Page 54 of Entangled Vows (Destined Diaries #2)

A month had passed since Mahika’s car had broken down on that lonely stretch of road in an incident that shook her to the core. All was well now, but the unease still lingered inside her.

She sat at the breakfast counter, gently swinging her legs as she dipped the corner of her toast into her chai.

Faint morning light streamed through the kitchen windows, softened by the grey hue of a cloudy sky.

Still, the calm in the room barely reached her.

Her shoulders flinched at the smallest sound, and her fingers tightened around the edge of the counter every time her phone buzzed.

She kept telling herself it was just nerves, just another unsettled morning, but deep down, she was no longer sure she believed that anymore.

She hadn’t forgotten how her mother had called the next day, and even came to see her.

For the first time in years, she had shown a flicker of concern, and that small gesture had warmed Mahika’s bruised heart in ways she hadn’t expected.

Ishika had been in Mumbai for work and panicked the moment she saw the missed calls after landing in Delhi.

An hour later, Mohit had called from London, furious and shaken.

Both of them had wanted to fly straight to her.

But Mahika had managed to convince them that she was fine.

Vikram had also assured them she was safe and that the police were investigating the case.

She had said all the right things to calm them, but only half of them had been true.

Vikram had given her an alternate number after she told him about the weird blank calls while they’d danced at the reception.

She wasn’t getting those calls anymore, yet the sound of her phone ringing still made her jump.

Also, Vikram was super protective, and she’d seen just how crazy he could get when it came to her safety.

She dipped her toast into her chai again, took a bite, and let out a soft moan at the familiar comfort.

Vikram’s black shirt hung loosely over her shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. The hem barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, and her hair was still damp from the quick shower she had taken after crawling out of his bed.

Her thoughts faded the moment she looked up and saw her husband looking effortlessly sexy while doing absolutely nothing.

Across the counter, Vikram stood bare-chested in grey joggers, one hand braced on the counter, and the other holding his green smoothie. He was watching her eat with that lazy, possessive look that made her feel like she was the real breakfast.

She took another bite and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you staring again?”

“I like the view.” His voice was lazy and gravelly. “You… in my shirt, in this kitchen, eating the food I made. You look like you belong here.”

Her eyes flicked over his bare chest before she quickly looked away, her cheeks warming.

“I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I can. This was simple. Just butter and toast. But I know how to whip up a six-course meal too.”

She smirked. “Arrogant and domesticated, huh?”

He leaned closer, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Only for you.”

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewellery box, sliding it across to her

“What is this?” Mahika asked, baffled.

“Open it and see for yourself.”

Mahika opened the box and stared at the delicate bracelet nestled in the velvet-lined box. A dainty gold chain, simple and elegant, with a tiny starburst charm attached to it.

Her brows drew together. “It’s beautiful… but I don’t understand why you’re giving me jewellery?”

Vikram wiped the crumb of toast from the top of her lip as he spoke. “It’s not just jewellery.” He picked up the charm between his fingers, the tiny starburst glinting in the light.

She frowned as she examined the bracelet in his hands. There was a tiny button hidden on the charm.

“Press it once,” he explained, “and it sends your GPS location to your emergency contacts. And press it twice, and it calls me directly. You don’t even need your phone.

It also has a microphone. You can’t hear me, but I’ll be able to hear everything going on around you and know exactly where you are. ”

She stared at him with disbelief. “You’re serious.”

“Yes. I had it custom-made,” he said. “It’s encrypted and discreet, and it connects only to my phone.”

Her breath caught. “Why would you—”

“Because that night on the isolated road could’ve ended very differently,” he interrupted. “And I don’t ever want to go through that again. I don’t want to waste time ever again.”

She looked down at the bracelet, a flicker of unease curling in her chest. “I don’t like this,” she said quietly. “It makes me feel… weak.”

“But you’re not,” he said softly. “You’re the strongest woman I know. But being strong doesn’t mean you have to be alone when something goes wrong,” Vikram said, gently clasping the charm around her wrist. “It’s a direct line to me. Remember that.”

She nodded, looking away, her heart doing something it absolutely should not in the presence of his velvet voice.

“You really think I’ll need to use it?” she asked, softer this time.

“I hope not, Momo,” he said. “But I’d rather be overprepared than too late. If anything ever happens… anything at all, I’ll find you. I promise.”

The words weren’t wrapped in romance, but they were clad in steel and certainty that felt dangerously like care and worry.

When she caught that flash of warmth in his eyes, something almost tender, she had the sinking feeling that he’d just won another round. She rolled her eyes, as always, but she couldn’t deny the butterflies fluttering in her tummy. Lately, they were showing up far too often.

She was already head over heels in love with him. That was dangerous, yes. But then again, her brain warned her about eating tubs of ice cream too. And she still dove in with a big spoon, without a hint of regret.

Maybe this was just that… a reckless, sweet feeling that was entirely inevitable. And she was an idiot to give in, but she didn’t care.

