Chapter 14
Another gift had arrived this evening. Six pairs of black lace panties, folded delicately inside a white box tied with a gold ribbon. The moment she lifted the lid and saw them, Sabrina froze. Heat flushed her skin, and her breath hitched.
They were scandalously soft, luxurious to the touch, and impossible to mistake for anything other than what they were: a reminder of that night. Of how he’d torn hers off like a man who’d lost control. How she’d let him. How she hadn’t even thought to stop him.
A note sat on top, written in his now-familiar scrawl.
I owe you these for tearing off yours…
—A
She clutched the note to her chest, her heart clenching. Shauna peeked over her shoulder and let out a low whistle as she looked inside the box. “Agent Provocateur. Nice. Gotta give the man points for taste.”
Sabrina snapped the box closed. “Stop being on his side.”
Shauna laughed. “You returned from your date three nights ago and still haven’t given him a reply. Meanwhile, he’s been sending you gift after gift. Thoughtful, expensive, sexy ones. Of course, I’m on his side. And don’t forget, I know him, and I like him. He’s a good person.”
Sabrina sighed and sat back on the edge of her bed, the box balanced on her lap. Her gaze flicked to the nightstand where the notes from the other gifts lay stacked in a neat pile, each one a silent reminder of the effect he still had on her mind and body.
The day after their date, he’d sent her a tub of Belgian chocolate ice cream with a note that read I love chocolate too. Now you know one more thing about me.
The next day, a pair of black heels with red soles had arrived.
Even with her limited knowledge of brands, she recognized the name Christian Louboutin.
Surprisingly, they’d fit her perfectly. The note had read I’ve never cared about a woman’s shoes before, but I saw these and knew they’d look gorgeous on you.
So, high heels on you? That’s my new favorite thing.
An emerald green dress had arrived next. Silky. Sexy. Strapless, ankle length and flowy. It had fit her like a dream. It’s note had said Green is my favorite color. See, you’re getting to know me better now.
Her lips curved as she stared at the box in her lap, her heart beating hard. Aditya Wahi was wooing her. And like a fool, she was loving every second of the flirtation, the tension, and the intoxicating high of being desired by him.
Shauna opened the box again, plucked another note from it, and handed it to her. “I think you missed this.”
Sabrina clutched the note in her hand.
“You need to give him an answer soon, Sabrina. You cannot keep him hanging forever. It’s not fair to either of you.”
Sabrina stayed quiet.
Shauna sat beside her, nudging her shoulder. “You like him, don’t you?”
“And therein lies my dilemma,” Sabrina whispered.
“You’re scared,” Shauna deduced cleverly. “I get it. But he’s not asking for forever. He’s asking for now. For a chance. So maybe… just try.”
Sabrina nodded.
“Anyway, I have to go out for dinner,” Shauna said. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
With a kind smile, Shauna left the room.
She had been a warm and supportive friend, while also not holding back her opinions.
The only boundary she’d drawn was no conversations about him.
She flat-out refused to discuss Akash, or that night, especially because Akash had left Singapore without so much as a word to her.
The younger girl had learned of this because she’d read it in a chat conversation on a common group.
But Shauna was right about one thing. Sabrina needed to decide about Aditya soon. She unfolded the second note. I’ve shared so much of myself with you. Won’t you give me even a tiny scrap about yourself, beautiful?
Keeping the box aside, she lay down on the bed. The way he called her beautiful actually made her feel beautiful. Wanted. Seen.
Her chest fluttered. Each night since their dinner, she’d gone to sleep thinking of him.
Dreaming of him. Waking up feeling as if she was still wrapped in his scent.
The more she thought of him, the more she wanted to give in.
But she was scared. Of the past. Of the secrets she still harbored and of the danger that still danced like a ghost over her head.
Aditya wasn’t like Ajay, who hadn’t really cared.
Aditya would be curious; he would ask questions, seek answers.
Ajay had been a safe choice for her. He hadn’t demanded a lot, given even less of himself to her.
But Aditya… She knew it in the deepest part of her soul that he had the capability to turn her world upside down if she let him.
So, the biggest thing she was worried about was what would happen if he got too close.
And then there was her mother-in-law, who still wouldn’t talk to her.
Who only spoke to Ahaan when he called, but didn’t ever pick up the phone to call him herself.
Nor did she ever communicate with Sabrina.
