Page 190 of One Hellish Passion

“That’s why I hate these feelings,” he admitted from his heart. “Each of them. They make you weak, powerless, and a puppet.”

No... No... No... He had just started to feel all these emotions, think from his heart, and because of her one mistake, he had started to loathe them all again. Maya wanted to defend herself, but only if he gave her the opportunity.

“I was better without them,” he growled.

“No,” she cupped his face. “Don’t let that thought get into your head. Emotions weaken us, but they are the reason we care for people. We are nothing without them. You are my strength, Ranveer.”

“And you are my weakness,” he acknowledged. “If anything had happened to you today, I would have burned down the whole world.”

“I know,” she cried.

“No, you don’t,” he pushed her arm away from his cheek. “What if Kunal had plans to hurt you physically? What if he had a gun? He could have done anything to take revenge from me. His father’s revenge, Maya. And he knows you are my weakness. That’s why he tricked you. What if I hadn’t reached there on time? Do you realize any of that?” he asked. “You don’t. You went there to Malik Villa without a plan to confront him and got caught yourself. You could have taken Aisha, but you didn’t. Because you cared more about her problems than yours. I hate this attitude of yours. Showing pity for others is fine, but not at the cost of putting your life in danger. When are you going to understand that?”

Maya continued to sob.

“That’s why I like to take control over things, including you,” he added. “You made me not to track your phone calls, and I respected your privacy. Had I not done that, whatever Kunal and you were discussing about, I would have known it much earlier, and we would have found a solution to this. Nothing would have been dragged so far.”

Maya sighed in disappointment.

“You defy me and then don’t even take precautions for yourself. How am I supposed to handle this?”

“I am sorry,” she murmured. “It won’t happen again.”

Her tears had dried away by now.

“I need time.” Ranveer replied before walking away. Maya helplessly kept staring at him as he left. She had brutally messed this up.

*****************

When Subhadra and Garima returned home, Ranveer pretended to be normal, and so did Maya. The two didn’t have to know things were off between them. After a quiet dinner, the two elderly women retired to their respective rooms. When Maya stepped into their bedroom, she saw Ranveer already lying on the bed. He didn’t pretend to be asleep, though. But neither did he make any efforts to talk. He wasn’t brooding anymore like he was in the afternoon, and neither was she sulking, but there was no exchange of words between the two, which saddened her. When she climbed onto the bed, he turned to the other side, facing his back to her. Maya frowned but she swiftly lied down and rolled to his side of the bed, and draped her arm around his waist. He didn’t shrug her away. But when she started stroking her palm over his chest, he held her wrist.

“Go to sleep, Maya,” he sneered.

She unwillingly pulled her arm away from his grip and tried to sleep on her side again but couldn’t. His silence was haunting her. Unable to sleep, she got down the bed and headed to the balcony instead. The city's night lights stretched out before her, while darkness seemed to close in around her, enveloping her in its embrace. She couldn't predict when the warmth of Ranveer's love would illuminate her world once more. She had vowed never to make significant decisions without informing him, and concealing even the smallest detail from him was now off the table. She regretted her actions deeply.

Suddenly, Ranveer’s arms tucked her from behind. He couldn’t resist being cold to her, could he? She wrapped her hand above his, which rested on her waist.

“Don’t pull this stunt again, promise me,” he whispered.

“Never,” she agreed.

He didn’t speak further, and she didn’t feel the need to explain. They had passed through this phase. The agreement was sealed, and thus, the silence between them dissipated.

“You’re cold,” he murmured.

Indeed, she was feeling the chill, a sensation she hadn’t noticed until he mentioned it. Lost in her thoughts of him, even the cold breeze couldn’t penetrate her senses.

“I’ll warm you up,” he whispered, nibbling her ear. Maya turned incapable of thought, response, or reaction. He had that effect on her. Ranveer Malhotra was both her pain and her cure. She couldn’t settle for just one; she needed all of him.

He bent down, lifting her beneath her knees, and carried her back inside, gently swaying her in his arms. Ranveer laid Maya gently on the bed, his intense gaze drinking in her beauty. She reached up to caress his stubbled cheek, her heart swelling with love for him. Lowering himself over her, Ranveer claimed her lips in a passionate kiss that left them both breathless with desire. His hands roamed urgently over her body, needing to feel every inch of her soft skin.

Maya arched into his touch, hungry for more. She tugged at his night shirt, wanting no barriers between them anymore. Ranveer broke their kiss to peel it off before returning to worship her neck with his hungry open-mouthed kisses.

Maya sighed blissfully at the feel of his warm, solid chest pressed against hers. Her fingers explored the hard muscles of his back as he trailed kisses lower.

Ranveer slowly undid the front buttons of her nightgown, kissing each new area of exposed skin. She shivered in delight as the cool air met her heated flesh. His lips blazed a trail of fire down Maya's neck to the valley between her breasts. She buried her fingers in his hair, gasping with pleasure as he lavished attention on her sensitive skin. His large hands caressed her curves, tracing every slope and contour. Maya was lost in sensation, marveling at how perfectly their bodies fit together.

“More?” he rasped; his voice thick with desire.

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