Page 26 of Entangled Vows (Destined Diaries #2)
Mahika crossed her arms, refusing to cower. “You think sharing a room could suddenly rewrite the rules of this relationship,” she snapped.
“Think what you want. This is my room. And now that we’re married, it’s ours. No point fighting over something that’s already sealed and delivered.” Vikram sighed, as if he alone were the one being inconvenienced.
Her fingers flexed as she stood at the doorway, her heart thudding with a stubborn mix of anger and incredulity. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her.
“I’m not—”
“I said come inside.” His tone was commanding.
“Say please,” she shot back, refusing to bend to his will.
“Momo, I swear to God—”
“Say it. Say, please come inside, Mahika.” She gritted out the words stubbornly.
Vikram jaw flexed, a muscle ticking as he dragged a hand across it. “What are you trying to do?”
“I’m trying to teach you some manners. Say please, Grizzly.” Her voice rose an octave.
He looked upwards for a moment, then met her stormy gaze, holding it for a beat before speaking. “Please, Mahika. Come inside.”
“See? That was easy,” she muttered, a small, defiant smirk tugging at her lips.
Mahika gave him a fake smile and walked in.
The room was as magnificent as the rest of the house.
Vaulted ceilings, deep-toned furnishings, and tall French doors led to a private terrace overlooking the beautiful valley.
Crisp, cream-coloured sheets covered the enormous bed, and a navy comforter was folded neatly at the side.
The warm glow from wall sconces bathed the room in an unusual blend of luxury and intimacy.
She exhaled slowly, turning around as she took it all in.
Mahika paused, glancing around before finally meeting his eyes. “I—” she began. “I thought your room would be… boring. Not… this nice.”
He stood there, his arms folded, wearing that infuriating, unreadable expression, as if he had stepped out straight from the pages of her favourite romance novel.
“And why exactly would you think that?” he asked slowly.
“Because it’s your room.” She shrugged, rubbing her temples, as if trying to sort her thoughts into order.
His brow lifted. “Ah. Of course. Because you think I radiate doom and gloom.”
“You said it, not me.”
“Whatever, Momo. You just complimented my taste seconds ago.”
“That is not what I said. I said your room is nice.” She rolled her eyes.
“You didn’t say it outright, but you implied it.”
“Don’t twist my words.”
“Twisting words is your specialty, Momo,” Vikram retorted.
Her eyes narrowed at him. “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
He stepped closer, just enough to make the space between them shrink. “It’s part of my charm.”
He was crowding her personal space far too often now, and she could already feel her pulse skyrocket.
“Charm? Is that what we’re calling unbearable arrogance these days?” she said, one brow raised.
Vikram chuckled softly as he unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and Mahika nearly had a heart attack watching him pop them effortlessly with one hand.
With a sly grin, he said, “And here I thought you had a problem with me. Turns out, you’re simply blind to a genuinely charming personality.”
Mahika scoffed, folding her arms in a defensive gesture. “Oh, I see just fine. The problem is that your personality, whatever it may be, is buried under layers of unbearable attitude.”
His voice softened into a slow, feather-like caress. “Good to know I occupy so much space in that pretty little head of yours. Must be exhausting, being this obsessed with me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “If I were obsessed with anything, it’d be figuring out the fastest way to shut you up.”
Vikram murmured huskily, “There are a few tried-and-tested ways to do that, some far more... interesting than the others. Want to test?”
Mahika’s face flushed bright red, and she snapped. “I can survive without that.”
“You’d survive just fine, but you’d be missing out on something real good,” he winked.
“Gross. I’d rather miss out and live my life peacefully.”
“Suit yourself.” Vikram walked to the wardrobe and swung the doors open with a practiced flick. “By the way, your stuff’s on the left. Clothes and accessories in the top drawer, shoes below. Right side’s mine.”
Mahika blinked, visibly thrown off. “You actually made space for me?”
He turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. “Of course. I wasn’t about to let you live out of a suitcase.”
A beat passed.
Her gaze held his for a moment longer than necessary before pulling away. “Thanks. I guess.”
Vikram picked out a black T-shirt and grey sweatpants, his voice regaining its dry wit and quiet power. “Vampire Rabbit’s spot is in the corner near the balcony door. The staff will move the plants in the morning so he can get some sun.”
She immediately responded, “He’s not a vampire rabbit.”
“I said I would ensure he gets adequate sun, and all you hear is vampire rabbit,” he said, exasperated.
She blinked, obviously not used to this nicer side of him.
“That’s… awfully nice of you. But calling him a vampire rabbit is rude, Grizzly.”
“And calling me Grizzly is polite, huh?” He raised his brow at her in a way that made her insides clench.
Mahika’s cheeks burned. “Calling me Momo is not polite either.”
He shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I suppose that makes us even.”
She opened her mouth to retort, but he interrupted smoothly. “I’m heading to the gym across the hall. Make yourself comfortable. Unpack. Sleep. Do whatever you need.”
She nodded, grabbed the rabbit’s cage, and headed towards its corner. “Grizz... can I get more blankets, please?”
Vikram stopped in the doorway. “The one on the bed is the thickest and cosiest thing in the house. You won’t need extras.”
Her gaze lifted. “We are not sharing a bed. I’ll take the couch, so I need—”
She didn’t get to finish.
Vikram moved fast and without warning. One moment, he was standing by the door; the next, he had her trapped between the wardrobe and his solid frame.
His hand rested lightly near her head, as he towered over her, his overwhelming presence filling the space between them.
He hadn’t touched her, yet she felt the heat radiating off him, making her cheeks warm.
“No one is sleeping on the couch,” he said, his voice a low, lethal growl.
Mahika’s spine snapped straight, her chin lifting in defiance.
“You don’t get to decide that,” she said sharply. “This isn’t one of your corporate meetings.”
His eyes darkened like a storm cloud, his jaw locking into a rigid line.
“No,” he said, his voice icy, “this is about our marriage. And this is our bedroom. No matter how much you want to, I will not let you treat me like a stranger. So stop playing games.”
She gave him a dirty look. “I’m not playing anything. I’m trying to set boundaries. Something you clearly bulldoze through every chance you get. I need my space.”
“I’ve given you space in every sense, Momo, both figuratively and literally. I cleared out half my closet. I gave up a corner of the room for your rabbit. And you think I’m the one crossing lines?”
“You think this is all sunshine and rainbows for me? We’ve made it very clear that this marriage is strictly about duty and business. You shouldn’t expect me to jump into bed with you.”
His expression hardened, his jaw twitching as he stepped closer. The air between was charged with tension.
“You’re not listening, sweetheart. I don’t want you to jump into anything.
But this is non-negotiable. You will sleep in that bed,” he said, his voice dropping to a quieter, more dangerous tone.
“Not because I want you close. Not because I expect anything. But because you’re not just a guest I’m putting up for the night.
You are my wife. This is where you live.
This is where you sleep. Right here. In our bed. ”
Mahika opened her mouth, ready to snap back, but he cut her off.
“I won’t touch you unless you want me to,” he said, stopping her mid-sentence. His unflinching stare held hers in a silent challenge. “But don’t test me, wifey, or you’ll regret it. I don’t want you crashing on the couch like some stubborn teenager.”
“Whatever,” she shot back. “I’m still sleeping on the couch.”
His voice turned icy as he dropped his hand from the wardrobe door and stepped back. “Try that, and you’ll find out exactly what kind of man you married.”
He didn’t wait for her reply. Without a word, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.
He was gone, but the silence he left behind clung to her, thick and unforgiving.
Mahika stood frozen, her heart hammering like it had just raced to the edge of a cliff, unsure whether to jump or retreat.