Page 49 of Always With You

“Are you challenging me? Didn’t I tell you how much I enjoy challenges?”

I raise my hands in frustration and grunt, “Fine, you can help, but I have one condition. And that’s non-negotiable. You will keep track of how much money you have spent, and I will make sure to pay you back,” I say in a confident voice which leaves no room for argument.

“Thank you for accepting my help. But being a smart businessman, I can’t agree with your absurd terms.” He smiles. Though I can’t help but smile, I pointedly glare at him.

“You are a devil in disguise for blackmailing me.”

He chuckles. “Trust me, I have been called worse.” He cups my face gently and his thumb rubs my cheek lightly.

I open my mouth to ask him to let go of me, but he catches me off guard, when he lowers his head, and his lips touch mine. The soft supple lips are such a contrast to his hard steely chest that I am dumbstruck for a moment. While I am still lost in the feel of the first kiss, he tilts my head, obtaining better access as his tongue easily gains entrance. My heart stutters as I wrap my arms around his neck, my body coming alive as he presses closer, pushing deeper, the kiss hot and all-consuming. I feel myself starting to drown in the sea of his desire, invading all my senses at the same time.

But before I can register what’s happening, he pulls away. “Damn! I shouldn’t have lost control.”

I freeze and stare at him. My heart skips a beat as he rests his forehead on my shoulder, his breathing ragged. It is still racing as I realise his arm is around my waist while he holds me close to him. I don’t make any attempt to get away. Instead, I allow myself to relish the warmth radiating off him. Taking a breath, I let his proximity flow over me like a soothing balm on my aching soul.

Finally, I say, “It’s okay.”

He draws back and releases his grip. “No, it’s not okay. I know you are not ready for this yet, but I seem to have no hold on myself.” Running a frustrated hand through his hair, he grumbles.

“Doesn’t matter. It won’t happen again,” I tell him, my voice quivering, while a part of me yearns for it to happen again. No! It would be wrong for so many reasons. Like it or not, as of now, this is a marriage only on paper, and we have just begun to build on our friendship. Anything more could be a disaster, and I have had enough of broken dreams and shattered hopes of the past lingering.

His fierce gaze locks with mine, and his eyes devour me. “I can’t promise that.” His voice is clipped and slightly pained.

“Ranveer, I am serious. This is all too… overwhelming for me. Let’s forget this even happened, okay?” I fumble as my eyes dart over his face.

A cocky smirk forms on his lips. “That’s impossible. I can’t forget.”

“Why?” my voice comes out raspy, as my heart and mind conflict with each other.

“Because you are my wife, and I want you in every possible way, Alisha. I did not expect you to have this effect on me. I married for my grandpa’s sake, but in the bargain, I wasn’t prepared to be robbed of all my senses. There is no other explanation other than that you have cast a spell on me without my permission.” His tone is matter of fact, but his eyes are still burning.

Burning with? Is it only lust, or can I hope…

I slam my eyes close, not wanting to let my thoughts wander in that direction, or let his words touch my heart. But the effort is unsuccessful. “It’s you who is robbing me of my senses. I can’t think straight when you are around. Certainly not when you speak like this.” I open my eyes again as I share my dilemma.

“I am glad to hear that.” Ranveer is smiling, his expression decidedly smug. “So, it’s all set. I will be at your dad’s office tomorrow,” he promises.

Remembering his powerful grip on me, I flush as my core clenches hard, as though my body is begging me to let him take me.

“I need to call it a night.” Itry to sound firm, but to my ears, I am even less convincing. Truth is, I am not sure what I’ll do if he really pushes my boundaries. Luckily, I don’t have to find out, because hedoesn’tsay another word andnods his head, taking a step back to give me space. I quickly brush past him and make my way towards the wide staircase to my room door.

Stepping into my room, I sigh and lean my back against the door. As soon as I close my eyes, the kiss starts replaying in my mind.What’s happening to me?

I walk further into the room and sit on the edge of the bed as I touch my lips with my fingers to recall the most special moment. Gosh! I can still feel his lips on mine. I slump back on my bed, grab a fluffy pillow, and hug it tightly.

The way he kissed me, made me melt in his arms. It built desire and sensation within me that I never felt before. Not even when I was with Siddh. This kiss was different. It had the power to awaken all my dreams which I had buried deep within me but which never came alive after I broke up with Siddh. In just one kiss, he took me to another world, making me weak in my knees.

When he embraced me, his arms around me felt like a lock of…safety. Yes, that’s how it felt. It was like a promise that he would never let anything happen to me. The way he held my face in his warm hands and looked at me with admiration showedcare. And whenever he kisses my forehead, he showsrespect.

Safety, care, and respect— the aspects I always yearned for in a relationship all my life. With Ranveer, I feel all of that. But there is a voice in my head questioning me. ‘Is all this true? What if it’s a sham? What if it’s just a dream? What if he kissed me just because he was longing for it, to satiate his physical needs? What if he didn’t feel anything like I was feeling? What if the words he said are not true? After all, he must have been in many relationships in the past. It’s not new to him.’

Somehow, I know it’s not true and I argue. He did promise to always be there for me. I don’t know him much, but I know him enough to be sure that he never makes fake promises. His eyes said it all. And I can’t deny the fact that I have startedlikinghim.‘But what if...?’ That stupid voice in my head speaks again. ‘Shut up, shut up, shut up. Just go away and don’t mess with my head.’ Shutting my inner voice, I close my eyes with only one thought in my mind.

I like Ranveer.It is becoming physically impossible for my body not to respond to him.

Chapter 21

Ranveer

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