Chapter 33 :

28 October, Monday, 2024

Anika's POV

It has been almost three months and twenty seven days since I received that email. And it's been one month since Arnav went on a business trip and I came back from a fashion show in Italy for one week. It was of thirty days and he came back the day before yesterday. In these two months, I discovered a lot, adding to what I already knew. And the honeymoon tickets we had got as a gift, are still pending. The date is after ten days. I don't know if I'll bring disappointment to his parents, who so happily gave those tickets.

We have to go to India to see my bhabhi too since she's pregnant and I haven't gone to meet her till now.

From knowing who Arshi was and Mrs. Yumi Suzume is Arshi's biological sister, Yumi Arora. After marrying a Japanese businessman, she changed her surname. I was surprised to see that an over-possessive-for-nothing woman was the sister of such a calm and cool woman. Arshi would always dress in bright colors whereas Yumi would always go around being a Gothic lady.

But them meeting in secret didn't sit well with me. That was the only thing left to dig out and it'll be dug out tonight at the reception party. Arnav and Arshi's close friend is throwing his reception party and we're going there. That friend of his somehow happened to be Yumi's co-venturer.

Don't ask me how I got these details.

Just a few more days and it'll be four months of our contractual bond. Even if he was soft towards me in the initial days after my confession of the past, he again turned cold and distant. But there was a change. He didn't insult me anymore and tightened my security. Now not two but four bodyguards roam around with me wherever I go-two of mine, two of his. It doesn't feel awkward because I'm used to them following me almost everywhere.

Maya di had celebrated her completion of one month of marriage with her husband and here I am, four months are gonna be completed and nothing is there to celebrate. I'm happy that people around me are happy, atleast.

Shaking off the emotional thoughts, I focused my attention on the dress on the mannequin infront of me. I'm currently at an YSL store in a mall owned by Arnav's mother.

The dress fits the curves of the black mannequin perfectly it's been put-on on. The dress is elegant and classy. The black chiffon is in match with the blood red silk piece underneath. It's a strapless dress with a slit on the side, its end is a bit lengthy and trails on the ground if walked after wearing it. From the lower portion to the end of the dress is decorated with red stones on it. A perfect dress for me. The dress comes with a pair of black short net hand gloves.

A pair of black Louboutin heels as my shoes and a pair of red diamond studs made up for the jewelry. The theme is '90s elegance' and my outfit is perfect for that even if it's dark. He'll be wearing a black suit-pant and tie with a blood red shirt. It was the stylist's idea to wear matching outfits.

Paying for the dress, I headed home.

I looked down at my watch. It's 1:30. I have an ample amount of time before I start getting ready. I can keep an eye on someone now.

Taking out my tab from my bag, I turned on the CCTV Camera footage of my cabin.

A woman dressed in white shirt and black pencil skirt was roaming around the space searching for something. I smirked slightly staring at Ryle moving like a thief searching for something with the fear of getting caught, in her heart.

I let out an airy scoff at people's foolishness.

Everything that's happening isn't the way it seems, too secretive to be true so shhh, keep calm for a while.

Soon the car halted at the door of his mansion as my personal bodyguard opened the door for me. Getting down I went inside to get fresh and take some rest.

While I was on my way to my room, I connected a call.

"You did well", I spoke as the call connected.

"That's my duty Ms. Roy Chowdhury", spoke the other person.

"Okay then, send it fast"

She responded with a 'yes ma'am' as I hummed in response before hanging up.

The day wasn't as hectic as it was during Arnav's absence. Sneakily doing things was very risky and serious because he had his security cameras everywhere in the mansion and his bodyguards.

He can't find out more than needed for now or once he gets to know about it, he'll take everything in his hands and my hard work will go in vain.

•

5:30 p.m.

"Are you done?", his voice echoed in the room out of nowhere.

I was done and just the zip of the dress was yet to be done. My hands were at my back struggling to pull it up but it was stuck somewhere. The annoyance I was feeling must be visible on my frowning face. The stylists left after getting me ready on my orders and now I regret that.

"No I'm not", I replied turning my back at him as I kept struggling.

There was no response for a while and I assumed that he had left. I tried to pull it up while sighing in annoyance until I felt my hands being released from the zipper. I looked up at the mirror catching the sight of his figure towering mine from the back.

He was clad in the same outfit I had mentioned earlier with his hair brushed neatly and the mullets were tied up. He was wearing his specs and it indeed matched with his slightly olive skin with a clean shaved beard. He looks like an angel but the devil he is.

The Devil was also an angel.

