CHAPTER 9 （Enemy lines）
TRISHA
My lips were still tingling from the urgent kiss we had just shared. I was the first to break away, gasping for air. Krish’s dark eyes bored into mine, equally breathless. The tension that had been building between us for months had finally reached its breaking point.
I couldn’t ignore it anymore—this magnetic pull I felt towards him. In the heat of battle, running on pure adrenaline, my body had acted on its own accord. But the truth was, I had wanted to kiss Krish for a long time. The urge had just been simmering under the surface until it finally boiled over.
Seeing him fight fiercely by my side to take down Daniel had stirred something primal in me.
He was the only one I completely trusted to watch my back.
Over time, he had become so much more than just my mentor or commanding officer.
Krish was the person I relied on the most, someone I couldn’t imagine being without.
As we stood there, time seemed to stand still while a thousand unspoken words passed between us.
I knew I had crossed a line, but I didn’t regret it.
I was tired of resisting what I felt for this man.
His strong, reassuring presence grounded me.
His humour made me laugh when all seemed lost. His belief in me gave me strength.
I made my decision then and there to stop running from this connection between us. I didn’t know where it would lead, but I was done pretending it didn’t exist. My hand drifted up to caress his stubbled cheek gently as I gazed at him, heart thudding in my chest.
Just then, we heard the sounds of our team approaching. The charged moment was broken, and we reluctantly drew apart. It was time to get back to business. The battle was won for now, but the war still raged on.
Krish quickly resumed command, instructing the men to check the bodies and prepare to move out. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves as I slipped back into mission mode. What had passed in those frenzied moments would have to wait.
As we made our way back to the safe house, Krish and I didn’t speak of the kiss.
But the memory of his lips on mine, his hard body pressed against me, lingered.
I could still feel the ghost of his touch on my skin.
Things had irrevocably changed between us.
What it meant for our partnership going forward remained uncertain.
Yet, as we strategised over plans for our next move, I felt closer to Krish than ever. I trusted him completely, in every way. Together, we would keep fighting until Max and Ron were brought down.
**************
The hot shower washed away the grime and exhaustion from the day’s events.
As the water cascaded over me, my mind replayed it all—the shootout, taking down Daniel and Marco, and that heated kiss with Krish.
Just thinking about the feel of his lips on mine made my heart race all over again.
I still couldn’t believe I had been so brazen.
After towelling off, I slipped on my robe, my hair still dripping wet. The enticing aroma of stir-fried noodles wafted from the kitchen down the hall. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since early morning.
I followed the savoury scent to find Krish cooking up a late dinner, fully absorbed in his task.
The domestic scene made me smile. His hair was also damp from the shower and he wore a soft grey tee that hugged his muscular frame.
While keeping one eye on the wok, he spoke seriously into his phone.
I caught the tail end of his conversation.
“Don’t worry about that, Sudesh. I’ll brief the directors on everything. Just send me the intel you have on Ron’s movements so far. I’ll need that.”
Of course, he was already planning our next steps, coordinating with the team back in Kuala Lumpur. Krish never stopped strategising, determined to take down Max and Ron for good. It was part of what made him such a skilled agent and leader.
Before he could turn and notice me there, I crept up behind him, sliding my arms around his waist. He tensed in surprise before relaxing into my embrace. I splayed my fingers over his toned stomach, resting my cheek against his strong back. The clean, woodsy scent of his skin enveloped my senses.
Krish quickly wrapped up his call, covering my hand on his waist with his own briefly. When he turned to face me, his gaze travelled over my robe-clad form appreciatively.
“Dinner’s ready,” he murmured, brushing a wet lock of hair from my face. His fingers lingered, cupping my cheek with a tenderness that made me shiver.
We ate at the small kitchen table, knees occasionally bumping. A new energy hummed between us now. I caught Krish’s heated looks over my glass of wine, no longer hiding his desire. After months of restraint, everything was bubbling to the surface.
I helped Krish clean up, our movements in easy sync.
As we finished, he came up behind me at the sink, his hands circling my waist again as his lips found the sensitive spot below my ear.
