Chapter 5
5
A nanya checked the time on her watch. He was late. At least some things hadn’t changed in the years. Here she was, years later, at yet another café, waiting for Mihir to arrive.
She opened her phone camera and studied her reflection. She looked fine. Her big gold studs were fine. Her makeup was perfect. She moved the phone a little further, scrutinizing her outfit. She’d chosen this white and brown striped shirt dress, which was cinched at the waist with a slim gold chain belt because she knew it looked good on her. She tapped her phone camera off.
God, what was she doing? She was so not checking how she looked. She hadn’t dressed nicely for him. No, she hadn’t.
Annoyed at herself, she switched to her messaging app and reread the texts he’d sent her.
I want to meet, Anna
Her heart had pounded heavily after reading this first communication from him in years.
She’d taken a minute to gather herself, then she had replied.
Who is this?
Is there anyone else who calls you Anna?
Maybe. What do you want?
Did you not read my first message? I want to meet
Why?
Tomo, Black Bean Café at Ibn Batuta @10:30 am
If we are going to meet, then it won’t be at some random café, at the furthest point of Dubai. Meet me at the La Grange in Jumeirah @11:30
Still bossy as ever, Anna?
See you tomorrow
He’d sent these texts late last night after she’d reached home from that damn warehouse. Her heart had been beating hard ever since she had left that compound. Seeing Mihir in his cold, ruthless, dangerous avatar had shaken her up.
She sipped her cold coffee. The world wasn’t fully aware of the true threat within the Oshnov trio. While Armaan commanded the most attention and Vedant fronted all their business deals, Mihir was the silent force—the real danger lurking in the shadows. She’d witnessed first-hand how deadly, cold, and unfeeling he was toward his enemies. She’d been terrified when she’d heard that man threaten to hurt Mihir. And Ivan had put a bounty on Mihir? Fuck, even thinking about it made her feel sick. But Mihir hadn’t even blinked. He’d dealt with those men without a hint of fear.
By now, she knew enough about the Oshnovs’ issues with their adopted cousin Ivan. Because of Navya and Reina, she’d witnessed all the trauma that one man had caused the Oshnovs in the last few months.
She played with the straw in her glass, her mind back on Mihir. She’d always known he was dangerous, but last night, she had witnessed it for the first time. And it had scared her. That’s why, once she was satisfied that the other men wouldn’t hurt him, she had escaped from there and rushed home.
She hadn’t wanted to face Mihir when he was in that avatar. In any case, he was behaving rather adamant, and he wouldn’t have agreed to anything she’d said. So, what was the point of waiting for him to return to her? They’d have only argued, and he’d have said something nasty that would have hurt her, and she’d have retorted with something equally vile. This negativity had been the constant tone of all their conversations in the recent past.
She sighed. The years had changed him so much. When she thought of the first time she’d met him in London, she could never have imagined that he would end up becoming the brutal, hardened, and emotionless man he was now. A man who took pleasure in wounding her with his cruel words.
He’d been so different then. That first time her eyes had met his, it had felt like her world had stood still, and her whole axis had shifted and aligned itself to him . A delicious warmth had spread under her skin. For years, she hadn’t allowed herself to think about that evening and him. But today, suddenly, everything came rushing back. Her chest heavy, she sank back in her seat and allowed her mind to rewind to the beginning. To where it all started.
The past
This gorgeous man had assumed her name was Anna. She liked how he pronounced it in that slightly accented voice of his. She smiled as she looked at him, unwilling to even correct him. Her phone rang in her hand. She shifted her eyes to her friends, who were beckoning her furiously. What was wrong with them? Couldn’t they see she wanted to stay here, and talk to this man more? Who was he? Where was he from? Was he from India or UK, or from some place else? She was fascinated by him and so curious to know more. Her phone rang again.
Giving him a final smile, she returned to her friends.
“What is wrong with you two?” Ananya asked the second she sat down.
“Do you know who you were speaking to?” her friend Asha asked excitedly.
“Yes, he introduced himself—Mihir Oshnov,” Ananya replied.
“We know who he is,” her other friend Devina said. “The question is, do you know who he is?”
Ananya exhaled. She looked back at Mihir. He was with three men now. All of them, standing together, looked spectacular. They were all extremely good-looking, including the older European man he was greeting warmly.
