Page 23 of Only With You

“Daddy?” Mili shoots up from where she is sitting and runs across to me.

“What’s up, Princess?” I ask, bending as I lift her off the ground and kiss her cheek before settling her on my lap.

“I like Aunty a lot,” she informs me with a smile on her face that touches my heart.

I lean forward and kiss her forehead. “Me too, Princess.”

“Can she always stay with us, Daddy?”

Her request resonates with my heart’s wish. “I will make sure she does, Baby,” I promise my daughter, intending to make sure that I fulfil her wish. Unfortunately, right now, Alisha is not making that easy for me.

Mili looks pleased with that and nods her head thoughtfully, as if she has understood all that it would entail. She then flutters her eyelashes at me and asks, “Now can I choose a movie?”

“Nope, it’s time for bed,” I tell her.

As expected, she scrunches her nose and pops up another question. “Can I wait for Aunty to come so that I can wish her good night?”

“Her call might take a long time, so I will wish her on your behalf. And I promise she will be here soon to play with you again.”

She sighs and looks at me. “Will you tuck me in?”

“I will, Princess.” Giving a kiss on her forehead, I place her back on her feet and stand up.

I then scoop her up, and we head to her room on the first floor which is opposite mine. Ten minutes later, she’s tucked in her bed. The night light is on, and it’s story-time. I am reading the same mermaid book she loves to hear every night and continue to recite it without even reading. It doesn’t take long for Mili to snuggle deeper under her covers and for her eyelids to drop as she doses away. I brush her cheek and kiss her forehead as I quietly walk out of the room.

At the same time, I pray like hell that Alisha has not taken this opportunity to disappear; knowing her, she would take this as her cue to sneak out. Crossing my fingers, I walk to the living room in search of Alisha where I find her lifting her bag over her shoulder.

“Are you trying to escape, Sweetheart?” I ask her.

My voice makes her stop in her tracks and then, she slowly turns to face me. “Mili asleep?” Her eyes pin on me. I nod. She nods back. “Oh okay. I need to drive back home,” she says and then heads towards the door.

I pace behind her and grab her wrist before she can push through the door. “This is your home,” I say in a firm tone, turning her towards me.

She shakes her head and presses herself against the door. Her eyes mirror her emotional combat even though she tries to keep her voice strong. “It’s been a long tiring day. Please, can we not do this now?”

“Is this how it’s going to be for the rest of our lives? You trying to leave, and me begging you to stay?” I demand, my voice thundering, as I trap her between the door and myself, placing my hands on either side of her head.

“Ranveer, please understand, I can’t stay here,” she mumbles, sounding weary.

“Why?” I raise a brow.

“I… don’t want Mili to be uncomfortable.” She lets her fear out.

“Mili likes you and wants you here as much as I do.” My tone softens and a ghost of a smile lifts the corners of my mouth, musing about how innocent she is for thinking about everyone but her.

“You will not understand what I am trying to say.” She sighs, avoiding eye contact with me. I know what she is talking about. I know she is thinking about Mili and putting her welfare first. And she worries that she will come between Mili and me. But she shouldn’t think along those lines. I know my daughter. Having Alisha in her life will only make her happy and maybe give her the mother figure she has always been looking for. God, this woman makes it so hard for me to not love her.

“The only thing I understand is, I can’t let you go.” I smile as my fingers lightly brush her delicate neck. I can feel her pulse beating rapidly under my fingers. Her eyes widen and pink spreads up her cheeks.

She goes mute and freezes. Oblivious to her frozen stare, my eyes fix on her. I lean over and dwell on her sweet scent as I hear her sharp intake of breath. Unable to resist any longer, my lips meet hers. The feel of her soft lips against mine is both infuriating and placating. My lips are still skimming over hers, testing the waters. When she doesn’t reject me, I deepen the kiss and start nibbling at her full lower lip. The kiss is consuming, hungry yet sweet, teasing her with the hint of promise and driving her body to heights of awareness, shrieking at the top of the voice that we belong together. The feel of her body against mine is not enough to satiate my growing need. Moving one hand around her slender waist, I pull her closer to me, while my other hand slips under her shirt and traces a warm tingly path. She lets out a moan, making me hard. She gives in, letting go of whatever control she was holding on to, pressing her breasts into my chest, and digging her nails into my shoulders.

“Ranveer…” she whines, letting her head fall back to the door as my lips kiss their way down her neck to her collarbone while my hand cups her breast.

“I missed you… so much,” I whisper.

“Hmmmm...” She pants.

I am about to carry her to my bed when Mili’s soft voice echoes in the room. “Daddy, I love you, Daddy, I love you.”

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