I turned toward the entrance.
And forgot how to breathe.
Viya stood in the doorway, and she looked absolutely breathtaking.
She was wearing a red dress. Deep crimson that hugged her curves before flowing down to her ankles. The color was striking against her skin, making her look like some kind of goddess descended from mythology.
But it was not just the color that made my blood heat.
The dress was backless. Completely backless. Her entire back was exposed, smooth skin on display for everyone in this room to see.
I watched as heads turned. As eyes tracked her movement. As men I knew, men I worked with, looked at my wife with appreciation and interest.
Mine. She is mine. Those words pounded through my head with each beat of my heart.
Every protective, possessive instinct I had roared to life. I wanted to stride across the room, wrap her in my jacket, and hide her from every single person staring at her.
But I could not. Because nobody here knew she was mine.
Then I saw him.
Puneet. The friend from her wedding day. He walked in behind her, moving to stand beside her. He said something that made her laugh, her face lighting up with genuine amusement.
My hand tightened around my whiskey glass so hard I was surprised it did not shatter.
He was her plus one. She had brought him as her date.
They moved further into the room together, Puneet's hand at the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd. That possessive gesture that should have been mine.
The rational part of my brain knew he was just her friend. Just Puneet, who had known her since childhood. Just someone she trusted and felt comfortable with.
But the rational part of my brain had been drowned out by something far more primal.
She was laughing with him. Smiling at him. Looking up at him with those beautiful eyes that should have been looking at me.
She had not even glanced in my direction since entering. Had not sought me out. Had not acknowledged my existence.
It felt like a physical blow.
The band transitioned to a slower song, and I watched in growing fury as couples began moving to the dance floor.
Puneet extended his hand to Viya. She hesitated for just a moment, then placed her hand in his.
He led her to the dance floor.
My vision went red at the edges.
His hand went to her waist. Her hand rested on his shoulder. They began swaying to the music, and he said something that made her smile again.
His hand. On my wife's waist. On her exposed skin.
That was the limit. The absolute limit of what I could tolerate.
I downed the rest of my whiskey in one burning gulp and set the glass down with more force than necessary. My feet were already moving, carrying me toward the dance floor with single minded purpose.
I was going to cut in. I was going to take her away from him. I was going to make it clear to every person in this room that she belonged to me, consequences be damned.
But before I could reach them, a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
