Shauna lowered her phone slowly, her expression tightening. “The guys have gone to Tryst, and some girl has been trying to get Akash’s attention. She’s at their table now. With her friends.”
Jiya’s brows shot up before a laugh slipped out. “Are you jealous?”
The truth hit her hard and fast. This… this restless, consuming urge to get up, walk out of here, find him, and make it very clear that he was hers…
If that was jealousy, then she was absolutely, unapologetically jealous.
She stood. “I’m going there.”
“Where?” Rhea asked. “To Tryst?”
“Fuck, you are jealous,” Jiya said.
Shauna shot her a speaking look. “Stop smirking. There are apparently a bunch ofgorgeouswomen with our men at a nightclub, and last I checked, both your men are very much eye candy too. So, I’m not sitting here while my man is getting hit on.”
“Bloody fucking hell,” Rhea muttered, pushing her chair back and signaling the waiter for the bill.
“I’m coming too,” Jiya said, grabbing her purse and swinging it over her shoulder.
Within minutes, they were in her car, and her newly assigned bodyguard was driving them to the nightclub.
Her mind was a storm of fury mixed with irritation. Akash was hers, and she wanted to scream that from the rooftops.
The pulsingmusic of the nightclub hit them the moment they stepped inside. Lights flashed across a sea of bodies moving in rhythm, the energy wild and electric. She searched the crowd for him, her heart racing.
Where was he?
She scanned the surrounding tables, but he wasn’t there. Finally, she looked up. And there he was on the level above at a VIP table.
Akash stood between Vir and Armaan, one hand resting casually on the railing as he looked out over the crowd. Vir was completely in his element, moving to the beat, thumping his hand in time with the music, while Armaan was talking to Akash.
Vir spotted her first. A wide grin broke across his face as he waved at her. Then he leaned in, saying something in Akash’s ear and nodding in her direction.
Akash turned. And the moment his eyes landed on her, everything about him changed. His face lit up, and in the next second, he was moving, making his way down to her.
Shauna didn’t move.Her heart thundered as she watched him walk toward her, his eyes locked on hers, like she was the only one in the room. His hands came to her waist, pulling her into him, grounding her against his body as he leaned in. His nose brushed along her throat, breathing her in.
“You’re here,” he murmured, his voice low, almost disbelieving.
She placed a hand on his chest, her gaze sliding past him, back to where he’d been standing earlier. “Where are those women you were with?”
He chuckled softly, his grip on her waist tightening. “There were no women.”
She frowned. “But Vir said?—”
“…Vir’s an idiot,” he cut in, amusement lacing his tone. “They both are. They knew I’d had a rough day and did what they could to get you here. So, for once, they’re actually the best friends ever.”
She blinked as the realization settled in.
She turned, looking back toward the VIP section. Vir and Armaan were already watching them, both of them leaning casually against the railing, smug grins plastered on their faces. Vir lifted his hand and gave her a triumphant thumbs-up, while Armaan waved at her.
Shauna huffed out a soft laugh, shaking her head, a lightness settling in her chest as the sting of jealousy faded. But something Akash had said came rushing back. Her smile faded just a fraction as she stepped closer, her hand sliding up his chest.
“Why did you have a rough day?” she asked. “What happened? Are you okay?”
He touched his forehead to hers. “I’ll tell you all about it. But later. Right now, I just want to hold you. Come dance with me.”
He took her hand and led her through the crowd toward the dance floor. The music thumped around them, but the moment he pulled her into his arms, everything else faded. His hand settled at her waist, tugging her closer, and soon they began to sway to the rhythm.
