Page 76 of Twisted Alliance

The journey was once again silent.

And with every minute, uncertainty grew inside her.

Why isn’t he talking to me? Why is he behaving so coldly towards me?

She didn’t understand what was happening. Her head began to throb due to lack of sleep and tension. She felt a dull ache inside her chest.

Soon, they reached the Thakvar mansion.

Luckily, the welcome group was a smaller one. It was just Malathi and a couple of other women. They put small tilaks on her and Shivay Thakvar’s foreheads before allowing them inside the home.

Mihir Thakvar welcomed them with a smile. “I’m glad you two made it safely. I was worried when I heard you got caught in a sandstorm.”

“Yes, we are fine, Papa,” she said with a small smile.

“Come. Let’s have breakfast. You must be hungry since you must not have had dinner.”

Ishani shook her head. “I am tired, Papa. I’ll have breakfast in my room.”

Her father-in-law nodded with a sympathetic smile. “Yes, of course. Take a rest.” He looked at his son. “Shivay, why don’t you also take some rest too. We can talk about the clan meeting later.”

“No. I’m fine, Dad,” he replied.

Ishani thought he would leave her and go to the breakfast room. But she was surprised when she felt his hand on her back. He led her upstairs to their suite. And once she stepped in, he looked at her for a moment before turning and leaving.

The door shut behind him, leaving her alone in their large bedroom suite.

She stared at the closed door, once again feeling hurt and angry.

Nothing had changed for him since the previous night. He still didn’t trust her and hated her. But everything changed for her. She was falling for her husband.

***

Ishani woke up to a soft, heated kiss on her throat.

She thought she was dreaming of warm hands sliding over her body. Moaning softly, she arched her back when a rough, calloused palm cupped her breast and flicked the hardened tip.

“Open your eyes, Ishani,” a deep voice murmured.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw the darkly handsome face of her husband. Her hands reached for him and held his broad, bare shoulders. His skin was slightly damp, and a familiar cologne tingled her nose. He must have just stepped out of the shower. The hardness against her hip indicated he was aroused.

“Shivay…” she whispered.

His dark eyes flashed, and his lips met with her throat and moved around her jaw, leaving a trail of fire. His hands slipped under her back and tugged on the knots of her dress. Before she realized it, her clothes were gone, and she was as naked as him.

She didn’t stop him or ask about his coldness during the day. She allowed him to touch her and claim her until she was once again lost in the magic.

CHAPTER 23

Ishani was in the garden playing the bin instrument.

Although there was an antique instrument in the Thakvar mansion prayer room, another one was recently purchased and kept outside in the beautiful garden. Ishani suspected it was her father-in-law who had purchased it, even though he hadn’t mentioned anything to her about it. She smiled, feeling grateful to the man who was like a father to her.

Her fingers moved over the strings and let the beautiful music wash over her. She got lost in the music until the notes were completed.

Then touching her forehead to the instrument in respect, she placed it aside.

She looked at the sun and knew there was some time before lunch. She had already instructed the kitchen staff regarding the meals for the day, and she didn’t have to go to the accounting room since the reconciliation of accounts was done the previous day. Deciding to catch up on some reading on the new computer, she stepped into the Thakvar mansion to go to the library.

---