Page 92 of Sumanika

“Uh, I mean… I don’t like eating anything anywhere except at home,”

I gritted my teeth a little. "Lies,"

He shook his head.“No, that’s the truth,” he tried to say, and I looked at him silently for a moment. He was hungry, and if he was hiding something, I needed to give him time to decide. I shouldn’t distract him from his dinner.

I nodded, convincing him that I believed him.“Okay,”

I continued feeding him, bite after bite, and felt his lips brushing against my finger all the time. It felt slightly uncomfortable the first few times, but this man had tasted something of mine. So, nothing could be more embarrassing than it.

He finished eating, and I got up from the couch to wash my hands. He also stood up to walk toward the bed. I lay on his chest and called to me. "Suman,"

I gulped nervously, watching him wait for me, and inhaled deeply. "Ji, my head is hurting," he said, and I bit my lips.

"You should sleep then, and I should go," I tried to say, and he immediately stood up from the bed and gave me a discreet look.

He strolled toward me with giant strides, and I blinked silently, watching him. His gaze softened slightly at the sight of me, and he muttered slowly,“I can do anything you want if it means you’ll stay with me.”

His slow, deep voice reminded me of the options he offered me the other day, one of which was the 'Tongue.' I lowered my gaze timidly and turned away from him, closing my eyes to calm myself.

"Umm, but you’re tired and should rest. Someone might find us, you know," I managed to say as I felt him moving closer behind me. My eyes widened when I sensed his hands touching the sides of my waist, slowly wrapping around my belly. His chest warmed my back, and I felt his face lean into the base of my neck.

His words made me feel weak in my knees.

“Do you want me to beg you to stay here for a night, dear wife?” The mention of‘wife’made me close my eyes and surrender in no time. Yes, I was his wife. No one could change that fact. And no matter how wrong it was for people, society, and the world, I was his wife.

And it did not feel wrong. Nothing at all. Still afraid.

“No,” I replied. I didn’t want him to beg me, now or ever. His command was sufficient, but his request felt like an order to me.

I closed my eyes, feeling his lips brush against my neck as he kissed my skin gently for a change. He pulled me closer and held my hand, guiding me toward his bed and hovering over me, prompting me to lean back in anticipation as he sat down on the bed and settled beneath me at the end.

I gulped nervously, and his next move brought me peace amid the chaos. He leaned in closer and kissed my forehead.“We’re just sleeping tonight, nothing more,”

A smile suddenly spread across my face, and he stepped aside, allowing me to feel at ease lying in his bed.

I saw him lying in bed next to me. My chest rose with each breath I took and fell with every exhale. My stomach felt fluttery. My fingers knit over my waist, stopping the trembling.

And I watched him silently shift onto one side, resting his head on his elbow for support as he looked into my eyes.

I knew we had shared some intense and heated moments, but this felt more captivating and exhilarating than those. Because when he thrust his dagger into me, my mind spun, and my body resonated with each thrust, creating its own melodies. And when he placed me in his lap and awarded me the very first act of pleasure in my life, I was too shocked to react. But this was entirely different. My mind was not dizzy; my body was not heated enough to have a mind of its own. There was peace, silence, and time to capture these moments for life.

The chamber was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by a few fire torches in the corner and a lamp on the table by the couch that was burning softly. The curtains at the entrance of the bedroom and the windows were drawn tight. It was past midnight, and the chaos along with the distinct sounds of attendees walking, soldiers, and gossiping had quieted down completely.

The silence thickened the seasonally cold night air, making his normal breathing audible. From a distance, the voices of the insects and crickets dripped into our ears.

I pulled my knees up, feeling a bit self-conscious about my waist being visible amid the dupatta tucked into the side of my skirt.

His gaze was intense as it held mine. The dark green ocean was pulling me deep into a surreal world where the chance of anyone intruding on our peaceful life was slim—very slim.

I gulped nervously as I noticed his gaze drop to my lips and linger there. The tightness in my heart intensified slowly as I waited for him to look away. However, the warmth of my cheeks transformed into heat—the heat from a lover’s gaze, innocent yet sinful. Loving but dangerous.

My stomach tightened under his unbroken gaze, and a subtle nervous thrill coursed over my skin. My breathing was uneven as I noticed his gaze fixed on my lips. He continued staring until I bit the inside of my lower lip out of nervousness.

He inhaled deeply suddenly, his cheeks turning darker. He lifted his gaze to look at me, a cloud of questions visible in his eyes.

My heart sank to a new low, lost in his fresh darkness of green, mesmerized by his warm glow, soothing my body and soul from just inches away.

My gaze fluttered shyly as he moved a bit closer. His palm brushed my head with a gentle caress, and I gazed at his face, hovering above me.

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