Chapter 36 :

Unknown person's POV

"The game has now started. Poor Ajay, he knows everything but still isn't able to spit it out", he spoke swirling the glass of wine in his hand. An evil smirk was spread across his cracked lips.

"But dad it's taking too long. I want her in my embrace soon and I'm already turning thirty next year. Don't you want me married and give you your grandchildren?", I asked before puffing out the smoke in my mouth.

My eyes darkened thinking about her. That curvy body, that soft skin and those lucious lips—it's been long since I felt them against my skin. I crave these so much that I wish to go right now, kidnap her and make her mine.

But the game will be enjoyable when I'll snatch her from him in front of his eyes and all he'd do is watch me get what's mine.

"It's time son. Just wait for two more months and she'll be yours, again."

I smirked.

°

Arnav's POV

Ever since Youngjae told he that he was suspicious about Anika, I've been nothing but furious. No one—I repeat no one in the world has the right to speak shits about my wife, including myself.

Ever since I've promised her to prove her assumptions about me wrong, I couldn't bring myself to hurt her anymore but hurt myself every time the thought of hurting her crossed my mind before. I've grown addicted to her presence and the bold aura. All she did the whole time was stand for herself when her husband himself was against her. She's strong and that's what makes her more tempting.

Tomorrow we are going to India to meet her bhabhi because she's pregnant and also Anika has a fashion show to attend there on the day after tomorrow. She'll be the chief guest there and also will have to wear and show the exclusive pieces there.

I'm proud of her that she's done all these all alone.

Yeah I hated her in the past, but it's different today. I can't hate her. But I don't know about love too.

One thing is sure that I'm addicted to her.

She controls the demons I have, the demons I ruled are now ruled by her. Without her, they'd go insane and that's not happening anytime soon.

About Youngjae, I need clear his misconception and for that, I might need to do some research and whatever needed. I trust her. I know that she's not involved in anything related to mine.

°

30 November, Saturday, 2024

8:30 a.m.

Author's POV

The vast concrete land was empty. The sides of the runway were shining through the fog of late November morning in Paris. The coldness in the air surrounded the FBO (fixed base operator).

A black jet with golden lining stood in the middle of the vast place, black Mercedes G-wagons stood on either side. Several bodyguards dressed in black stood there with their rifles, motionlessly.

Soon Arnav arrived, dressed in a black turtle neck and a black trench coat and straight pants, with Anika dresses in a black straight pant and silk shirt under a shadow grey trench coat, beside him, both followed by few guards who handled their luggage. Giving some instructions to Youngjae and Rehan, Arnav got inside his jet followed by Anika.

Within few minutes, both were settled on their respective seat. Anika sat in front of the empty seat beside Arnav. He wanted to sit beside her but knowing her anger for him, he kept the distance by sitting opposite to her.

He decided to take care of some work while she took out a book and started reading it.

°

11:30 a.m.

Arnav's POV

"Which book is that?", I asked seeing her reading some book with a dark cover.

Without looking up at me she replied, "The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley."

I scrunched my brows at the weird name because I don't read such books. Whenever I have time, it's spent on books related to laws and mafia rules.

"What's the theme?"

"It's none of your business. Focus on what you're doing since past three hours", she replied monotonously but there was something wrong and I knew exactly what it was. The moment she mentioned the amount of time I've been busy with my work, I realised that I had totally ghosted her despite promising to change for her.

I hissed internally at my idiocy.

Without speaking further, I went through the book's summary ik my laptop and what it was about. But the moment I went through the details, my eyes widened.

I have really got a bold wife who can read such books so freely and won't even hesitate to tell the name.

Ren used to tell me how his wife would shy away whenever he'd catch her reading some dark romance books. She had even changed the covers so that he doesn't catch her.

Guess what? My wife's the one and only woman of her kind.

I cleared my throat before shutting down my laptop and walked over to her.

"Can I have your some time doll?", I asked calmly, staring down at her not at all reacting to me standing just a few inches from her.

Closing the book, she looked up at me without showing a single emotion on her face.

"And why is that so? Am I bothering you Mr. Rai Mehrotra?", she asked monotonously.

"You're bothered because of me. I'm the reason and I'll make up for it", I replied sitting beside her.

"But we didn't even marry out of love. So why bother if I'm happy or upset?", she asked again.

"But I've given you my words to change for you. If I said that, I'll do that. Mark my words", I replied staring straight into her eyes. She didn't reply anything but kept staring back at me silently.

"By the way, will you mind going with me to the cabin now?", I asked clasping my hands on my knees as I tilted my face towards her.

"And why would I?"

"Because you won't regret coming with me", I replied.

She just sighed and reopned the book she was reading before continuing to ignore me. This woman is the only one who can ignore me and I'd let her do it.

Standing up, I pushed up my sleeves before folding down my turtle neck's collar once and bent down a bit. Sliding one arm under her thighs while the other went around her back, I picked her up in my arms and walked towards our cabin.

She gasped in shock before clutching the book close to her chest.

"What the hell are you doing Nav?", she almost yelled out of shock and frustration. I chuckled at her face of disbelief.

