Page 90 of Reckless Hate

“I like your dancing,” her enemy whispered against her ear. “It’s hot as hell.”

With her heart racing and her mouth curving into a smile, she danced to the music with her enemy.

***

Later that evening, she returned to her housing unit.

Washing away the color with a hot shower, she went into the kitchen to fix a simple sandwich. After the celebrations wound up, her enemy kissed her and left. He and some of his friends were planning a bike race along the beach. He had asked her to join him, but she had declined. Being in a crowd was one thing, but sitting behind her enemy surrounded by his friends and cousins would definitely draw stares.

Knowing how much her enemy enjoyed racing with his cousins, she expected him not to show up that night. Finishing her sandwich, she returned to her room only to see her enemy climbing into her balcony.

He opened the sliding doors and came into her room. He had freshly showered and changed into a clean pair of clothes.

“I thought you went racing,” she said.

“I changed my mind. Besides, Abhi and Rana bailed ‘coz they wanted to be with their girls. It’s boring without them.”

Her heart thudded. She realized she was dreading not having him around her that night. She had gotten too used to sleeping in his arms each night.

She looked at him and raised her chin. “I suppose I’m your backup option because your original plans didn’t take off.”

He grinned, flashing his dimples. “The plans did take off, but I chose not to join. I’d rather be with my girl too.”

Her heart jerked. “I’m not your girl!” she snapped, even though her heart raced with the word.

He stepped closer and smirked. “Oh, you are my girl until our deal ends. And I’m going to remind you of that tonight.”

Before she could say anything, he covered her mouth with a kiss and picked her up before carrying her to the bed. They didn’t argue for the rest of the night.

CHAPTER 39

Rishi was inside the workshop entering the data into the system when he heard footsteps.

He looked up to see who it was because, except for Samantha and him, no one really came to the workshop at that time. He was shocked to see a group of guys in their sports jerseys. And standing in front of the group was Ved Simha. The group literally reeked of male aggressiveness and testosterone.

Immediately, Rishi knew he was in trouble. Ved Simha wasn’t just passing by. He had come for a reason. Ved was planning to confront the guy whom he thought his girl had not only slept with but with whom she hung around with often.

Rishi already knew Samantha and Ved were an item. Samantha thought she was keeping her affair with Ved Simha a secret. If it were anyone else, they might have been oblivious. But he had noticed the blush in Samantha’s cheeks and the dreamy look in her eyes that had never been there before. Although she was trying hard to fight her feelings, she was falling for Ved Simha.

His foolish darling didn’t know Ved Simha had already declared her as his. He had warned away every guy who dared to taunt her or sniff around her in the last few months. Ved Simha might have as well stamped his initials VS on Samantha’s forehead for the world to know she was his.

And now, the bad-boy lover thought Samantha’s gay best friend was the competition. Of course, he didn’t know about the gay part.

He knew he would at least be punched hard or badly hurt before being warned off.

Rishi sucked in a breath, waiting. He didn’t mind getting hurt because of Samantha. She was one of the very few people who didn’t judge him and accepted him the way he was. She not only listened to his traumatic past, she offered her silent support and understanding.

Ved Simha gestured for his group to stay back while he entered the workshop and came closer. He stopped barely a couple of feet away. There was dark emotion on the handsome face.

Rishi waited breathlessly for the punch to land. But it didn’t come even after several moments.

“I want to break every bone in your body so you won’t be able to sleep with any girl, let alone with Samantha. But I know Sam likes you and values your friendship a lot. And it was her who must have convinced you to sleep with her to get back at me. But if youeverkiss her or sleep with her again, I won’t spare you. Understand?”

Rishi felt a strange arousal pass through him at the hyper-masculinity combined with the rare sensitivity Ved Simha displayed. Any other guy would have beat him to a pulp or demanded he break off the friendship with Samantha after catching them in bed together. But Ved Simha wanted Samantha so much that he was allowing the friendship to continue knowing how important it was to her.

Rishi smiled. “Yes, I understand. I value Samantha’s friendship too.” He took a tiny step closer until he could whisper so others couldn’t hear. “Samantha and you belong together. But if things don’t work out between you and her, which I badly hope they will, just know that I’ll always be your fanboy.”

There was a look of confusion on Ved Simha’s handsome face. He frowned for a moment and then comprehension dawned. The guy was a computer genius with a high IQ. He put together things pretty quickly.

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