Finally, Sabrina had stopped trying. She knew from Diya that she was doing perfectly well and was having a good time with her friends in Mumbai. Sabrina grimaced.
Ajay’s mother would be horrified if she ever got wind that Sabrina was having an affair. She’d probably call her an unfit mother again. Ugh. No wonder Ajay had been a prude. He’d clearly inherited that trait from his mother.
And that’s why she couldn’t do this.
But a tiny voice inside her screamed, Why not? Her mother-in-law didn’t need to know. For once in her life, why couldn’t she be selfish and choose something for herself? Even if it was for a short while? She could choose him. She could do it on her own terms.
She sat up straighter. On her own terms. Yes, she could do that. She lifted her phone from the nightstand and sent him a picture, followed by a message.
This is my puppy, Maya. She’s six months old, and I adore her. Now you know something else about me too.
She hit send. A second later, the typing dots appeared.
Aditya
Hello, beautiful. I thought you’d forgotten about me.
The puppy is a cutie. Maybe I’ll get to meet her one day?
She smiled. This between them would never reach a point where he’d come to her house and meet her dog. So, she ignored the question and typed a different reply.
Thank you for the gifts. You didn’t have to, but I guess being subtle isn’t your thing.
Aditya
Not when I’m trying to get the attention of the woman who’s been haunting my thoughts. Did it work?
She smiled despite herself, the flutters in her chest becoming stronger.
I’m thinking...
Aditya
Think faster, beautiful, unless you want me to send you more lingerie. I’ve been dreaming about you wearing sexy lingerie in green.
Her face heated.
You’re impossible.
Aditya
I’m persistent ;)
She took a breath and typed again.
I’m ready… to give us a try. But I have some rules.
Her phone rang immediately.
“Hello, beautiful,” his deep voice came down the line, making her insides quiver. “I refuse to have this conversation over text or on a phone call. I’m on my way to you.”
“Okay.”
The line went dead. Sabrina jumped off the bed and flung open her wardrobe, her fingers darting over the hangers.
What should she wear? Should she dress up or down?
Uff, this was so confusing. She had no idea what to wear.
She didn’t want to look like she was dressing up for him.
But she also didn’t want to look like she’d just rolled out of bed and didn’t care. Ugh.
She finally yanked out a pair of high-waisted jeans and pulled on a plain black top.
Sleek. Simple. Paired with her black bellies, hair left down, and a quick swipe of gloss, she looked fine.
Not too put together, but definitely not a mess either.
She was still adjusting the hem of her top when the doorbell rang.
Her heart thundered. Oh God. This was actually happening. She pressed a hand to her stomach, willing the nerves to settle, and opened the door.
Dressed in a navy-blue suit and a white shirt, his jaw dark with evening stubble, his hair mussed, and that sexy smile on his face, Aditya looked gorgeous as always. He stepped in without hesitation and kissed her cheek. A feather light press of lips, yet it short-circuited her brain.
“Hi,” he said, his eyes scanning her face with that familiar heat.
“Hi,” she whispered back, her voice a mixture of calm and panic.
He looked around as he stepped in, his gaze taking in the quiet apartment. “Where’s Shauna?”
“She’s not home,” Sabrina said.
“Perfect,” he said. His voice dropped slightly. “We won’t be interrupted.”
Her breath caught.
She closed the door, heart still pounding as she turned to face him. “Would you like some water?”
“No.” His eyes didn’t leave her face. “I didn’t come for water. I came for you.”
Her cheeks burned.
She splayed a hand toward the sofa. “Please sit.”
Removing his jacket, he draped it over an armchair before unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling his sleeves. Taking a seat, he patted the cushion beside him. She lowered herself next to him.
“So, tell me your rules,” he said, his eyes on her.
She swallowed. “Okay, so here goes. First, no telling our friends. We go slow, get to know each other first before we have sex again, and we do this for the remaining five weeks I’m here. Once I leave, this… us, it’s over.”
His forehead creased. “Why the deadline? Why can this not continue back home?”
“Because I can’t afford to get attached. I have to think of Ahaan. I can’t risk him seeing me with someone and getting used to the idea… only for it to end. He doesn’t need that kind of confusion or heartbreak. If this is just a short-term thing, I need to keep him out of it completely.”
“So, you’ve decided how this ends even before giving it a chance to begin,” he stated, his tone calm but firm.
“I have to think sensibly.”
He chuckled. “I think all sensibility flew out of the window the first time we kissed.”