Page 29 of Forged By Fate

“Tell me why, Viren,” I insisted.

“Because I can’t stand the thought of him being anywhere near you! Not even in your thoughts,” he yelled. “And it’s the same reason why you can’t bear to see Tahira touching me.”

Damn! I hadn’t expected him to admit his jealousy. Or call out mine.

Where did we go from here? I had no answer. All I knew was that I could suffer the agony of being near him without touching him for a whole month and have nothing to show for it.Or I could indulge myself for a whole month and then find the strength to walk away from him at the end of it, even if it killed me.

I had been a rule follower all my life. I had never put even a toe over the line because it simply wasn’t in my nature. I wasn’t a rebel. I was a people-pleaser.

I had obeyed my father until he died, and I had obeyed my stepmother until it became absolutely unbearable. And I had obeyed the terms of our marriage contract. What did I get in return for always doing the right thing? Nothing but heartbreak. My father died and left me all alone in the world. My stepmother tried to sell me into marriage to a man twice my age. And my fake husband was going to divorce me soon, leaving me all alone in the world all over again.

Maybe it was time for me to walk on the wild side for a change.

What was the worst that could happen? Viren could turn me down if he didn’t want me. But if it turned out that he did want me, I’d get to live out my dreams, if only for a little while.

I had no illusions about myself. I knew a man like Viren would never want a woman like me forever. I was no match for his culture and sophistication. I didn’t fit into his world. But I also knew that there would never be any other man for me because my world began and ended with Viren.

At twenty-six, I had to be the world’s oldest virgin because I had never been into casual sex. I was waiting for the right man. The man of my dreams. The man who would give me my happy ever after. But it was time to accept that I would never have a happy ever after because the man of my dreams didn’t love me at all.

However, he was attracted to me for now. And this was my only chance to experience physical pleasure. I didn’t want to diea virgin! If I could have a small taste of happiness for a change, why was I so hell-bent on depriving myself?

It was the easiest decision I had ever made, I thought wryly before I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his.

CHAPTER 14

VIREN

She took me by surprise.

One moment, we were glaring at each other, and the next minute, Sunaina pressed her soft lips against mine. I knew I should draw back, but for the life of me, I couldn’t.

I stood still for a few seconds to give her time to change her mind if she wanted to, and when she deepened the kiss instead of pulling away, I threw caution to the wind and kissed her back. I teased the seam of her lips, and when they parted in invitation, I sent my tongue in to play with hers. Sunaina started at the first stroke of my tongue against hers, making me wonder if she had never been kissed before. I gently sucked on her tongue, and she moaned in reply.

The little sound sent the blood roaring to my dick, and I kissed her harder until we were both breathless. She pulled away to catch a breath, and I stared down at her. Her hair was all over the place. Her eyes were shut, her skin flushed, and her lips plump and swollen. Sunaina had never looked more beautiful.

I reached out and stroked her lower lip with my thumb, and she opened her eyes slowly. She read the regret in mine and drew back hastily. I caught her by the elbow before she fell off the bed, but she shook my hand off.

“I’m…I’m sorry,” she whispered, going pale. “I thought…”

She broke off and looked away, her face suffused with shame.

“You thought right,” I said hoarsely. “I do want you. More than you’ll ever know, wifey.”

She licked her lips nervously and still wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Then why...?” she began and broke off without finishing her question, as she allowed her hair to fall over her face, obscuring her from my view.

“Why did I stop?”

She nodded slightly.

“Because I might be many things, but I’m not the sort of man who takes advantage of a woman,” I replied. “I cannot make love to you, knowing there’s no future in this. I refuse to lead you on and raise expectations I can’t fulfil, Sunaina.”

She nodded stiffly in reply, and I got out of bed. There was no way I could sleep next to her in this state. I needed a long, cold shower if I had to make it through the night.

I was almost in the bathroom when she spoke.

“I’ve never done this before,” she said softly, and I froze with my hand on the door.

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