Page 110 of Carnal Games

“No.” I open my mouth to argue, but he reads my mind and answers, “That’s because he has his own vehicle. Now, take the keys.”

I keep my hands at my sides and softly reply, “No, thank you. I’m fine traveling on the metro train. I’ve been doing it my entire life.”

“You’d rather fight through a mob daily than use the car?” he asks in disbelief.

“I care about my carbon footprint, so… I can’t accept it.”

His icy gaze turns into slits. “You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then why is your nose all pink?”

I rub the bridge of my nose, glaring. “It’s the heat.”

“In an air-conditioned room?” Light amusement darkens the gray in his pupils. Flicking his gaze down my body, he points out, “You have goosebumps on your arms. Is that from the nonexistent heat too?”

Is he making fun of me? I see his mouth twitch in the corner.

Oh my god!

For a second, I forget I’m irritated at him and trying to win an argument. The world is wrong. Kian has more than ice running in his veins. So much more. It renews my need to penetrate beneath his layers until I know every part of him.

Snatching the damn keys from his hand, I mutter, “Fine. I’ll take the car. Happy?”

“Any other employee would be grateful.”

“Then maybe you should’ve given them a car.”

Shaking his head, satisfaction that I accepted the car pours off him. He straightens and goes to sit in the head chair, back into ruthless boss mode, which makes the feminine parts of my body sing.

Passing me a thick folder, he commands, “I need photocopies of these before you leave at the end of the day. In case I’m not here, put them at my desk.”

“Yes, sir.” I say it as a tease, but it comes out breathless.

I swallow when he pins me with a savage look. Dropping my head until my hair covers my heated cheeks, I grab the folder. Before the intensity of his presence can combust me into flames, I make haste.

“One more thing, Miss Mannan.”

Heart racing a mile a minute, I face him. “Yes?”

“You and I are traveling to Seattle next month. Make sure you don’t have any plans.”

“How long?”

“A week.”

Instead of worrying about how I’ll explain the delay in the investigation to Harshita, who’s already nagging me, my first thought is whether Kian and I will be sharing a room. Because seven days alone with him sounds like nothing short of paradise.

It’s sweet torture too, because the possibility of anything happening is slim to none. Not while I’m still an engaged woman.

The deal I made with good intentions is slowly turning into an invisible chain around my limbs, holding me captive and away from reaching for Kian.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Iris

Arjun closes his laptop and stands from his cubicle, right as the clock strikes six p.m.

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