But Mihir… he was something else. Dressed in a black cashmere sweater, beige pants, and a black sports jacket, he was stunning. His sharp jawline had only the hint of a stubble, and his eyes were an appealing molten brown, like he had gold flecks swirling in them. So beautiful. Added to all that was his killer smile, his well-built body, and his height. As a tall woman herself, Ananya took to men who towered over her, and he fit the bill perfectly.
“Ananya, you’re staring,” Devina said.
“He’s so hot, of course she’d stare,” Asha said, twirling her ash-blonde hair. “I’m surprised you never noticed him before, Ananya. Do you not know that he’s in our Global Business class this semester?”
“Oh my God, really? Why have I never seen him?” Ananya faced the girls.
Just then, a boy dropped into the chair next to them. “Hi, besties. Who are we talking about?”
Ananya smiled at Zeeshan, another one of her closest friends in London. “Where were you?”
“My landlord has increased the rent to my apartment,” Zeeshan sighed. “Which means I have a month to hunt for a new house. Anyway, who are we discussing? Give me the goss.”
Ananya rolled her eyes. Zeeshan thrived on gossip. Devina immediately began to explain Ananya’s encounter with Mihir Oshnov to Zeeshan in vivid detail.
Zeeshan looked at her. “He’s super-hot, and unfortunately for me, straight as an arrow.”
“Great. You also know him?!” Ananya asked. “Am I the only one hearing about him for the first time?” She shook her head. “Tell me about him. I want to know everything.”
“He’s super rich,” Devina said.
Ananya rolled her eyes. “So what? Surya was rich too.”
Devina caught her hand. “There is rich, and then there is Mihir Oshnov. Surya wears Jordans and drives a BMW, whereas Mihir wears Loro Piana and drives a fucking Ferrari. You cannot even begin to compare them.”
And yet she’d never noticed him? Ananya blinked. How oblivious was she that he was in her class and she still hadn’t seen him before?
“He’s got serious drip,” Zeeshan said, his eyes on Mihir. He addressed Ananya, “He is so stylish, girl. Look at him. And all that money is a bonus. Rumor is that he belongs to some affluent family nearby in the UK. He mentioned to someone in class that he had a home in the countryside where he goes to visit his family.”
Ananya scowled. “Honestly, I really don’t care about his money. I care about whether he is a good person, whether he is kind, honest, and responsible. I don’t like defining people by their wealth.”
She wanted to understand what was special about Mihir. Why only he had made her heart beat so hard, and why being close to him had caused her skin to buzz?
Devina made a face. “Only someone as rich as you wouldn’t care about his money.”
“But seriously, Ananya, he’s hot! Shouldn’t that be enough.?” Asha queried. “None of the rest ought to matter. It hasn’t in the past with any other guy you dated.”
None of the guys before him had mattered. After a disastrous fling in her first year of undergrad, she’d sworn off men completely. She’d gone out for two dates this semester only because her friends had bugged her relentlessly to do so. They kept insisting that she had to move on, so she had given in and tried dating again. However, she hadn’t felt connected to either of those men.
But with Mihir, it had felt like an instant connection. An instant attraction. Like she’d finally found something missing, and now she couldn’t seem to let go. Even now, she couldn’t stop looking at him. He was surrounded by his friends, but she hadn’t even paid attention to them. Her entire focus was on him. Mihir. And each time their eyes met across the distance, the urge to be with him, to talk to him, grew stronger. But she couldn’t tell her friends that.
Ananya sipped her frappe. “So, how is he as a person? Is he a decent guy?”
“No clue,” Zeeshan said. “He’s as mysterious as he is rich. No one knows much of him. Like I Googled him, and there is nothing on Mihir Oshnov. He’s not any of the socials either.”
“He’s quite a loner,” Devina said, “and doesn’t have many friends, not that I know of. He, Zeeshan, and I are together in a couple of other classes too. Mihir keeps to himself mostly. I’ve been trying to get his attention for weeks, but he’s never looked my way. And then he sees you and can’t stop looking. You know, I’m really jealous now.”
Before Ananya could react, Zeeshan laughed. “Ignore her. She’s jealous of any girl who catches the attention of any guy she likes, especially if the guy in question is rich.”
“But you know what they say about rich men,” Devina continued. “The richer they are, the worse they turn out to be. Isn’t it Asha?”
“Not really,” Asha said.
Devina threw her a glower. “Of course, you wouldn’t agree. You’re engaged to a rich guy yourself. But not all rich men are good guys like your Sunil.”
