Page 99 of Sumanika

“I should go now,” she murmured, turning back to me and kissing my cheek softly.

"Can you just stay here?" I asked sleepily, and she shook her head.

"No, I need to work now," she replied. I inhaled deeply in frustration and lay back on the bed.

"What work?" I asked slowly, and she looked at me, adjusting her Dupatta across her chest.

"Your bhabhisa will wake up soon, and I have to get ready before she—or anyone—wakes up," she explained, and I immediately pulled her closer.

Her eyes widened in shock, and I realized I didn't like her working for anyone anymore.

"What?" she asked, and I cupped her cheek, saying, "Give me just two months, and then you won’t have to leave my bed.”

Her face registered shock as she stumbled over her words.

"What? What are you going to do?" she asked, and I brushed my lips against hers.

"I’ll tell everyone how you bit my lips last night," I teased, and her face turned shy before she stepped down from the bed.

"No, I didn’t,” she protested.

A wide smile spread across my face.

"Oh, really! Are we playing that game right now? Half-wife?” I said, and she glared at me.

"Oh! What are you talking about? Did you dream about something? Half husband," she replied, and I grabbed her Dupatta. She sighed with slight frustration and took a step back, saying, "Keep it.”

I watched her walk away, grabbing the shawl from the couch and wrapping it around herself.

"Suman," I called slowly, and she turned back to look at me.

"Ji," she murmured.

"Now, the bruises count to three. Stay alert,"

Suman

"Now, the bruises count to three. Stay alert.” The moment he said this, my hand instinctively went to my neck. My eyes widened in shock. "What?" I couldn't help but raise my voice, and he just chuckled, wrapping my Dupatta around himself and slipping back under the comforter.

"How could you do this?" I whispered beneath the layer of shouting.

He chuckled and replied slowly, covering himself with the comforter. "Good night, love."

I gritted my teeth even tighter. I couldn't believe it. Anger surged through my body as I marched toward him.

"You know, I can't even walk around like this, and my job involves meeting your Bhabhisa, Bhaisa, and other family members,"

He chuckled from beneath the comforter.“You bit my lips, too.” Muffled, his voice made me grit my teeth as I yanked the comforter off him. It tousled his soft curls, and he looked at me.

“That was after you did this,” I trembled, my voice pretending to be strong.“Now I’ll have to hide from everyone. And it’s all your fault.”

He smiled at me and muttered, "You can hide under my comforter."

And that was it.

I couldn’t help but close my mouth in defeat. He would never understand.“You know what? Forget it. You won’t get this. Because you’re a prince, and you can do whatever you want. You can sleep with anyone you want and let anyone bite your lips without a care. But I’m not a prince; I’m not even a man. I’m not privileged.”

He inhaled deeply and sat up slightly.“So, we’re doing this right now?” he murmured, raking his fingers through his hair.

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