Page 122 of Sumanika

"Suman," I called softly, and she met my gaze.

"Ji,"

"What do you expect from me?" I asked deliberately while admiring the warm glow from the nearby fire on her face.

"What do you mean?" she asked, nestling in my lap, leaning against my chest while facing the fire.

"I mean, I want to know what kind of husband you envision marrying," I clarified, noticing her discomfort with her turban.

I moved my hands to her head and removed it.

She glanced over her shoulder and muttered, "Umm, I’ve never considered it."

"Well, you have all night to think it over," I replied, loosening her hair from its bun.

She smiled, pulling her hair to the front, and murmured, "I want my husband to be understanding."

"And?" I probed further, taking off the fake mustache from her face.

"And," she hesitated, "I want him to be intelligent, unlike you," she teased, raising my brows.

"Unlike me?" I echoed, gently cupping her jaw and neck.

She nodded slightly, yielding to the soft strokes of my thumb on her jaw.

"And?" I persisted slowly, leaning closer to her ear, feeling her cheeks flush from the fire’s warmth.

"And," she inhaled deeply before whispering, "now, I want him to be you."

Her words made me close my eyes, and I kissed her ear.

"You are beautiful," I couldn’t help but remark.

"Tell me something I don’t already know," she murmured, and I breathed against the curve of her neck, responding softly and deeply. "And I find you fuckable since the day we got half married,"

She shivered slightly in my arms and touched my wrist, tilting her head to the side.

"And?" she muttered, bringing a smile to my face.

"And I can't do that," I murmured in response.

"Why?" she questioned in a slow and sensual voice, and I couldn't help but nudge my nose against her cheek, whispering.

"You need to fulfill your bet first."

She gulped slowly and looked into my eyes. "Can't you get over that?"

I bit my lip and shook my head. "No, I'm strict about bets," I replied, and she smiled timidly at me.

"But I don't know how to do that," she said, reminding me once again, and I responded,

"Well, if you're determined, you can learn," I said slowly as she lowered her gaze to my lips for a moment.

"What about learning by watching?” she muttered slowly, and I struggled to control my wide smile as I asked, "You want to see?"

She bit her lower lip slightly and asked, "Is it too far?"

I shook my head. "No, not too far," then I asked, "Do you want to go?"

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