind when he entered his home and saw Naina. He smiled recalling her reaction when she had walked into the bathroom and discovered his presence. Her shock and embarrassment along with her helpless attraction almost made him drag her close and kiss her until they both were breathless. But he
had to finish sending instructions to his people on what needed to be done.
Even during dinner, he had caught her watching him. He knew she was trying hard to fight the powerful attraction that sizzled between them. And when she tried to put a barrier between them by asking for a separate bedroom, he flatly denied it.
He knew she was angry right then and must be scheming to come up with a plan to keep him at a distance. Amused and challenged, he got up after finishing his drink and went back into the penthouse.
She wasn’t in the bedroom. He frowned, wondering if she decided not to listen to him. He was just about to storm outside and drag her back from whichever bedroom she was in when he saw her enter. She was holding a large bundle in her hands.
He raised a brow questioningly.
“Pillows,” she said, dropping them on the bed.
There were at least half a dozen pillows which she must have gotten from the guest bedrooms.
“I’m a restless sleeper,” she explained. “I don’t want to disturb you.”
He was amused by her lie because it was obvious she wanted to use the pillows as a barrier between them.
If only she knew nothing could stop the flaring attraction between them.
His eyes swept over her when she leaned forward and began arranging them on the bed. She was wearing workout clothing as usual, thinking it would somehow deter him. But what she didn’t realize is how the soft material of her t-shirt and track pants clung to her generous curves.
It was torture watching her. He had been with many women who were beautiful, exotic and extremely skilled in bed, but none of them excited him or fascinated him the way his rebellious wife did, despite not putting in any effort.
His mouth watered looking at the curve of her firm butt when she bent to place the pillows in a straight line in the center of the bed. He wanted to kiss and bite her perky ass before holding her hips and doing things to her that would shock and excite her. He wanted to peel those clothes off her body and taste every inch of her.
“W-which side do you prefer?”
Slowly, he dragged his eyes from her body and looked at her face. Some of what he was thinking must have shown on his face because she fidgeted nervously.
“Which side do you sleep on in the bed?” she asked again.
“I’m open to everything. You pick.” He deliberately used a suggestive tone, bringing a blush on to her cheeks.
“This side,” she said hurriedly, pointing a dainty finger towards a side of the bed. “I’ve been sleeping on this side for the last two weeks.”
He didn’t say anything because he didn’t care. Right side, left side or any damn side on the bed was going to be torture. The only side he wanted to be was inside. He wanted to be inside her while she held him and moaned his name out loud.
He knew he was going to have a long, restless night.
CHAPTER 29
Naina sighed into the warmth. Her back and butt were still freezing, so she tried to burrow deeper into the warmth.
But she wasn’t entirely comfortable. The bed was way too hard, and her nose tickled when something soft and springy brushed against her face. Trying to get comfortable, she wiggled against the hard bed. She heard a groan and rumbling under her ear.
Frowning, she wiggled once more only to hear the groan and rumble again.
When she was about to wiggle again, she felt something big and warm landing on the curve of her butt, holding her hips still. She continued to frown, and then she popped her eyes open in shock when she realized they were someone’s hands cupping her butt!
Her eyes met with tanned skin, and the soft, springy chest hair continued to tickle her nose.
Oh my God! I’m on top of the devil!
She tried to get off of him, but the hands on her butt kept her in place. “Dammit, stay still!” a gruff, masculine tone ordered.
She was outraged. “Let me go!” She struggled, but her leg was trapped between his to be able to simply roll off.
“Fuck!” he cursed with a groan. “Sweetheart, unless you want to consummate our marriage right now… stay the fuck still!”
She stilled at his threat, but her anger and outrage remained. “You promised!” she raged. “You told me you’d give me time. You had no right to attack me while I was asleep! Don’t you have any morals or shame!”
When she stopped moving, the grip on her hips loosened. “Well, sweetheart,” he drawled. “I believe you were the one to attack me during my sleep.”
At his taunt, she turned her head to the side. He was right. The pillows she had placed between them last night at the centre of the bed were still intact. She was the one who must have rolled over and crossed them.
