Page 108 of Lawfully Yours

“Obviously,” he replied, and then came the whisper of movement as he brought the fruit back to her lips. “Take it in.”

She parted her lips, obeying because her will was already halfway gone.What was she supposed to focus on?The fruit? The heat of his words? Or the edge in his voice that made every syllable sound like something else entirely?

The fruit…cool and juicy, slid onto her tongue. She bit down slowly, and the sweet taste filled her mouth.

For a moment, she forgot the point of the game altogether. Forgot that she was supposed to guess. She forgot she was blindfolded, and they were pretending this was still about proving a point.

Kushal chuckled under his breath, the sound curling around her skin. “Should I remind you what we’re actually doing here?”

Reality snapped back, just slightly. She blinked behind the blindfold, suddenly remembering, and licked a bit of juice from the corner of her mouth.

“Strawberry,” she said at last, her voice soft, breathy. “I… I knew it. I was just… distracted by the taste.”

She lifted her hand, aiming to shove at his chest in playful retaliation, but before she could make contact, he caught herwrist. And instead of pushing her hand away, he guided her palm to rest flat against his torso.

Over his abs.

Arundhati froze, lips parting slightly. His body beneath her palm was warm, solid, tense. And though he said nothing, the message was clear. He wanted her to feel him. Wanted her toknow.

Her fingers lingered, uncertain… until instinct took over and she let them stay.

She didn’t even realise her own forehead had broken into a light sweat until he leaned in again.

“It’s getting hot in here.”

She barely had time to process it before he reached for the hem of his T-shirt and tugged it upward in one swift, fluid motion, stripping it off.

Her hand was still there. Now on his bare skin.

Now shirtless, Kushal stood before her, breathing deep, as her fingers trembled faintly against his chest. She couldn’t see him. But she felt everything. And she had no idea what was coming next. Only that whatever this was…it was no longer just a game.

Kushal’s thumb traced along her jawline again.

“Do you even realise what you look like right now?” he murmured. “Blindfolded. Lips parted. Waiting for me...? If it hadn’t been just a game…”

That was it.

Something inside her snapped.

Whether it was the lingering haze of alcohol or simply the way his words twisted around her like silk and fire, Arundhati couldn’t take it anymore. Her restraint crumbled.

In one swift motion, she rose to her feet, hands reaching behind her head to yank off the blindfold. Light flooded backinto her vision in a soft blur, her eyes struggling to adjust after the pitch-black stillness.

And then she saw him.

Kushal…bare-chested, flushed, breath heavy, eyes locked on her with something far more primal.

Before he could say a word, she closed the distance and threw her arms around his neck. Her mouth met his in a kiss that was hot, hard and hungry. She kissed him like he was the only thing tethering her to this moment. Like she was done pretending not to want him.

And it broke the last thread of his patience, too.

With a guttural sound low in his throat, he kissed her back just as fiercely, one arm banding around her waist, the other slipping into her hair as he pulled her closer, deeper.

They stumbled together onto the bed, lips locked, breath ragged, hearts racing.

When they hit the mattress, he hovered over her, their bodies flush, their past and pride forgotten in that desperate, consuming moment.

Kushal’s fingers slipped beneath the delicate straps of her maxi dress, guiding them hurriedly down her shoulders. Arundhati let out a soft moan as his teeth grazed her lower lip, then his lips trailed down, giving open-mouthed kisses along the slope of her neck.