Page 69 of Obsession

“I suppose you were exhausted; I mean, after we…”

She licked her lips, watching him. Her mind flashed back to all the moments they’d been entangled together this morning. A tremor ran down her nape at the memories. She had been completely consumed by him.

Over the years, she’d questioned all that she’d ever felt in his arms. Her memories of their intimate moments had turned a bit blurry. But now, she knew that it had all been true, because what she’d felt this morning wasmore. It was more than what she remembered and more than she’d ever expected. Mihir had given her everything she’d ever wanted. He’d known exactly how to pleasure her. He’d known exactly how to make her tremble and shake.

What was worse was that she didn’t regret it in the least. But she also realized the monumental line she’d crossed with him. It was Mihir—the man who’d claimed to hate her for years. The man who blamed her for something she didn’t know yet. However, what they had shared this morning hadn’t felt like disgust or antagonism. Their lovemaking had been raw, intense, and passionate. Which confused her and frightened her.

“Mihir, what are we doing?” she finally asked.

He leaned forward. “I’ve been pondering over the same question, Anna.”

“When did you leave?”

“As soon as you fell asleep,” he replied. “I returned some time ago. I knocked, and when you didn’t reply, I entered to check on you.”

While his concern warmed her heart, she didn’t quite know what to make of it, and him. She didn’t know what to do, or how to proceed with him.

Mihir kept watching her in that deep, intense way of his, and despite being satiated by him so many times, her body began to wake up, wanting him again. She sucked in a harsh breath. His caramel eyes fell on her mouth, once again darkening with need. Knowing that he, too, wanted her further derailed her mind.

“I think we need to start the day; I have an interview to conduct, you know,” she said lightly, getting them back on track, for now.

He lowered his chin a fraction but stayed in place, his intense gaze burning through her.

“Umm… do you mind? I need to get up,” she said, clutching the sheet tighter.

A corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked, Anna.”

She blushed. “I know, but can you please go? This is complicated enough as it is.”

He got smoothly to his feet. “I will wait for you in the dining room. Brunch will be ready when you are. Take your time.”

She threw herself back on the bed after he left. Fuck, Ananya, she cursed herself. What a way to make an absolute mess of your life. Frustration swamped her. This morning, she’d woken up at four am, her heart racing and her breaths shallow. No matter how many times she’d told herself that she was safe here in Mihir’s house, it hadn’t helped.

Finally, she’d used the landline and asked the person at the other end for the gym. She knew enough of the Oshnovs from her sisters to know that they had a world-class gym in every house they owned. The idea of letting out her frustration on a punching bag had sounded rather appealing.

But then, a shadow had appeared in her periphery, and her entire being panicked. Her vision had darkened until all she could see was the man stabbing her. Fear clogged her throat. The world felt like it was closing in on her. She hadn’t been able to breathe. And then, she’d heardhim. His voice, instructing her to breathe. He’d brought her out from the dregs of one of her worst panic attacks, and then he’d tried to heal her by forcing her to fight him, to unleash her anger on him. It had helped.

Seeing Mihir sprawled on the mat, thanks to her, had given her a newfound confidence that she’d be able to tackle anything that came her way. What had come after that had been something she hadn’t expected.

To hear him confess that he wanted her, that he, too, was tired of fighting his attraction to her, that he’d killed the man who’d hurt her, had shaken something in her chest. She’d felt free. And then he’d kissed her wound. Everything that had followed after that had been beyond her imagination. Beyond her wildest dreams. And it had been absolutely perfect.

Mihir’s touch had always lit a fire within her, and now, years later, that fire had become a conflagration. She and he, coming together…had been explosive.

She pressed a hand to her aching chest. She ought to feel regret at being caught in the moment with him. Their past was still unresolved, yet she didn’t regret her actions in the least. Being with him like that hadn’t felt like only satisfying an urge. It felt more. So much more.

The problem wasn’t that she had slept with Mihir. The problem was that sleeping with him had made her realize one crucial fact—that she was still vulnerable to him. She felt so much for him… emotions that she never ought to verbalize, knowing how he truly felt about her.

She exhaled, confused. What did he feel about her now? Earlier, she could say with a lot of certainty that he detested her, but now, after the many times he’d crumbled and shattered in her arms, she didn’t know quite what to make of him.

Noir comme la nuit.She still couldn’t believe that he’d actually bought that painting. Why had he?

This, and many more questions, rolled around in her head. What was the next step, now that they had slept together? Was it for just this one time? Was it more? Did she want more? A hot flush crept up her skin at that thought. The things he’d done to her. The things she’d done to him. Oh God... Her body heartily agreed for a repeat, to feel once again what only he could ever make her feel. But her mind screamed a loud NO.

Fucking complicated, indeed.

Thus, she had the hard job of convincing her heart —that foolishly still wanted him— that this was temporary. That sleeping with him again would only repeat the cycle of hurt, and she didn’t want that. She hardened her resolve.

She was here to interview him, get some answers from him, and then put him out of her life forever. Sighing, she got out of bed and hurried to begin the day. It was finally time to get the answers to the questions she’d had from the moment she’d learned Mihir was alive.

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