Her face heated in embarrassment.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he continued to drawl. “You are welcome to attack me anytime you want. But when you give me a lap dance first thing in the morning, I need time to recover… unless you intend to follow through with the promise.”
She didn’t understand at first. Then her face almost burst into flames when she noticed the long, thick hardness twitching against her stomach. Her wiggling against him was equivalent to giving him a lap dance.
Oh God!
“Let me go!” she said, trying not to panic again.
Slowly, he moved, freeing her leg that was trapped between his. He then raised her hips and pushed her until she fell on the mound of soft pillows. Immediately, he rolled on top of her balancing his weight on his hands. She felt trapped under him.
“What are you doing!” she said with her heart thudding.
He slowly smiled. Despite the panic, her eyes were drawn to his dimples.
“Kiss me,” he said huskily. “A good-morning kiss.”
“What? No!” As soon as she said that, she was reminded of the time he had broken into her bedroom and asked her for a kiss. She had denied him initially only to give in to his persuasion.
But now, she had no reason ever to be persuaded by him. She knew he was a criminal and a cheat. “No! I won’t kiss you!” she hissed.
“Why not?” His voice was dark and sensual, and his eyes were hypnotic.
She had to fight off the strong urge to raise her head slightly and cover the small distance between their mouths.
“Because I don’t like you, and I hate you,” she said. The tone of her voice came off as though she were trying to convince herself rather than telling him.
His smile twisted and he caught her jaw in a soft grip. “You don’t have to like me to enjoy my kisses… or my touch. I can make your body come alive even if you hate me.”
At his dark, forbidden words, her nipples peaked, and the place between her legs began to throb. Her body shuddered in arousal imagining what he would do to her if she allowed him to.
“No!” she said, determined to fight him off. “If you kiss me, you’ll have to do it by force. I will never kiss you willingly!”
He watched her silently as his thumb brushed her lips back and forth.
Anger, fear and arousal warred inside her. She feared that he might forcibly kiss her, but what she feared more was that she might enjoy it and want it.
Suddenly, he rolled away from her. “Go get ready. You are going to be late for your kickboxing class.”
Angry, scared and embarrassed, she quickly got out of the bed. She wanted to hate him and rant at him when her voice got stuck in her throat.
With his arms folded behind his head, and his toned, muscular body left bare apart from the shorts he wore, he looked like sin personified. He was watching her with a lazy, hooded stare, his dark eyes sweeping over her slowly as though she were wearing sexy lingerie rather than workout clothes.
There was something else in his eyes—something she didn’t want to look at deep enough. Not right then when her brain was turning into mush, and all of her senses were filling up with him and the sparks flying and blazing around them.
Turning away, she more or less ran into the bathroom and shut herself inside.
She felt flushed and hot despite the cold air that was coming from the central air conditioning.
She knew she was in trouble. Even though she could fight him off that morning, she knew how close she had come to giving in. She really must be sick if she was craving a criminal’s touch, a criminal who more or less held her captive after having forced her into a marriage.
She let out a shuddering sigh. She badly hoped she could resist the temptation of giving in to the devil’s desire for three more months.
CHAPTER 3 0
All week Naina had been on edge.
The devil had been returning home each evening, forcing her to have dinner with him and spend time in his company. The intimacy of it was blurring the lines she had in her mind. She was finding it harder and harder to separate him from the handsome stranger from the club.
It was Friday night, and the devil hadn’t returned home. She was hopeful that she wouldn’t be forced to spend time in his company. She could have dinner alone and maybe read a book or watch television for a while.
Her plans for that night were interrupted when her phone buzzed.
It was a text message from an unknown number.
Private Number: See you at The Dungeon tonight.
Her heart pounded. She knew it was him. She stared at the message and decided to ignore it.
But less than a minute later, there was another message.
Private Number: I’ll send a car at 9pm. Wear a red dress like you wore the first time. There’s one in your closet similar to it.
She stared at the second part of the message for a long time. Then she shook her head. No! She was not going to allow him to manipulate her into being nostalgic of their first meeting in the club.
It was a lie. He knew who she was at that time, and he played her along. Taking in a deep breath, she threw her phone aside, planning not to go.
That’s when her phone buzzed again. She waited for ten minutes, trying hard not to check the message, but curiosity won.
