Page 124 of One Hellish Desire

I know. Daadi told me how Maahi and I need time to build trust, and a long-distance relationship might not be the best decision now. But she can’t stay here, and I can’t move to India. We need a solution because I don’t want to miss a moment of our budding relationship.

Maahi starts closing her eyes, and soon sleep takes over. I stroke her face gently before pulling the quilt over her and shutting the lamps. Four more days, and she’ll be gone. How am I going to cope with that?

MAAHI

My head spins, and my body feels heavy as I toss on the bed, trying to wake up. I open my eyes lazily and scan the room. Vikram is snoring beside me in his night suit, while I’m still in the silk dress I wore to the party. Memories of last night start flooding back. I think I picked up the wrong drink after coming out of the washroom.

“Good morning,” Vikram murmurs, completing a yawn. The memory of kissing him during the dance makes my cheeks burn, especially how I demanded he kiss me again in front of his mother and Sabrina. “Does Daadi know you drink?” He sits up, leaning against the headboard.

“I don’t drink,” I snap. “Last night was an exception.”

I pull the sheets to cover myself as the skinny dress with thin straps isn’t doing much to hide my body.

“Seriously?” He smirks. “After everything that happened yesterday, you want to cover yourself from me?”

I freeze. What is he talking about?

“What... what happened last night?” I ask.

His mouth curves into a wicked smile. “You were eager to take things forward.”

“What?” I scream. “Me? That’s not possible.”

He doesn’t say a word, just watches my reaction. I’m too confused to know if I should believe it or not. If there’s even a one percent chance it's true, I don’t think I can face him anymore.

“What did I do?” I ask, desperate.

“Nothing I didn’t like,” he replies.

“Stop talking in codes, Vikram.”

I don’t realize my hold on the sheets has loosened until he takes a moment to admire me again, head to toe.

“Vikram, stop messing with me,” I say, hitting his chest gently. “Tell me, did I... force you into something?”

He keeps admiring me without answering, so I quit.

“Fine, don’t tell me.”

I’m about to get off the bed when he grabs my arm and pulls me toward him. I almost fall on Vikram, who quickly balances my body above his. He’s still leaning against the headboard with me on top. A few strands of my messy hair block our gaze, so he tucks them away.

“You kept kissing all over my neck…”

My jaw drops as I see the evidence on his body. My lip gloss marks are all over his neck and ear. I know it’s not fake.

“And then you were singing songs,” he adds. “You even stroked my lips, crumpled my shirt, and…”

“And what did you do?” I interrupt. That’s more important for me to know.

“Apart from taking off your sandals and earrings?”

He did that too? How very helpful.

“I let you sleep, sweetheart. That’s what I did, and trust me, it wasn’t easy.”

His reply makes me blush. I’m glad he didn’t take advantage of me last night. That earns him a few plus points in my heart.

A knock on the door interrupts us, and though I don’t like it, I get off the bed. Vikram hands me a robe from the bedside table, which I wear over my dress before opening the door. It’s Meera aunty. Memories of why I fought with her last night flood back, and my mood shifts.

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