Chapter 58
Aditi's Perspective
As the door clicked shut behind Sahil, the tension in the room immediately shifted. Kabir's dark eyes found mine, and before I could say a word, he leaned down, capturing my lips in a gentle, lingering kiss. It was softer than the one before, but it sent just as many sparks coursing through me. When he pulled back, his lips hovered over mine for a brief moment, his breath warm against my skin.
"Sorry, baby," he whispered, his voice husky, sending a shiver down my spine. His lips brushed mine again in a soft peck before he straightened. His hands slid down to my waist, and without warning, he lifted me off the floor, carrying me easily toward his desk.
"Kabir!" I squealed, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. I wasn't expecting him to be so... possessive, but I wasn't complaining either. The playful glint in his eyes told me he knew exactly what he was doing.
He set me down gently in his chair, stepping back with a smug smile as I wiggled to sit comfortably. The leather was cool against my legs, and I glanced up at him, unsure. His chair? It felt too personal, too intimate.
"Is this okay?" I asked, my voice suddenly small, a flicker of hesitation in my chest. "I mean... should I really be sitting here?"
Kabir's eyes softened, his smile growing into something more genuine, more affectionate. He crouched down in front of me, resting his hands on either side of the armrests, his face inches from mine. The warmth of his breath fanned against my skin, and I could smell the faint trace of his cologne—intoxicating and familiar.
"You own my soul, Frosty," he whispered, his voice so low it was almost a growl. "Why would I mind you sitting in my chair?"
His words sent a rush of heat through me, spreading from my chest down to the tips of my toes. Butterflies exploded in my stomach, and I couldn't help but smile. The way he looked at me, like I was the center of his world, made my heart race.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, his lips lingering there just long enough to leave me breathless. My heart fluttered wildly in my chest as he straightened up, walking over to the desk, and picked up the stack of papers Sahil had brought in.
"You can sit there," he said, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he glanced at me over his shoulder. "It suits you."
I laughed softly, still feeling a little out of place in his chair, but the way he said it—so casual, so confident—made it easier to relax. He leaned against the desk, flipping through the papers, and I found myself watching him, mesmerized. He was so effortlessly attractive, so focused on his work, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
He didn't have to try to be hot—he just was. The way his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off those strong forearms that I couldn't get enough of. His hair was slightly messy from where my fingers had tangled in it earlier, but it only added to his charm. And that jawline... sharp and perfect, clenching just slightly as he concentrated on the papers in front of him.
Every movement was precise, controlled, and yet there was something about the way he moved, the way he carried himself, that screamed confidence and power. He exuded this quiet strength that made my heart race. I bit my lip, trying to focus on something else, but it was impossible. All I could think about was how much I wanted him, how much I craved his touch, his kiss.
And the worst part? He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
Kabir glanced up, catching my gaze, and a slow, knowing smile spread across his lips. He pushed off the desk, stepping closer to me, his fingers tracing the edge of the paper before he set it down on the table beside me.
"You're staring," he teased, his voice low and playful as he leaned down, his lips brushing my ear. "Do I distract you that much?"
I blushed, heat flooding my cheeks as I looked away, but he didn't give me a chance to respond. His hand came up to cup my face, his thumb brushing lightly across my cheek as he kissed me again—just a soft, lingering peck, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through me.
"I have to head out for a bit," he murmured against my lips, his forehead resting against mine. "There's a meeting I can't miss."
Disappointment flared in my chest, but I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He kissed me one last time, a quick, sweet kiss that left me wanting more, before he straightened, his fingers brushing against my chin as he pulled away.
"You can work on your case here," he said, gesturing to the stack of papers on the desk. "Or... feel free to explore. Make yourself at home."
But then something caught my eye—a faint smudge of red on the corner of his mouth. My lipstick.
I froze, pulling back slightly, blinking up at him in surprise.
Kabir frowned, his dark brows furrowing as he studied my face. "What is it?"
I couldn't help the small, embarrassed laugh that escaped me. "You, um... you have something on your face," I said softly, reaching up to gently wipe the smudge of lipstick from his skin.
His eyes widened slightly, and a slow, lazy smile spread across his lips. "Oh, do I now?"
"Yeah," I giggled, biting my bottom lip as I focused on removing the red mark with the pad of my thumb. His skin was warm under my touch, and I couldn't help but notice how ridiculously perfect his jawline was. I wiped the last of the smudge away, my thumb lingering just a second longer than necessary, tracing the edge of his lips.
"All better," I said, pulling my hand back and smiling up at him.
Kabir's eyes darkened, his smile turning wicked as he leaned down, capturing my hand in his and pressing a kiss to the inside of my wrist. The simple touch sent a wave of heat through me, and I felt my pulse race beneath his lips.
"Better, huh?" he murmured against my skin, his voice low and teasing.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I nodded, unable to form a coherent response. How could such a small, innocent gesture feel so damn intimate?
I smiled, my heart still racing from the kiss, but before I could respond, Kabir reached for his jacket, slipping it on as he headed toward the door. Just as he reached for the handle, he turned back to me.
Just as he was about to leave, I caught sight of another faint lipstick smudge on his jawline, just below his ear. I bit my lip, stifling a laugh as I reached up, gently brushing my fingers over the mark.
"Kabir, you've got another one," I teased, wiping away the faint trace of red with the pad of my thumb.
He raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smirk. "I'm starting to think you're doing this on purpose."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just irresistible."
He grinned, leaning down to press a quick kiss to my lips. "I'll take that as a compliment."
I smiled, watching as he turned to leave, but just before he stepped out the door, he paused, glancing back at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Oh, and Frosty?" His voice was low, and that cocky grin was back on his face. "You've got a few... permanent marks now."
He winked, and my breath caught in my throat. Permanent marks? What did he—?
As the door clicked shut behind him, I scrambled for my phone, pulling up the selfie camera. My heart skipped a beat when I saw them—there, on my neck, just above my collarbone, barely peeking out from the neckline of my dress, was a faint red mark. A love bite.
"Oh my god," I muttered, my cheeks flushing as I stared at the screen. Kabir had left a mark on me, a reminder of our heated make-out session, and the thought sent a rush of warmth through me.
I bit my lip, smiling like a lovestruck teenager as I quickly pulled out my compact, dabbing a bit of concealer over the mark to hide it. As much as I loved the idea of Kabir's "permanent marks," I didn't exactly want everyone in the office to see them. Not yet, anyway.
Once I was satisfied that the mark was sufficiently covered, I set the compact aside and turned my attention to the stack of papers Kabir had left on the desk. They were case files—my case files, actually, neatly organized and waiting for me to dive in.
For a moment, I considered wandering around his office—maybe snooping a little, getting to know him better through his space—but the responsible part of me knew I needed to focus. I had a job to do, and as much as I wanted to daydream about Kabir and his teasing smile, I needed to get some work done.
I sighed, settling into his chair more comfortably, and opened the first file. As I read through the documents, my thoughts kept drifting back to Kabir—the way he looked at me, the way he touched me, the way he kissed me like he couldn't get enough.
I wondered how long it would take before I could see him again, before I could feel his lips on mine, his hands on my skin. The thought sent a thrill through me, and I found myself smiling, unable to shake the feeling of anticipation building in my chest.
But for now, I had work to do. And even though I was in Kabir's office, surrounded by reminders of him, I forced myself to focus.