Page 41 of Fixation

He chuckled. “It’s called lust, beautiful.”

She shook her head. “Stop it.”

He chuckled. “Are you still going to deny it after coming apart in my arms?”

She backed a few steps away from him.

“Deny it all you want,” he pressed, “But the fact is that your body is drawn to mine, and my body approves. Very much so.”

“Oh God,” she groaned.

She shook her head, shifting a little distance away from him. They both turned to see Laila enter the pool area.

Reina’s shoulders tensed. “What are you doing here?”

“Going for a swim, duh,” the other woman replied, her eyes on Vedant.

“By all means, go ahead then.” Reina stepped out of the pool.

When Vedant began to follow her, Laila said, “Why don’t you stay Mr. Oshnov? I can help you with your exercises today.”

She gave him a sultry look and Vedant winced. Good God. This woman was making her interest in him too damn obvious. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t the one he wanted. He didn’t even notice her, unless forced to. Her presence didn’t light him up, and his heart didn’t tell him when she was near.

Before he could find a way to reject her offer, Reina spoke up, “Mr. Oshnov is done with his pool therapy for today.”

Laila’s eyes latched on him. “Then I’ll be here to help you tomorrow.”

Reina’s eyes flared. She quickly donned her robe. “It won’t be necessary. Stefan has agreed to do the water therapy sessionswith Mr. Oshnov. Between him and me, we will ensure it is taken care of. Su Min and you can take over the other sessions.”

The women stared at one another, each of them looking pissed. He was quite delighted to note that Reina didn’t like Laila around him. Jealousy was always a good sign.

Laila opened her mouth, but Vedant cut in, “I agree with Dr. Singh. Let’s stick to what she says.”

He walked out of the water slowly. Reina came forward to help him, but he held a hand out. He had to start getting back on his own feet without help. Her eyes never left his as he made his way to her, slowly but surely.

Silence elapsed between them as they made their way outside. Reina left him at the door of his care room, where Su Min was waiting for him, and without a word, she began to walk away.

“Dr. Singh,” he called out.

She turned. He slowly made his way to her.

He shifted a wet strand of hair away from her face.

“No more running. Come meet me soon,” he whispered. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

She didn’t reply; she simply hurried away from him. He returned to the nurse, who was still waiting at the door. He gave her a smile and entered the room.

Today was a huge step in the right direction. Excitement buzzed through him. Reina and he had definitely connected in a way neither of them had expected nor anticipated. He only hoped that she too accepted this and didn’t once again avoid him—her usual modus operandi the second things got heavy between them.

This time, he wouldn’t let her hide or run.

14

Reina stared out of the window of her room, looking at nothing in particular. Coward. She was an utter coward. Once again, she had successfully managed to avoidhimfor a whole day. She’d again gone to him only when he’d been sleeping and had left before he woke up in the morning. But she couldn’t avoid him forever.

She was his chief doctor, and he was awake for most of the day now. She had to meet him at some point, perhaps even alone. She exhaled a rough breath. How was she to face him when she’d literally ordered him to kiss her? How could she look him in the eye when his scent still lingered in her nose, his touch still burned on her body? His hot mouth, his clever fingers—God, even now, simply thinking of him made her body melt. Their encounter in the pool had been so passionate, so intense, that she hadn’t been able to get her mind off of it. Well, she couldn’t seem to get him off of her mind.

She covered her eyes with her hands. She, Dr. Reina Singh, was getting fixated on her patient. And not just any patient, but undeniably the most attractive man she’d ever come across.

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