PROLOGUE
Marquis Nightclub
Singapore
The bass pulsed through the floor, a hypnotic rhythm that seemed to echo the chaos in her chest. The Marquis nightclub in Singapore was truly one of a kind, thanks to the massive Ferris wheel built into its structure, a landmark that made the club as unforgettable as the nights it hosted. Yet despite its drama and glittering appeal, none of it managed to capture her attention tonight. Tonight, her attention was solely fixed on the man beside her.
Shauna Sehgal surreptitiously glanced athim—the reason her heart was rebelling against her.
Akash Karia.
Hernemesis.
The one man she disliked more than anyone else. Yet her gaze kept straying toward him. She forced herself to look ahead instead, fixing her eyes on the people in front of her. Anywhere but him. Because if she looked back, she’d see that infuriating smirk, the one that said he knew she’d been staring. And worse,he was watching her too. She couldfeelhis eyes on her. That’s why her pulse was thundering, and her chest was a riot of panic and heat. Dammit. They weren’t even alone. They were surrounded by people. Their friends, Aditya and Sabrina, were here too, although those two were lost in their own world, talking like the old friends they were. She ought to ignore Akash, like she always did. But tonight, she was finding it impossible to do so.
She exhaled, steadying herself. She’d spent years avoidinghim, years hating him. Her heart tripped, as if reminding her that there had been a time when she hadn’t disliked him, a time when he’d made her feel seen in a way no one else had. A time when she’d let herself believe something good could grow between them. But those hopes had shattered quietly, leaving behind pieces she’d learned to hide well. Since then, every exchange between them had come wrapped in sarcasm and sharp edges. Every glance seemed to challenge, every word daring the other to flinch first.
And yet… despite the bitterness and the constant clash between them, something in her still reacted to him. A pull she couldn’t understand. A fire she’d never been able to smother. And tonight, that flame seemed to burn brighter than ever.
Losing the battle with herself, her eyes drifted back to him. Oh God, why was this happening tonight? Why was she finding it impossible to tear her eyes away from that annoyingly handsome face of his?
His eyes found hers through the haze and the noise, and something inside her went still. The look he gave her was deliberate, confident, and way too sharp. Her heart pounded.
Giving up all pretense, she let herself look at him—really look. Dressed like sin in all black, his collar open and his sleeves rolled up, he looked like trouble. And the way her heart was hammering away, she definitelywasin a lot of trouble. Hereyes drifted over him, fixating on the open edge of his collar, where she caught a glimpse of black ink curling along the side of his neck before disappearing beneath the fabric of his shirt, as though the tattoo continued down his shoulder. She couldn’t make out what it was, but damn it, it aroused her curiosity. After knowing him for years, she was certain the ink was new, and like a fool, she wanted to know what it was and how far it went. Bloody hell. She was acting insane.
Usually, she was able to hide everything she felt for him behind a cool façade of dislike and aversion, but tonight, nothing seemed to work. Her heart wouldn’t stay still, and every time she caught him watching her, heat rushed beneath her skin. She exhaled a shaky breath. What in the name of God was happening to her? And why tonight?
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Akash’s low, velvety voice whispered in her ear, as if answering her unspoken question. “This kind of chemistry… you can’t fake it.”
She blinked, startled. Was he also feeling everything that she was feeling? Fuck. How bold of him to bring it up with her like this. Despite being her cousin Kabier’s brother-in-law, Akash and she had been at war for years, and yet there was this cursed attraction that refused to let her be. She didn’t know what to do about it orhim.
He shifted slightly closer. His shoulder brushed against hers, and a shiver ran down her spine. He was standing far too close for comfort, yet she couldn’t bring herself to move away. She inhaled, and his scent washed over her. It was heady, a mix of oud and wood, so delicious. She fought to keep her expression neutral, but her eyes, along with the rest of her, seemed to have a mind of their own tonight. She stared at him. No, she was staring at his mouth, the curve of it edged with amusement.
God, stop staring at his lips.
What was wrong with her? The heat from his shoulder seeped into her, burning straight into her skin and spread like wildfire. She shifted slightly, hoping to break the contact, but he moved with her, as if unable to keep away either. Her mouth opened and then closed. Why was she suddenly so aware of him?
His gaze lingered on her, deliberate and lazy, making the air between them thicken. “Something likethisis hard to deny.”
Shauna glanced at him, her pulse tripping at the confidence in his tone. “Is it?”
“Yes,” he said easily, flashing that infuriating grin. “I can always tell when sparks are about to fly. And trust me, they will tonight.”
The image of her and him tangled on a bed flashed through her mind. Her chest lurched. What in the absolute fuck was wrong with her?
She snapped out of whatever spell she’d been caught in and narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re so full of yourself. Why would I ever be attracted to you?”
His brows rose, the grin deepening. “Who said anything aboutyou?”
Her stomach dipped. “Wait… what?”
Akash tilted his head toward Aditya and Sabrina, standing ahead of them. “I was talking aboutthem.But it’s interesting that your mind went there.”
Heat climbed up her neck before she could stop it. “I… oh, just shut up.”
He chuckled, and the rich sound slid over her skin like a caress. God, she hated that it did.
Tossing her hair to the side, she looked away from him, feeling like an absolute idiot. Akash wasn’t supposed to be here tonight. She wasn’t supposed to run into him. Hell, she hadn’t even known that he was in Singapore. She’d been having a pleasant evening with Sabrina at Long Bar when they hadbumped into Akash and Aditya. Sabrina was pursuing a culinary course in Singapore and was staying with Shauna while Shauna completed her internship at a media company.
