Page 118 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

A life I was undeniably and wholeheartedly living with him; no regrets.

I didn’t know if we would end up together or if there would be a tomorrow for us. But I was certain there would be a name, a story, a saga—something to remember, cherish, retell, and recall.

The saga of us. The saga of Rudra Nandani.

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring—for me, for him, for us. I didn’t know when or how we would be separated—maybe for the better, though not for us. Maybe for him. Maybe for the sake of being who we were, individually.

“When will you leave?” His voice suddenly pulled me out of the chain of my thoughts.

“Tomorrow,” I answered, tracing slow circles on his chest.

I closed my eyes again, letting his warmth soothe me. Faint images flickered in my mind—us celebrating Holi together. A memory, or maybe just a dream, before I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to the sunlight trying to penetrate my vision. They felt heavy as I tried to open my lashes, making me squint against the brightness. I drew in a sharp breath from the discomfort.

When I grew more aware, I felt his heavy hand resting on my waist. My back was pressed to his chest, and his chin rested atop my head.

My eyes flew open when I realised we had overslept.

I tried to turn, but it was impossible under his weight. Still, I called him in a slow but urgent voice.“Rudra, savera ho gaya hai. Uthiye, sab aapki prateeksha kar rahe honge,”(Rudra, wake up. It’s morning already, everyone must be waiting for you.)

He inhaled deeply at the sound of my voice, and then, without a word, he pulled me even closer to him. His broad palm rested firmly against my chest as he drew me into him, still lost in a deep sleep. Beneath the comforter, I felt his feet brush against mine. My lips parted instinctively at the sudden contact.

What the hell was he doing?

But then, what he did next twisted my stomach, sending a chill racing down my spine.

His hand moved up, fingertips grazing along my skin, until it gently—yet firmly—cupped the side of my neck. I could feel his grip tighten, and a soft gasp escaped my lips.

Then, all at once, he turned me toward him.

Was this man getting turned on in the morning?

My eyes flew open, locking onto his face. He still looked dizzywith sleep, his eyelids tinted red at the corners. His hair was messy, curls falling in every direction, and I could tell he hadn’t slept so deeply in a long time.

The warm orange hues of the morning sunlight spilt across his face, making his features glow softly.

In a quiet voice, I said,“Uth jaaiye. Sab dhoondh rahe honge hum dono ko,”(Get up, they might be searching for us.)

I was feeling nervous… and undeniably aroused. I had never seen him like this before.

He was silent, yes, but his eyes were loud, speaking a language I could understand.

His thumb traced slow, deliberate circles on the side of my neck, making my heart race. I could feel what he wanted. I could see the need and dangerous desire dancing in his eyes. His touch was more than a caress—more sensual.

A dangerous kind of desire flickered in his gaze, intense and raw. His sensual touch carried a hunger I hadn’t seen before.

I lowered my eyes, trying to bring him back to reality, trying to pull us both back. That’s when I saw it. My waist chain… looped loosely around his wrist.

My breath hitched at the sight, and memories of that night came flooding back, hitting me like a wave.

He slowly leaned in, his lips just inches away, and my pulse thundered in my ears.

A small, timid smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I lifted my hand and gently pressed my palm to his cheek, nudging him away playfully, but trembling inside.

“Humaare lautne ki prateeksha kijiyega aap, jaise hum kar rahe the aapki do varshoan tak,”(Wait for me till I come back like I waited for you for two years.) I teased him, trying to sit, but he immediately pulled me back, and my palms landed on his chest.

Looking intensely into my eyes, he asked,“Aap do varshoan ke liye peehar jaa rahin hain?”(You’re going for two years?)

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