Page 91 of Lawfully Yours

Suddenly, memories of their marriage days rushed in.

Kushal always preferred cold water baths. Even in the chill of Delhi winters, he stood under freezing showers like they were nothing. She, on the other hand, loved the warmth of hot tubs, the hush of warm water lapping around her body.

One night, early in their marriage, she’d come home exhausted only to find their bathroom transformed. The bathtub was filled, the scent of lavender and vanilla in the air, soft jazz playing from a speaker he’d set up near the mirror. Candles flickered across the tiled walls. A glass of wine perched on the corner ledge, waiting.

She’d stood there stunned.

When she turned around, he was leaning against the doorway, proud and playful. When she thanked him immediately for his efforts and consideration and asked him to leave so that she could enjoy her bath, he grinned.

“That tub’s got room for two,” he said. “And I was thinking, if I soak with you, I might convert. Even cold-water lovers change sides for the right incentive.”

She’d rolled her eyes, pretending to scowl. “Get out, Kushal.”

But he hadn’t moved. She had to push him out eventually. But that night, for longer than she cared to admit, she’d wanted him to stay. Wanted to let him slide in behind her, let his hands wander. Let him trace every inch of her submerged skin until water and touch became indistinguishable. Yet, she had resisted. Barely.

Now, watching him float effortlessly in front of her again, bare-chested, chilled, radiant with that same teasing charm, she cursed her memory for remembering so vividly. And her body for responding.

Suddenly, Kushal swam up again, stopping near her knees with casual ease.

“By the way, I have a confession to make,” he said too casually.

She didn’t glance at him right away, feigning interest in the paragraph she hadn’t read a word of.

“Is it something I care to know?” she finally asked, arching an eyebrow.

He smirked, as if expecting exactly that response. “Probably not. But I’m saying it anyway.”

She sighed and closed the book, waiting to hear his confession.

“I’ve been thinking,” he began, treading water now, deliberately staying just out of reach of her legs. “You were right.” His eyes sparkled with the devil’s own glee. He let a beat pass before continuing. “Even if you’ve lost weight… you’ve still got it exactly where it counts.”

She stared at him, scandalised. “What the hell—”

But before the rest of her sentence could form, he turned in one graceful move and began swimming away, taking a long, slow lap to the far end of the pool like he hadn’t just delivered a verbal grenade and detonated it at her feet.

Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again. He was definitely talking about last night when he had the chance to map every inch of her body, in the dark, under those blankets, while warming her up. Damn!

She clutched her book, trying to smother the way her skin burned under her dress. Kushal reached the other end of the pool and turned around. When their eyes met again, he winked.

The man was impossible.

And she was officially losing her mind.

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

Same Night

They had ordered room service for dinner. And although Kushal hadn’t invited himself, Arundhati had surprised them both by doing it. She’d simply called through the connecting door, saying she had ordered for the two. He hadn’t argued.

Over paneer tikka and warm rotis, they’d discussed the Sadhna–Anant case and even planned to frame the narrative around emotional misconduct. To use the leaked pictures, Noyonika’s statement, and any link they could find to suggest Sadhna had deliberately orchestrated the scandal to corner Anant. But they needed Noyonika’s confession. Without it, the media would defame Anant and ruin this case further.

Once the plates were cleared, he left for his room, and she headed to the shower, the heat of the water soothing her restless body. She changed into another soft cotton nightie, this one lilac, brushing high against her thighs. She rubbed lotion into her skin, her fingers pausing more than once when her eyes drifted to the connecting door.

Why hadn’t the technician shown up today? Had Kushal told the staff not to bother?

Strangely, she didn’t feel angry at the thought. Only... unsettled.

Climbing into bed, she slipped beneath the covers, her fingers unconsciously grazing the pillow beside her…the one he had rested his head on the night before. Last night, they shared this bed.She would never admit it out loud, not even to herself in the mirror, but it had been the best night’s sleep she’d had in months.