Page 90 of Entangled Vows

“Ishika,” Mahika groaned, covering her face.

“Stop. For fuck’s sake,” Mohit muttered, with his eyes squeezed shut, clearly annoyed.

Vikram merely smirked. “You all need to mind your own business. And go find the other bar. Inside.”

Mohit shot Mahika one last look, then turned back to Vikram with a sigh and a reluctant grin. “You know what? I’m happy for you both. Confused. Slightly traumatised. But happy.” He jerked his head towards Ishika. “C’mon. Let’s give the new couple their moment.”

Then, glancing over his shoulder, he added, “By the way, someone from the board’s been asking for you, Mr. Khurana. Apparently, your duties extend beyond playing heartthrob with my sister.”

Vikram sighed, the kind of sigh reserved for boring meetings and forced small talk. “Tell them I’ll be there.”

“I’m not your assistant,” Mohit called back, walking off, “but fine. Anything to stop the PDA before someone faints.”

As the patio grew quiet again, Vikram leaned in a little, his voice pitched low. “You okay?”

Mahika nodded, still a little breathless. “Yes. Just... hmm, you know...”

His lips curved in a slow, sideways smile. “I do. And you’re not the only one. Let’s go back inside… before Mohit sends a search party.”

30

It was well past 1:00 a.m., and now, Mahika was done.

She was done with the polite laughter and the practiced performance of being the perfect hostess. All she wanted was to kick off the heels stabbing her feet, peel out of the dress that was hugging her too tightly, and trynotto glance at Vikram… because every time she did, her body responded in ways that were becoming embarrassingly hard to ignore.

The slick, persistent ache between her thighs had been building ever sincethatkiss. That scorching, claiming kiss that had set off a chain reaction in her entire nervous system. Now, even standing still felt impossible, and every brush of his gaze across her skin felt like an intimate caress.

Her heart still hadn’t settled when Vikram leaned in, his voice soft against the shell of her ear. “It’s past one. We’re leaving.”

She blinked up at him. “Now?”

“Yes.” His tone was clipped and resolute. “We’ve done enough tonight. I don’t care if the last few guests are still hanging around.”

“But people will notice—”

“Let them.” He reached for her hand gently and tugged her out of the spotlight. “We said our thank-yous and posed for a hundred photos. Moreover, most people have already left. Theones who are still here are just for the after-party vibes. I think we’ve earned our escape.”

She nodded and walked alongside him. As they neared the edge of the ballroom, Vikram tipped his chin towards Mohit and Gaurav, still lingering by the bar.

The moment they reached the bar, Vikram didn’t waste any time.

“We’re done for the evening. Mahika is tired,” he stated, his voice calm yet holding a quiet authority.

She blinked, a mix of surprise and amusement crossing her face as he spoke for her.

A knowing smirk curved Mohit’s lips as he raised his glass. “You do know the word ‘please’ still exists, right?” he teased, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Vikram didn’t even bat an eye. “Please, Brother. Can you wrap things up here?”

Mahika nearly laughed when Mohit choked on his drink. “Wait, did you just sayplease? I never thought I’d live to hear that. And you’re going to miss your own after-party? Who are you, and what have you done with Vikram Khurana?”

Vikram rolled his eyes, muttering ‘dramatic asshole’ under his breath before turning to Gaurav. “I’m off the grid starting now. For a week. Just like we discussed.”

Mahika glanced at him from the corner of her eye.A week? With him? Off the grid?Well, this sounded both dangerous and exciting. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

Gaurav nodded promptly. “Got it. I’ve cleared your schedule, and I’ll make sure there are no interruptions.”

Vikram reached for Mahika’s hand, and they quietly went out to the car. Mahika managed a tight, polite smile before Vikram’s warm hand pressed firmly against the small of her back, guiding her out. His touch had become familiar. It felt commanding and possessive, and she was craving it far more than she admitted.