Wicked fate, p.11
Wicked fate, page 11
All he’s ever done is hurt me and push me away, but now, all of a sudden, he’s warning me away from harm when he is the most dangerous to my heart and body. Sometimes, I feel like a pawn to him in a game that I can’t figure out. Despite it all, I crave him. Like sweet poison that will slowly kill me but I can’t stop sipping.
Closing the distance between us, he picks me up by my waist into his arms until I feel his lips softly brush against me, his heartbeat next to mine, and we breathe the same air when he growls, “Because your pain, your fear, every tear you cry, every waking thought, every moan, they all belong to me. You are mine, Maira. Mine to toy with. Mine to fuck. Mine to own. And no one touches what’s mine.”
My heart feels like it’ll beat out of my chest, and he feels it. I’m left speechless and my eyes fall closed when he kisses me hard till there’s no doubt in my mind that I truly belong to him, but my heart is unconvinced. Every woman dreams of being with a man worthy of her. A man who doesn’t treat you like his property. That’s all I am to him, and It crushes me that he’s got this hold on me and I’ll never be the same.
“But—” He shushes me with a finger on my lips when I try to speak.
“I’m done discussing this.”
My heart tells me to just run back in there and be with Sasha, but I know I won’t get far with Arav hovering near me. I don’t know who the hell the kings are, but even I can understand they are someone I shouldn’t be getting involved with. Then again, Sasha has spent her life here, and she really seems to know Keith well, so I hope she talks and sorts this mess out. As much as I hate Keith and his whole personality, even I can’t deny he watches her with intensity and keeps protecting her in his own weird way. Besides, I can’t do much now, so I’m going to let Arav think he’s won the argument.
But I won’t just leave my friend to the wolves. I’ll talk to her once I’m alone.
“Let’s go, princess.”
****
It like I’m floating high in the sky with the wind in my face and a smile on my lips while I hold tight to Arav as he drives us back to the cabin on his motorcycle. The tall trees rush by our sides because of how fast we are speeding, and the twists and turns don’t stop coming. Every time we lean, I close my eyes and hold him a little tighter. I don’t even point out when I notice he’s taking us a longer route, because I might never get this moment again, where we’re not enemies. Just two lonely souls, lost and out in the wild. His abs flex whenever I press closer, chasing his warmth, and it gives me a thrill and power to know he’s affected by our proximity. By me.
It feels like hours as we drive, and his words keep echoing in my mind. They shouldn’t have turned me on, but they did. His intensity alone gives me goosebumps and makes my panties wet. They give me false hope that maybe, deep down, he feels something for me other than hate. Because even though his words are meant to hurt, his actions say the opposite. He stood up and defended me from Keith when he threatened me. Someone who really wants to harm you would never do that. Then last night, he let me sleep beside him when he could have just left me alone.
I’m pulled out of my musings when he slows down his bike on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Taking his cue, I get off and stand to the side, looking around and seeing nothing but forest for miles while he parks his motorcycle away from the path.
“Why are we here?” I ask.
He stalks over to me and leans down, pushing my hair behind my ear to whisper, “To get you alone in the woods. I remember you quite enjoying it last time we were here.”
A shiver dances down my spine at the sensual promise in his voice, and he savagely grins when I push him away. “I’m not fucking you in the woods.”
“You would beg for my cock if I seduced you,” he threatens. “Don’t worry, we’re only going for a walk.”
My stomach fills with butterflies when he takes my hand and leads us into the forest from a small opening, and we walk on a trail leading up in the mountains. As we go higher, the evening sun shines down on us, and it plays hide and seek with us from among the tall trees. Arav leads us as if he’s been here before, which comforts me that we won’t get lost. The path becomes wide the farther we climb, and in the silence, I hear the familiar sound of a waterfall coming from nearby as the scent of wet grass reaches my nose.
“Is there a waterfall around here?” I ask Arav.
He looks down at me and nods. “It’s a hot water spring. I came to know about it from a local. It’s hidden, so not many people come here. It’s really quiet and peaceful.”
“Do you come here a lot?”
“I like the silence, and it reminds of happier times when I had everything a guy could wish for. Before it was all ripped away,” he says solemnly.
“It may seem that way after what you’ve been through, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness again,” I urge him, because I hate seeing him broken. No one should give up on life.
“When you’re betrayed by the ones you love, it’s hard to ever trust again. When you lose your child, moving on means leaving them behind. Finding happiness feels like cheating.” He lets my hand go and walks ahead.
It hurts me that he believes this, because his son wouldn’t have wanted him to live this way, but I don’t think he’ll appreciate me saying that, so I follow him quietly. At least he’s being honest with me without pushing me away the next second, and it feels like a huge step. Hopefully, it continues this way.
