Page 96 of Fixation

Aditya leaned forward and kissed her cheek. A growl erupted out of Vedant. Looking absolutely unconcerned, Aditya gave him a mischievous look before facing Reina. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

Ananya took Aditya’s hand and wound it around hers. “Come with me. These two need to sort things out.”

Giving Reina a playful wave, Ananya steered Aditya to the other end of the dance floor. Good God, her sisters were definitely Team Vedant now. Annoyed by everything, she whirled and faced the man who was the source of all her problems.

“Are you mad?” she began. “You were ready to fight with Aditya over a dance with me?”

“Not just fight. I was ready to kill.”

Her eyes widened. A tremor shot down her spine. She studied him. He really did mean what he said. And why did that thrill her so?

“You were jealous?”

“Yes.”

“Good, now go away.” She crossed her arms on her chest.

“Never. I like that you like it when I get jealous. It means you care.”

Reina rolled her eyes. “I don’t.”

“You do,” Vedant leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “I will never like another man having his hands on you. Have you forgotten you belong to me,moya prekrasnaya?”

More tremors slithered down her spine. She lifted her jaw. “I belong to no one.”

He chuckled. “Still so damn stubborn. I’ve always loved your defiant attitude.”

She glared at him. He held a hand out. “Dance with me, beautiful.”

“Are you asking me or ordering me?”

“Now that it’s just you and me, I am requesting ardently.”

She put a hand on her hip. “And if I refuse, will you go ahead and create a scene like you threatened?”

His eyes shimmered. “Do you want to find out?”

She sneaked a glance around her. Several people were looking at them. At one edge of the dance floor, she found her brother standing aside, watching her carefully. Rajiv arched a brow in question. She’d only have to nod, and he’d come her way. But she wasn’t a damsel in distress who needed her brother to rescue her. She could and would deal with Vedant by herself. It was only a dance after all.

Hence, she put her hand in his and allowed him to fold her in his arms. By now, she ought to be prepared for his impact, but she wasn’t. In her anger, she’d forgotten that spark, that raw electricity that rushed between them whenever they touched. She’d forgotten how her body always tilted towards his on its own, as if seeking his warmth. She was shocked by the way her heart was sighing in relief now that his body was so close to hers, touching hers.

What was happening to her? She inhaled, and his warm masculine scent flooded her nostrils. It reminded her of the nights spent in his arms, days spent chatting with him, and simply spending time with him. It made her feel safe and cherished. It reminded her of… Oh God, it reminded her of home.

Her head spun for a moment. This was insane. She was absolutely crazy to associate the feeling of home with Vedant. He couldn’t be her home. But being in his arms, she felt like she was finally home.

Schooling all her rioting thoughts, she looked up. As always, he was watching her carefully. He lifted her hand up in the air and twirled her. She fell against his chest. She quickly backed a step, keeping a healthy distance between them. He chuckled andyanked her back to him, once again making her feel everything she felt only with him.

“Are you ever going to forgive me?” he asked a long moment later.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She sorted through everything she was feeling. Attraction, desire, want, need, all of it swirled below two very important emotions, happiness and love. Being with him made her happy. Vedant made her happy. Him being in front of her settled her heart and mind.

She loved him, and the need to give in to him was becoming stronger with every second he held her in his arms and told her the things her heart ached to hear.

“You hurt me, Vedant. Am I supposed to forget that? What if you hurt me again?” She voiced out that one thought that was stopping her from surrendering to him.

He watched her for a long moment. “Reina, I’m human, and yes, I made a mistake. Even though I will try my hardest to never hurt you, unknowingly, I may do or say something that will make you mad. The same goes for you. But isn’t that what a relationship is about? We will make mistakes. The important thing is that we talk to one another to clear things out and then forgive each other. Thanks to you, I got a second chance at life. I want to live my life with you because I love you and because love should be above and beyond all the mistakes that we each will make going forward.”

Her heart lurched. Oh God, she so wanted to agree with everything he said.

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