Page 74 of Lawfully Yours

As the memory pulsed through her, the machine pinged, snapping her back. She was sweating. Damn him. Even now, just the thought of his mouth on her skin left her flustered.

She grabbed both cups, and tried to bury the flashback deep into that mental corner she had reserved for memories that didn’t serve her anymore.

Walking to the conference room felt like crossing a battlefield. She told herself it was just a meeting, but as her fingers tightened around the warmth of his ceramic mug, she knew that stepping into that room with him… wouldn’t be simple after his last night’s confession.

When she stepped in, she saw Kushal sitting alone at the far end of the long mahogany table, dressed in a dark maroon shirt with his sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing the veins that ran along his strong forearms. No tie. Collar open. Hair slightly dishevelled in that careless way that never looked unintentional on him. His fingers moved over his keyboard with controlled urgency, his posture relaxed yet commanding, as if he owned the very oxygen in the room.

He didn’t lift his head when the door opened. Didn’t glance at her. Didn’t acknowledge her presence at all.

Typical.

She crossed the room and set the cappuccino she had made for him, exactly how he liked it, just beside his laptop, and placed her own mug and phone a little farther down the table. For a moment, she stood still, wondering if he’d even flinch. But he didn’t. He just kept typing on his laptop.

It burned.

She turned to take the seat next to him, and as she moved, she noticed him finally lift the mug she’d brought, take a sip, and set it down with the same ease as if it were some interns who had delivered it. No look. No recognition. No, damn, thank you.

Her teeth clenched.

“This,” she said, breaking the silence, “is exactly what I can’t stand about you.”

He didn’t pause. Didn’t even stop typing.

“YouknowI made that coffee for you. YouknowI walked it in here. And what do I get?” Her voice rose a notch. “Nothing. Not even a glance. No, thank you. Just this... this icy indifference like I’m invisible.”

Still nothing. The keys clicked on. Her fury ignited.

“You know what stuns me even more? That after all that you said to me last night, after confessing how badly you wanted us back, you come in today and act like none of it ever happened.”

She exhaled sharply, disappointed in herself for expecting anything different. “So much ego, Kushal. Where do you even store it all?”

She shook her head, about to turn and give up on the confrontation entirely, when he suddenly stilled.

And then, without warning, in one sudden, smooth motion, he grabbed her wrist, stood up, and turned her toward him. His hand slid to her lower back, pulling her flush against his chest. The laptop snapped shut behind him, forgotten.

She gasped. The abrupt contact made her stiffen. The files she had been holding slipped slightly from her grasp, and her breath caught as her chest pressed into his.

“Youwalked out last night,” he replied angrily. “Youleft me hanging after I laid everything bare in front of you. No response. No questions. Not even a damn reaction. You just left me there without a single word, Arundhati.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he didn’t let her.

“And now you expect me to be warm? Cordial? Say thank you for the coffee and pretend like nothing happened so you can be the only one allowed to be angry?” His grip on her arms tightened. “You don’t even give me the space to be hurt with you. That’s unfair. You don’t get to run away from such important conversations and then scold me for not reacting the way you want. That’s not fair, Aru.”

She felt her guilt surge, but buried it, holding her chin high. “And you think you get a second chance with that kind of attitude?” she asked. “You want me back? Start by shedding that ego. Start by being the kind of man who says ‘thank you’ without turning it into a debate. Although that still doesn’t mean I am ready to give you a second chance.”

He stepped closer again, their lips dangerously near, their breath brushing. “You want me to give up my ego?” he murmured, eyes darkening. “Then first give me that second chance.”

She swallowed hard.

“Although even I can’t promise I’ll shred the ego completely,” he continued. “Because let’s be honest, loving a wife who’s as infuriatingly hot-headed and stubborn as I am? Needs just a little bit of pride to survive it.”

Their foreheads almost touched now. But none of them were ready to cool down.

Neither looked away.

Neither blinked.

He was right there, lips just an inch from hers.