Page 116 of Wicked Trap

Her cheeks reddened at his reminder of her relentless seduction.

“I had a shit-ton of things going on in my bloody life for the past month. Both my brothers’ lives were in danger, and I had to see to them and my mother while also following up with things my brothers and I set into motion. But all the while, each and every moment, I thought about you. Whether you hated me and whether you would ever forgive me or whether I would lose you. Why would I think of you if it was only a cheap thrill for me?”

She looked shocked and uncertain.

“Yes, ours is not a conventional boy-meets-girl cute love story. Deception and lies were involved, and I had laid out a trap for you. It was wrong. But at the end of the day, we both did fall in love with each other. Outside of my family, you are the only one who matters to me and who I would sacrifice my life for. I love you and am willing to do anything to have you in my life.”

Her lips wobbled, and her eyes glazed with tears. But she quickly blinked them away.

She stared at him. “I can’t trust you,” she said.

It felt like a punch to his stomach. “I know, princess. But give us a chance. Give me time to win over your trust.”

She was quiet. And then, she took a deep breath and looked at him. “Then trust me too. Remove the security guarding me. Let me be free to go in and out of the penthouse.”

This time he fell quiet. He knew it was a huge risk to lower his guard right then. But it seemed to be the only way to win her trust.

“All right. I will remove the guards outside the penthouse starting tonight. But I prefer that you don’t go out until I say it is safe.”

She frowned. “Who would try to harm me?”

He looked at her. “Your father.”

There was a look of shock on her face. But surprisingly, she didn’t say anything.

“I know you might find it hard to believe it. But in time, I will tell you everything.”

The rest of the dinner continued in silence. Once again, he felt a pang of regret for losing her trust. He recalled their laughter-filled meals where he teased her often and she always had a sassy remark in return. He knew it would take time to get there once again.

“Leave them,” he said when they finished their meal, and she got up to clear the dishes.

She nodded.

He led her towards the master bedroom. As they walked together, he could sense her nervousness. She bit her bottom lip and avoided looking at him.

He wanted to push her against the wall, kiss her until all her doubts vanished and they would once again lose themselves in hot passion. But he clenched his fists. Taking a deep breath, he controlled himself as they reached the bedroom.

“Good night, princess,” he said. “I’ll see you in the morning. Let’s cook breakfast together.”

She looked shocked that he was leaving her. “Okay,” she whispered. “Good night.”

His body screamed when he walked away from her and went into one of the guest bedrooms.

He stared into the night through the glass wall before pulling out his phone and calling the head of security.

“Discharge men from outside my penthouse starting tonight. I’ll call and give further instructions.” With that order, he ended the call.

It was a huge risk he was taking. But he wasn’t lying when he told Tanvi he was willing to do anything to win back her trust.

He continued to stare into the night unable to sleep knowing that the woman he loved and desired was in the same house, but he couldn’t touch her.

Five damn weeks was a long time being away from her. Even though thoughts of her and memories of their time together helped him blow off steam, he craved to hold her in his arms.

He didn’t know how long he had been staring into the night when the bedroom door clicked open. Frowning, he turned. The housekeeper or anyone else always knocked before entering.

But it wasn’t any of his household help. It was Tanvi.

With soft light falling on her face, she looked otherworldly and dreamlike as she walked towards him. He wondered if he had been craving her so much that he was imagining things. But she stopped in front of him and touched him, proving she was real.

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