Page 64 of Twisted Deceit
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A distant buzz woke him up and it took him a moment to remember where he was. He smiled looking at the woman who lay asleep in his arms. He brushed his lips gently over hers before reaching for his phone on the table beside the bed.
It did not surprise him that it was half past eleven, considering they were both up satiating each other’s desires all night. It felt like the floodgates opened for him and he could not get enough of her. She was a riot in bed and the way she responded to his touch made him want her over and over again.
He saw the messages from his security head about the plan for the day. He smiled and responded,TBD. Secure the area.
He pulled her close to him, smiling at her soft snore, ready to take her again but he needed her to recover from the all-night marathon they ran in bed as if they could not get enough of each other.
The contract he held over her head was now void and the only thing binding them was the law of the land. He didn’t know how long she would choose to be in Singoor, but when she was ready to work on her goals and aspirations, he’d have to let her go!
Chapter 26
It was the day after they returned from the meeting with the Jodha clan. Aadhya headed to her aunt’s study to meet her that evening. She had requested her aunt’s staff to let her know that she had an important matter to discuss. There would never be a good time to break the news about the ritual she had agreed to perform at the Jangid fort.
Aadhya knew the ritual that took her parents from her would be hard for her to go through, but she was confident she could do it with her husband. She had to tell her aunt and alleviate her concerns about the decision to proceed with the ritual.
She walked past the main dining area and stopped when Meenabai called out to her. “Nani, I need to go talk to Rajji, can I come by after?”
“Aadi, wait for two minutes, I’m coming.” The older woman was insistent.
Aadhya was nervous about talking to her aunt and the interruption felt like an excellent opportunity to organize her thoughts. Moments passed and just as she was getting impatient, Meenabai appeared with a tray filled with red liquid.
“Really, Nani?” Aadhya teased as the older woman lit a large piece of camphor in the middle of the tray. “Why a mini ritual now?” She followed the flame with her eyes.
The older woman didn’t talk immediately. She handed the tray to another staff member and silently chanted in front of Aadhya. “I hope no evil gets close to you. The past few days, you have been glowing like the morning sun. May god bless this region with an heir soon.”
She nodded and hugged Meena bai, a thought passing her head about the mention of an heir. She consummated her marriage with her husband on the holy lands, and neither used protection. She did her math based on her cycle, which was not a fertile day for her. If only the older woman knew the glow was from the increased activity in the bedroom and not an heir.
Was she ready to be the mother of her husband’s child?
She paused right outside the study and took a deep breath to calm her thoughts. She pushed away all other threads in her mind and focused on the chat she was about to have with her aunt. She knocked and stepped into the study when her aunt permitted her to enter.
“Hi Rajji, I hope I’m not interrupting.” Aadhya hugged her and sat on the chair right across from her aunt.
“Not at all, Aadi. You know I’d love to spend all my time with you but I can’t get into trouble with your husband.” Her aunt teased, and Aadhya could not believe her ears.
“Rajji, stop.” Her cheeks turned crimson.
Her aunt laughed. “Look at you blush. That’s a sign of happiness.”
Indeed, she was happy and had been levitating the past couple of days. She nodded and smiled. “I am Rajji. Especially because of all the progress we’ve made with the clans in the south.”
Her aunt nodded, batting away happy tears. “I agree and I must thank you for choosing him as your husband. Nakul is a blessing to our family and our region.”
Aadhya could only nod and listen.
“I still cannot believe the lengths he went to get you to agree to marry him. The man he was and not as the Thakvar heir.” There was truth to every word her aunt said but thehowwas questionable.
“Yes, and there is one more thing I would like to do with my husband,” she hesitated, unsure how to say it.
Her aunt interjected. “Don’t tell me you are moving to the Thakvar mansion. I cannot handle it.”
Aadhya laughed. “No, Rajji.” She reached out and took her aunt’s hand in hers. “I told my husband I’m never leaving you.”
“I love you, Aadi. I’m so happy you have come to be with me after all these years.” Her aunt was so happy, that Aadhya was conflicted about sharing the news about the ritual.
“Me too, Rajji. I love it here and being a part of what Nakul is doing for the region.” She paused yet again to gain composure. “And as a part of that, Jodha bai recommended that Nakul and I perform thePeaceceremony to unite our people.”
