Page 125 of She will Always be Mine

My anxiety vanishes the more we talk to Vedant. He doesn’t seem to recognize me as his friend’s cousin, which makes me relax a little. The normalcy that comes with the fact that he sees us as just a happy couple, hanging out with a close friend, makes it easier to believe that this could be our lives.

Riaan always assumes I’m scared of the world’s judgment once they find out about our secret, but he’s wrong.

I don’t really care what some strangers or our friends would think about us dating, knowing we are related, because they wouldn’t be real friends if they judge us.

The only acceptance and blessing I crave is from our families. They are the ones I don’t want to hurt and disappoint.

I blink to focus when Vedant asks us to follow him to the kitchen where he’ll guide us with cooking our own pizzas. As we round the island, I find all the ingredients we’ll need and three separate stations. When Vedant tries to pass me the apron, Riaan grabs it from him and helps me tie it behind my back.

I suppress my smile when he makes sure my naked back is hidden as he stands between his friend and me.

I must be as crazy as him for loving his possessiveness.

Most women see it as a red flag while it secretly thrills me.

The next hour flies by with funny banter, quiet laughs, and messing around in the kitchen as Vedant tries his best to teach amateurs like us. Riaan being competitive and focused as always does a way better job than me.

He will deny it but I can see he’s enjoying himself since he likes to cook at home whenever he has the free time. He’s intense in every aspect of his life so when his lighter side emerges, it brings me happiness.

Every time his friend comes around to help me, his gaze burns with possession. Or when Vedant shares funny or embarrassing stories of them from their childhood and I laugh, I see the warning in his face.

I only smirk in response as payback to the jealousy I endured the whole day.

Vedant eventually excuses himself once our pizzas are in the oven, leaving us alone. The second he rounds the corner, I feel Riaan’s presence behind my back and feel his breath tease my ear. My fingers dig into the counter as he harshly bites it.

“Smile at him one more time and I’ll fuck you where he can hear you.”

Before I can reply, footsteps come closer and I look up at the manager who informs us, “Your table is ready, Mr. Ahuja.”

Riaan grasps my hand firmly and I’m surprised yet again when we’re taken up to the rooftop. The sight that greets me pulls me to a stop at the beautiful candlelit dinner table set for us. No one has ever put in so much effort for me, making me feel like the luckiest girl alive.

“Wow… Riaan.” I gasp, peering up at him. “It’s stunning.”

His knuckles caresses my face and he smiles. “After being apart for so long, I wanted to make our first date special once you returned, Nyra.”

Tears gather in my eyes and I lean up on my toes to kiss him, whispering the only words I can muster, “With you, everything is. I love you.”

Why did I ever think I could resist him?

He breaks through my defenses every time. Never with force but with his love, protectiveness, and quiet intensity.

He’s given me his whole being and he deserves the same. So with the stars above us, I make a promise with myself.

I’ll fight for him.

I’ll fight for us.

Chapter Forty-One

RIAAN

Yesterday was intense.

Even that is too tame a word. All I know is that I’ve never felt more alive, content, and hopeful in a very long time. Everything is slowly falling into place. Nyra is no longer fighting me tooth and nail to keep us apart. I saw it her eyes that she’s letting me in and trusting me.

And I won’t let anything oranyonejeopardize that.

The moment I heard her say she loves me, I felt my world right on its axis and brighten up again. It filled my body with so much happiness, like a dying man’s last wish had come true.

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