Page 28 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

Virat lay on his back, an arm folded beneath his head as a headrest. Celina lay perpendicular to him, her head resting on his chest. Virat’s free hand stroked the glorious waterfall of her hair as it spilled over his body in tangled skeins.

Celina hummed softly under her breath, her eyes closed even as she turned into his caress.

“I love you,” he murmured.

Her eyes snapped open.

“What?”

Virat smiled, his fingers threading through her hair. Celina sat up abruptly. His fingers caught in a tangle in her hair, and she winced as it tugged against her scalp.

“Sorry,” he said, trying to get his fingers out of her hair.

Celina ripped it out of his hand, wincing as some strands of hair came loose with the violent motion.

“Forget the hair,” she said, flipping it over her shoulder. “Say that again.”

Virat flushed, his cheeks turning a rosy red. But he didn’t hesitate. “I love you, Celi.”

She threw her arms around him, a hushed squeal escaping her. “I love you too,” she whispered into his ear.

Virat wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

“You’re the first boy to say those words to me,” she said, snuggling closer.

“You’re the first human being to say those words to me,” he replied, unthinkingly.

Celina froze. “What?”

Virat shrugged. “You know what my family, or lack of it, is like.”

Troubled eyes met his own for a second before she said, “Well, that doesn’t matter. I will love you enough for all of them. You’re mine, Virat Jha.”

“Possessive are you?” he teased, trying to hide the tremor of emotion that went through him at her words.

She pulled back enough to meet his gaze, solemnly. “You better believe it. The rest of the world can’t have you, Vir. I will never let them take you from me.”

A weird premonition slid through him at her words. “Celi,” he said roughly. “You-“

In the distance, a torchlight cut through the night. The security guard was on his rounds. Their time was up.

“We have to go,” she whispered, getting to her feet, her fingers slipping from his hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.”

He rose, reluctantly, not wanting to leave her. “Celi-“ he said again.

But she was already hurrying towards the far end of the building, her skirt flapping around her legs, her hair flying out in a banner behind her.

Don’t go, he wanted to say. Don’t leave me, he wanted to beg.

But she was already gone.