Page 192 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘It’s a first edition!’

‘My nerdy girl deserves nothing less.’

Joy surged through her, too big to contain. She pressed kisses all over his face, making him laugh.

‘If this is your reaction to the book, maybe we should move to the bedroom before I tell you about the other surprise.’

She blinked. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We’re going to Mussoorie very soon.’

Her brows drew together. ‘Huh? Why?’

‘Because your favourite author is coming for a private reading event at the same bookstore where I found this book. And… I got us in.’

Her excitement spilled over, and Kashvi gasped. ‘Wait, what? But she never does events. How did you even get access?’

He toyed with a loose strand of her hair before tucking it behind her ear. ‘The answer to your earlier question is… yes, I am a magician.’

A note of mischief slipped into her voice. ‘So, does that mean I can ask for anything and you’ll make it happen?’

His gaze darkened at once as he flicked the ruby pendant of her mangalsutra. ‘I’ll do anything to make my wife happy.’

‘Then kiss me.’

Swayam yanked her flush against him, and the ache between her legs made her whimper with need. His playful demeanour was gone, leaving only desire burning in his eyes. ‘Say it again,’ he demanded, holding her gaze captive.

Her stomach flipped, a thousand butterflies fluttering within. ‘I need you to kiss me, Swayam.’

‘Fuck, Kashvi,’ he growled. ‘Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that?’

‘Show me,’ she said, curling her finger at him, beckoning him closer.

He followed her silent command and wrapped his arms around her. ‘That’s exactly what I plan to do, baby. In this life, and every one after.’

Then he sealed his promise with a fierce, all-consuming kiss and stole her heart all over again.

Epilogue

Two Weeks Later

Abhay leaned forward from the backseat, waving the empty packet of chips. ‘Stop at the next store you see. I need more snacks.’

Raghav rolled his eyes. ‘You need to get your priorities straight. What good are snacks without drinks?’

‘What I want to know is how long I’m supposed to be stuck between you guys like we’re kids on a school trip?’ Kusha muttered from the middle seat.

Swayam slammed his hand on the horn, and its loud blare drowned out their chatter.

Kashvi dragged her gaze away from the rolling expanse of mountains outside and looked at her husband.

‘Remind me again why exactly we allowed them to tag along with us?’ Swayam asked.

Kusha leaned forward and answered before Kashvi could. ‘Allow? As if we need anyone’s permission.’

‘Kashu got Siya hooked on Ira’s books too, so now they’re both equally obsessed. There was no way Siya was staying behind,’ Abhay remarked dryly.

‘Right,’ Swayam replied, stretching the word in a drawl. ‘We should’ve just left on the bike in the middle of the night.’