“Cheeseball…” he whispered finally, his voice soft but firm. “You’re not getting rid of me.”
And at that moment, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to.
26 ♥?Kiara
It’s Dadi’s birthday today. Looking back, this trip to Mumbai has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. The weather, the beach, and—let’s not forget—the countless earth-shattering orgasms delivered by none other than the great Mr. Manav Oberoi have left my body in a constant state of delicious disarray.
We’d been… well, mostly in bed. But let me clarify—It wasn’talwayswhat you’re thinking. Sometimes, we did regular human things—like watching Netflix, tossing playful jabs at each other, and just existing in this cozy bubble we’d somehow created.
But then there were the other times—the times when he’d look at me with those smoldering eyes—and suddenly, I’d find myself transported to another universe.
How does he manage to walk the line between soft and fierce so effortlessly? One minute, he’s tossing popcorn at me for getting emotional over a movie, and the next, he’s pinning me against the headboard, whispering things that should probably come with a “Rated R” disclaimer.
My eyes are closed as I sit in the passenger seat, Manav’s hand holding mine while he drives. The radio hums softlyin the background, but my mind is elsewhere. Why do I want this to be my life? Oh, right—because I’m hopelessly, undeniably in love with this man.
“You’ve been quiet.” His deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
“Just… thinking.”
“About what?”
“What am I supposed to tell Dadi…?”
“You’re not going to tell her anything,” he says, his grip on my hand tightening slightly, “because in the next hour, we’ll be in Delhi, celebrating her birthday like we planned.”
“You heard Dad, Manav,” I protested weakly.
“Dadi needs you. You’re going. No arguments.”
“I…”
Before I can get another word in, my phone buzzes on the dashboard. Roy’s name flashes across the screen. I picked it up reluctantly, placing it on speaker.
“Hey… Bhai… You’re back?”
“Yes. Where are you? Dadi’s about two seconds away from canceling the whole party if she doesn’t see you, Kiara.”
“Bhai…”
“Is everything okay?” His voice is sharper now.
“I…”
“And one more thing,” Roy interrupts, his tone dead serious. “You and I are going to talk.”
“About what…?”
“Your boyfriend.”
The line disconnects before I can respond.
When I glance at Manav, his smirk is unmistakable, dancing across his lips. That smug expression says everything he isn’t—yet.
I groaned, sinking deeper into the seat, my free hand covering my face. “I can't believe this.”
____________
The car rolled to a slow stop, the crowd of flashing cameras and murmuring reporters closing in like a tidal wave. The hum of voices grew louder as the media caught sight of us. My heart thumped in my chest as I glanced at Manav, his calm demeanor unwavering.
