Page 76 of Protect my Heart
His eyes widen. "Are you sure, baby?" He asks, his pupils dilate, and I nod.
His voice is wrecked when he speaks again. “Fuck, Anika… Do it then." He groans, "I want to see you swallow all of it.”
I don’t even pause. When he comes, hot and thick, I drink him down, keeping my eyes on him the whole time. He looks at me like he’s never seen anything more beautiful. Like I’m everything.
When it’s over, he pulls me into his arms, holding me close, kissing my forehead like I’m fragile and precious and his.
“You’re mind-blowing,” he whispers.
But something twists in my chest, even through the haze of satisfaction. I frown slightly, pulling back just enough to look at him.
“Aarav…” My voice is sharper now, more awake. “Why did you do that while I was asleep? I—I didn’t even know what was happening.”
He chuckles, warm and unbothered, tracing my jaw with his fingers. “You didn’t complain when you were screaming my name, wife,” he says, all smug and teasing, and my eyes widen at him. I didn't know you could feel pleasure while asleep. “Besides, you were so responsive. How could I resist?”
My face burns, this time from embarrassment. “That’s not the point,” I mutter, though my irritation is already slipping, melting under the heat of his touch and the look in his eyes.
He leans in, brushing his lips against mine. “How about we make up for it? A date. Just you and me. What do you say?”
I narrow my eyes at him, pretending to consider, but the smile tugs at my lips anyway. Is he really asking me out? It will be our first date ever. I had imagined it so many times; it's finally turning into reality. “It would be my pleasure,” I say. "Pun intended." I wink, letting the pun land just to see him groan.
He laughs, shaking his head, pulling me close again. “You’re impossible,” he murmurs.
But the way he holds me says he wouldn’t want me any other way.
And as we lie there tangled together, the morning light warming our skin, I can’t help but think—yeah, this is it. This is all true. Returning home hasn't broken any bubbles; it is all true.It was not a dream; he actually likes spending time with me, and he actually wants me. And now I am going to go on a date with him.
I don't think I have ever felt this happy, but I love it.
CHAPTER 46
AARAV
I glance at the clock. Shit. 7:48 PM.
The date.
Fuck. I was supposed to be home by seven. I scramble up from my chair, papers flying, and yell a quick apology to the team still buried in work. I don’t give a shit about apologies, but Anika would kill me if she ever knew that’s how I behave with people, not that she will ever know. "Don't wait up! Email me the rest!"
I open my phone. 4 Missed Calls.I am dead.
My phone buzzes with a message from Anika. It’s not even words—just a single red heart, followed by the knife emoji.
I deserve that.
Traffic is a nightmare. My leg bounces the entire drive home, palms gripping the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded. I replay everything I wanted to do tonight. Everything I planned. I wanted to see her smile. I wanted to make up for the shit show our marriage has been. Maybe finally tell her my feelings too.
And now? I’m about to walk into an angry wife, probably in full glam, waiting for me for over an hour. If there’s someone who can scare me, it’s my family. And her. I am terrified of her; I have always been. I remember once I was supposed to complete her math homework, which obviously she blackmailed me to do, and I forgot. I had to make up for that one time by doing her homework for a month. And in those days that meant sleepless nights and lots of scolding from Maa for not going to bed early and standing outside class because I slept in lectures. She did forgive me in a week, but she is too powerful.
I park like a madman, jog up the steps two at a time, and burst through the door.
She’s standing in the middle of our bedroom.
Red dress. Hair done. Lips glossed. Eyes sharp.
Wow. She looks beautiful. Then again, when does she not?
I give her a sheepish smile as I take in her face; I’ve seen her angry. I’ve seen her annoyed. But this… this is disappointment. And that somehow feels worse.