“I agree!” Asha grinned. “I suppose it’s best to forget Mihir, Ananya.”
As of now, during their short conversation, she hadn’t got the vibe that Mihir was a bad person. He seemed… nice. Perhaps it was too soon to say. But it seemed rather strange that just a little while ago, her friends had been pushing Surya at her, and now they were judging Mihir without even knowing him well enough. God, sometimes she just didn’t get them.
She ran a finger around the rim of her glass, listening to her friends go on about Mihir Oshnov. She’d met Zeeshan, Devina, and Asha in London during the first year of her MBA. All of them were from Dubai and had bonded instantly. The girls now lived as roommates in Ananya’s massive three-bedroom apartment. Her parents owned the apartment she stayed in, but it was too big to live all alone. She liked people, and she liked having both of them for company. Zeeshan was the fourth one in their group, and if it were up to him, then he’d be living with them as well. But she and the other two girls liked to have privacy in their own bedrooms. Nonetheless, Zeeshan crashed in with Devina once in a while when they got late from a party. Zeeshan was openly gay, and a super fun and nice guy. Currently, he stayed on his own, two metro stops away from them, but he was with them most of the time.
Although she had her friends, right now, she genuinely missed her sisters. They’d be so excited to hear that a guy had finally caught her interest. They wouldn’t judge him or make inane remarks about him. They’d just be supremely curious about him and delighted for her. Maybe she’d go home and call them. Yes, she needed to do that right away. Excitement buzzed in her veins as she looked forward to that conversation.
She finished her coffee quickly. “Shall we go? We need to buy groceries on the way home.”
“Oh yes,” Asha said. “My turn to cook tonight!”
Zeeshan made a face. “Anything but your pasta, please.”
Ananya laughed. She stood, lifting her bag from the floor. Her eyes scanned the crowd for him. He was watching her already. Her heart flipped in her chest. She smiled. He gave her a nod, and then his lips curved into a smile. She stopped in her tracks and stared at him. Fuck, he really was gorgeous. Exhaling, she followed her friends out of the café.
The present
Heat pricked the back of her nape, and a spark lit in her stomach. She blinked, returning to the present. Her eyes drifted to the entrance. Mihir walked inside. More sparks burst in her stomach as he approached.
Ananya studied his profile. Dressed in a dark navy suit and a crisp white shirt, his swept-back hair accentuating his striking features… Mihir had grown into this gloriously handsome man. While in the past he hadn’t been completely sure of himself, now there was a quiet confidence about him. Like he knew exactly who he was, and where he belonged.
He dropped into the seat in front of her. She noticed that his bodyguard had taken the same table where her bodyguard, Adam, was seated—like they were closely acquainted. Hmm. She hadn’t known that. It did make sense, though, as Rajiv often discussed security details with Mihir.
However, she was satisfied to see Mihir safeguarded, especially after last night and hearing that Ivan wanted him dead. Actually, even the thought of that made her stomach clench. The thought of a world where he didn’t exist… She cleared her mind, rejecting those thoughts and the emotions they stirred.
Mihir’s caramel eyes were cold when they landed on her. That familiar sadness that she always felt around him threatened to pour out of her, but she curbed it.
No more sadness, she’d told herself. No more Mihir Oshnov. She had a suspicion as to why he wanted to meet her. It was time to end this chapter in her life.
She tilted her head. “No hello or hi, husband ?”
“This is not a social call,” he replied curtly. “It’s strictly business, da ?”
His accent was so much more pronounced now. It hadn’t been like that in the past.
Mihir sat stiffly in front of her, his shoulders tense. She grinned at him; he threw her a dark look, like this was the last place he wanted to be. Too bad. After years, she finally had him seated in front of her. Now she had to ensure she got what she wanted from him, beginning with an answer to, “Who were those scary-looking men you met with last night?”
“None of your business.”
She chuckled. She’d expected that reply. Mihir would never give her the details of what went down that night with those scary-looking men. Which meant she was now free to do what she wanted with the little information she had from that night. Too bad for him. Very good for her.
She beckoned a waitress. “I’ll have a chilled Frappuccino, no sugar, no cream, and he’ll have an Americano.”
He spread an agitated hand out. “Do I get a say in this, da ?”
The waitress looked from her to him, and then she kept looking at him, her mouth ajar.
Irritated, Ananya quirked a brow at Mihir. “Do you not drink Americano anymore?”
