Page 83 of Trapped By the Maharaja

Sanjana’s gaze was pulled toward Suchitra Devi. The queen stood regal as ever, her gold silk shimmering, her expression calm. But Sanjana saw the subtle press of her lips, the faint flicker of disapproval in her eyes as they moved from Rishan to Ram. The queen didn’t need to speak for Sanjana to know she’d already pieced together exactly what had happened.

The queen didn’t need to say it, but she blamed Sanjana for making the cold, controlled Maharaja brawl like a commoner.

Sanjana’s cheeks heated with angry embarrassment because it was true.

The rest of the evening passed without further incident. Rishan kept his distance and wasn’t seen after a while. Sanjana noticed Ram’s brothers missing briefly before they joined again. She noticed Ram exchanging a brief but subtle nod with his brothers when they returned and were surrounded by beautiful, young princesses and their aspiring parents.

The music continued while conversations resumed.

Ram didn’t leave her side for the rest of the night. His presence was constant and unyielding. She smiled politely and spoke when required, but inside she was seething. She was angry at Ram and also at herself for allowing Ram to drag her back into his life despite their past.

CHAPTER 36

It was well past midnight when the doors of the master suite shut behind Sanjana with a heavy thud.

Ram didn’t even look at her as he walked towards the closet and began stripping off the jeweled cuffs of his sherwani. Sanjana followed angrily behind him.

“What the hell was that, Ram?”

He glanced up, eyes unreadable. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

She took a step toward him. “Whatever happened with Rishan?”

His mouth curved in a dark, humorless smile. “I told my cousin to keep his hands off my wife.”

Her breath caught, anger surging higher. “You did more than just tell him. You punched his face and threatened him. You can’t stand him near me because—”

“Don’t.” The word came out as a growl, low and dangerous.

His low growl caused her skin to break into goosebumps.

But she stepped closer, meeting his gaze without flinching, fury sparking in her chest. “Why not? It’s the truth of what happened in the past.”

His jaw flexed, a muscle ticking near his temple.

She pressed on, deliberately twisting the blade. “You married a woman whom you can never trust. The one who cheated on you with your own cousin. Let me go, Ram. Release me from this marriage.”

For a long, dangerous moment, he said nothing. The silence between them felt electric, heavy with restrained fury.

Then his voice dropped to a low growl. “You are mine. And I will never let you go.”

Before she could react, his mouth crashed down on hers.

It wasn’t a kiss meant to persuade—it was pure possession. Her hands flew up, intending to push him away, but her fingers betrayed her, curling into the fine fabric of his sherwani. His arm locked around her waist, pulling her flush against the hard planes of his body.

She kissed him back, and their kiss grew more urgent, more intense, as they both gave in to the passion that had been simmering just beneath the surface for so long.

Their lips parted briefly as they tore at each other's clothes, their anger and resentment fueling their desire. Her half-saree was ripped away, leaving her in just a long underskirt and thin blouse. The blouse tore easily while she yanked apart on the diamond buttons holding his sherwani together in the front. He shrugged out his torn clothes before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to bed.

Her heart thudded as he threw her onto the four-poster bed. Before she could catch her breath, his powerful body covered hers, and his kisses left a trail of fire down her neck. Mia's hands roamed over his bare chest, feeling the strength she had both feared and craved.

With a hard jerk, he yanked her long skirt up, the sound of fabric tearing piercing the air as he ripped off her panties. The coldness of the room hit her bare skin, making her gasp. His eyes raked over her, his hunger unmistakable. “You're mine,” he growled, his voice thick with need.

Her breath hitched, a thrill of fear mixed with desire coursing through her veins. She knew what was happening between them was something primal, something that had been festering since the day he dragged her into his life again.

“I am yours only until the contract,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

His eyes flashed with something before they darkened with hunger again. “Tonight, you're mine,” he said, his voice a promise. He pushed her legs apart, his own need apparent as he positioned himself at her entrance.