Page 29 of Love Locked
“Princess…” He nudged her ankle with his palm. She was whispering something.
“I am not a princess.”
Clearly, not a princess.He thought annoyingly as he continued to maintain his balance. “Looks like we have a mouse here.”
“I know. I saw that nasty thing,” she murmured shakily.
“Well, the thing is, the mouse has disappeared from the kitchen. We have to find it.”
“God, No. I beg you. Don’t let that monster bite me.” Kabir couldn’t help but be a little vexed at Kyra’s juvenile terror.
“You are behaving as if it’s a dinosaur.” He snapped. “Come on, it’s just a small mouse. Most likely, it is terrified of humans. Now, will you please get off my back? Or tell me for once if you’re planning to be plastered to me like this the entire time?” Kabir was starting to lose his balance, so he repositioned her by supporting her behind with his palms.
The moment Kabir’s palms touched her ass, she realised how vulnerable her position was. As he pulled her up, her front brushed against his back in such a way that a shiver ran down her centre. Shit. This was bad. What the hell was she doing? Their bodies were flushed, and she was practically curled around him. She had her face nestled in the hollow of his neck, and her thighs squeezed his middle involuntarily. She quickly leapt to the ground, stumbling, ran away from him, and stood next to the kitchen window.
“I’m... I’m so sorry. I swear. I didn’t do it on purpose...” She stammered uncomfortably, unable to meet his gaze.
Kabir stared at her trembling form. She was blushing. He had to count till ten to control himself from snapping at her again. “This is the second time you’ve done it, princess. Just tell me if you need a hug from me. Falling in my arms… Jumping me, literally… I wonder what will be next?” He drawled sarcastically, causing her to flinch.
“I said I’m sorry. I’m fucking scared of creatures like lizards, rats and frogs.” Her face would have turned even more crimson if it was possible.
“You speak as though I keep them as pets. No one likes them. You’re lucky you have me here or—” Kabir stopped as he heard a rustling noise from the living room. He signalled for her to keep quiet. “Be silent. I have to catch the mouse and get rid of it. I just hope this whole fucking place has just one of these devil creatures.”
Kyra huffed in annoyance after hearing the parting sentence. As Kabir stripped off his tie, he grabbed a broom and a scrap of cloth from a nearby chair. With the old fabric outstretched, he slowly approached the living room.
Tiptoeing back to the counter, Kyra avoided being on the floor if the thing got loose. Didn’t rats carry a variety of diseases? But she didn’t need to worry much; in the end, Kabir captured their intruder without much fanfare. He took the wriggling bundle outside to dispose of it. As soon as the threat had been neutralised, Kyra sat on the couch outside.
It was now 8 p.m. She wasn’t even aware that so much time had passed since they arrived in the afternoon. They were supposed to be working, but that had been cancelled, leaving her stranded here with Kabir, who was nice but brutally honest, making him the least romantic person ever.
Once exhaustion set in, her body felt as though it had doubled in weight, and her eyes refused to cooperate. The loud grumbling of her stomach served as a gentle reminder that she should have eaten the crispy kachoris that came with her tea. She was starving and wished to eat something. But she wanted to sleep even more. She was battling exhaustion and thought to cook something, but eventually, her eyes drooped, and she soon dozed off.
????
Suddenly, Kyra found herself being scooped up in a pair of strong arms. She wished she was more alert to appreciate it, but she was so tired. At least she wasn’t shivering anymore. The pair of strong arms deposited her on a soft mattress and, with surprising gentleness, eased off her coat. She blinked open her eyes. She was having the best dream. Kabir was hovering over her in the bedroom, removing her jacket. She held his hand between her palms and sighed. “Mmm. Don’t go.”
Kabir’s hands paused. “Kyra, I should’ve asked before removing your jacket. But we have to get you out of these clothes. You’ll get cold. I have bought your luggage up here. C’mon.”
“You haven’t even taken me on a date. Not even kissed me, and you want to get me out of my clothes? I knew you’d be an eager tiger.” Even Kyra could hear the slur of her words. But to heck with it. This was her dream. She didn’t have to fear anyone here. She thought she saw the faint twitch of Kabir’s lips on that always serious face of his.
She smiled like a lunatic as he stuffed her hands with her clothes with the same efficiency he’d shown at everything else. Instead of going inside the bathroom, Kyra dumped her change of clothes on the bed and stripped off her jeans and top, leaving her in nothing but her plain pink underwear and her lacy strapless bra.
She hated how Kabir kept his rigid attitude and tone even in her dreams.Was it her choice of lingerie? Didn’t he like it? No. Her lingerie was nice.At least it wasn’t some hideous period panty or granny panty. There was nothing wrong with her clothes, but he still responded like a statue carved out of wood.
She exhaled wearily because there was not even the slightest hint of appreciation in his gaze, and she gave up the idea that he would ever touch her lasciviously. Kabir was all business. When did this mental conversation start to seem like a pity party? She pulled her pyjamas up to her waist and stood waiting for the dream Kabir to at least smile at her.
After dragging a blanket off the bed, he wrapped her in it like a burrito and tucked her in, covering her with another blanket. “Sleep tight, Ky. I’m going to get freshened up and get the fire going in the room.”
Keeping her eyes open seemed like a lot of work, so Kyra let them drift shut, mumbling a sleepy goodnight.
????
Kabir peeked inside the bedroom upstairs where Kyra was sleeping. Her chest rose and fell slowly and deliberately, assuring him she was fast asleep. As he shut the door, he leaned his head against it, sighing like a loser. He couldn’t believe she was sleep drunk. He still remembered how she had clung to him in the kitchen, how her warm breath fanned the hollow of his throat. He could not erase the image of her gazing at him in those hot as fuck lingerie. He could donate all his wealth to find out what she was thinking at the time.
She was a seductive angel sent to ruin his regulated life and its tranquillity. When he stood there, trying his damnedestto keep a straight face, her sleepy exhaustion was the only thing holding him back from reacting to the onslaught of emotions. He was definitely taking the couch downstairs, even if he was tempted to sleep in the bed. His libido was a main concern.
He had never faced an issue of trying to control his roaring desire ever before. But this was the closest he’d been to a nearly naked woman in a long time. The sensation of having all that flesh crushed against him aroused him, but that was merely a physical reaction to proximity, and he was a man who hadn’t had sex in a very long time.
When he stripped her down, he was just doing a job, taking the necessary action to warm her up. His intention was to make her change and put her to bed. He wasn’t ready for the sensation of holding her in his arms and experiencing her in a brand-new way. He didn’t expect seeing her fall asleep peacefully would trigger all of his protective instincts. Because this sort of sleep was based on trust. She shouldn’t trust anyone blindly, least of all him…because the way his mind was always in a sexual haze around her, he wasn’t sure he was worthy of her trust.
