Page 50 of The Unwanted Husband
He liked the way his name played on her lips. “Yeah?” He fought hard not to think about how she would say his name if she were aroused.
After a long pause, she said, “Thank you for tonight. I... I needed this.”
Before he could respond, he noticed her breathing had evened out, and she had fallen asleep. He drove the rest of the way home in silence, trying to forget how badly he wanted her, and not just because of some moment of weakness.
Shortly after, he pulled into the driveway, and he sat for a moment under the pretext of waiting for the main gate to close automatically. He watched her sleep long after the gate had closed. Their fake marriage seemed real that day and he wasn’t sure why.
“Isha,” he said softly, gently shaking her shoulder. “We’re home.”
She stirred, blinking up at him with sleepy and confused eyes. “Already?”
“Yeah.” Ashok got out and walked around to her side, opening the passenger door. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”
Isha took his offered hand, and slowly stepped out of the car. But as she stood, she swayed, the wine from dinner still affecting her balance. His hands immediately went to her waist to steady her, and suddenly she was looking up at him with those dark eyes that had been driving him crazy lately.
“Ashok,” she whispered, her voice soft and raspy in the dim light of the driveway.
Before he could respond, she rose up on her toes and kissed him. Her lips were as soft as he remembered, and for a moment he was lost. His resolve crumbled as she pressed closer,her hands fisting in his shirt. The kiss was sweet and desperate, tasting of wine and something that was purely her.
He kissed her back without thinking, his hands tightening on her waist as what seemed like months of suppressed desire crashed over him.
He’d wanted this, wanted her, for a while now.
Even as every nerve in his body screamed for more, his conscience fought its way to the surface. The wine on her breath, the way she’d been fighting sleep just moments ago, the vulnerability in her eyes, it all hit together in his mind.
With tremendous effort, he pulled back, his hands moving to her shoulders to create distance between them. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, trying to regain his control.
She stared up at him, confusion and hurt flickering across her features. The silence stretched between them, heavy with everything he didn’t want to say.
“Ashok.” Her eyes searched his face, as if looking for an explanation. He avoided her eyes as he silently led her into the house and up the stairs to her room.
“Good night. Get some sleep.” He kept his eyes away from her as he could feel the disappointment exuding from her.
She didn’t respond back and he knew there was no point staying there any longer, especially after the kiss they shared on the driveway.
He took one step toward the door and he heard her move, before he felt her hand fisting in his shirt from behind. He froze like he had no strength to pull away from her.
She didn’t respond back and he knew there was no point staying there any longer, especially after the kiss they shared on the driveway.
He took one step toward the door and he heard her move, before he felt her hand fisting in his shirt from behind. He froze like he had no strength to pull away from her.
“Don’t go,” she whispered, her voice barely audible but laced with something that made his chest tighten.
He stood there, every muscle in his body coiled tight, fighting the urge to turn around.
Her grip tightened on his shirt, and he could feel the warmth of her body just inches behind him.
“Stay,” she breathed, and then her other hand pressed flat against his back, sending electricity through the thin fabric.
That was his undoing. Ashok turned around slowly, his eyes finding hers in the dim light. The vulnerability mixed with raw desire, made something snap inside him.
This is a mistake.
He pushed away the thought as his hands reached for her face, thumbs tracing the line of her jaw. As if in response she rose up on her toes.
When their lips met, it was different from the driveway, hungrier, more needy. His hands tangled in her hair as she pressed herself against him, her fingers working at the buttons of his shirt with trembling urgency.
He backed her against the wall, his mouth trailing down her neck, taking in her taste that he craved. She gasped, her head falling back as he found that sensitive spot just below her ear, her nails digging into his shoulders.
