Page 27 of Addiction

He heard it, of course, and laughed. Still smiling, he shifted another strand of her hair from her face. “You look beautiful tonight… like a dream…”

“Nightmare. I am your worst nightmare.”

He chuckled. “Oh, the things that come out of your mouth. Unbelievable. Now come, let’s have a good time. No more talk of nightmares. You’re my reality tonight. And I am yours,da?”

“No.”

“Will you ever agree with me on anything?”

“No.”

His eyes darkened. “A time will come when the only word that falls from your pretty lips will beyes.”

“Are you challenging me?”

“No. I am promising you.”

Her breath hitched. There, her heart went speeding like a race car on a track. Why did only this man affect her like this? Before she could say another word, Rehana Haddad caught Armaan’s arm, her talon-like shiny blue nails pressing into his elbow.

“Armaan,habibi, I knew you’d come to see me walk the ramp,” she purred. Armaan smiled at her, accepting her air kisses.

Something stabbed inside her on seeing that gorgeous model draped over him. Nope, she was not naming that emotion for what it was.

“Rehana, you look lovely as always,” Armaan said.

“How do you know Navya?” she asked, her curious eyes landing on Navya now.

Armaan gave Navya a slow smile. Before he could reply, the lights dimmed, and the emcee asked everyone to be seated for the fashion show.

“I have to go backstage…” Rehana drawled. She patted Armaan’s chest. “I’ll see you later,habibi.”

“Come on, let’s take our seats,” Armaan told Navya.

He took her to the front row, near the center of the ramp and to the only two remaining empty seats. Armaan’s bodyguard quietly took the seat behind them—the perks of being a rich man’s security guard, she surmised. Well, she wasn’t complaining either. She’d expected to be seated far back, but being in the center of the front row was another great thing to happen to her tonight.

“Nice…” she smiled, looking left and right.

“A bit of nice, a whole of naughty, and a lot of bad—that’s me!” he grinned.

“Oh God, why does everything have to be about you?”

“I told you I want you to like me.”

“Not that again.” She rolled her eyes. “I like good boys, not bad boys. And you are simply the worst.”

A corner of his lips tipped up. “Good boys go to heaven… so boring!” He leaned forward and flicked her earring. “But bad boys bring heaven to you.”

She gaped at him. “You listen to Julia Michaels!”

“I think after Coldplay, it ought to be obvious that I enjoy music, and perhaps you and I have the same taste in songs.”

She giggled. She couldn’t help it. It was cute to see him remembering and reciting the lyrics of another one of her favorite songs.

“That smile and the sound of your laugh always makes me hope that you’re warming to me.”

“You wish.” Her words didn’t come out as strongly as she’d intended them to.

“I promise you,moya tigritsa, that you will like me one day soon and then…”

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