Chapter 20
Katy
One week of torture and I was so done with the man who turned my brain to mush.
Barun had appointed himself as my personal security, to my intense frustration.
Rhett was traveling this week, and Noah had stationed himself in the farmhouse with Jasmine, leaving me no choice but to endure Barun’s hot presence.
As for him, I wasn’t sure what he was playing at. After regaining consciousness, I’d fled from the room, noticing Noah’s attention to my reaction. One week later, I was oscillating between relief and anger. Relief Barun was getting better and anger at his betrayal.
With the passing of each day, it was getting more and more difficult to stay mad at him.
He’d been leaving my coffee with a rose every morning.
Of course, the torture didn’t end there.
He would stare at me through his bedroom eyes, blatantly checking me out every chance he could get.
Small lingering touches throughout the day threw my frustration to unbearable levels.
I’d ignored every look and touch, pretending not to care about him or those dark eyes that ate me alive.
But I didn’t expect it would just be the two of us for dinner.
My brothers and Gio were out there living their lives with their partners, leaving me in a strange limbo where only Barun and I seemed to exist.
I noticed Barun had ordered my favorites from Siriso, an authentic Italian restaurant.
Not that I could appreciate the palette.
It was an ordeal to sit through dinner with Barun seducing me with his hands, his lips, and his voice.
I mean, that man was a living thirst trap.
For God’s sake, he was only eating, but my mind went to places it shouldn’t.
When I heard him murmur appreciatively after tasting the paste, I couldn’t sit in his presence any longer.
“Excuse me, I’m done with dinner. I’ll get back to my room.” I grit my teeth at his knowing look, hating the twinkle that had entered his eyes. Without looking back, I turned around to step into my room, my safe space.
Toeing off my footwear, I noticed a jewelry box on the bed. Intrigued, I opened it to find a pair of sapphire earrings. A note was tucked underneath.
A spark, for the one who set mine alight.
What!? Jewellery? Really? Enough was enough!!
Marching over to the next room, where my bodyguard was stationed, I gave a cursory knock before opening the door with a force that was backed by my fury.
Inside, the door closed behind me just as Barun walked in from the balcony.
He’d unbuttoned his white shirt fully, and his denims were riding dangerously low on his hips.
Oh, my God! My treacherous heart stuttered at the sight of his naked chest. My mind shot back to the night my hands had explored his hard muscles, making my center throb in remembered pleasure.
Words failed me despite my attempts to voice my displeasure.
Clearing my throat, I tried again, this time glancing at the jewellery box in my hand.
Stomping my foot, I walked ahead and hit his chest with the box. “Jewellery? Really?” I glared for good measure, ignoring my pulse that skittered at his proximity. I didn’t want to talk about the note that I secretly loved and hid in my safe.
The box fell to the ground without a sound when Barun pulled me to him. I let out a gasp of surprise at the unexpected touch. I wasn’t prepared for his touch, which brought in all my longing and dormant feelings. Straining myself away from him, I stumbled back, falling on the bed.
I couldn’t scramble up fast enough; Barun was on top of me, holding my hands above my head with minimal effort. “Finally! Seeing that the jewellery’s what brought you to me, I’d take that as a win any day.”
I squirmed, glaring at his smirk. Win? As if!
Turning my face away, I closed my eyes when his lips ghosted over the side of my neck.
No, I couldn’t fall for him. Not now, not without him regaining my trust. Biting my lip to stop the moan, my eyelids squeezed shut.
Holding myself still, it took all my self-control not to melt against him.
“Baby, I can feel your nipples poking my chest. I’ve been dying to tear this dress off of you this whole evening. I’m so fucking hard for you right now,” he murmured, brushing his thumb over my pulse and moving his hips against my core.
A gasp tore out of my mouth at the heated contact.
All it would take was one movement, and I would be his again.
But I didn’t want that, not without his word he wouldn’t hurt me again.
With a strength I didn’t know I possessed, I shoved Barun away before sitting up.
Smoothing my hair and my dress, I jumped out of bed to run to the door.
Turning around, I looked at the sexy man in front of me, whose eyes promised sinful pleasure.
“I’m surprised you didn’t check with my brothers before touching me. Or, is that a secret, too?” I snapped, wanting to thump his head for treating me like a damsel in distress with no mind of my own.
“Princess.” He moved forward, making me glare at him.
“Don’t princess me. And don’t you dare try bribing me with jewellery!?” My mouth tightened in annoyance, wanting him to know he’d fucked up. The moron didn’t realize that was all he had to do.