Page 118 of Mrs. Rathore

His grip tightened, but not out of cruelty. His eyes darkened not with rage, but with raw, unrestrained hunger.

“You think I see her when I look at you?” His hand moved to my jaw, cupping it gently, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “You think this...” he pulled me even closer, our bodies barely separated, “...is about her?”

A sharp breath escaped me as my body responded instantly to the fire in his touch. His hand slid to the small of my back, pressing me flush against him. I could feel every hard ridge of his torso. He was rough, masculine, and dangerously powerful.

“This is about you, Avni,” he whispered, lips barely an inch from mine, our breaths tangled. I could even smell a hint of alcohol. “It’s always been you. You drive me insane.”

“Then why do you keep pushing me away?” I whispered, trembling.

“Because I can’t afford to want you the way I do,” he said, his voice stripped raw. His forehead dropped to mine, our skin brushing, and our breath syncing.

His confession shattered something inside me and left my heart aching.

“Aryan…” I murmured, my fingers curling into the open fabric of his shirt.

In the next instant, his mouth crashed onto mine.

It wasn’t gentle. It was fierce, desperate, and starving. He kissed me like he was drowning and I was his only air.

His hands tangled in my hair as he pressed me against the wall, his body overwhelming mine, breathing me, devouring me, feeling me. I moaned into his mouth, clinging to him as every nerve in my body lit up like fire. It was chaos, a storm, and a surrender.

We broke apart, gasping for breath.

“You hate me, don’t you?” I asked, my voice breathless.

“I hate how much I want you,” he rasped, before kissing me again but this time deeper and rougher. He devoured my lips and, for once, I let go. I surrendered.

I drowned in his arms, his mouth, and his breath. I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms.

_______

Chapter 47

AVNI

I ripped Aryan’s shirt open, my fingers trailing over the smooth expanse of his chest. A low, rumbling chuckle escaped him as he stepped back, giving me space to explore his warm and taut skin beneath my touch. My breath hitched when he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. His tongue traced a fiery path down my jawline and lower, to the curve of my neck. A quiet whimper escaped my lips as I felt the heat of his breath on my chest, his teeth grazing my collarbone with delicious restraint.

“I need you now…” he rasped, scooping me into his arms effortlessly. My breath caught as he carried me to the bed, his strength and urgency making my heart race.

He laid me down gently, his eyes were dark, smoldering and never leaving mine. There was something raw in his gaze, something that stripped away all pretense. My fingers trembled as he reached for the hem of my saree, his movements slow, deliberate, almost reverent. With every inch he peeled away, the anticipation built, dizzying and sweet.

“You’re driving me crazy,” he murmured, capturing my lips again in a kiss that left me breathless, aching.

I touched his face, my fingertips tracing the hard lines of his jaw, his cheekbones, committing him to memory. This Aryan, this untamed version of him was devastatingly alluring. As the last fold of my saree slipped away, a wave of self-consciousness crashed over me beneath the heat of his gaze.

“Can you turn off the light?” I whispered, barely able to find my voice.

His brows rose slightly, and his thumb gently brushed across my lips. “You’re beautiful, Avni. I don’t want you to hide a single thing from me.”

I looked away. “At least… Maybe a blanket?”

“Of course.” He smiled, his fingers lifting my chin so our eyes met again. “But say no if you don’t want this. I need to hear it.”

I shook my head, a fierce desire tightening in my chest. “I don’t want you to stop.”

“Then we’ll take it slow,” he promised, his voice deep and steady.

He reached for the zipper at my back and with a soft pull, my blouse gave way. The sudden rush of cool air against my bare skin made me gasp. I hadn’t worn a bra, only the padded blouse stood between us. As it loosened and slipped down my arms, I saw his eyes darken.