Page 49 of Twisted Deceit
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There was a certain awkwardness even after discussing the existence of attraction between them. Scooting up against him at night was the new norm, but she was glad he was fast asleep when she got into his space, and he was gone by the time she woke up. There were nights when she would wake up in the middle of the night to find him holding her to him, and other nights turned away from her, but whatever the position, she didn’t mind it.
It was the morning of their travel to the event where there may be a clue to finding the sculpture. A big one, he had mentioned, but no other details were shared. She had packed some essentials the night before as she was told she would have a team help with her outfit and makeup before the event.
She lay in bed enjoying the warmth from the sheets. Unlike the other mornings, she didn’t wake up to running water in the bathroom as her husband dressed. It was something else as the room was tranquil. She closed her eyes and stretched, feeling lazy, and that’s when she became aware of him, still in bed.
Should she move away from him or stay put, pretending to sleep?
Fighting her need to stay put and enjoying the warmth, she slowly inched away and had barely moved away when he moved, his arm circling her waist to pull her back into position. She was too shocked to react and froze in his arms.
Her breathing was ragged as she sucked in her stomach, unable to handle the feel of the hair on his arm grazing over her delicate skin. He groaned in his sleep, sliding his body against her, his face burying into her hair as he spooned her.
The primal sound he let out played close to her ear, setting off something new and exciting. She slid her back further into the curve of his hard body, and that’s when she felt his steely hardness dig into her back. He was hard, and she had an undying need to soothe him and inadvertently, she slid against him making him let out another groan in his sleep.
He was in deep sleep and wondered when he had returned the night before as he wasn’t around when she went to bed, after waiting past midnight for him to return. She rationalized her behavior and stayed in his arms so she didn’t disturb him when he was in such deep sleep, not acknowledging the sensations she felt just being close to him. She shut her eyes and fell back asleep, enjoying being cocooned in his arms.
Later that evening, she sat across from him as the private jet took off from the city closest to Singoor region. He had yet to tell her where they were headed or what they would be doing, and she knew she didn’t need to know yet. She knew he must have figured out a plan, and she would follow it to the T. Unlike last time, she knew he was looking for the Goddess, which mattered to her most.
He seemed to be working on something on his computer even as they took off, and she kept to herself. Not only because she didn’t want to disturb him but to avoid any further conversations with him. The more she was around him, she would think about what would have happened if his phone hadn’t gone off in the middle of an intense engagement that had made it to the bedroom.
Would they have gone all the way? What if they did?
A shudder ran through her, and she quickly took a big gulp of her drink. She cast a glance his way and even with a frown on his face as he looked at his computer screen, he looked stunning. The cotton button-down shirt was open wider showing off his broad chest that she enjoyed touching that morning. Her eyes raised up to look at how sexy his hair looked, like she had run her fingers through it while they kissed. His eyes were lowered and focused on his screen and his lips were pressed together, deep in thought.
Her eyes fixated on the lips that had set her on fire and she wondered what it would feel to have him kiss her all over. Lost in her imagination of sensations, she had not noticed that he was looking at her, while she feasted on her thoughts.
“Aadhya?” His voice cut through her dirty thoughts that had gone out of control and she looked up at him, shaken up. “You okay?”
Oh shit! Did he catch her gawking at him while she imagined him naked?
“Yeah, just a bit tired. I’ll take a nap.” With those words she exited the seating area. She was throbbing all over from her very raunchy thoughts, and she wondered where her dark need was going to take her.
She shuddered as she got under the sheets, processing the novel sensations and emotions that threatened to consume her.
Aadhya was worried about where her so-called attraction to her fake husband would lead her. Just because he was hot and had the body of a Greek God, she could not risk giving up her freedom and aspirations. She was traveling the world with him, heck she saw more of the world in the few months she was married to him than she had in her twenty-four years of life.
She avoided him like the plague the rest of the day, and she was thankful she had a team of stylists and designers waiting for her when they arrived at the hotel. She set her mind on one mission: help him find the Goddess and return her to the people. Then he might actually let her get out of contract sooner and she would feel less guilty about leaving Singoor.
With that conviction, she stayed the course and played the perfect fake wife. Laughing at his jokes, mingling with people at the fundraising event in a European palace converted into a museum. It was not an auction as she had expected but a large party with dignitaries worldwide.
She stayed at her husband’s side and noticed he knew many people at the event. Many of them were shocked to hear he was married, some upset they didn’t get an invite, and the others had sheer jealousy in their eyes.
“Why are we here? I see nothing of interest here,” she whispered when he pulled her to the dance floor as the lights dimmed.
“Keep moving with me,” he said, pulling her close and plastering her body to his. He nuzzled her cheek, adding, “We will exit through that side door in a minute.”
Her mind was in a daze as if processing the feeling on her cheeks from how his nose grazed her skin. She could tell he was moving them toward what looked like a small side door. She was still reeling from the sensations that erupted from his proximity as he pushed the door open with his body and stepped out into a hallway holding her close to him.
“Aadhya, the item of interest is on the third level of this palace, and we need to make it there. We will only need a few minutes there. I need you to be with me and be the curious wife who wants to see every room in the building.”
She nodded, unable to speak. She had to try hard to pretend like his curious wife when all she felt was an eagerness to be close to him. She took the opportunity to cling to him and said, “Let’s go upstairs.” Her words came out rather husky as if she suggested they get cozy upstairs. And just at that thought, her mind was messed up all over.
As if he picked up on her tone as a part of the act they were putting on, he groaned and ran his lips along her jawline. “Good idea, let me show you something fun.” His tone was playful and his manner flirtatious as he led her down a narrow hallway.
Security guards were posted by the doors, and they only smiled at them knowingly. Aadhya followed him into the elevator, and he pulled her close to him as the doors closed, setting her body aflame. She gasped, looking at him in anticipation as the elevator rode up a couple of floors. He held her to him, his breath coming fast as she struggled to breathe. “Stay close.”
She nodded, and as the elevator doors opened, his lips descended over hers, and a split moment of surprise later, she kissed him back. She held him with her arm around his neck as he walked them out of the elevator and pushed her back to the wall. She had no idea what was happening but didn’t want him to stop.
