Page 112 of Twisted Alliance

Her soft lips covered his in a kiss.

Even as he commanded his mind not to respond, his body shuddered. The sweet taste of her was like sustenance to a starving man. His fingers wrapped at the back of her neck and pulled her close before pushing his tongue inside her mouth. He kissed her hungrily and possessively. He wanted to consume her and be consumed in return.

She moaned, and he felt her small hands wrapping around his hard arousal.

A harsh groan emitted from his throat. His mouth parted from hers, and he reached behind her and tugged on the ties until her dress loosened and fell apart. Her beautiful body came into view.

But even in the soft moon light, he could see the faint bruises on her side.

His jaw clenched, and dark rage filled him. He wanted to kill Devraj Gujjar once again. He wanted to make his death drawn out and even more painful than what it was.

A soft palm touched his cheek. “I’m fine, Shivay,” she said. “I need you.”

His eyes lifted to her beautiful face. With a soft smile, she held his hand and pulled him closer as she lay on the bed.

He covered her body with his and stopped himself from desperately ramming into her. Clenching his teeth, he carefully slipped into her. When her tight heat surrounded him, he let out a deep groan.

The sound seemed to come out from his soul.

“I love you, Shivay,” she whispered.

He could see the tears in her eyes. He lowered his head and kissed them away before he began to move.

Her soft gasps were music to his ears. Her nails dug into his shoulders while she clenched around him tightly, breaking his control.

He possessed her and claimed her until the wild, desperate and burning hunger inside him grew and then exploded. He roared out his release, his body shaking violently as he emptied inside her.

His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. Sucking in a deep breath, and knowing he was crushing her with his heavy weight, he twisted his body until she lay on top of him.

She clung to him, her body still shivering with the aftermath of her release.

He stroked the smooth satin skin of her back as a sense of calm and peace entered his mind after a long time.

He thought she had fallen asleep, but he felt her lips kissing his chest where his heart beat underneath.

“Tell me what’s going on, Shivay,” she said. She raised her head and there was a heartfelt appeal on her face. “Tell me everything. Please.”

He looked at her for a long moment. And then, he began speaking.

“Six months ago, I was attacked in Africa after purchasing a copper mine…”

He kept the details of the attack to a minimum and told her about the rudraksh bead and how the assassin was killed before he could capture him. And later, how his mother found that bead and told him the truth about his father.

“While my brothers were hunting the trail of the person who sent the assassin, I came here to Singoor to take my father back to San Francisco. But my father refused. He loved my mother deeply, but he thought he would put his family in danger if the people of Singoor discovered that the Thakvar clan had heirs. My father was right, but I was determined to overcome the hurdle. So I asked Mr. Bahadur of what could be done to alleviate my father’s fears. He suggested an alliance.”

He watched her listening to him quietly.

“I picked the Gujjar clan since it was listed to me first. Right then, it didn’t matter who I picked because it was only to form the necessary alliance and bring peace to the region so my father could leave. I planned to tell you about our temporary marriage on our wedding night and send you to the city where you could live with your mother.”

She closed her eyes. “Oh God,” she whispered. “I didn’t know, and I helped my brother to drug you and have you attacked. You nearly died because of me.”

He cupped her face until she opened her eyes which looked pained with guilt. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said. “The circumstances didn’t allow me to reveal the truth then.

She bit her lip and nodded.

Then she watched him. “How come you never sent me away as per your plan?” she asked.

He rubbed his thumb against her lip. “Because I was furious. I wanted you to pay, but the truth was that I was drawn to you.” His mouth twisted as he recalled his dark thoughts. “I thought the best way to punish you was to keep you close to me and bind you to me forever.”