Page 32 of Protect my Heart
I blink at him, stunned. Did he seriously just say that?
“What the hell, Aarav? You want me to be your slave now?” I gasp with bewilderment. Something is seriously wrong with him.
He shakes his head, laughing softly. “No, never. You’re my wife.”
“On paper!” I hiss.
Still, he doesn’t seem bothered. He steps even closer, lowering his voice. “But a wife, nonetheless. And you should probably keep your voice down. Your mother’s asleep.”
His finger brushes my lips to silence me, and I freeze, heart hammering against my ribs. His breath is warm on my face, his gaze burning into mine.
I swat his hand away and take a shaky step back. God, what is happening to me?
“I promise,” he says seriously. “I won’t make you do anything humiliating or anything you don’t want. Just... small things.”
I stare at him, weighing his words. This is insane. Absolutely insane. But at the same time... twenty-two lakhs. Freedom.
“And how do I know you’re not lying?” I mutter.
He shrugs. “You’ll just have to trust me, ego queen.”
I laugh bitterly. “Yeah, right. Trust you. Great idea. It's not like I've learned the hard way before.”
For a second, something flashes across his face—hurt?—but it’s gone too fast to be sure.
“It’s your choice, Anika,” he says, voice suddenly blank.
I bite my lip. My mind races, heart thudding. God, this is crazy. Stupid. Dangerous. But also... practical. “Fine,” I say finally, crossing my arms even tighter. “One week. That’s it.”
He smiles, slow and smug—and somehow, I know I’m going to regret this. Big time.
CHAPTER 18
AARAV
I ring the bell. I don't think I’ve ever felt this excited about anything in my life. From the moment I woke up today, all I could think about was seeing her. I wait, tapping my foot impatiently. What’s taking her so long? It feels like an eternity before I hear footsteps approaching.
The door creaks open, and there she is—Anika. She looks a little surprised at first, but it quickly morphs into irritation. Typical.
"What are you doing here? It's not even seven yet!" she snaps, crossing her arms.
My eyes can't help but roam over her. She’s still in her pajamas—thin cotton ones, with tiny koala prints scattered all over. It’s impossible not to notice how the soft fabric clings to her curves. God, she looks so good. My fingers itch to pull her into my arms, to feel her against me. But then the ridiculous koala print catches my attention, and I feel like a total creep for having such vulgar thoughts.
She would definitely beat me up if she knew what was running through my mind—and honestly, I wouldn't even stop her. At least that way she’d be touching me.
I smirk a little, loving how easily she gets riled up. "Is that how you greet your husband, Miss Toofan?" I tease, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Her face flushes red instantly. I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
"Don't call me that!" she huffs, glaring. Pure anger clouds her vision. She never held a grudge against me earlier, but now she does—and I will do anything to make up for it. Although I don’t think calling her nicknames will make up for anything, it's still…fun and cute.
"Okay, Miss Toofan," I reply smoothly, just to mess with her.
Her mouth falls open in shock, like she can’t believe the audacity. "You—" she starts, but before she can complete her sentence, her mother's voice cuts in from inside.
"Aarav! Come in, beta," Aunty calls warmly. Anika groans under her breath and steps aside reluctantly to let me in. As I pass, I make sure to brush my hand against her arm—just a light, intentional touch—and grin to myself when I feel her tense up. She’s so easy to mess with. And God, I love it.
"How are you, aunty?" I ask politely.
