Page 166 of One Hellish Desire

“Why will they tease you?” He gazes at me evenly.

“Umm... Forget it. You won’t be able to handle my reply.”

“Try me.” Now his jaw hardens. It is so easy to bring out his angry side, but as his wife, I also know how to turn it into a romantic one.

“Actually, when you weren’t here for those nine years and left Daadi alone without her family, I always complained about you to my friends,” I mutter.

He squeezes my knee, but his anger starts to mellow as if he is okay with my past complaints.

“And...” I swallow. “In that anger, I even blabbered to them that your wife would never be satisfied with you.”

He gazes at me, completely impassive, without a response.

“I told you, you wouldn’t be able to handle it,” I pout. “But those days, I seriously hated you for never coming here for Daadi.”

“I see...” he nods icily.

“Bura laga?” (Did it hurt?)

I stroke his stubble, and his naughty smirk is back.

“I believe in actions rather than words.” His hand rhythmically strokes my knee further. “Can’t wait to prove you wrong, Mrs. Grover.”

He nuzzles his nose against mine. “I take every word from you very seriously these days, so the morning after our consummation, don’t forget to look in the mirror. You’ll get your answer.”

I feel a blush steal over my cheeks again. His grin is infectious. I push him away as the driver stops the car at the airport, and we both get out. Our journey to Udaipur begins here.

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

We land in Udaipur in an hour, and the hotel car is there to pick us up.

“Hotel?” I frown. “But Preet has arranged our stay in the same hotel where the wedding is. Aren’t we staying there?”

“Of course not. I thought a bit of privacy was a must for us. This is our first official trip without the family, Maahi. How can I let it go to waste?”

His thoughtfulness overwhelms me.

“The resort where the wedding will take place is not very far from ours. I promise to take you whenever you need to be there to attend the ceremonies,” he adds.

“I’m counting on your words, Prince Pompous,” I giggle, getting inside the car with him. He is right. We are officially on our first outing together, and this is going to be so much fun, especially tomorrow when, after Preet’s wedding, I have plans to surprise him.

VIKRAM

Ajay has booked a presidential suite in the best seven-star resort for us. As soon as the bags are delivered to our room, Maahi drags hers into the bedroom and is about to unlock it when she notices me leaning at the door, watching her. That’s enough to make her alert.

“Umm... Why don’t you use the washroom first? I’ll unpack my bag in the meantime,” she mutters.

I glance at her bag before turning to her face. “Still won’t show me what’s in that bag?” I ask.

“I told you,” she says, standing between me and the bag as I reach her. “They’re some satin gowns, and I’ll wear them for you at night.”

“Let me see them first and decide which one you should wear.”

I try to push her away, but she sits on her bag, not letting me even touch it.

“Vikram, please don’t spoil my surprise,” she yells.

I blink, raising my arms in defeat. “Alright. I’ll take a quick shower. Order lunch. I’m hungry.”

---