Page 174 of Lawfully Yours

Her heart slammed against her ribs. In that second, every rule she had set for herself, to go step by step, to not give in first,everything shattered. She didn’t care about any of it anymore. Arundhati threw her arms around Kushal’s neck, crashing into him with a kiss that burned away every line they’d drawn between each other.

Kushal didn’t waste a second. His arms locked around her waist, hauling her flush against him, his body pinning her back against the door. The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was hot, hungry, and desperate. Their lips collided again and again, his mouth devouring hers, her tongue tangling with his, until their throats ached for air.

The hard planes of his chest pressed against her soft curves. She whimpered into the kiss, utterly lost when she felt it. His arousal straining against her body, leaving no doubt of what he wanted, what theybothwanted. Her nails dug into his shoulders, her body arching into him as if begging him to take her right there, right then.

Time blurred. They kissed until their lungs screamed, only breaking apart when their breaths came too ragged to ignore. She was flushed, trembling, her lips swollen, her body burning. And just as she thought she could catch a breath, he dipped in again, one more time. A smouldering smooch, slower this time, sealing the promise of more to come.

His hand slid down, squeezing her hips possessively before he finally punched in the passcode with the other. The door clicked open. Kushal pulled back just enough to murmur against her mouth, “Get your work done.”

His palm skimmed over her lower back in a soft, guiding pat, urging her inside.

She nodded, forcing herself to focus as she dialled Akash back. “Yes, Akash, I’m opening my laptop now,” she said into the phone, hurrying toward the guest bedroom where she had been living.

Kushal stayed back, watching her retreat. His lips still burned with her taste, his body still hard with need, and one thought struck him harder than any court verdict: he couldn’t let her sleep in that guest room anymore. That would change from tonight.

****************

It was well past midnight when Arundhati finally shut her laptop, every nerve in her body aching from the long day. She’d wrapped up the last of the case prep, sent the final emails, and even stopped to freshen up. Kushal had checked on her an hour ago, bringing her a steaming cup of chamomile tea. He hadn’t said much, just a quiet look, the softest brush of his fingers against hers as he handed it over, and left again. She’d sipped it slowly, smiling at his effort.

Now, barefoot and in a thin spaghetti-strap crop top and night pants, she stepped out of the bathroom, ready to collapse into bed, wondering if he was already asleep in his room. That’s when she saw the door open.

He was here.

Kushal leaned lazily against the frame, one shoulder propped up, his night suit black as midnight itself. Three, maybe four buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing a stretch of hard, muscled chest. His hair was ruffled, his eyes heavy with exhaustion and sleep. But God, he was beautiful. That polished, perfect version of him, the way the world knew Kushal Nair, belonged to everyone else. But this? This sleepy, groggy, devastatingly sexy man at her doorway was hers alone.

Without a word, he stepped inside. He took the damp face towel she was holding, tossed it into the laundry bag with a flick of his wrist, and before she could speak, he bent low. In one fluid motion, his arms swept under her knees and back, lifting her off the floor.

Instinctively, Arundhati looped her arms around his neck. She didn’t even need to ask where he was taking her. She knew.

He was taking her to their bedroom.

She pressed her lips to his rough cheek, inhaling his scent as he kicked the bedroom door open with his foot, carrying her inside.

The room glowed in soft, golden dim light. The bed was already made, the sheets pulled down, the pillows fluffed.

He set her down on the bed carefully. His hands even lingered a second at her waist before he turned, clicked off the bedside lamp, and slid in beside her.

Her breath came out in a shaky sigh. She didn’t need his words tonight. He’d already said everything by bringing her here.

Within seconds, he pulled her to him, tucking her into his chest until their faces were inches apart. Her palm flattened over the hard plane of his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heart beneath. His hand cupped the back of her head, his thumb brushing the edge of her jaw, before his mouth dipped into the crook of her neck.

He kissed her. Not a peck, but open-mouthed kisses. The kind she’d been starving for. Each drag of his lips on her skin felt like fire, his stubble scraping just enough to make her shiver. With his arm banded around her waist, his leg slid over hers, spooning her fully into him; no space was left between them.

Her eyes fluttered closed. This was what she’d ached for every night she’d slept alone. The heat of his body, the sounds of his breath, his mouth exploring the soft skin of her neck and shoulder.

No more cold nights. No more empty beds. No more distance. From now on, she would fall asleep in the only place that had ever felt like home…his arms…until her last breath.

She tilted her head back slightly, giving him more of her throat, a soft moan escaping when his mouth found the pulse point there. And when his mouth finally reached hers again, the kiss tasted of every ache, every apology, every bit of love still left between them. A kiss that saidwe’re together now. Forever.

They kissed again…and again. Every kiss growing hotter, hungrier, until restraint became a fragile thread on the verge of snapping. His fingers slid up to her shoulders, tugging at the thin straps of her spaghetti top until they slipped down her arms. The flimsy fabric gave way, baring the soft curve of her bosom to his ravenous gaze.

She hadn’t worn anything beneath it tonight. Just that teasing little crop top, clinging to her, daring him and testing every ounce of control he still possessed.

“Damn you, Aru…” he muttered under his breath, almost broken with need. His mouth lowered, devouring her breast with a hunger that had been caged far too long. She gasped, arching into him, her fingers tangling in his hair.

And then, instinctively, her hand slipped down. Stroking him.

Kushal froze. His head jerked up as a growl rumbled from his chest. “Aru…” It was half a warning, half a desperate plea.