Page 36 of Since You Stole My Heart

Her mouth watered. ‘Why are you eating lunch so late?’

‘Got caught up with work. I called Swayam to catch up, and he said even you guys hadn’t eaten yet, so I brought food for everyone.’

At the mention of Swayam, she tried to sound casual. ‘Where is he?’

Just then, they heard the click of the lock, and the door opened. Kashvi glanced up, and her breath caught when he walked in.

Swayam wore a plain teal T-shirt, darkened with sweat along the collar and across the broad line of his chest. The fabric stretched just enough to outline the firm muscles beneath. His loose track pants hung low on his hips in a way that made Kashvi painfully aware of how dangerously good he looked, still flushed from his kickboxing session.

Her gaze drifted helplessly over the broad span of his shoulders and the quiet strength in the way he moved. The memory of him pulling her into his arms surged back, and a sliver of heat rushed through her core.

Suddenly, he looked up and their eyes met across the room. The easy charm in his expression darkened into a burning need when she bit her lip, making her stomach flip. For a single suspended moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

Swayam took a step towards her.

Panic flared, and she turned abruptly to Luv. ‘So, yeah… food.’

She heard Swayam chuckle, sensing him move up behind her.

‘You missed breakfast. You should eat something,’ Swayam said, his breath brushing her cheek.

Kashvi tapped the empty plate with a spoon. ‘That’s the plan.’

‘Will you save some for me?’ he asked, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

‘I can’t promise anything,’ Kashvi warned.

‘I’ll die of hunger if you don’t,’ Swayam pleaded.

‘Then I’ll throw you a kickass funeral,’ she said briskly, which only made him laugh harder.

‘Give me five minutes,’ he said, moving out of the room.

Luv smirked. ‘The two of you argue like an old married couple.’

‘Just shut up and eat the biryani,’ Kashvi said flatly, unwilling to comment on that.

Luv grinned and obediently did just that.

When Swayam returned after a shower, dressed in denims and a navy shirt, he noticed the food strewn across the coffee table as Kashvi and Luv lounged on the sofa.

‘Oh, there’s still some food left,’ he observed with exaggerated surprise.

Kashvi gave him a cheerful smile. ‘We took pity on you.’

Swayam laughed and settled into the seat across from her. The three of them caught up as he ate. Though she tried, she couldn’t shake the warm, restless awareness of Swayam’s gaze on her.

The doorbell chimed loudly, and Swayam pushed back his chair. ‘I’ll get it.’

The moment he opened the door, Kashvi heard the distinct click of heels as Siya strode in, speaking on the phone with frantic energy. Abhay followed, quietly shutting the door behind him. He leaned against it, hands slipping into his trouser pockets, his gaze fixed on his wife with concern etched across his face.

Kashvi understood his worry. Siya was not someone who lost control easily, but today she looked dangerously close to it.

‘I don’t understand what gives them the right to do this,’ Siya snapped into her phone, her voice tight with anger. She tossed her black blazer onto a chair as she paced the living room. ‘Doingthis behind the scenes for no reason is arrogant and completely unprofessional.’

Not just close. Siya was spitting mad.

‘What’s going on?’ Kashvi asked Abhay.