Page 120 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

Softening, I reached out and said gently,“Come here.” I pulled her into a warm, tight hug.“I’ll keep it in mind next time,” I whispered.

She smiled.“Okay, but I’m still dying to know what happened,” she said. I released the hug and looked at her with a playful grin.

She looked back curiously, and I asked,“Really?”

She chuckled deeply, and I smiled along with her.

“By the way,” I said,“we must leave for Mahabaleshgarh. I’m going to take a bath—get ready while I do,”

Her eyes lit up.“Really?” she asked eagerly, and I nodded.

She hugged me tightly, excited.“Let me go pack my things!” she said, and I chuckled deeply as she rushed off.

I walked into the bathroom and took a quick bath. After which, I walked to the dressing room and wore a yellow lehenga as my dear husband demanded. I let my wet hair air dry while I was wearing my jewellery.

My lips hummed a tune on their own as I got ready. I didn’t know why, but I felt so excited to see my parents, my Daadisa, and everyone else back home.

“Ho gayi taiyaar?”(You ready?)

I shivered at the sudden voice and turned to see him stepping into the dressing room. He seemed to have bathed because he was dressed in a maroon outfit with an overcoat draped over it.

A slight smile appeared on my face, but the next moment, my heart began to race as I watched him quietly close the door behind him. Not just close, but he locked it with his eyes fixed on mine.

I blinked, a bit nervous, and lowered my gaze, asking softly,“Why are you locking the door?”

He walked toward me, each step slow and deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine.

My brows drew together slightly in confusion, and I looked up into his eyes as he stopped right in front of me.

“Aap chaahti hai ki hum aapke saath Holi manaye?”(Do you want me to celebrate Holi with you?) He spoke in a deep, sensual voice, and I blinked, feeling butterflies flutter in my stomach.

“Kaun patni nahi chaahegi ki unke pati unhe rang lagaye?”(Which wife wouldn't want her husband to colour her?) I asked,then lowered my gaze to my arm as he trailed his finger along it, from where my bangles ended to the bare skin above.

Cold water droplets still clung to my collarbones, dripping down, and I lifted my gaze again when he spoke softly, deliberately.“Then you’ll have to wear this for me. It’s your Holi gift.”

I frowned slightly, puzzled by his words. He brought his other hand forward, revealing something resting in his palm. My eyes shifted to it in confusion.

It was a finely carved gold ornament—an oval about the length of my thumb, smooth-edged and shining. On its end, a delicate gold chain was attached, and to its end was a small, plain golden ring.

“What is it? A ring?” I asked, still unsure, as I took it in my hand and tried slipping the ring onto my finger.“But this ball will hang like this?” I examined, feeling the slight weight of the object.“It is weird,” I said, and he took it back from my hand.

“Turn around,” he said, and I confusedly looked at him.

“Is it meant to be worn in the hair?” I asked as I turned, catching the faint smile on his face in the mirror.

He gently pushed my damp hair over my shoulder and said,“Bend forward, hands on the table.”

I narrowed my brows, still unsure.“So... you're going to tie it in the strings of my blouse?” I asked.

He let out a deep chuckle when I saw him take the ornament into his mouth. He guided me forward with his hand and leaned in, hovering over me. My eyes met his intense and unreadable gaze in the mirror.

My heartbeat picked up in a rush when I felt his hand at the hem of my skirt. He wrapped one arm around my waist, drawing me in closer, lifting the fabric slightly with the other. I caught a glimpse of the ornament again as he took it from his mouth. At that moment, I began to understand what it was truly for.

“Happy Holi, little seductress,” he whispered, and my cheeks flushed hot.

He reached beneath the layers of my skirt, closer to my thighs. I could barely breathe from the flurry of feelings swirling inside me.

“Isn't it... Too big for me?” I asked quietly, flustered.

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