He’s always so protective, so caring. I look up at him, half-annoyed and half-grateful. “Don’t give me that look. I know you secretly like it. It’s just like those book men you love so much,” he whispers in my ear, his breath tickling me, filling me with warmth.
I gape at him. “How do you know about them?” I whisper-yell, shock covering my features.
He chuckles, with his eyes shining like a diamond. “Well, your reaction intrigued me, so I read one of them. Maybe took some notes.” He winks as he nudges me towards the stall.
This man is unbelievable.
I shake my head as I take a disposable plate. The vendor serves me, and I eat happily. “Bhaiya, it’s tasty… but not as tasty as my husband makes it,” I say sweetly, and the vendor glances at Rudra in part fear and part surprise.
I remember it very clearly: when I was on my period, I made the grave mistake of informing my husband about my midnight pani puri cravings, and guess what? He made everything from scratch, like he made that paneer tikka, and I have to admit it. It was the most delicious pani puri I ever had.
When I’m done, Rudra pulls out his chequebook.
“I don’t think you need that for paying just for a few pani-puri,” I laugh as I dust my hands and step back from the stall.
“I do. I’m paying him ?10,000,” he says coolly as he signs off on the cheque.
A startled gasp echoes around us, and I stare at him with my mouth agape. “You’re saying this one plate of pani puri was worth ?10,000? Are you mad?” My eyes almost pop out of my socket because what the hell!
“For a businessman, you really took a terrible deal.” I glare at him as we walk away towards our car.
“I’d take any deal for you, darling,” he says, slinging his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.
As Rudra drives us home, his hand rests on my thigh, firm and possessive. I try to focus on the passing lights outside thewindow, but the warmth of his touch lingers, heat pooling in my stomach.
He glances at me, eyes dark and intense. He squeezes my thigh, and I instantly feel the blood rush to my face. We reach home and walk toward our room, still hand in hand. I head into the closet to change once we enter our room while he goes to his office, since he keeps his clothes there now, and the reason was my clothes. Chachi and Aditi forced me to buy too many clothes; it was difficult to fit them in the closet, so he moved all his clothes to his home office.
I quickly change into a nightgown I’d bought when I went shopping with Aditi. It was not modest like others, but it felt good wearing it. I glance at myself in the mirror, feeling… unsure. It hugs my body, outlining my curves. It feels too revealing.
Just as I step out, Rudra walks back in—shirtless, in just his trousers. He stops, eyes roaming over me, slow and deliberate. I bite my lip, nervous under his gaze, as goosebumps erupt on my arms. The hold this man has on me.
“Don’t bite your lip,” he murmurs, walking toward me with long strides. Heat pools in my guts as I watch him walking towards me.
He cups my face and touches my nose gently. “Only I can do that.”
Rudra captures my lower lip between his teeth, nibbling and sucking gently. A shiver runs down my spine, and a soft moan escapes me.
He pushes me back onto the bed, his body hovering over mine. His arms cage me in, his muscles tense beneath my fingertips. I run my hands down his chest, feeling every hardline of his body. The air between us shifts, heavy and charged. But then—he stops. He breaks the kiss and looks into my eyes, tracing a gentle finger along my cheek. Then he lies down beside me.
I sigh in frustration. “Do you not find me attractive?” I whisper, annoyed, am I really ugly?
“What?” He asks, turning toward me, confusion swirling in his eyes, and a frown makes its way onto his face.
“You always stop at the kiss. Am I not attractive enough?” I ask, my voice barely audible.
His eyes widen in disbelief. Then he shifts closer, our bodies flush.
“It’s not that, Shivani, I just...” He plops up on the bed, looking in my eyes, “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, baby.” He reasons, and my annoyance melts away, only a little.
“But how is it that you never lose control?” I huff. I know I am not being fair and that I should be happy he considers my feelings, but I am mad. He stares at me, and suddenly he has me pinned underneath him.
“You want to know how attractive you are? How much do you affect me?” His voice is rough and low, and it almost makes me moan.
Rudra takes my hand and guides it to his crotch. I freeze, overwhelmed by the sudden boldness.
His body is tense under my touch. “Feel that, darling?” He breathes. “That’s what you do to me. You drive me insane with desire.”
“I’m being as patient as I can be with you. Don’t make it any harder for me.” He sighs, frustration flickering in his eyes.
