Page 145 of A King's Oath

“Hmm?” He frowned.

“Finish that sentence — ‘And, you will be the only girl… blah, blah, blah.’”

“And, you will be the only girl who will ever see me like this. Now come, give me some peppermint,” he pulled her chin up and tasted her lips again. Another lazy swipe. She nuzzled under his jaw. It was getting bristlier. He hadn’t shaved today. The scent of his perfume was extra pronounced in the heat of their activities.

“I love this scent.”

“You? Love the smell of my sweat?”

“Ewww!”

“I thought so,” he chuckled.

“I love the scent of you… it’s different. Is it a perfume or a cologne?”

“Perfume.”

“The first time I smelled it in the plane I wanted to ask you the brand so that I could buy bottles and bathe in them.”

He laughed. Then rolled out of the bed, went to his room, and returned with a travel-sized white bottle with a golden cap. He tossed it on the bed between them and got in, pulling her back over him as she grabbed the bottle.

“White Oud?” She read the bottle. “Is it French?”

“Indian. I was using Gucci that Papa gifted me when I turned sixteen. Then a few years ago Harsh gifted me this and that’s all I’ve been buying.”

She took a deep whiff of the cap and went into Samarth-heaven.

“Sniff it from the better source.”

She kicked him. He kicked back.

“I am keeping this,” she clicked the cap shut and held it close to her chest.

“Doesn’t matter, because I am keeping you. All mine,” he rolled her back and kissed the top of her head, cuddling her like she was his personal teddy bear.

“Now get off! We are sweaty.”

“Did you forget, Ava? I never cared about that,” he kissed her jaw, moving down to the slope of her neck. “You would jump into my arms after your win. Or grab my face for mad kisses after a biting loss. Sometimes you bit too,” he bit her clavicle again. He seemed to like that spot. She wasn’t complaining though because so did she.

“Those were the days…”

“Ava?”

“Hmm?”

He rose up and kissed her temple — “Why did you leave cricket?”

“I still play if I get a chance.”

“I mean professional cricket. You had the talent, skill and the drive.”

“I had an accident.”

“When?”

“When I was 19. Season ball chucked right into my stomach.”

His hand went there, his eyes straying to check.

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