I tried to relax my shoulders once he started zipping the zipper up, staring straight at me through the mirror. His grey gaze was intimidating for me, at least for now. His cold skin grazed over my burning one-because of the close proximity and his musky cologne surrounding me.

His hand stopped the zipper in the middle. I neither spoke anything nor reacted in any way. I kept blankly staring back at him through the mirror, even if my heart was beating like crazy.

He left the zipper before placing his hands on my waist as he pulled me against his chest, letting me collide as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I gasped because of the action and my gaze fell from his eyes to his parted lips. A slight smirk was there.

None of us spoke but the proximity did. The growing tension did. I don't know why my body was reacting like that when I was supposed to hate him and stand against him. I wanted to be bold but his dark aura seemed to suck it up.

My breathings fastened when he started caressing the sides of my waist. He bent his head before placing it in the crook of my neck. The tingling feeling of his hair strands and his warm lips on my skin felt like a forbidden burning desire. Time ran at its pace but the sound of anything else around us indeed faded.

This ain't a romantic fairytale. It's a dark romance full of forbidden desires and needs burning in our eyes. It's a match made in hell, protected by the hellfire. And that hellfire would burn us down the moment we commit the sin of falling in love and unite.

My head fell back on his shoulder the moment he started sucking on my neck, softly. It was deliberate but the sensations they sent all throughout my body was making me ache for more. I hated myself for this but sometimes our needs take over us. And that's exactly what happens every time I'm with him.

My heart thumped inside my chest as he slowly sunk his teeth into my skin. To distract me from the pain, he held the other side of my neck in his right palm as he made circles on my skin with his thumb, while the other was still caressing my side waist.

I was getting too lost in his slow sensual touches that I had closed my eyes giving in to his seductive torture. I don't know what effect he has on me but ever since things between us have escalated a bit, the uneasiness in my heart seemed to fade. It seems that I don't feel anymore uncomfortable with him. I hate him even if it's fake because hate is much stronger than expected and it'll help me get away after the time comes.

Even if it had been a fairytale where I'd been promised a happy ending, the days I'd spend with him would be hollow and meaningless. No memories attached and no feelings involved and that's something I don't want. I don't even wish to fall again. I just had enough.

His sucking on my neck for so long cut through my thoughts. An ache formed down there when he ran his tongue slowly over the stinging part, the wetness somehow matching to that down there. Even if I wasn't able to believe that he was turning me on, it wasn't hard to believe that he had the power to do so.

He then pressed a chaste kiss on that portion before trailing his wet kisses from the nape to my shoulder. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin when he squeezed my waist. His touch was electrifying and sinfully magnetic. No matter how much I resist, I'd end up giving in to the painful pleasure it gave.

He's going to ruin me with his seductive manipulation. And maybe....I'm gonna let him do it.

It's a journey of sensual manipulation for destruction.

Once he had kissed all over my right shoulder, he was about to move to the other side when I flipped our positions and now he was caged between me and the vanity.

I smirked seeing his flabbergasted face, "Why not 50/50?"

He was for sure taken aback but the previous smirk returned. He tilted his head upward, still staring down at me as he rested his hands on the vanity table.

"Try it", he replied in his husky tone.

I let out an airy chuckle before leaning in placing my hands on his lower torso. Letting my hands unbutton his coat, I roamed my palms over his waistcoat. I was able to feel his eight packs even under layers of clothing.

All the while, I was staring straight into his grey orbs which had turned as dark as a tornado on the ocean. He wasn't showing a single emotion in his eyes but I knew I had an effect on him. He can't resist me and I know that or else, he'd have shoved away my hands by now.

I let my palms run from his lower torso to his busts, as I slid them under the coat. I massaged his shoulders slowly making him let his head fall back and leave an airy moan.

I smirked more. I had never been this bold while being sexual with someone. Even if not submissive, but not so dominative too.

His closed eyes, half open mouth that gasped for more air, the Adams apple bobbing up and down as he gulped was a turn on but for me, it was my benefit.

Moments passed when he finally realised and raised his head to find me standing at a distance from him with my arms folded over my chest. I was still staring at him with a smirk.

"Didn't know that my dear husband can lose control too", I spoke pointing with my eyes to the boner fighting with the pant material to come out.

He didn't reply but shamelessly smirked back, still in the previous position.

"We should get going before I handcuff you and make you scream all night", he spoke fixing his coat before walking out of the room.

I chuckled before picking up my purse and walked out. My cheeks are burning.

I don't know why and how we most of the time end up like this but it's relaxing and pleasurable. I feel good. It feels like I'm hurting my self respect but still I give in and that angers me later on. I regret everything but still repeat the same.