Page 59 of Sumanika

"But we have to focus on the feast first. There shouldn’t be any mistakes," he reminded me lazily, closing his eyes.

I gulped silently, glancing at his hand, still holding mine as if he didn’t want to let go. Silence followed, and I shifted my gaze to his curly hair; he had a tiny mole on his ear. A slight smile crept onto my face as I brought my free hand closer to his hair.

"Your eyes look beautiful with kohl," I couldn’t help but say, and a small smile graced his lips. "Watch out. You seem to be falling for me," he teased.

I shook my head.“You should be careful before falling if you have expectations. I don’t have any,” I replied softly, gently brushing his hair away from his forehead.

"That's good," he murmured.

I hesitated and gulped before asking,“You didn’t explain how…can you… I mean… how can a dagger be used?” I struggled to find the right words.

He shifted slightly, covering his face with the end of my dupatta.“You will get traumatized,” he murmured in a deep voice.

“No!” I protested.“Why? I’m experienced. I know things,” I asked, even though I couldn’t calm the butterflies in my stomach.

He inhaled deeply and lazily scanned the bed for his dagger before turning to me with his green orbs. Holding the dagger, he said,“This is gold, and this part goes inside the core,” then pointed to the handle.

My heart raced at the sight of it. I gulped nervously, staring at the nearly one-inch-thick straight handle of the dagger. That was it!

“And doesn’t it hurt?” I asked.

He lifted his bewildered gaze to me.“What’s your experience with sex? How much have you enjoyed it?” His question caught me off guard. It felt like we had been friends for ages.

“Umm, how can I explain this to you?” I managed to say, trying to conceal the warmth rising in my cheeks.

He inhaled deeply and shifted closer, resting his head on my lap. Then he asked,“Are you comfortable?”

I felt a flutter in my stomach but nodded.“Yes,” he asked,“tell me then?”

I didn’t know how to tell him. I mean, where should I start? As I hesitated, he sucked on his lower lip while waiting for my response. But I truly felt compelled to tell him, as if he were the one who needed to know.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked in a low and comforting voice.

I blinked quietly and nodded slowly.

“Always?” he asked, gazing into my eyes, and I couldn’t help but nod once more.

His face stiffened.“That bastard had one job, and he could not even do that,” He cursed softly under his breath, and I couldn’t help but smile when I heard him.“You know I’m glad he’s dead; otherwise, I might have sliced him into the same number of pieces he slept with you,” he said, smiling at me.

“That would be ninety-two,” I said softly.

He sat up quickly and turned to face me. A few moments of silence followed.“In how many days?” His gaze intensified.

I gulped nervously, answering.“In three months,”

“Motherfucker!” he cursed, looking away from me. His hands were tightly clenched, and I opened my fingers to let him withdraw his hand, but he looked back into my eyes and pulled my hand.“Hey, I’m not leaving you.”

I chuckled, and a tear slipped down my cheek. He moved closer to me and gazed into my eyes.“Did he ever please you?” He asked, and I swallowed to moisten my dried-out throat.

“I’m not sure what you’re asking,” I said, gazing softly into his eyes. His face drew nearer, and I blinked, feeling my breath grow heavy.

“Like kissing you?” he asked, and I shuddered.

“Anywhere?” he asked slowly while I shook my head.

“Never went down on you?” he asked, and I looked at him in confusion.“Like kissing you down there?” I felt shy hearing him lowering my gaze and shaking my head.

“And have you ever had a… release?” he asked slowly, as I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes. I didn’t understand why his words stirred something in my lower belly.

---