Soon, the grass and dirt become moist and slippery beneath my feet as we get closer to the hot water spring, and when my eyes finally take in the view, my breath catches in my throat with awe. I can’t believe it’s hidden away, because it is stunning. The steam rises high from the water, and the air feels fresh and musky. Suddenly, my foot slips on the wet stone and I’m falling down. I wait for my back to hit the ground, but Arav catches my fall and hauls me up by my waist.
Our faces are inches apart, and I can’t look away from his eyes. When I exhale, his gaze falls on my lips, and I lick them nervously. Closing his eyes once, he lets me go and steps back. I whisper, “Thank you.”
“I knew you would fall. You’re clumsy, princess,” he says teasingly.
“Ha ha. Very funny.” I roll my eyes. It also reminds of the first time we met. I was on my knees then, too, and it was all his fault. It feels like ages ago, but it’s only been a few weeks.
I stare at him in surprise when he once again holds my hand. “So you don’t fall again.”
My heart cannot handle this soft side of him, because it reveals he’s capable of being sweet, caring, and romantic. Him bringing me here and holding my hand protectively with the waterfall behind us, teasing and staring at me with openness while actually talking to me, all makes me feel like we are on a date. If I’m not careful, I’ll fall for his broken and cold heart, and it saddens me because it would be unrequited. I wish he knew he is worthy and deserving of love. I wish I could be the one to show him. I pray for so much more.
We both take off our shoes and carefully step deep into the water, sitting on one of the big stones with our feet dipped in the hot stream, and it instantly relaxes me. I sigh with content. As we sit quietly next to each other, I have so many questions to ask him that I can’t decide where to begin, so I ask the one I’m most curious about.
“How long were you married?” I assume he isn’t anymore, because he doesn’t seem like a cheater.
“I wasn’t. I was engaged for six months when I found out she was pregnant. It was the happiest day of my life, and it only made me fall for her even more. When we came to know about his condition after he was born, she didn’t take it well, so I had to take care of them both. But we promised that we would get through this together. At least, I did.”
It surprises me that he wasn’t married when he had his kid, because you don’t usually hear this when it comes to our society, or it’s kept hidden until the couple is married. It is depressing that in this century, these situations are looked down upon. It is sad, but it’s the truth. Arav registers the shock on my face but doesn’t comment, which I appreciate.
“Losing her son would have been horrible for her, especially if she was already depressed.” Arav’s eyes darken and his jaw tics. Then, just as quickly, he goes completely normal, as if I imagined it. “Where is she now?”
“She left,” he says coldly. “It’s my turn to ask questions now. Have you forgiven your father?”
I look at the water as I think how honest should I be while I answer him, because so far he has always twisted and hurt me back with my truth. Then again, today he’s being truthful and opening up to me, so I take a chance on him. I have already seen his worst. Or you’re just being naïve.
“I love my dad, and he’s my whole world, but he really hurt me. Especially when he denied it and tried to hide it from us. I mean, he kept it a secret for such a long time, and I could never imagine my dad ever abandoning his kid when he’s always been there for me. His callous actions hurt not only my family but also my step-sister, and when she needed him the most, he again tried to desert her. So I don’t think I can ever forgive him. It was too late by the time his fatherhood instincts grew, because the damage was already done.” My voice breaks as I try to hold back tears and the loss I suffered because of him. Sometimes, I feel nothing can ever heal these wounds that have become a part of me.
“Did you ever ask why he hid it?” he asks.
“No. I have only talked to him once after it all happened. It doesn’t matter, anyway.”
“You need closure, Maira. Otherwise, it will eat away at you. You can’t run away and hide from your feelings forever, because they will eventually catch up with you.”
His words cut me deep, because he’s right, even though I’ll never admit it out loud. “Yet here we both are, doing the same.”
I regret my words when a shadow crosses his eyes, making them appear almost black, and I watch him build a wall between us again. Just like that, the moment is broken, making me wish I should have kept my mouth shut. I embrace myself for his angry barbs about how losing a son is nothing compared to what I have gone through, but they never do. His chilling, deep voice forces my eyes on his.
“We are not the same, Maira. Even broken, you look at the world with hope and light, while to me it’s filled with unforgiving darkness and despair. You might be running from your demons, but I’m chasing mine. Even if they kill me in the end.”
CHAPTER 17
ARAV
Darkness soon falls as we climb back down the mountains. I had no intention of ever taking Maira to the stream, but this day has been full of unexpected turns and truths—like the fact that Maira’s father is a well-known therapist in the state, and my ex-fiancée Ria has been his patient for the last few months, which explains her being there and also explains her and Maira being seen together. Maybe they became close friends and started hanging out together. But what bugs me the most is why her overprotective father would will allow his daughter to spend time with one of his patients. Something doesn’t sit right with this. Still, it strengthens the fact that if there’s someone who can give me answers, it’s Maira. Earning her trust has just become more important, meaning this little game of ours needs to end. There’s another story building in my head, but I don’t want it to be true. It feels impossible. Or maybe that’s me being naïve. Only time will tell.
