Page 195 of One Hellish Desire

He continues nuzzling and kissing my neck. After a brief moment, I manage to drag myself off the bed, leaving him alone on those hot sheets.

“Come back here, Maahi,” he demands, just like old times.

“That tone doesn’t scare me anymore.” I wrap myself in my robe and head to the bathroom. I’m brushing my teeth when he barges in and hugs me lazily. What’s wrong with him today? He doesn’t seem to be in the mood to leave me at all. Though I like him wanting me so much, I can’t forget we have so much to prepare for his father’s birthday party. I wash his toothbrush and apply toothpaste on it.

He takes it from me and begins to brush while I rinse my mouth. Despite having such a huge bathroom, his presence makes it feel small and cozy. I turn on the shower, set the temperature, and watch him finish rinsing.

“Get out now. I need to shower.”

He wipes his face with a towel, puts it away, and strides leisurely to me. “What were you saying? We need to hurry, right? It’s Dad’s birthday.”

Yep!

“So—” He takes off his T-shirt in one go, and my throat parches. I can never get enough of this man.

“What are you doing?” I ask breathlessly as he finally reaches me at the door of the shower cubicle.

“I’m saving time.” Saying that, he pushes me inside, the warm water from the shower drenching me enough to think of escaping.

I chuckle but not for long when I see him shutting the shower cubicle behind him, joining me for our first shower together. Damn yes! How can I refuse?

VIKRAM

Dad and Daadi are in the living room when we come down. I quickly hug Dad and wish him a happy birthday. He thanks me, and then Maahi is next.

“Happy birthday, Uncle.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? This is the first time I’ve heard Dad call Maahi that. I know he’s softening toward her, and it’s up to Maahi to forgive him completely or not. I won’t force her. She has taken the brunt of Dad’s rash decisions, so whenever she’s ready to fully forgive him, we’ll wait.

“Thank you for the cake too,” Dad adds. “Meera told me you assisted her.”

“Cake?” I ask loud enough to grab their attention. “When did this happen, and where was I?”

Maahi pouts cutely and then bites her lower lip. She does that usually when she forgets to tell me something I should really know.

“Last night. You slept early, so I helped your mother bake a cake for your dad. She wanted to surprise him.”

Even Daadi is confused, but she’s happy, and I’m more than stunned. I can’t believe Maahi and Mom co-working in the kitchen.

“That’s why Meera is in the kitchen even this morning. She’s supervising breakfast today to ensure all the chefs are cooking as per her given menu,” Daadi adds, impressed by Mom’s actions.

“Oh, okay. I’ll go see if it’s all done.”

Maahi smiles at me and hurries to the kitchen. I follow her. Obviously, I want to see if the dynamics between her and Mom have changed after last night.

“Good morning,” Maahi says as she steps into the kitchen, where Mom is almost finishing her instructions.

“Morning, Maahi,” Mom reaches her and gives my wife a hug.

What the hell is happening? How could I miss last night? I should have been awake to see how this changed between them.

“You’re late,” Mom teases.

“Your son is responsible for that, please talk to him.”

Maahi’s cheesy response brings a smile to my face while Mom chuckles. I have never seen Mom so happy.

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