Page 48 of Twisted Deceit
“Good.” He held her gaze for a long moment. “Can I trust you to do the right thing as well?”
She was caught off guard. “What is the right thing in this case?”
He stepped closer and whispered in her ear, “Abide by the contract.” His breath was warm on her ear and sent sizzles down her spine.
“I—I will abide by the contract,” she blurted without thinking about potentially cutting a deal for her best behavior. Maybe a shortened term for the contract?
“And whatever I’m observing has nothing to do with sabotaging or ending the contract?” She noticed his voice lowered when mentioning the contract like someone could hear them.
She chewed on her lip, knowing where the conversation was going. He was referring to the clause in the contract stating that if either of them developed feelings for each other, the contract would be void. “No, it’s not.”
“Good, because if the contract becomes void, you have no other way to get out of this marriage.” He stepped closer. “You will be bound to this relationship by the law of the land, forever.”
The threat in his voice shocked her. “Why-why would I break the contract?”
“The contract is void if you develop feelings for me or vice-versa.” His tone was matter-of-fact, and that was his primary condition for the contract.
“What makes you think I’m developing feelings for you?” she challenged and hoped she sounded confident. She was not developing anything new for him; the attraction was there even before they signed the contract.
He raised a curious eyebrow. “I don’t think I need to give you examples.”
She let out a breath and nodded. “I know what you’re referring to. And you must believe me when I say I cannot tell the difference between my pillow and you when I’m fast asleep. And when we were in the Jangid fort, I was happy and just thankful for what you did. It was athank-youkiss. That’s it!” She shrugged and added before he could bring it up, “And a few days ago, in your office, the same thing, I wanted to show you how thankful I am to have my friends over.”
“Really?” He let out a laugh.
“Yes.” She held his gaze to ascertain her point. “And I must confess that I have been attracted to you, but that doesn’t mean I have feelings for you.” She could not believe the words that were tumbling out of her mouth. “And in this kind of a close setting, it’s very common to feel attracted to each other, and if you feel like there is something that you sense, it’s nothing but attraction, which is completely healthy.”
“Healthy.” He was mocking her, but she ignored his tone.
“And I will admit that I should have asked you if I could kiss you the time, we were in your office, but that was my mistake. It won’t happen again.”
He stepped closer to her. “What won’t happen again?”
Her heart thudded in her chest as she looked up into his dark eyes. “I—I won’t kiss you without asking you first.”
He moved closer but he did not touch her. “And what if you do without asking?”
Aadhya held his gaze even as the moment intensified. His eyes moved from her eyes to her trembling lips before holding her eyes with his dark ones.
“Will you stop me?” She had lost all control of her actions and fisted her fingers in the soft material of his t-shirt.
“Just attraction?” he challenged.
“Yes,” she hissed and felt his shudder.
He looked at her for a long moment. “What if I want to kiss you?”
Thrills erupted from within, and she went up on her toes and stopped an inch from his face. “Just kiss me, and we’ll be even.”
The words set off a seismic reaction as he pulled her to him, his arm going around her waist, her feet lifting off the ground as he held her captive in an intoxicating kiss. His lips were eager as they tasted hers, sucking on them like he could not get enough of her. She snaked her fingers into his hair, deepening the kiss.
Lost in the kiss, she didn’t realize how her body ended up on the bed until her back hit the mattress. Their lips still melded like this was their only chance to kiss and write it off. She hugged his head, taking in a deep breath as he lay kisses along her neck, making her moan.
At that moment when emotions were running high, she didn’t think of the contract or the fact that he was her fake husband. She kissed him back with equal fervor and stopped when he pulled back abruptly. She blinked, unsure of what had happened, and saw him hover over her, catching his breath.
She heard his phone ring a moment later as he moved away, leaving her in bed. She was conflicted about the phone call.
What if he didn’t get a call? How far would the attraction take them?
