Page 133 of Hateful Games

Flinging open the door, I get out and notice several security guards roaming around the perimeter. Some not even discreetly hiding their weapons. And by several, I mean around ten to fifteen that I counted from the entrance to here.

Jeez. I thought my father was overboard.

“Have you abducted a prisoner or something?” I scoff, staring at the guards pointedly.

Nova rounds the hood to my side and glares down at me. “Just you, wife.”

“Where do you think I’m going to run away? Hell, I can’t even make it out the city without anyone recognizing me, let alone flee the country.”

Grabbing my hand, he ushers us inside. “I would rather not take any chances.”

“You don’t trust me yet you’re ready to have babies with me.”

“It’s an obligation. Just like marrying you was.”

It seems the spell we were under during the weekend has lost its power because we’re back to fighting and arguing. It shouldn’t deflate my mood. Yet it does. I always forget he’s a snake, shedding his skin.

The flirty him with the wicked tongue is a persona meant to disarm my defenses.

To get him laid.

As soon as we’re inside, he twists toward me. “You better not mess with the guards or give them trouble like you did with Rudra. Your father might have shielded you, but my family gets twice as more threats and most of them are real.”

“People usually give a house tour before reciting all the rules. It’s called being polite,” I reply, disregarding his words. “I also wouldn’t mind if you went to work so I could explore myself.”

My fur babies should be here any minute since they were being brought in another vehicle. They are far better company than my suddenly disciplinarian husband.

As if fate is on my side, Nova’s phone rings.

Whoever it is must be important, because he immediately picks up and disappears outside.

I finally get my first inside peek of my new home. I twirl in a circle as I walk to the middle of the spacious living room. Bright sunlight pours in from the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door behind the double spiral staircase. Through the glass, I spy a swimming pool and happiness spreads through my chest.

My fingers twitch to remove the short satin dress I’m wearing and dive into the cool water. I’ve been swimming my whole life and absolutely love it. Nothing like submerging into water and letting go of all the stress and tension.

I control my urge and walk farther inside. On my right, down the short hallway, there’s an open and state-of-the-art kitchen with sleek white-and-black marble and a long dining table nearby. There are two windows facing the backyard.

Nova’s parents did a fantastic job of choosing this place.

It is jaw-droppingly amazing. Warm and inviting.

My favorite is how spacious and open it is with its warm tones because my house growing up always felt dark and suffocating. Especially my wing of the house. Even the pool was inside.

Stalking to the left side of the house, I find four rooms. Two modernly furnished home offices where one seems occupied by Nova, and a storage room with cleaning supplies. Reaching the end of the hall, I open the last door and gape in shock.

A home library.

But with black empty shelves.

However, it doesn’t take me long to imagine filling it with my hundreds of books, which should arrive by tomorrow. I made sure to pack them all by myself. Can’t give my poor mother a heart attack as a parting gift from the kind of books I read.

It would be too embarrassing.

Though, her daughter reading smut will be the last of her worries if she knew the whole truth.

Stepping inside, there’s a dark brown rug covering the hardwood floor. Three of the walls are lined with shelves from the ceiling to the floor, which I love. Against the last wall, I picture a set of couches and a fireplace for the winter months.

Maybe I can ask Uncle Raghu to deliver my books today so I can get started.

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