I leaned into him with a sigh, our bodies fitting seamlessly together.
No more pretending we were just colleagues. The floodgates were open now.
We had crossed a line today, one that couldn’t be erased. I turned in his embrace, meeting his mouth in a lingering kiss, silently promising more. Krish’s kiss left me breathless, his hands burning trails of fire over my body. When we finally broke for air, he rested his forehead against mine.
“I was worried you’d retreat behind your walls again, pretend the kiss never happened,” he admitted.
I caressed his stubbled jaw. “I’m done hiding how I feel, at least from you.”
We both knew I’d still have to keep it under wraps from the outside world. But with Krish, I could finally stop holding back.
He captured my mouth again, kissing me deeply.
My fingers threaded through his dark locks, pulling him closer.
His hands roamed my back, tracing each contour as our tongues tangled.
Every nerve ending was alive, my skin hyper sensitive everywhere he touched.
His lips traced a heated path down my neck that had me gasping.
“Krish...” His name escaped as a moan.
He pulled back, his eyes dark with desire yet unsure. “What are we to each other now, Trisha?” His voice was rough.
I shook my head, tracing his sculpted lips with my fingers. “Let’s not define this. I just know I want to be with you.”
He looked puzzled by my reply.
“Naming it would mean expectations, boundaries that I am not yet ready to explore. What we share is special, Krish. But I also value the freedom and flexibility we have without the constraints of a defined relationship status.”
I met his gaze, hoping he understood the depth of my feelings.
“We have a long way to go, and I believe that journey will unfold naturally. We don’t need to rush into labelling what we have.
Right now, I’m content with the beautiful bubble we’ve created together, where we can simply be ourselves without any pressure or expectations. ”
“You think I wouldn’t live up to your expectations?” he asked in a low voice.
“It’s not you that I don’t trust. It’s me.” I swallowed.
Krish searched my eyes, nodding slowly as understanding passed between us. Then he ducked his head, bringing his mouth back to mine.
Thanking God that Krish didn’t press for the need to label our present relationship status, my hands roamed the hard planes of his chest as we kissed unhurriedly, our tongues dancing languidly.
I could get lost in his taste, his touch.
The outside world ceased to exist; there was only Krish and the exquisite sensations he awakened in me.
Without a delay, Krish lifted me off the floor and made me sit on the cool marble slab at the centre of the kitchen.
My robe fell open, and his palms glided over my thighs, tugging the silk fabric up.
I arched into him, craving more as he stood between my legs, hands skimming up my thighs, pushing the robe higher.
My breath stuttered when his fingers stroked over my inner thighs.
I rocked my hips, seeking more friction as delicious pressure built.
Tonight was just the beginning for us. We had crossed a line from work partners to lovers.
But there were still so many firsts to share, and I wanted to cherish each one.
I clung to him, trusting his lead. Krish’s hands and lips on my body were pure bliss.
The last thing I wanted was for this intimate moment between us to end.
But the sharp shrill of my phone made me groan in frustration.
Krish reluctantly pulled back as I fished the offending device from my side. Sudesh’s name flashed on the screen.
“You should take it. It could be important,” Krish said, perceptive as always, even with desire still burning in his eyes.
I nodded, clearing my throat before answering. “Sudesh? What’s up?”
“Hey Trisha, sorry to interrupt your time off. I know you’re still recovering, but I could really use your help collating all the intel we have so far on Max and Ron’s operations. Most of it is on your laptop from your earlier work.”
I sighed, knowing this bubble had to burst eventually. “Sure, give me two minutes to get set up, and I’ll meet you online to go over everything.” With a promise to hurry, I ended the call.
Krish gave me a sympathetic smile, no doubt reading the disappointment on my face as duty called us back.
“We knew this was coming sooner or later,” he said reasonably, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “But we have enough time; there’s no rush for us.”
His reassurance warmed me. He was right—we could pick this up again later. Maybe tomorrow. The mission still needed us. I nodded, leaning in for one more kiss before hopping down from the counter’s edge. His hands steadied my waist, keeping me close a moment longer.
“Go be brilliant, like I know you are,” he said with a grin.