Chapter 24 | Her
Itake a deep breath taking the fresh morning air, standing behind the ceiling to floor windows. My eyes scanning the area ahead; I wonder where the stairs lead to. I mean they definitely lead somewhere in the jungle. But the mystery to it is so intriguing, I’m almost tempted to find out myself.
When I last opened my eyes at about four in the morning, Nakul was sleeping on the couch – uncomfortably; but that’s because the couch is not big enough for someone as huge as him. I went back to sleep then, but now when I think about it – the calm on his face was a striking contrast to what he looks like with those eyes open.
Civilized... not the primitive – brutish creature that he is with the paint on.
By the time I actually woke up, he was already gone probably for his morning run.
The introvert urges to stay in the room now when I can clearly hear voices outside is too much. There are other people in here.
Should I be happy about it? Yes!
But why am I disappointed then?
I better not look for answers I don’t want to hear myself say.
After three failed attempts at walking out, I finally give up diffidence and get out of the room into the corridor that leads to a huge ass living area. And goodness, the décor! His tastes are exceptional.
I am gawking at the beauty of the place when a familiar voice cuts in.
“Oh look, who do we have in here?”
All six pairs of eyes turn to stare in my direction.
“Good morning, Disha,” The guy from yesterday, the one who insisted me to leave with his friend, approaches me. A friendly smile on his face.
In reality, up close and with the paint off, he is handsome in so many ways. Clear bronze skin, big dark eyes with matching well-groomed hair, broad shoulders and a lean muscular body. The notion of tall, dark and handsome personified.
“Let me introduce you to our pack here,” He holds my hand and walks me to the kitchen island so I am face-to-face with the others occupying the stools surrounding the counter.
“Beginning with the only girl in our group here, that’s codename Ace aka Mira, and her personal Jackhammer aka Kabir.”
Mira smiles and rolls her eyes at the guy next to me before waving a friendly hello at me, while her boyfriend glares at the announcer next to me.
“That’s our gym bro and Scorpio’s next bestie, after me of course...” he points both his thumbs at himself like he’s so proud of that, “Kraken ...aka Taksh.” Taksh waves a hello, although he looks kind of shy which is a stark contrast to his huge build.
“At last, we have the sun and its nemesis... sorry guys, I mean Hades aka Rayan – and Alpha aka Yuvraj.”
Both of them nod a hello at me; although Yuvraj’s looks courteous, contrary to Rayan’s cool one.
“And guys, this is the woman of our crazy psychopath’s dreams –”
The mention of him as a psychopath tickles my guts. That’s something I call him in my head. But I dare not smile. They’re after all – his friends.
“Disha...?” Mira interrupts.
They know my name; I wonder what else he must’ve told them.
My cheeks redden in response, “Yes,” I smile back, before turning to his bestie number one, “And you are...?”
He looks at me – although busy with the salad he is tossing, “Me?” he says pointing the spatula towards him, “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
He grabs a kitchen towel on his way – before holding out a clean hand, “I’m Divit, they call me Black.”
I return the handshake; my eyes narrowing as I remember hearing this name from someone at the school reunion party, “Not trying to be rude, but are you by any chance are you the one my classmates keep talking about?”
His head bends backwards in a shy laughter before he reestablishes eye contact with me, “I guess, I am... What did they tell you?”
His laugh is almost just as ominously stunning as he is.
The contagious laughter makes me grin too, before someone clears their throat behind me. I turn around to lock eyes with Nakul and my smile from earlier instantly vanishes making way for guilt and dread to take over once again.
“It was nice meeting you, Disha,” Divit’s voice brings me back to the moment, but then he’s whispering so only two of us can hear, “I don’t want to be dead, but I love pulling his leg.” He winks at me before placing a gentle peck on the back of my hand, smiling at his buddy on his way back.
I feel Nakul’s glare sear the skin of my back, before turning away and walking back straight to his room. And I suddenly realize what I have been doing all morning instead of worrying about being late to office.
Pacing back to his bedroom, my mind is almost prepared to face those eyes again. Those eyes that still resurrects fear deep inside me. His confession resurfacing in my mind as I walk in where he is?!
Oh shit! He’s wrapped around in a towel probably on his way to the bath. Looking like a God.
“Hey, I need to go back... to my apartment.” I mean I have the agreement still valid.
He looks at me from beneath the dark lashes. I wonder how quickly the man of my dreams has turned into the man of my nightmares.
Sitting on the dark mahogany armrest of his leather sofa, he studies me for a moment, “You are not going anywhere. Not until I tell you to.”
The gentleness in his voice from last night is long gone and in its place is the face painted creep; except this time the paint is off.
“But why? I’ll be late for office. Besides, I’m completely fine –” I insist, before whispering under my breath, “Plus, I don’t want to be anywhere near you.”
But he seems to have heard it, because it pulls out a grin on his evil face, “Come again...”
The predator looking down on his prey.
“I dare you...” he speaks, dragging every word like a threat meant to be fulfilled.
The copper in my mouth is sending signals to my mind that I need to stop biting my lip. He should not know that you’re afraid, still.
I chin up again, “Look I am fine by me. And if you’re busy, I can ask Divit –”
I hardly finish the sentence, when he is rushing towards me and grabbing me by shoulder. His hands digging where they rest on my arm, “You are not going anywhere, especially with anyone that’s not me. Do you get it?” The question sounding like it’s more of a warning.