"I'm taking my wife to our cabin because she happened to ignore me because I ignored her. And by the way I like the new nickname", I replied staring down at her, a mischievous smirk on my lips.

She scoffed before looking away.

Her attitude actually makes her hotter.

Once I reached the cabin, I pushed inside the door before walking over to the bed and placed her on it. Turning back, I walked back to the door before closing it and walked over to the bed where she was sitting on now.

The loose black shirt which revealed the upper part of her cleavage because of the unbuttoned buttons, was a turn on for me. I must've worked hard in the last birth to get a fortune to have her.

Like how others call her, she's actually the devil in a goddess's body.

I didn't say anything but kept staring down at her while removing my wrist watch. Throwing it on the bed, I made her lay down on the bed before hovering over her. She also didn't utter a word the whole but kept staring back at me blankly.

"Do you know how tempting you look?", I slowly spoke in my deep tone.

"It's my power afterall", she replied in the same style as me. I smirked.

"You're very bold doll"

"That's how I am"

"Want to recreate those scenes from the book you were previously reading?", I asked and this time she showed some expression. She was a bit taken aback by my words.

Despite the coldness in the cabin because of the high altitude and winter season, the temperature between us heightened because of the rising tension. I wasn't able to tear away my gaze from her nor she did. My hands that were previously resting on either side of her shoulders, now one hand pinned her hands above her head while the other rested beside her chest.

"What happened doll? Did I surprise you?", I asked.

The previously shocked Anika now slowly smirked. She's not an ordinary woman to stay shocked and not think about anything else except shying away. She's bold so I anticipated her response.

"Yes I want to recreate the scenes", she replied. This time I was shocked. I didn't react much but just raised my eyebrows.

"But there's a condition", she continued. I wasn't surprised even if I didn't expect this. She won't work without her benefits and it applies to our relationship too because there's no mutual feelings between us.

I kept quiet to let her continue.

"Words Mr. Rai Mehrotra. Or shall I teach you to respond?", she asked, her voice deeper than before but it was actually a seductive tone.

I smirked.

"Yes doll, what's the condition?"

"You want to touch me right?"

"Yes"

"Then let me hurt you", she replied. I got confused for a second before she spoke to clear my confusion.

"You can touch me as much as you want but for that, you'll have to let me hurt you for how much you've hurt me till now. Understood?"

I was a bit surprised. She indeed uses her brain in such a way that no one can easily defeat her, including me. And I'll gladly lose if it's her wining against me.

"So pain for pleasure, is it?", I asked.

She nodded, "It is. Deal?"

"Deal", I replied simply.

She raised her one brow at me and asked, "Why did you agree?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why'd you agree when you want to give me pleasure and get yourself some pleasure too but pain comes along? Why'd you agree for pain?"

I let out an airy chuckle while glancing away before locking my gaze again with her. My orbs darkned as I replied, "Everything you give will be my luck to receive to from you. Because it's you who's giving it. The pain will be given by you and every pain you give will be a pleasure to me. Even if you kill me, I'd happily die because it's you in whose hands I'll die", I replied honestly.

"What if you cheat on me?"

My smile disappeared before I clenched my jaws. I leaned in a bit more till our noses were almost touching. There was little to no proximity between us. Her black eyes were shaking somewhere and it made me smirk internally. I knew I had some effect on her.

"I'd better let you stab me and drink my blood than letting the thought of another woman run across my mind. Got that doll or you need more clarification?", I asked.

She didn't reply and kept silent. Standing up on my feet, I fixed my turtle neck before holding out my hand for her to get up. But all she did was ignore me and got up before fixing her shirt.

I took a quick glance at her cleavage which accidentally revealed the black bra she was wearing. Looking away, I tried to lower down the neck of the top because of the sudden rush of adrenaline inside me.

It makes me want to grab her by her waist and kiss her till she passes out. I want to mark her everywhere especially her chest but I have to control. When she'll allow, I'll devour and worship her body like she must've never thought of. I'll worship her like the goddess of hell she is—Hecate, this Lucifer's Hecate. My Hecate.

Without doing anything further, I moved towards the vanity before fixing my hair. She didn't speak anything but kept standing at her place staring at me.

"I won't touch you today because you have to meet your bhabhi, bhai and the family members. It'll be hard for you cover up so many marks so wait till you meet them. Once done, I'll devour you doll", I replied and smirked when she looked away before walking out of the room.

I noticed her touching her neck and cheeks while going out of the room. She must've turned red.

The sight would have been so nice to see her blushing all because of me.

Chuckling, I looked back at the mirror. My reflection stared back at me as the smile faded.

What is this?

Who am I?

Why am I doing this?

What's actually happening?

I'm getting too much attracted towards her that it might be hard for us to part our ways when time comes.

No.

I won't run away. If I've got her, then I will worship her till God lets us be together. I won't push her away just because I feel so undeserving. She's in my life and till she's here, I'll give her everything I can so that I don't regret not giving her anything while she was with me. I don't want to regret anything anymore.

I don't believe in pushing away when somet

hing or someone comes my way. I believe that they were meant to come and that's why they are here or else we wouldn't have even known each other.

Feelings are so conflicting and confusing. God damn I swear!