by M. V. Kasi
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine, Monica.” Something inside her warned her not to say anything against the devil. She knew her stepmother was fishing for some information.
“Did he say anything about your father?” Monica asked.
“No.”
Her stepmother looked frustrated and even angry. Suddenly, there was a change in expression on Monica’s face. Her stepmother smiled. Naina knew there would be some kind of poison dripping from Monica’s mouth.
“You know, darling, it’s cute and pathetic how you are clinging and supporting that husband of yours despite knowing he is the devil.”
Naina remained silent.
“He isn’t interested in you. He is only interested in what your father can give him. He wants political leverage to carry on his underworld business. And since you are probably not putting out as much because of your inexperience or fear, it is keeping him interested for now. It’s the chase that thrills the devil. Once you give in, he’ll throw you out like trash.”
Naina didn’t want to listen to her stepmother. She hated that her stepmother’s words were sinking into her like poison and spreading all over her mind. Maybe because, a part of her knew whatever Monica was hearing was true.
“Of the three devils, your husband is the most depraved one. The things he did and still does with hundreds of other women, you wouldn’t allow him to touch you with those hands if you knew.” Monica’s smile widened. “The other woman who married a devil ended up shooting and killing him. That was smart of her. If you can, do that too. Or at least work with your father and me to save you from hell that your husband will drag you into.”
Chills ran over Naina listening to her stepmother. She knew the other woman who had married the devil was Aditi Shaurya, the woman she had met last year during her father’s anniversary party. Aditi she told her that Anirudh Shaurya didn’t hurt her in anyway. She had even blushed and given hints that she had a satisfying marital life.
Then what had driven the other woman to shoot her husband dead?
“Your husband won’t let your father or me visit you. Try to come and visit us—” Monica broke off when the door swung open, and Shiv strode on.
His jaw tightened seeing her talking to Monica. “Let’s go. We are leaving.” He held her hand and dragged out of the restroom.
Naina didn’t protest. She went along with him while her mind spun with thoughts.
She knew she could never trust her father or Monica. They were too morally corrupt to think of her well-being. She didn’t know what, but they were up to something.
But just because she didn’t trust her father or stepmother, it didn’t mean she could automatically trust the devil.
***
The ride back home was silent. Naina expected Shiv to demand her to reveal what she had spoken about with Monica, but he didn’t say or ask anything.
Even after getting into the car, he hadn’t let go of her. He was still holding her arm, his thick, calloused thumb brushing the soft skin behind her elbow, making her shiver.
She wanted to pull away, but she didn’t want to draw his attention. He was looking outside the car window with a brooding look.
The thick tension remained inside the car even when they reached the parking garage of the penthouse.
“Vasu, have a car ready tomorrow at six.”
“Sure, Shiv. The international airport or the private one?”
“I’ll be flying commercial. Send out instructions once again that no one should know I’m away.”
“Yes. I’ll take care of it.”
Naina felt strangely disappointed that Shiv was leaving the next morning. Even though she hated him and was angry with him, she had found his presence in the penthouse oddly comforting. She didn’t feel as alone during the evenings and nights.
And why didn’t he want people to know he was travelling?
“Let’s go,” he said, waiting for her next to the car door.
They walked the small distance to the elevator. And when they stepped inside, she noticed him relaxing slightly as though whatever had made him tense the entire evening, no longer existed.
The man was a mystery, but whether she wanted to unravel the mystery, she didn’t know.
Soon, a different kind of tension began to take shape—the one that gripped her as well. Her heart pounded while he watched her silently.
Her stomach quivered with nervousness when the elevator stopped with a soft ping, and the doors opened. Putting a hand on the small of her back, he led her to the door.
She tried to breathe normally while he entered his fingerprints and code on the keypad before pushing the door open.
The moment she took a step inside, she gasped out loud. He held her hips and pushed her against the wall next to the door. Before she could think or say anything, his mouth attacked hers.
It felt explosive and violent. She moaned as her mind shut down and filled all her senses with him. Her hands clutched his suit collar pulling him closer.
His mouth devoured hers, tasting her lips and thrusting his tongue deep inside. With each thrust of his tongue, she felt her legs weaken as the place between them throbbed.
Just when her legs were about to give in, his large hands held her hips and lifted her and carried her somewhere. He didn’t break their kiss. She felt his tongue tangling aggressively with hers even as she felt a smooth, cool surface against her back. It wasn’t their bed, and she didn’t care to know where. All she wanted was to satisfy the throbbing need he awoke inside her.
She protested when his mouth left hers, only to moan once again when his mouth found her throat. He kissed her throbbing pulse at her throat before moving lower.
She gripped his hair hard and moaned in pleasure. She felt his hot mouth and wet tongue on her breasts through the soft material of her dress. Her body ached to feel his mouth on her bare skin.
As though he could read her mind, she felt his hand on the soft material of her dress before he yanked it hard. The sound of ripping filled the air as her dress tore.