∞∞∞

Vikram stared at his wife, unable to shake thoughts of how insane the past few months had been.

It wasn’t the chaos or the quiet, not even the petty arguments that kept replaying in his mind.

It was the sex. It was unreal. Mind-numbing.

Powerful enough to break through every last bit of control he thought he had.

He could barely keep his hands off her. Every room in the house had felt their hunger. And somehow… that wasn’t enough.

He stared at her unabashedly… her hair a little wild, her lips soft and tempting, her cheeks still pink. Her skin glowed in that way no luxury treatment could ever replicate.

She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly, irrevocably claimed, and he was the one who owned every part of her.

She glanced up at him, and the look in her eyes made something in his chest tighten. Whatever this was between them felt dangerous, and he could feel that she felt it too. Just then, a sudden noise pulled him from his thoughts. The front door swung open and slammed shut.

Before either of them could move, Suraj walked in mid-sentence, with Ishika right behind him. Mohit entered last, dragging a suitcase and rubbing sleep from his eyes as if he’d just stepped off a red-eye flight.

They were all laughing at something, until their eyes landed on Vikram and Mahika. The laughter died in an instant, and silence enveloped the kitchen.

Suraj’s expression shifted from shock to wide-eyed disbelief. Ishika looked like she’d walked straight into a scene from a daily soap she wasn’t prepared for. Mohit blinked, his eyes darting between Vikram and Mahika. He then rolled his eyes and let out a quiet, knowing exhale.

Mahika froze, toast halfway to her mouth. Her head snapped towards the door, and her entire body went rigid.

“Suraj?” she whispered, like she was seeing a ghost.

Suraj looked just as stunned to see her.

Vikram had always assumed there was something between them, something romantic. But now he saw it for what it truly was. It was pure best-friend energy, the kind he had with Arjun and Mohit. It was that silent, easygoing bond that needed no words or explanation.

In a split second, something unsaid passed between Mahika and Suraj, and without warning, she shot off the stool, ran across the room, and threw her arms around Suraj.

“Oh my god. Sunny. You’re here,” she said, her voice cracking on the last syllable.

Vikram stiffened the moment that damn nickname left her lips.

It always scraped at his nerves. He gripped the counter so hard his knuckles turned white, as if the granite could absorb the fire building in his chest. His jaw tightened as he was fought back the urge to walk across the room and tear her away from his brother’s arms.

But then, he reminded himself that this was nothing more than harmless friendship. Still, that did nothing to stop the jealousy twisting through him like a live wire.

He stepped forward slowly, his face a mask of calm. His gaze locked on Suraj and then on Mahika. She looked up, and for a second her expression faltered. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and her lips parted as if she was about to speak. But he didn’t give her the chance.

Vikram wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest. She came easily, and he held her like she was his lifeline.

“Let your best friend breathe, baby. He is here now,” he whispered, taking in her tear-streaked face. “Why are you crying?”

“I didn’t know he was coming,” Mahika sniffled.

“Yeah, none of us had any idea he’d be here,” Ishika said.

“He showed up at my place around midnight without so much as a text. Typical, Sunny.” She glanced at Mahika and Vikram with a knowing smile.

“And honestly, guys… we thought we’d walk in on some rushed, office-ready chaos.

Not this… this lovey-dovey, morning-after scene between you two. ”

She raised an eyebrow at Mahika. “Now I finally get why you haven’t been replying to my texts. You’ve been busy getting thoroughly laid, huh?”

Mohit groaned. “That’s my little sister you’re talking about. I’ve already seen them making out a hundred times now, and I can’t hear about it too.”

“Well, what’s wrong with them making out, Mo?” Ishika replied with a grin. “Your sister is married to a walking thirst trap.”

“You think her husband is hot?” Mohit locked eyes with Ishika, clearly annoyed.

“What if I do?” Ishika shot back, glaring at him.

“You… you can’t think about him like that,” he stammered, flustered.

“So… you want me to think that about you? That you are hot?” she teased, smirking devilishly.

Mahika and Suraj exchanged a look, their eyes practically shouting in unison: What the hell were Ishika and Mohit going on about?

“Guys, stop. No one talks about my husband like that except me,” Mahika deadpanned.

“Oh wow. Jealous Mo and possessive Momo. I kind of love this version of you both,” Ishika said with a wink, nudging Mohit, egging him on.

Vikram rolled his eyes, finally fed up with the chaos.

“That’s it. Just stop. We’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said firmly.

“Vikram… but…” Mahika started, only to be cut off as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Pulling back, he met her eyes. “Let’s go.”

Without waiting for a response, he guided her towards the bedroom, his hand warm and claiming at the small of her back.

The moment the door clicked shut behind them, Vikram spun her around.

He pinned her to the door and kissed her like he was losing his mind.

It was like the jealousy, the possessiveness, and adrenaline from earlier had ignited something raw in him.

Whatever this was between them, it was messing with his head. And Vikram Khurana was not the kind of man who got messed with.