Page 136 of The Love Position

‘This is why I asked him to leave the ashram in India all those years ago. During each Teacher Training Course, he identified a new target. But once he’d bedded them, he got bored and moved on. I thought he’d changed, but….’

Sophia’s hand shook in between his, sending a tremor up her arm, and tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks. She didn’t want to believe a word Swami Vishnu was saying, but her exhausted mind was spiralling out of control. She desperately needed to see Isaac. To be held in his arms and know down to her soul that none of these words were true.

Pulling her closer, the older man put an arm around her, pressing her cheek against his chest.

‘I know you are drawn to Hanuman, but he cannot offer what you need.’

Even though Swami Vishnu was acting sympathetically, Sophia didn’t feel comforted. This was the man who’d told Isaac his feelings for her were transient. The man who’d pushed them together and was now trying to pull them apart.

One hand held tightly to hers, the other stroked up and down her back, pushing her nose against his robe. It smelled of incense and body odour.

Years of conformity to societal structures and behavioural norms ran so deep, Sophia couldn’t work out how to break away from Swami Vishnu without causing offence.

‘You need more,’ he continued, his voice hypnotic. ‘You want more.’

Her breath was coming faster, panic blooming in her chest.

‘Hmmm… Yes, you feel it.’

Ice filled her veins. What was he doing? How could she get away?

Tugging her hand between his legs, he folded her fingers around something hard and stubby.

Lights flashed behind Sophia’s eyes. She was outside her body looking at the scene, screaming at herself to run, but her limbs had frozen with fear.

‘Yes, that’s right,’ he murmured. ‘This is what you really need.’

‘Get the fuck away from her!’ came a scream as Jessica ran full tilt through the temple towards them.

Pushing Swami Vishnu over, she grabbed Sophia and pulled her away.

‘Disgusting fucking perve. Back the fuck off!’

Falling to her hands and knees, Sophia threw up.

Over her retching, she could hear a bell being rung, Swami Vishnu shouting for help and Jessica yelling that he was about to have his balls served to him on a platter.

‘Predatory asshole. I’m gonna make it my life’s work to make sure the rest of your miserable existence is spent as some serial killer’s pet.’

Ganapati came running into the temple, his eyes on Swami Vishnu, who was now lying on the floor.

‘They attacked me!’ he cried pitifully.

‘What the fuck?’ Jessica screamed as Sophia crawled away from her own vomit, sobbing and shaking.

‘That creeper sexually assaulted Sophia. He put her hand around his pathetic excuse for a cock.’

Going to Sophia’s side, Jessica hauled her up. ‘Come on, we’re calling the police.’

‘Ganapati!’ Swami Vishnu wailed.

Ganapati advanced towards them, his eyebrows drawn down and his expression thunderous.

‘Stop!’ Sophia cried, her stomach still rolling as blinding fear shot through her.

Jessica shoved her back and grabbed the mop, pointing it at Ganapati. ‘Don’t come any closer!’

Stalking forward, he tore the mop from her hands and threw it to the floor.

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