She gasped out in protest. “I liked the dress!”
“Fuck that dress. I’ll buy you a hundred more,” he replied before yanking her bra down and placing his hot mouth on her bare skin.
She cried out in pleasure and forgot about her beautiful ruined dress when his lips enclosed on her hardened peaks and sucked on them, causing jolts of lightning and pleasure running through her body.
The sensory overload felt too much, and she felt something building inside her. It thrilled her, but it also scared her. “Shiv!” she cried out, gripping his hair. “Kiss me!” She wanted his mouth on hers while her body reacted uncontrollably.
But he seemed too far gone as well. He continued to kiss, suck and bite her, and he groaned rubbing his face against her chest. “Fuck, you are so beautiful, and you taste sweeter than I could ever imagine.” He ran his tongue from between her breasts to her throat and then to her ear. “I can’t wait to make you mine,” he rasped into her ear.
Listening to his guttural words, something inside her froze.
“He isn’t interested in you, just what your father can give him. He wants political leverage to carry on his underworld business. And maybe you are not putting out as much because of your inexperience or fear. That’s what is keeping him interested for now. It’s the chase that thrills the devil. Once you give in, he’ll throw you out like trash.”
Despite the throbbing need in her body, Monica’s words drummed inside her head.
What the hell am I doing?
She shouldn’t want him or need him. He was a criminal. And a depraved playboy too. He was manipulating her with his touch, his kisses and his body. The same way he must have manipulated hundreds of other women before her.
She sucked in her breath when she felt him pushing up her dress. His hand went between her legs and brushed against her wet core. Even though her core throbbed, her mind rebelled.
“No! Stop!” she gasped.
&n
bsp; When he didn’t stop, she panicked and struggled. “Stop, Shiv!”
Suddenly, he froze on top of her.
“Get off me!” she said, pushing at his shoulders.
He frowned, looking at her panicked face and slowly sat up.
When he was off of her, she sat up hurriedly. She covered her exposed chest by pulling up her bra and the ripped ends her ruined dress together.
He didn’t move. She realized even though his suit was intact, his hair was messy where she had gripped it in passion. The harsh lines of his face were enhanced by the soft lighting in the living room.
“What happened?” he asked, rubbing his bottom lip as though he were trying to savor a taste.
She clenched her jaw trying not to be tempted by the sight of him. “I’m not a toy for you to paw me whenever you see me.”
He frowned. “What?”
“If you are horny right now, go have sex with someone who is available and willing. I don’t mind.” She got up from the couch and was about to walk away on her shaky legs when her hand was caught. She gasped when he pulled her back, and she fell on his lap.
“Let me go!” She struggled, but he didn’t let her go.
He pushed her until she was lying on the sofa once again resting on his arm. She struggled to sit up, but he held her in a firm grip.
He looked furious. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded. “You were fine until now. Hell, you were more than just fine. You responded to me and were more than willing.”
She gritted her teeth. “I’m not your plaything.”
His on her hips tightened. “Stop saying that,” he bit out. “You are my damn wife. We are married legally. And even if we weren’t married, passion and desire are normal between a man and a woman who are attracted to each other.”
“I don’t desire you! You definitely don’t desire me. I’m just a means to an end for you to gain political leverage.”
He watched her quietly for a couple of seconds before a dark smile covered his face. “That’s not my gun you are sitting on top of, sweetheart.”
Her face heated. She felt his hard arousal under her.
He pushed his hips up until she felt every inch of his hot, demanding need. She should feel disgusted, but all she felt were the answering sparks deep within.
“The desire between us is real, and it is explosive.”
“No!” she said, refusing to give in. “Your desire is only until I give in, which I won’t. Not tonight!” And not ever. She didn’t say the other words aloud because that would be equivalent to breaking a part of their deal. If he thought she would never have sex with him, he wouldn’t have a reason not to break the rest of the conditions.
He looked frustrated at her denial, but slowly a dark smile covered his face. “Have your way, but since you got me into this state, I want something in return.”
Her heart pounded. “What?” she asked, even though she had no intention of giving him anything.
“Two kisses. I want to give you two kisses.”
She had imagined something depraved, so she was taken aback by his request. Even though she found his kisses addicting, and they haunted her dreams, she decided to agree. She wanted to let him know that he won’t be able to manipulate her with his kisses.
“Fine,” she said.
She expected his mouth to crash on top of hers. She even mentally prepared herself to resist the passion that might sweep her away.
But nothing happened. He just watched her.
A few moments later, she began to feel edgy and nervous “What are you waiting for?” she snapped.
A slow, dark smile covered his face. “Not here and not now. Later, in our bed.”
Even before he finished speaking, she knew she shouldn’t have agreed to the kisses. But it was too late to protest, and she didn’t want to protest. She was determined to prove not just to him but also to herself that she could resist the devil’s kisses.
