Page 59 of Right Where I Belong

She smiled, shaking her head. “Please don’t do that. This ring sounds important to your mother.”

“It is.” His hand squeezed hers. “I’m so sorry to leave you.”

She kissed his cheek. Letting him go was going to be so damn hard. His phone beeped several times in succession. He read the texts and tapped quickly on his screen.

“Okay, change of plan!” Aditya sighed. “I’m going to be further delayed. Rajiv posted in our boys’ group chat asking if anyone was going to be in Europe. He needed a favor. Rithwik had agreed since he was in London, but now that I’ll be in Zurich, I’ll see to what Rajiv needs, so Rithwik can continue holidaying with the family.”

Her heart warmed. She clasped his jaw. “You’re sweet.”

“I know that,” he grinned. “But honestly, we all try and help one another when we can. It’s second nature to all of us.”

“So, what’s the favor?”

“One of Rajiv’s sisters, Ananya, is a journalist. She owns Noir, the lifestyle and fashion magazine. Have you heard of it? They have an online version as well.”

“No…”

She didn’t have much of a presence online, letting Dilnaz take care of the social media for her catering company, ensuring that no picture of hers was ever put up. Apart from that, she rarely used the internet unless it was food or news-related or some schoolwork for Ahaan.

“Well, it’s a great magazine,” Aditya continued. “You should check it out. Anyway, Ananya’s going to Moscow to interview a Russian billionaire, someone she has a history with. While this man also happens to be Rajiv’s friend, he’s still worried about her and wants me to go check on her.”

Sabrina laughed. “He’s being way too protective. His sister is not going to like it.”

“For sure, she won’t. Ananya’s quite fiery and tough. But I get where Rajiv’s coming from. He has three sisters, and two are already in love with this man’s brothers. He just wants to ensure Ananya’s alright.”

“You seem to know her very well.”

“Actually, I am friends with all three sisters—Ananya, Navya, and Reina. They’re great. I was introduced to them at Rajiv and Sheena’s wedding, and we’ve been friends since.”

“That’s nice.”

His eyes glittered with mischief. “Rajiv once told me that Navya and Reina had a crush on me.”

“Um, what?” Sudden heat prickled in her chest. She ignored it to say, “Well, I’m pretty sure you charmed them.”

He pulled her in his lap, his nose trailing a slow line down her throat, making it hard to breathe.

“Have I charmedyou?” he said against her neck.

“Me sitting on your lap proves you have.”

“Good…” His lips brushed her skin. “Because you’re the only one who matters…”

Her heart lurched, the jealousy giving way to something warmer. He said the sweetest things ever. She touched her head to his, hating that her time with him was being cut short.

He kissed her nose. “You look sad. Are you missing me already?”

“What if I say yes?” she whispered.

His gaze darkened instantly, a corner of his mouth lifting in a slow, knowing smile. “I’m going to miss you too. This, you and me, feels different, doesn’t it?”

It did. God, it did. But she could never allow it to become more. She had too many secrets, too much weight on her shoulders.

He brushed his fingers down her cheek. “When I’m with you, I feel… lighter. Like I’m breathing easier. I can’t even explain it properly. I only know that you’ve become important to me. Vital to my existence... I think I’m?—”

She planted her mouth on his lips, silencing him, cutting off the words that could change everything between them. Shewasn’t ready for that. She probably never would be. He deserved someone who wasn’t broken like her. Someone who could give him everything he desired.

A sharp pang of jealousy sliced through her chest at the thought of that woman who would one day have all of him. But this right now, was not that day. Tonight, for a few more hours, he was hers. She kissed him harder.