Chapter 10 Manav
This girl? Total hazard zone.
Her smile? I can't handle it.
Those eyes? They'll wreck your sanity.
And her outfit tonight? Seriously, what sorcery is this? I'm way out of my depth here…
“Your turn,” her slightly tipsy voice yanked me back from the brink.
Her black saree clung to her like it had been tailor-made by the gods, the luxurious fabric perfectly complementing her radiant skin and accentuating every graceful curve. Her hair spilled over one shoulder in effortless waves.
The elegance of her collarbones peeked out just beneath the saree’s drape as if daring the world to look closer.
But beneath all that magnetic beauty, there was a quiet vulnerability in her eyes—a fragile softness that only made her more intoxicating.
She wasn’t just stunning; she was a masterpiece that made my chest tighten just by being in the same room.
“I still have the engagement ring,” she laughed, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
I hated the way she smiled when she was sad. I hated it because I knew exactly what that felt like.
“Let’s go. You’re not drinking anymore,” I said, firmly taking the glass from her hand.
“Come on, Mr. Oberoi,” she grabbed a glass in one hand and pulled me up with the other. We walked outside, leaving the noise and laughter of the party behind us.
“Where are we going?” I asked, glancing around.
“To your place… I need a break from this crowd,” she started leading us toward my cottage. I followed, not sure whether to argue or simply let her have this moment of peace.
When I came back with two glasses of water, she was already raiding my cabinet.
“Kiara, what are you doing?”
“Grab a bottle for yourself. It's party night.” Her grin turned playful. “Honestly? First time I saw you shirtless, I thought, maybe my brother is gay.”
“Uhhhhh… he’s not,” I groaned, running a hand through my hair.
She stared at me for a moment, her playful smirk fading into something more serious. Then, leaning in close—so close I could feel her breath against my ear—she whispered, “I don’t know how to kiss.”
I pulled back just enough to look at her. “Wait, aren’t you a romance writer?”
She laughed, the sound low and melodic. “I am a romance writer, I can write about them beautifully.” She casually rested her head on my shoulder.
“There was a boy in high school… He kissed me once but… I don’t know…
There was no fluttering in my heart… no curling of toes…
no butterflies… just two sets of lips crashing with baseless efforts. ”
Her breath against my neck felt like it might undo me. My pulse raced, but I held on, trying to project calm even though I was wrestling with my thoughts and heartbeat.
“You should get some rest. You’ve had enough for tonight.”
She tilted her head up, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “Have you ever kissed someone, Mr. Oberoi?”
“I’m not having this conversation with you.” It was like every defense I had was crumbling in real-time.
“I think kisses are overrated,” she said, as though she were discussing the weather.
“They’re not,” I replied, the lump in my throat growing harder to ignore. Her presence was intoxicating, every inch of her pulling me in like gravity, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could fight it.
“Can you teach me?”
“Kiara… you need to leave… now,” I said firmly, trying to keep my composure. She was no longer in control of her thoughts.
“You never teach me anything,” her words slurred slightly as her finger trailed lazily along the bridge of my nose, feather-light.
I swallowed hard. “Did your fiancé never…?” My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn’t tell if it was hers or mine echoing in my ears.
Her fingers drifted to my stubble, tracing the line of my jaw with a softness that sent shivers down my spine. “He wasn’t interested in me.”
“Was he blind?”
“Nope.”
“An idiot?”
“Nope,” she said again, her lips curling into a faint smile.
“God, Kiara,” my hands moved to undo the first button of my shirt, trying to cool down, feeling the heat clawing at my sanity. “Come on, I’ll drop you off at your room.”
Her fingers, still tracing the edge of my jawline, drifted lower, brushing lightly over my lips before sliding down my neck. My whole body went rigid at her touch, caught between the instinct to protect her and the maddening urge to kiss her.
“Please don’t…” I managed to say, my voice breaking as her fingers brushed the top of my shirt, playing with the fabric like she was seconds away from unraveling me—literally.
Her gaze burned into mine as she whispered, “I dare you to kiss me, Mr. Oberoi…”
Between her teasing smirk and the sudden sorrow in her eyes, I wasn’t sure which part of her needed me more tonight—the girl who wanted to kiss, or the one who just didn’t want to feel unloved.
I caught her hand, holding it firmly as every nerve in my body screamed. “Kiara… this isn’t a game.”
Her eyes softened, a flicker of vulnerability peeking through the storm. “How difficult could it be?”
It wasn’t a question of how difficult—it was a question of how dangerous. And she had no idea just how close I was to losing my sanity. If I kiss her now, it won’t be a kiss. It’ll be a mistake. One she’ll regret, and I’ll never forgive myself for.
“Kiara,” I whispered, trying to gently pull away, but her arms tightened around my neck, pulling me closer. Her breath, warm and uneven, brushed against my skin, and I was two seconds away from breaking every damn rule in my life.
“Is this how you respond when a girl begs you for a kiss?” Her lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile. Her words slurred slightly, her heavy eyelids betraying the intoxication that was slowly pulling her under.
Without saying another word, I slid my arms around her and lifted her gently. She felt light as air, her head naturally falling onto my shoulder as her drunken state took over completely.
Walking to her room, I moved carefully, every step deliberate, making sure to keep my thoughts in check. My focus was clear—get her to bed safely. No crossing lines, no moments of weakness that either of us would regret tomorrow.
I placed her on the bed, pulled the blanket up to cover her, and turned off the lights before stepping out.
The night wasn’t over, though. My neck burned with the ghost of her touch, and my body… Well, my body had its own complaints, ones I had no intention of entertaining.