Page 89 of Entangled Vows

“Well, it meant you were relentless in annoying me, Grizz,” she muttered, trying to ignore the heat curling through her veins.

He watched her in that calm, annoyingly sexy way, all composed but hungry… like a predator. Like he’d made up his mind and would take her right there if she let him. The thought made her swallow and look away, her thighs squeezed together, trying to contain the rush he sent through her.

He noticed, and his eyes darkened with intense desire and something else she was scared to name.

“So…” she said slowly, “what happens now?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his one hand tucked a loose strand behind her ear, his touch lingering at her jaw. The other settled on the bare skin of her thigh, right where the gown’s high slit revealed it.

“Now,” he murmured, his tone silky soft, “we stop pretending we don’t want to finish what we started.”

He reached for her hand. Mahika looked down at it, then up at him, feigning innocence.

“And what do you think we’ve started, exactly?”

Vikram leaned in and kissed the curve where her shoulder met her neck. She gasped, her whole body trembling. When he pulled back, his gaze caught hers. And in a voice low enough to make her shiver, he whispered, “This. Now c’mon inside.”

He turned around, signalling her to follow. But she was Mahika. Never the kind to let someone else have the last word. Instead of falling in step, she grabbed his arm, making him pause mid-step. He turned, one brow raised in question. But before he could speak, her other hand reached for his tie. Her fingers curled around the silk, firm and forceful, tugging him down until their lips hovered a breath apart.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, his voice low, amused.

“This,” she whispered, and pressed her lips to his.

The kiss was anything but shy. It was all heat, bold and confident. Her mouth moved over his with purpose, licking along the seam of his lips before her hand slid up to his neck, caressing the warm, taut skin. Then she found the opening and kissed him deeper, her tongue duelling against his, claiming him. She tugged on his lower lip and sucked hard, and that was it. The last thread of his control snapped.

Vikram responded instantly, like a fuse had finally been lit. His hand clamped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Her fingers fisted into his shirt, anchoring herself, as if afraid the earth might shift beneath them. One second, she was kissing him like she had a point to prove, and the next—

He had taken control of the kiss, his mouth still on hers, his hands mapping her body like he’d been starved for the permission to touch her this way. The cool night air danced around their fevered skin, but nothing could put out the wildfire now raging between them.

“Oh, my poor eyes.”

Mahika jolted, tearing her lips from his. They broke apart and turned towards the voice in unison.

Mohit stood at the edge of the patio, one hand dramatically shielding his face. His tone was exaggerated with just enough flair to soften the moment, but the surprise in his expression? That was real.

“What the fuck, guys? Wasn’t the scorcher you pulled inside—one that made half the aunties blush—enough?” he said, his eyes darting between them. “You had to sneak out here for a private encore?”

Mahika’s cheeks went up in flames. “We weren’t—” she started, but trailed off. There was no way to spin that convincingly.

“Oh, please, don’t explain,” Mohit cut in quickly, waving a hand like he was trying to erase the mental image. “I have got perfectly good eyesight, unfortunately.”

Vikram, in contrast, didn’t so much as blink.

He remained completely unruffled, his eyes locked on Mahika’s flushed face. Then, as if to make a statement, his fingers slid down to her waist and pulled her gently to his side before he finally turned to Mohit.

“I was kissing my wife,” he said evenly. “Didn’t realise I needed your approval.”

Mahika could feel Mohit’s gaze burning into them, his brows still raised in disbelief.

“Well, damn,” he muttered after a beat, folding his arms. “I thought you two barely tolerated each other. This is… one hell of a plot twist.”

Before Mahika could respond, Ishika sauntered in from the far end of the terrace, wine glass in hand, one eyebrow arched. “Guys? Is this some kind of private party I wasn’t invited to?”

“Ishika, perfect timing.” Mohit pointed towards them like he was laying out evidence in court. “Caught these two in the middle of a makeout.”

He clearly expected her to be shocked or at least mildly outraged. Instead, Ishika simply grinned smugly.

“It was just a matter of time. Iknewthe tension between these two was off the charts.” She winked at Mahika. “Mahi, do you want me to take Bungee for the night? Just in case—”