“I do.”
She rolled her eyes and addressed the waitress. “My order stays. Oh, and I’ll have one of those almond croissants as well.”
When the waitress looked at Mihir, Ananya cut in before she could open her mouth, “He doesn’t want to eat. That will be all. Thanks.”
The waitress dashed away.
“You still are so bossy.” The brown in his eyes melted to a golden hue, softening his expression. A ghost of a smile crossed his face. He realized what he was doing, and instantly, his eyes hardened, and his usual sour expression was back on.
“And you were much more pleasant in the past,” Ananya said, her tone fierce. “Why did you want to meet me?”
“Last night, you said something about a divorce,” Mihir reminded her.
“And you said you wanted to stay married as some form of revenge.”
The words made her feel angry and hurt. For years, she had never initiated the divorce, hoping that since he hadn’t done so either, it was because he felt something about her. She’d taken it as a sign that he’d probably reconcile with her at some point. Last night, she’d finally realized how wrong she’d been.
“I’ll set up the paperwork, and we can sign the documents,” Mihir went on. “I can have everything arranged within days.”
He was so supercilious about the whole thing, like he’d decided the next steps, and she only had to comply with him.
She placed her hands in her lap, resisting the urge to punch his smug face. “I suppose my threat of publishing about our marriage in Noir has triggered this.”
He gave her a hard look. “Anna, you ought to know by now that nothing you publish about me in your gossip rag affects me in the least. It only reeks of your obsession with me.”
Now, she really wanted to hit him. “I’m not obsessed with you.”
He flicked an imaginary piece of lint from his lapel. “You following me last night speaks otherwise.”
“Fucking bastard,” she snapped. “Don’t throw that in my face, when you’re the reason I had to resort to following you. If you weren’t such a jerk, then we could have had a normal conversation a long time ago.”
She hated how calmly he watched her, seemingly unfazed by anything she said or did, while she was a simmering ball of anger. She exhaled, trying to calm herself.
“I don’t want our families to find out about our situation,” Mihir said, ignoring her outburst. “I don’t want a problem with them. I’m sure you feel the same. So, are we in agreement, da ?”
The waitress returned with their orders. Ananya broke a small piece of the croissant and popped it into her mouth. She shut her eyes on a sigh. So delicious. The sweet treat managed to calm her.
When she opened her eyes again, she found Mihir watching her, his eyes fixed on her mouth. She wiped a crumb away from her lips.
“Anyway,” he said. “I’ll organize everything.”
“Not so fast.”
He frowned.
She took another bite of her sweet treat. “You seem to have conveniently forgotten that my offer for a divorce was based on certain terms and conditions.”
Mihir glared at her. He took a sip of his piping hot coffee before saying, “Alright, let’s hear your terms and conditions.”
“First, you and I will announce to our siblings that we have buried the hatchet and will attend their weddings in the other’s presence.”
“And?”
“Second, you and I will have to prove to our siblings that we can get along. Just announcing it will not be enough. Which means you have to talk to me like a normal human. It may not be a lot, but you have to be civil and reasonable with me in front of them. No more snide remarks, snarky comments, threats, or disappearing in a huff when you see me.”
“What else?”
“That’s it. No, wait. We will have to socialize and attend the same events, so our siblings believe our charade of getting along.”
He studied her, his jaw set. “What if I say no to all of it?”
“Then you know what will happen; don’t make me repeat it,” she replied.
“So, you’re perfectly fine with both our families learning about the fact that you and I are married through Noir? You do know that it will affect you too, da ?”
“And I’m willing to face the consequences of that. After all, I’m doing this for my sisters.”
“It’s always been about your family, isn’t it, Anna?”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
At his silence, she pushed her half-eaten croissant aside.
Mihir frowned. Then he shook his head and pulled her plate to him. “I can’t believe you’re still wasting food like this.”
“I’m stuffed.”
He popped the remainder of the croissant in his mouth. “Do you know how many people don’t get to eat?”
“It’s not my fault that I get full in just a few bites.”
“Then why order, Anna? I can’t keep eating your leftovers.”
Her pulse skittered. She stared at him, her heart running away. How many times in the past had this exact same conversation taken place between them? They were sitting together like this after years, and it hadn’t taken them long to revert to what had once been normal between them. She always ended up wasting food, and he always complained when he had to finish it. But he still finished it, every single time. Just as he had now.
