Page 70 of Addiction

He touched his heart first and then hers. “Our hearts are connected since the beginning, I think.”

Her throat felt so heavy that it took her a moment to speak again. “Just a few minutes ago, I was thinking of how happy you make me, that maybe we need to extend this between us for a few weeks more. And here you are offering me more than a few weeks.”

“I am ready to offer you whatever you want,moya milaya…” This time, he put her hand on his chest, where his own heart was running away. “You only need to say yes.”

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. “You’ve begun to mean so much to me too. I cannot fathom a day when I cannot see you. In a short span of time, you’ve taken over my life, reshaped my thoughts, and changed my beliefs. When I’m with you, everything feels perfect.”

“Does that mean you agree?” he asked carefully.

The problem occurred when she was not with him. Then, all her doubts resurfaced, and her worries returned. That is what she had to battle with.

She took the ring from his hand and put it back on his pinkie finger. The yellow stone sparkled brightly. Disappointment was clear on his face.

“Hey, I’m not saying no.” She wound her arms around him. “But I need to think about this.”

“Running away again?”

“No, I’m simply asking for some time.”

“Alright. Take all the time you need. Just know, I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

She kissed his lips, showing him what he meant to her and what she couldn’t fully express in words as yet. She needed a little time away from him to clear her mind and think through this before she committed to him.

It wasn’t asking for a lot, was it? After all, they had time. She didn’t need to commit right now.

19

Armaan leaned against the railing on his bedroom terrace, looking at the moon. It was a huge silver orb, its pale light adding a glow to the sea crashing ahead of him. He’d just finished talking to the men he’d put behind Dorab. At least the news he’d gotten wasn’t entirely bad. There was some hope now. He had to update his brothers, and he would. But he wanted a few moments to himself first. He twirled his ring, gazing into the distance, not seeing anything in particular, his mind still on Navya and the disappointing conversation they’d had a few short hours ago.

He’d been so dejected after she’d left this evening from the yacht. Albeit indirectly, he had offered her his heart. But she hadn’t accepted it and him. He thought that the last few weeks with her had endeared him to her. That maybe she was beginning to fall for him too. Like a fool, he’d been certain about her, when she clearly wasn’t ready to accept him wholly into her life.

It had both saddened and frustrated him to know that the woman he loved didn’t love him back. God, he loved her. He’d realized it that first time he’d made her his. It had been too soonto tell her anything then. But even now, weeks later, it felt like she wasn’t as committed to this relationship as much as he was. That was the only reason she possibly needed time to accept his proposal of taking their relationship beyond their temporary arrangement. He, however, knew that he had no choice but to allow her that time and that he’d have to accept her decision, whatever it may be. The question was, would he be able to let her go if she rejected him?

Sighing, he returned inside his bedroom to call his brothers when his phone beeped twice.

Armaan, I want to meet you. It’s the weekend; let’s stay on the yacht tonight.

I miss you. Meet me in an hour.

Hope warmed his chest as he read Navya’s messages.

This was the first time she was asking to spend the night with him. Excitement and anticipation buzzed through him. Perhaps, the mistake he made earlier was that he hadn’t told her that he loved her. He thought she wasn’t ready to hear those words from him. But tonight, he’d show her and give her the words he so desperately wanted to tell her. Maybe that would alleviate her fears and push her to choose him too.

He exhaled. Navya made him so happy. He thought he’d found happiness after Alexander had adopted his brothers and him, but he hadn’t understood the true meaning of the word, until Navya had walked into his life. Her smiles lit up his days. Simply talking to her put his heart at ease, and having her in his arms made him feel complete.

His mind made up, he quickly showered and changed. He met Mihir at the bottom of the stairs as he was leaving.

“We need to talk,” Mihir announced.

“Can it wait till tomorrow?” Armaan asked. “I’ve got to be somewhere right now.”

“I thought we agreed no night scenes until we have more information on Ivan’s whereabouts,” Mihir countered. “Besides, Arlo is on leave.”

“That doesn’t matter. I’ll take someone else with me.” Armaan clucked his tongue. “We haven’t even heard anything about Ivan in weeks. I cannot live in hiding forever.”

“This is about her, isn’t it?” Mihir threw him a dark look. “She’s asked you to meet her at night, and you’re running to her, knowing it may be unsafe.”

“I’m just going to our yacht for fucks sake. It’s safe, and we have security on board.”

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