Page 96 of Addiction

“Oh, there is plenty of threat, this time from me,” she said, nearing him. She sat astride him. Putting her arms around him, she dug her nose into the side of his neck, breathing him in. “God, I’ve missed you so much.”

Her lips moved down the side of his jaw. He shifted his face away from her lips. “Stop it.”

“Uh, no.”

Cupping his cheeks, she kissed his forehead. “I was so damn worried about you. You almost died. I prayed for you, you know.” She kissed his eyes one at a time. “I prayed every single moment till you opened your eyes, and then to ensure you recovered well.”

“Navya… stop.” His breathing was all choppy now.

Smiling, she slid closer to him. Her core pressed against his growing erection. “I don’t think you want me to stop.”

He glared at her. “I’m a man. I’d be attracted to any woman sitting atop me like you are.”

Clasping his jaw, she brought his face closer to hers. “No woman would dare to get this close to you. I am the only woman in your life, you hear me?”

She planted her lips on his. He didn’t even resist. His mouth moved under hers, and his tongue dove inside her mouth, taking, giving, relearning her taste and the shape of her mouth. His reaction to her gave her hope that he was still in love with her and that she could make it right with him.

Armaan pulled back. “No. I can’t do this. I won’t.”

“You will,” she said, kissing him again. Once again, he didn’t resist her.

“Do you know how worried I was about you?” she said between kisses. “It’s been days since I saw you last, and you… In which world do you think you can keep rejecting my calls and messages?”

He shifted his head back. “One in which you clearly told your sister that you don’t love me. Fuck, I’m such an idiot. Here I am, still falling into your trap despite knowing the truth.”

“I behaved stupid, okay? All I have been asking for days is for you to hear me out.”

“Untie me, Navya,” he ordered.

“You’re not going anywhere until I am done with you. Oh, and newsflash, I will never be done with you.” She wet her lips. “I was the one who kept running away—from you and our relationship. No more. And I won’t allow you to run away either.” When he tried to wriggle out of her hold, she held him still. “I love you, Armaan Oshnov.”

His jaw lifted. “Why should I believe you?”

“Why are you behaving so stubborn? Do you think I went through all this trouble to get you here to lie to you? Would your brother have conspired with me if he didn’t believe in my love for you?”

So many expressions crossed his face. His dilemma was clearly visible. She clasped his cheeks. “I swear to you that I love you. You’re the only man I have ever loved. And that night, I had just finished telling you this when that man hit you on the head. I wish you’d remember it. Then you’d know that I am not lying.”

When she leaned forward to kiss him again, he fisted her ponytail, tugging it to hold her still.

“How did you…”

“Whoever tied me did a shit job of it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Mihir. Of course.”

He leaned forward, his lips a mere inch from hers. Indecision warred on his face.

“Kiss me,” she challenged him. “I know you want to.”

He released her hair, breathing heavily. She put her arms around him, snuggling into his chest. “I missed you.”

When he still remained silent, she lifted her head. “I have to tell you something. Something not many people know. Reina and I are not Rajiv and Ananya’s real sisters. We are adopted.”

He jolted back. “What? That’s not true.”

“Unfortunately, it is. Sara Mehra is my paternal aunt. My real parents’ names are… were Gautam and Latika Singh.”

“What happened to them?”