He looked up from the plate and saw her watching him. Realization dawned in his eyes. She knew he remembered too and was just as shocked by it. His mouth opened and closed. His expression softened for a tiny moment, before he pushed the plate aside and drained his coffee in a single gulp.
“If we’re doing this, then I have some conditions too,” he said, his voice gruff. “I want my ring back.”
She shook herself from her thoughts and threw him an innocent look. “What ring?”
He pointed at her chest, where his ring dangled from a chain. “That one.”
“Alright, then allow me to interview you. You know I’ve been wanting to for the longest time.”
“Just so you can question me about the private details of my life? No, thank you.”
“You know, all those years back, you never told me everything about yourself. I hadn’t even known you were Alexander Oshnov’s adopted son. I simply assumed you were from the UK, and you never corrected me. Of course, I’m curious.”
“I’m glad I didn’t. You didn’t deserve to know me.”
Her heart scrunched from the pain his words caused her. She hated that his behavior still hurt her. So damn much. She hated that she’d been so much in love with him, that she’d given him every detail of her life, and he’d held everything of himself back.
“At least tell me why you’re so mad at me,” she said quietly. “What did I do that you let me believe you died?”
The heat of his anger scorched her skin. “Are you seriously pretending you don’t… I’m not discussing this.”
“Mihir,” she softened her voice. “I really don’t know…”
“ Nyet ! No. This topic is off-limits, and so is the interview. That is non-negotiable,” he said. “You want me to agree to your terms, then give me the ring back.”
His refusal to talk about the past angered her so damn much. She must have never been important to him. That’s why he refused to clear the air with her still.
“Sorry, no,” she said, her voice rising. “I’ve had this ring for years now. It’s more mine than yours. You didn’t even know I had it until you saw it around my neck, isn’t it?” Ignoring his glare, she continued. “You want to agree to my terms, then do it without this condition. Else tell me why you are so mad at me.”
He flicked his fingers, and the same waitress came running. “Get me the cheque; we’re done here.”
A knife twisted in her chest. No matter how many times she told herself that she wouldn’t get affected by him, he still managed to hurt her, every single time. God, she was so done feeling like this.
“I called you to this location, Oshnov, so I will pay the bill.”
“Since I was the one who initiated the meeting, I will pay.” He looked at the waitress. “The card machine, please.”
Seeing both their thunderous expressions, the waitress hurried away.
“Fine, I agree to your terms,” Mihir said. “You and I do need to let go of the past and move on. Let’s end our marriage how we had begun—quietly, without anyone knowing. Also, if by seeing you and I getting along brings our siblings the happiness to plan their weddings, then I’m all for it.”
“I’m glad we’re finally agreeing on some things,” Ananya said, her tone sharp.
The waitress came with the bill and the card machine. Once he was done paying, she stood. He rose as well, and they left the restaurant together, their bodyguards following close behind. Spotting her Lamborghini SUV, Mihir nodded at the men. They waited behind as Mihir walked her to her car. He assessed their surroundings, looking satisfied once he’d deciphered that they were relatively hidden between her SUV and the one next to it. He really took security and safety seriously.
“We need to get started on our plan ASAP,” she told him once he faced her. “Which means one of us needs to host a dinner or lunch or something to get the whole family together. Then we can announce to them that you and I have buried the hatchet.”
Mihir made a face. “I’ll do it. My brothers are perpetually in your house, attending your events. They will be happy to have you all over. I’ll figure out the details and text you. Just remember, once they are married, then this…” he waved a finger between the two of them, “…ends. No more pretense.”
That was what she wanted too, isn’t it? Then why was her heart feeling heavy? Why did she feel that this bargain would cost her more than she was prepared to give?
Still, she nodded. It was for her sisters. She was doing this for their happiness. Mihir turned to leave. A sudden thought crossed her mind.
“Wait,” she said. He faced her, brows raised in question.
“Last night, how did you know I was following you?” she asked.
He shrugged, not replying.
She studied him. She’d pondered over the question for a long time. Each time, she had come up with only one plausible conclusion. His silence was further proving it.
“You have someone following me,” she announced.
The gold in his eyes flared and his jaw flexed. It was enough of an answer.
She moved closer to him, and poked his chest. “How dare you? You have no right, Oshnov. I already hate it that my brother has Adam dogging my footsteps always.”
“Who you conveniently seemed to have ditched last night,” he taunted.
She glared at him. “That is none of your business.”