My attention is pulled back to her when she trips on one of the fallen branches, and I have to catch her yet again, which makes me laugh to myself. Under the flashlight of her phone, she can’t hide her embarrassed face, which makes her look even cuter. I’m unable to stop staring. I wish I was capable of love. The sudden thought comes out of nowhere and it scares me. Even if I was, it could never happen with her. She’s just a means to an end, I remind myself as I look away from her.
Roughly grabbing her hand, I pull her closer. In my mind, I say to myself it’s only because I don’t want her to fall and waste my time. “Watch where you’re going, princess,” I scold her, and she tries to jerk her hand away but I hold tight.
“You’re a jerk,” she snaps.
“If I was, I’ll let you fall on your ass.” It shuts her up. “It’s starting to look tempting,” I grunt under my breath. My heart begins to beat normally when we are back to annoying each other, and it’s familiar.
We are almost near the open road when she turns to face me and says, “You’re just pretending to be a monster. You do it so no one sees beneath the surface that you’re hurting badly. Despite the pain and the agony of your loss, your heart still feels deeply. The man you were before your son died is still inside you somewhere, and only you have the power to not let him die too, because Aryan wouldn’t have wanted that.” She goes up on her toes and rests her right hand on my cheek to softly caress and whisper against my lips, “I see all parts of you, Arav. The monster and the protector. And I’m no longer scared of you.”
“You got all that from me not letting you fall.” I laugh humorlessly. Yet again, she surprises me with her innocence and boldness, but she’s in for another lesson. Taking ahold of her nape, I tilt her head back and lightly bite the skin on her collarbone. “You should be scared, Maira. I’m still the same man who stalks you in the woods. The same man who gets hard at the sight of fear in your eyes. The one who sneaks into your room late at night to watch you rub your cunt. The one who wants to break you. The one you fall to your knees for and whose name you’re going to scream as I fuck you, right here and right now.”
My dark urges take control when she doesn’t stop me from finally claiming her. I’d planned to wait till we got back to the cabin, but plans change. Maybe it’s the need to dominate her after being vulnerable with her earlier, or it could be because she has the power to see right into my soul. I can’t deny any longer that maybe there’s a reason she fell into my lap. The question is whether or not I’ll hold onto her once I’m through with her and inevitably break her heart. Right now, none of it matters though, because she comes into my arms willingly.
“Yes! Fuck me, please.”
“Say it again,” I rasp against her ear.
“Please fuck me. Bite me. Choke me,” she cries out. “Show me just how much you hate me.”
“Those are very dangerous words to a man like me, filthy girl.” I take her leg and wrap it around my waist and press my hard cock between her thick thighs so she feels the bulge. “Feel what you do to me, princess.” She moans when I grind her against me, and it turns me on. Everything about her does, even when I hate her.
I walk her few steps backward so I can press her against the trunk of the tree behind her. I roughly shove her arms above her head and hold them there, which pushes her breasts out. The darkness around us heightens our senses, and it makes the moment more erotic as I caress and touch her trembling body while her breathing turns erratic and her cries and moans fall on my ears like music.
Bending down, I take her lips and kiss like I have been craving to do all day, and the urge is mutual when she opens her mouth and lets my tongue in. I can’t help but grunt when she shyly touches her tongue with mine, and I groan in pleasure when she sucks on it and moans at my taste. Her bottom lip is so full and soft that I bite and lightly lick to take the sting away. Touching her has become a necessity, like breathing air or water on a dying man’s lips. My other hand freely roams all over her body, squeezing her tits and pinching her hard nipples, and when it’s not enough, I grab the front of her thin sweater and rip it off.
Unable to control myself, I stop kissing her to watch her naked breasts bounce, and I desperately wish I could see the color of her nipples, because the memory from the morning is not enough. Like a starved man, I bend and lick around her hard nipple, and when she presses it harder against my mouth, I give her what she desires and take it into my mouth, sucking hard and popping it out with a noise which sounds dirty and naughty in the dark. I do the same to her other tit, until they both are wet and heavy.
Straightening up, I grab her throat and stare at her lust-filled eyes shining under the moonlight. “Tell me how I made you cum last time in the woods, sweetheart. You miss one single detail, I slap your tits until they are pink and swollen.”
Her cheeks turn red from blushing and she bites her lip nervously. “Please don’t make me say it.”
Wrong answer. Like I promised, I smack her left tit, and the sound echoes around the dark forest. Shock leaves her speechless, and my dick hardens even more when my handprint forms on her beautiful skin.
“I can go all night, baby,” I growl. “The sooner you say, the sooner I fuck your pussy. Now be a good girl and tell me.”
She closes her eyes and whispers, “You chased and cornered me and shoved me up against you, just like right now.” She gazes up at me and goes on, “Now every time I close my eyes, the memory of it makes me wet.”
Our desires are twisted and filthy.
A predator and his prey.
