Page 29 of Entangled Vows

“Oh, I don’t know,” she quipped, tilting her head. “I’ve done a pretty solid job so far.”

His free hand came up and braced on the wall beside her head as he leaned in, caging her in with his heat. His scent was all spice, soap, and something undeniablyhim. His gaze locked onto hers, and he didn’t let it drop even once. Not to her lips, not to the bare skin of her shoulders, nowhere. Either he’d had a momentary lapse in judgment when he checked her out earlier, or he was using every ounce of self-control he had right now.

Not that she’d mind a repeat of that scorching look.

Damn it. She needed to get a grip. This was Grizzly Khurana. Her own personal nemesis, not some broody, dark hero from her imagination.

“Get out,” she said. She intended to sound stern, but it came out all soft, almost like a plea.

A slow, knowing grin spread across his lips, the kind that made women swoon. And she resented every woman who’d ever fallen for it.

“Fine. Now, drink this and get ready. We’ve got a long day ahead. The wedding formalities, documents to sign, the board meeting, the whole deal.”

She crossed her arms. “And who exactly made you my boss?”

“The same man who’s making me your husband.”

Before she could even fire back, Vikram grabbed her hand, curling her fingers around the glass before stepping back.

“I am trying,” he repeated, with a softer tone this time. “Trying to be the man our fathers thought I could be. So, help me out, will you? Just drink it. Please. It’ll make you feel better.”

Mahika wrinkled her nose as she eyed the ominous green liquid. It had a yucky, offensive smell that matched its appearance. Lifting the glass, she studied it for a moment, as if seriously contemplating drinking it. Just as the rim nearly touched her lips, she turned gracefully on her heel and walked out of the walk-in closet.

Vikram’s brows furrowed in confusion as he watched her.

She stopped by the window, where a tray held her small potted plants. Slowly, she tipped the glass, dumping all the green goo into the plant.

Vikram’s glare intensified.

Mahika put the glass down and dusted her palms together like it was no big deal.

“There. All the green goo has gone back to where it belonged. Cheers to the first day of the rest of our lives!” Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she turned and sauntered past him towards the bathroom and stopped to pat his cheek, as if he were a naughty child. But just before she disappeared into the doorway, she cast one last look over her shoulder, like a final warning. “And in case you need a reminder. I might be on my way to become Mrs. Khurana, but I will never, ever be yours, Grizzly.”

Silence hung in the air, heavy with tension. For a fleeting moment, she believed she had won. But then it came… a low laugh curling through the air like smoke. It carried a wicked kind of humour and a tempting confidence. Before her mind couldcatch up, Vikram was suddenly in front of her, moving with a grace that even rivalled a predator. He stepped into her space and blocked her path, his presence looming over her.

“Too late for that,” he murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips. The air between them buzzed, and her breath hitched.

He stepped in real close, his breath warm on her face. Then, with excruciating slowness, his soft and warm lips, brushed her cheek, sending a shiver up her spine.

Then just as quickly, he pulled away, shooting her one last look before turning and walking out. He left her standing there, breathless, her pulse a frantic drum against her ribs. Her fists were clenched so tight that her nails dug into her skin, and after a beat, a silent wave of fury washed over her. Because once again, he’d walked away with the last word, making her feel like a hormonal mess all over again.

12

Last night at the club had been Vikram’s undoing. Watching Mahika dance like that, all happy and carefree with a stranger, had made his blood boil. He should’ve walked away from there. But no. Instead, he’d gone after her. And for one reckless moment, he’d almost kissed her, just to silence that sassy mouth of hers.

Then he’d left. Only to find her again, sprawled on a velvet couch at the club, looking like a dangerous temptation. She was tipsy, vulnerable, and so fucking beautiful that it hurt just to look at her. Every part of him told him to look away, to let her be. But he couldn’t. Not with her lying like that, and definitely not while her brother was too busy entertaining someone three couches away.

So he did the only thing he could. He scooped her up in his arms, carried her out, and escorted her home, all the while telling himself it meant nothing. Except… when she looked up at him with glazed eyes, her lips curved into that silly, drunk smile that always got to him, and mumbled a crazy question.

“Grizz, are you kidnapping me?”

“Mahika, just go to sleep.”

“Just so you know,” she whispered, eyes half-closed, “if I were to be kidnapped, I’d want it to be by you.”

Vikram almost broke into laughter, because sober Mahika would rather swallow glass than say anything that sounded remotely like this. She hated him, or at least that’s what she claimed. And maybe he allowed her to keep believing it. But carrying her to bed and tucking her in as if she were something fragile… That had been a mistake. The mistake that made him look like a lovesick fool.

Then she did something that took him by surprise. She had giggled. She fucking giggled.