“It sure is,” Mihir replied. “I’m certain you know that simply by being affiliated with my brothers and me, your entire family is at risk. Rajiv did the sensible thing by putting security around you. Don’t take it for granted, Anna.”
“Fine, I won’t,” she replied. “What I don’t understand is why you have your watchdog tailing me.”
Again, he kept silent.
“Oh wait…” She tilted her head. “ You having someone following me simply reeks of your obsession with me , Oshnov.”
“I am not obsessed with you ,” he shot out. “Having Anton guard you was just an added safety measure. You are wild and impulsive. And although I regret it, I did marry you. If my enemies ever learned that…”
Her heart stuttered. She had never considered that possibility. But they weren’t even together. She had nothing to fear. He was merely being cautious, as was his nature. Most likely, he was doing this for her brother and sisters. They all would be devastated if anyone tried to hurt her. That was it. It was definitely not because he cared about her. He’d made it amply clear over the last years that he didn’t.
She looked at him and saw the scorn in his eyes for her. God! At one time, she’d only seen love shining on his face for her. And while she kept telling herself that she didn’t care for him, that she wanted him out of her life, this situation still hurt. A tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. She had to get away from him before he saw how he affected her. She spun around. He caught her elbow, stopping her. He slowly turned her to face him.
More tears leaked down her eyes. She brushed them away with the back of her hand. He held her elbow tighter.
“Let me go,” she said.
Mihir kept looking at her face, transfixed. He caught a tear with a finger, staring at it. “For years, I thought that seeing your tears would give me the greatest joy. I thought breaking the strong, infallible Ananya Mehra would be my biggest victory.”
Fresh tears fell down her face. She was such an idiot to be giving him exactly what he wanted, but once the barrage had broken, it just wouldn’t stop.
“I need to go,” she said.
He tilted his head towards her. She pressed her lips together to stop their quivering. His gaze drifted from her eyes to her mouth. His finger dropped to the edge of her lips, tracing their shape. She ought to push him away, but her limbs wouldn’t move. Only her chest rose and fell as every emotion she had only ever felt around this man came to life. Only when he was close to her.
Want, need, longing, and a deep craving flooded inside her, making her ache. He was the only man to ever make her feel so much. For years, she had tried to forget him. But he only had to be near her like this, to touch her like he was, and everything in her came alive. The need to know if he felt it too shot through her.
Her tongue darted out, licking the tip of his finger. Fire leapt in his brown-gold orbs. Feeling bolder, she took his whole finger in her mouth, sucking on it. A ragged breath escaped his lips as she swirled her tongue around his index finger.
Fire leapt in her belly; her core pulsed with that familiar ache that only he had ever eased.
Mihir tugged his finger out of her mouth and held her arms, pulling her closer to him. His large hands slid up and down her back. She looked into his face; it was mere inches from hers. Desire hummed in her blood. Lust filled her veins. The ache in her core intensified. His mouth lowered; hers rose to meet his.
A tiny voice of a reason broke through her hazy mind. She pushed at his chest, before she gave in to the insanity consuming her. Mihir released her at once.
The fire in his eyes had now given way to anger as he stared at her. Like it was her fault they’d been about to kiss. Without a word, she climbed inside her car and reversed out of the parking lot. She didn’t even give him a single glance as she drove off.
Once she could no longer see him in her rear-view mirror, she pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart felt like it had run in a marathon. She breathed out. What was wrong with her? Mihir had made his dislike for her clear so many times, yet she’d been about to kiss him. As if last night, being plastered in his arms, hadn’t been a big enough mistake that she’d been about to make a bigger one today.
She and he meant nothing to one another. Even that small thread of a marriage certificate that bound them together was going to be destroyed in a few days. She had no business being attracted to him. It was a good thing she’d come to her senses when she had.
But why had Mihir behaved as if he, too, had been caught in the moment? She shook her head. He wasn’t caught in anything. Just seconds prior to that moment, he’d told her that seeing her break down had been his life’s mission.
Yes, that was it. He’d been about to kiss her to only prove a point. That he held the upper hand in whatever it was between them. That he could still get any reaction he wanted from her, physically or emotionally. She’d never give him that pleasure. Ever.
This unspoken truce between them was temporary, only for their siblings. She wasn’t going to make more of it. And she was definitely not going to be in a situation where she’d be so close to Mihir Oshnov again.
Nope. Never. Not happening.