***
The feeling of edginess and nervousness continued. She lingered for a long time in the bathroom. Even though it was close to midnight, she took a long shower, brushed her teeth and wore a nightdress. She began using nightdresses for the last week because she preferred to use the workout wear when she practiced kickboxing in the gym.
The nightdresses weren’t overtly sensual. They were made of comfortable material that felt like silk, and luckily they were long enough to reach her ankles. With a robe on, she even had breakfast in the dining area wearing her nightclothes.
She stepped out of the guest bathroom. And as soon as she went into the bedroom, she saw him. He had showered too and his hair was still damp. He was wearing shorts and was shirtless as usual, showing off his ripped body. Her nipples peaked under her nightclothes, and she immediately blamed it on the cold air conditioning
A few days ago, when she had woken up snuggling against the devil once again, she realized the reason. The temperature in the penthouse was always freezing cold. She had tried to adjust the thermostat, only to be reset again by Sitaram, who informed her that the devil preferred the cold temperature.
He really must be the devil if such freezing cold temperatures didn’t bother him.
He was sitting on the bed looking every bit like the devil he was, waiting for her to join him.
“Why should we share a bedroom,” she demanded, bringing up the same argument once again. “Even if we were to have sex, there is no need for us to share the bedroom. You can come to me and leave when you are done with me.”
Something flashed in his eyes as he smiled. “Sweetheart, there is no if we have sex. We will. And pretty soon. And coming to the other part… I will never be done with you. When I take you, it will always be a nightlong event until we both pass out in each other’s arms.”
Her body throbbed at the raw visuals flashing in her mind at his words.
“Why me?” she demanded, determined to push away the hot sparks blazing that she felt inside the room. “I know I’m not that special. You had so many affairs, and none of them lasted for it to become a relationship. What makes you think you won’t tire of me too? I’m giving you a way out, so it doesn’t get awkward for both of us later.”
She gasped when he suddenly got up from the bed and caught her. He picked her up and threw her on the bed. She gasped once again when her back hit the soft mattress. Before she could catch her breath or roll away, he moved on top of her and trapped her. He balanced his weight on his arms.
“First of all,” he said with an angry edge. “Those affairs were hookups where all parties involved knew what to expect. Whatever happened in my past was purely between me and those women. No one, not even you, has the right to question me about those. You are my wife, and you should damn well get it into your pretty head that as long as I’m still breathing and able, I will hold you to your word that you will sleep in my bed every damn night.”
Her heart pounded at his words. His nearness made her body throb.
“I hate you,” she whispered, trying to gather strength to resist him.
There was a dark smile. “No, you don’t. You only wish you did.”
Even as anger coursed through her at his arrogance, her lips tingled with anticipation of his kisses. She braced herself expecting him to crash his mouth on top of hers and kiss her senseless like always, but she was taken aback once again when he didn’t kiss her. Instead, he slid down her body and gripped the back of her thighs.
“What are you—” she broke off with a gasp when he suddenly pushed her knees towards her chest, making her nightdress ride up her hips. Cool air fell between her legs, and she felt completely exposed.
Her face flamed with embarrassment, and it felt indecent to be exposed to him that way. Her heart beat in panic even as her core throbbed and pulsated with a strange need and anticipation.
“This is not a k—” She couldn’t finish because her heart almost stopped when his fingers pushed aside the thin material of her panties before his mouth captured her core
with a deep, intimate kiss.
She stared at the dark head between her legs in shock. “Oh my God!” she cried out, her head falling back in intense pleasure.
“W-wait—” She broke off breathlessly. Her fingers tangled in his damp hair, intending to push him away, but shockingly her hands pulled him closer, and a loud moan escaped her. Her mind didn’t know whether to push him away or pull him close as intense pleasure, shock and anger warred with each other.
She was powerless to resist him or stop him because his wide shoulders kept her legs apart, continuing with his relentless hot, wet and intimate exploration. Gasping cries continued to tear out of her throat as she twisted on the bed wildly. His strong grip kept her hips still, while his mouth continued to ravage her.
She screamed and she threatened, but she also begged him. Her mind stopped functioning as explosive feelings coursed through her.
Her fingers continued to tangle and pull at his damp hair while she undulated wildly on the bed as need and pleasure dominated everything else. Soon, the rising need began to terrify her. Something was building. Something unknown and huge.
“Shiv!” she gasped, letting go of his hair and digging her nails into his arms and shoulders, drawing blood while she tried to pull him up. But he was relentless.
Hoarse, helpless sounds of pleasure continued to emit from her throat while she thrashed wildly on the bed. Pressure built and built until it finally exploded in a harsh release that shot through her entire body.
She screamed, feeling as though she was blown apart with nothing to hold on to. Pleasure ripped through her in tidal waves even as her screams stopped only to be replaced by gasping cries.
She didn’t know how much time had passed as her body continued to shudder. Distantly, she felt the heavy weight of him sliding up on top of her.
Gripping the back of her hair, he tugged her head up until she opened her eyes and watched him dazedly.
