Page 47 of One Hellish Wedlock
“Are we clear?” he asked again.
When she gave a slow nod, he let go of her jaw. Just like that, the moment shattered. He walked away, grabbing his phone off the nightstand and heading toward the pool, already mid-conversation as he stepped outside. Aanya sat frozen, pulse still racing. She didn’t know who he was talking to. Didn’t know if she wanted to know.
Was it a girlfriend? A man like him, technically single, dangerously attractive, and rich,hadto have someone. She’d seen the glossy magazine shots: him, arm-in-arm with stunning, high-profile women. Maybe this arrangement would finally bring her the answers she once craved but never had the courage to demand.
She shrugged those thoughts and stood up, tugging at her salwar kameez. There was no way she could sleep in this. She padded to the wardrobe, sliding the door open. The clothesinside were breathtaking. There were designer outfits, luxury labels, gowns, sarees, everything... except a single nightdress.
Seriously?
She groaned under her breath. He hadn’t thought of nightwear? She could have brought her own if he had given her the heads-up. With a smirk tugging at her lips, she reached for one of his white shirts and headed into the bathroom.
By the time Reyansh returned, he stopped dead in his tracks.
There she was, lounging on his bed inhiswhite shirt. The top buttons undone, the collar loose around her shoulders, the hem brushing her thighs. Oversized. Casual. And utterly, dangerously tempting.
“Where did you get that?” he asked, his tone clipped, eyes not moving.
She glanced down at the shirt as if just noticing. “This?” she asked innocently. “Oh. You forgot to get me any nightwear. So…consider this your punishment.”
She sat back against the pillows, fingers combing through her hair, letting it fall in waves over her shoulders. Reyansh bit the inside of his cheek. Heshouldhave thought of that. But that didn’t mean she could help herself to his wardrobe like she owned it.
“I don’t like people touching my things without asking,” he said, voice edged with irritation.
She raised an eyebrow. “Not even yourwife? Is that the attitude you’re planning to show in front of your sister?”
He exhaled heavily. She wasn’t going to make this easy. Not one bit.
“C’mon, Reyansh. I couldn’t sleep in that stiff dress,” she said, stretching out just a little more. “And there was literally nothing else here. Your poor shirt was just sitting there… lifeless. I gave it some purpose. You’ve got a dozen white ones. You’ll survive.”
He still frowned.
“Fine,” she said dramatically. “Take it back.”
She reached for the button.
“Stop it!” he snapped.
She froze, barely suppressing a grin. He was flustered and she enjoyed it.
Without another word, Reyansh strode over, switched off the bedside lamps, and slid into his side of the bed…his back rigid, jaw locked, mind anything but calm.
“Di’s arriving for breakfast tomorrow. We need to wake up early,” he said stiffly.
“Then you wake me,” she replied, stretching like a cat and curling onto the cushion.
What the hell… He continued to stare at her in disbelief, baffled by her unapologetic childishness. She clearly didn’t care. Her eyes fluttered shut and within minutes, her soft snores filled the room.
Reyansh next to her stared at the ceiling, wondering what the hell he’d gotten himself into. It was going to be a long night. He had never shared his bed like this before, certainly not with a woman who managed to infuriate and intrigue him in equal measure. She was a storm in shiny lip gloss and attitude, and for the first time in years, he didn’t know how to weather it.
CHAPTER 9
Midnight - Chopra Mansion
It was past midnight when Reyansh jerked awake, startled by something heavy landing on his chest. He blinked into the dim light, heart pounding, only to realize the culprit.
Aanya was no longer on her side. She had completely, unapologetically claimed his space. She was sprawled across his side of the bed, one hand splayed boldly across his chest, her face buried near the crook of his neck.
And worse?
