Page 147 of Wasted Grace

Even as her tremors fade, I swallow her sighs with my lips. I pump into her. Once. Twice.

Feeling her walls still tightening around me, I come with a groan. I spill into her—my kiss almost claiming.

A few minutes later, her breathing evens. We don’t exchange more words. And I start to recognize this as a farewell—maybe evenabsolution. But that doesn’t stop me from taking her in.

My hands never stop wandering,learningthe jagged edges of her raised skin—after she unmindfully falls asleep in my arms.

Even if I think that they might forever remain a mere memory in my head, I stillneedit.

When my fingers softly trace a tattoo on her breastbone, I wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to actually ask her about the tattoos.

Still, the night is seared in my heart. It doesn’t matter if that was it. For the first time, I won’t let my actions dictate her life. What she wants—shegets.

And since she wanted me tonight—she fucking got me.

??????

“You’re saying you learned about Khushi Joshi’s death... but how?” Anil says.

He’s sticking to the script and I appreciate that.

The rooftop bar isn’t fancy, but it helps that I have a good vantage point. I can’t see any of those marksmen Viraj has positioned. But I know Greesha is close by. She mentioned being at most twenty feet away at any given point.

“Well.” I clear my throat and shrug. “Khushi’s name is important to me. I had a sister namedKhushi. It was sentimental so... I kept track of Khushi Joshi. That’s the only reason I found out that she was supposedly on a cruise. And then... I connected the dots after finding her death certificate.”

Anil nods thoughtfully. I have a feeling he isn’t acting. Most of this is news to him. It’s a shame he won’t be doing anything concrete about it. We already have Viraj and Greesha on it.

It’s been almost eighteen minutes. I don’t think I can afford to be here longer than twenty.

I shift in my seat uncomfortably. Sweat dripping down my back—and Iknowit’s not because of the Delhi heat. “That’s... all I know.”

I’ve told him all the things I’m supposed to—albeit unsubstantiated. But I’ve named Mehul Bedi and our new contract at leastthree times. His people should be listening. I’m desperately hoping they are.

After a full minute of wrapping things up and bogus claims of meeting again, I finally stand. Giving Anil a firm handshake.

I can feel eyes on me. And I have no clue whether it’s because of Greesha or Mehul’s men.

The ten minute walk through the Hauz Khas Village to get to the parking lot is uneventful. But the feeling of being watched doesn’t go away.

No one has ever assassinated a random 9-to-5 man in broad daylight in HKV, right?I don’t think so.

Fuck. My nerves are shot when I located my car in the distance. The urge to run to the safety of it, is overwhelming but I don’t want to seem overly wary.

Alittlewary? Yes. Because the right amount is important. After all, I’m ratting out a trafficking kingpin.

On my drive back home, I notice a motorcycle in my rear view mirror. And I instantly know it’s my Greesha. I didn’t see her following me in the morning. Probably because I wasfreaking the fuckout and focused on the following the exact route Viraj had given me.

I’m slightly more relaxed now.

She disappears three minutes before I’m about to reach home—assuming it’s a tactic.

The moment I enter my apartment, I’m prepared to wait for Gree. But then I see her. She got here before me. Standing in the living room, nearly breathless. Eyes flashing with what looks like a mix of fear andrelief.

A smile takes over my face before I shrug. “Well, that was easy.”

She groans softly, shaking her head. Before I know it, she’s in my arms. Legs wrapped around my waist. My hands instinctively catching her.

The leather jacket squeaking slightly beneath my arms. I feel her steady breaths on my neck. She isn’t terrified. She’s breathing me in. And I think I’ll fucking enjoy this feeling until she snaps back.