Page 116 of Entangled Vows

“Because I had a stomach bug for two days, and I—”

“You were unwell and didn’t tell me?” His eyes narrowed at her.

“It was just an upset tummy, Vikram. I’m fine now. I took rest. And then I went to work, just like normal people do.”

He let out a frustrated breath. “You could’ve been in more danger. I’m not risking it again. From now on, it’s either me or Max who drives you wherever you need. End of story.”

“You don’t get to boss me around. I’m not some teenager who needs a damn babysitter, Grizzly.”

His jaw locked. He didn’t respond. Just stared at her. Then her hand slid down his torso. Slowly. Intentionally. He grabbed her wrist before she could go further.

“Don’t,” he growled. “You can’t distract me from the main issue.”

“I’m not distracting you,” she said playfully, inching closer anyway. “You just have zero attention span. Try meditation. Might help with your control issues.”

His grip on her wrist tightened. “Momo.”

She leaned in, brushing her lips against his neck. “What?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he moved in a flash and flipped them over in one fluid motion, his body caging hers. His one hand braced beside her head, and the other slipped beneath her T-shirt, his rough palm finding her soft skin. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t stop him. She reached up and peppered kisses along his jaw, and that was all it took. His mouth crashed onto hers without warning.

She didn’t hesitate. Her fingers curled into his hair, and her body pressed into his as if it had been waiting for this moment. He responded with equal intensity, making her whimper. Then he moved over her. Things escalated hard and fast, and in one practiced move, claimed her roughly. She let out a gasp when he entered her and instinctively wrapped her legs around him.

He shifted, and they both moaned, each thrust more intense than the last. He touched her like she was all he had, like she was the one thing that made sense when everything else was falling apart. She matched him touch for touch and didn’t shy away. Instead, she pulled him deeper and closer as they moved together in sync.

They made love like it was the only thing keeping them alive. In that moment, the world had narrowed down to just them. The bickering, the silence, the distance between them... all of it vanished.

And all that remained was a fire that consumed them whole.

37

Amonth 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. Vikramhad 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 likeshewas 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.”