I nod because that’s the most logical thing to do right now, when I am practically on his mercy – in his bedroom, totally vulnerable.
His carved muscles forcing the soft peaks on my chest as he presses the weight of his body on mine; the notes of honey and chocolate in his whiskey clad breath. His hardness threatening my navel as I press back into the wall.
God! this man can be frightening and fucking sexy at the same time. What is wrong with me? To perceive – my stalker – a liar – and a mind-blowing manipulator that way.
My response must not have eased him, because he is lowering himself until his teeth is grazing on my ear.
His voice is something between a whisper and a growl, “Let me make this very clear, muffin... If you let another man anywhere near you, he’ll end in the fucking dumpster. Even if it is my childhood bestie.” Conviction is clear in his voice, “I’ll be devastated, but I’ll still do it.”
Suddenly, his lips are on the back of my hands, while he speaks never breaking eye contact, “If anyone tries to kiss you anywhere ever again, even if it’s playful or innocent. I’ll make sure to charr their lips to a crisp before feeding it to you.”
Jealous. I smile in my head.
The next moment, he’s walking back to the sofa, “Your office is closed for three days. In mourning – the death of five of its employees in the fire that engulfed the art festival yesterday. Good thing, you got a holiday. You are – however – supposed to login at eleven; it’s kind of work from home or something.”
His tone is flat, like it doesn’t bother him that he just dismembered and tore a few people to shreds, only to set the festival on fire to burn away and destroy any possible evidences.
“Moreover, I went back to the society this morning and picked up your laptop and a few other things you could use. They’re in the car outside. So, you don’t need to leave.”
“I’ll go get them now –”
“You are not going anywhere without me. If you want to come with me to fetch them, you can. But you’ll wait for me, okay?” His questions have a habit of sounding more like an order than a choice.
But then I nod and wait till he comes back and looking like a wet lion, shaking the water out of his mane. Killing every single moral nurtured in my head as he dresses in a white tee – blue denims – and a brown leather jacket, finishing with a pair of brown boots.
We head out and stop at the porch when I realize how warm it was inside. A shiver runs up my spine when something warm envelops me. When I turn, I see him putting his jacket on my shoulder.
“I’m fine...” I yank myself away from his grasp.
The hot and cold feeling inside of me is taking its toll on my mental health. I don’t know what I like or want. Because liking something despicable would make me kind of morally wrong.
And not acknowledging my needs is only going to end in despair.
Unaffected by my response to his gesture, he covers me up; before walking over to the SUV and taking out my laptop bag, and one of my duffel bags which must contain my belongings.
I follow him like a child all the way inside the house, and back to where we began.
“I put everything that you might need while you’re staying here. See for yourself, if everything’s there.” He says casually dropping my bags on the bed before taking a seat on the foot side of it.
I lower my eyes and dig into my stuff. My laptop, pen drives, my favorite headphones and a few papers I had on my work desk all neatly tucked in the laptop bag. The other bag is full of clothing and essentials, day wear and night wears, dresses, winter wear and my makeup box, even the lipsticks that I usually keep in the drawer for special occasions.
My heart warms up just a little at the sight of those, before I remember how he knows exactly what I like the most. I can’t be a softie for a damned stalker.
But you are. You know it!
No, I’m not.
My eyes fall on the sets of lace lingerie stuffed in the side pocket of the bag, when I hear him giggle softly.
“What’s so funny?” I retort.
His eyes are lined with mischief while his tone is playful, “I was wondering how many of those will be left for you to carry back home.”
I narrow my eyes, “Why?”
He leans forward maintaining a steady eye contact, “My na?ve little muffin, by the time you leave this place all of them would either be torn or soaking in my semen. And I believe you’d be less willing to carry it back as a memory of our time together.”
I look away instantly. But then a befitting response lights up in my head.
“What makes you think I’d be willing to sleep with you, when I don’t even know who you really are? I mean, I don’t even know which one of your names is actually yours.”
The enigmatic smirk that follows my question takes my breath away. Breathing is an extremely painful activity around this guy.
No part of me wants to admit defeat, but deep down I know. My knees are shaking, and I am falling in a different way altogether.
“Technically, those names are all mine. Naksh was a short of Nakshatra; friends – girlfriends they call me by that. But the name you know me by – my mother used to call me by it. Only a selected few – use it. Only the most important people in my life. So, it was most fitting if I told you that one.”
Girlfriends... I’m uneasy suddenly. God, no...
Amused at my tight-lipped response, he rises to his feet before closing in the distance between us; leaning in so our breathing is the only thing separating our lips.
“But I can assure you, I don’t care which one you want to call me by. I’d love to hear you screaming any of those.”
The distance and his intoxicating stare are creating some kind of magic; I’m almost certain about it considering the way that I’m standing paralyzed under it.
“You can call me whatever you wish, muffin. A creep, a liar, a maniac, or a debauched scoundrel. I promise to enjoy every one of it, as long as I am buried deep inside you. Your mind – your heart – or your pussy.”
I need space. And air.And neither of those are possible with him so near to me.
I back away breathless, taking my eyes away from his; gulping down the pool of desire his promises are filling my mind with.
Picking up the towel I head straight into the bathroom. Avoiding his smug grin behind me, as I shut the door and lock myself inside.
There’s only so much I can control; especially when all I want to do right now is give in to desire.
Give in to him.