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Avantika was looking around the jet, studying it with a critical eye. She’d surely find no flaw with it. It was top of the line, designed by the best in the business to make it a luxurious abode in the skies. The cream and shiny black interiors were world-class and quite lavish. He’d worked his ass off for years to be able to afford a luxury like this.
Her lips twisted in disdain when they fell back on him.
“You don’t like my jet?” he asked, curious about everything when it came to her.
“You mean the jet you bought by stealing my family’s wealth?”
“You want to talk about the past? I’ll be more than happy to get it out of the way.”
Maybe once she heard…
“I’m not interested.”
“Why?” He rubbed a finger down his jaw. “Don’t you want to know everything that happened that night?”
She blinked. “No. I will never discuss the past or your betrayal with you because there is nothing you can say that will change what I feel about you.”
“And what is it that you feel for me?”
“I hate you from the bottom of my heart.”
His throat clogged. Hearing that word from her mouth was pure agony. But he deserved it. He took a sip of his drink. The fine liquid tasted like sand in his mouth.
If the past was off limits, then there were plenty of other things that he wished to know about her.
He focused on her ring finger. There was no band there. Not even a mark. But…
“Are you married?”
She jolted at his question. “Do you think my husband would have let me be here alone with you if I was?”
“What about a boyfriend?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but currently, there’s no one. In the past? Hmm… There may have been one or two. Or were there more?” Her lips tipped. “I don’t quite seem to recall now.”
His heart ached at her pert reply. The feeling was familiar to him—it was one he’d battled with for years. He’d often wondered if there had been a man who held her close, who kissed her lips, who touched her… The thought of Avantika with another nameless, faceless man each time had made him want to commit violence. And now, hearing that she’d been with not just one, but many was no different. No matter thathehad wronged her, he still wanted to hurt and destroy all those men for putting their hands on her.
He sighed, calming himself. Her life was a consequence of his actions, a truth he had to live with. It was his decisions that had led to everything in the past and right up to this moment. Most certainly, he’d be living with the choices he’d made till the day he died. But that day was a long time away. Right now, he had today and Avantika in front of him. So, for now, he’d make the most of what he had for the little time he had with her. There was no point in wasting emotion over things he had no control over.
3
Anger, resentment, and distrust warred inside her. Avantika forced her gaze away from Dev and looked outside the window next to her. For a short second, he looked like he wanted to murder someone. Did the idea of her having affairs with multiple men bother him? Still? She remembered his possessiveness toward her in the past. After that night, she’d always chalked it to a façade he’d created to lure her into his web of deceit. But his possessiveness now didn’t make any sense. What did it mean, this possessiveness? Was he unhinged? Was his anger directed at the men she had claimed she’d been with? Or at her? Was she safe? Good God! What had she gotten herself into?
She had no idea what he wanted from her and what he would do to her now that she was finally alone with him…just like he’d demanded. She was afraid; of course, she was. He was her enemy…her sinner. But one thing was for sure. She’d never show her fear to him. She’d never give him that satisfaction.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him shift and looked up at him. Dev removed his black jacket and dropped it on the seat beside him. He loosened his dark green tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his charcoal grey shirt. Unable to help herself, she watched as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows.
She blew out an annoyed breath. Dev Luthra was undoubtedly very good-looking.
That hadn’t changed about him at all. His singular beauty had only matured with the years. His body was perfect. His broad chest and those arms bunching under his shirt showed the result of many years of hard workouts, no doubt. His hair was cut short and swept behind in some latest style above his wide forehead, his nose was a rugged slash on his face, and his high cheekbones sloped into a shadowed jaw that could cut glass. And then there were his full wide lips. Lips, which, she remembered, had a slight dip in the corner that only showed when he smiled. However, what was most striking about him were his deep, penetrating amber eyes that, at times, studied her as if deciding whether he wanted to devour her whole and, at other times, looked at her as if she had all the answers he was seeking.
She looked at the glass in her hands. She didn’t even like martini. She’d only accepted it because she realized that he’d brought the champagne out for her.
She studied him from under her hooded eyes. The years had indeed been kind to him, and Dev had grown even more handsome than she remembered.
She swallowed thickly. He was the father of her child. And the more she looked at him, the more she saw Neil in him. God!Neil. Her heart jumped. She hoped he’d be fine in her absence and immediately scolded herself for even thinking that. Her brothers had been parenting Neil since he was born. She knew they’d protect him and keep him safe. She had nothing to worry about. She looked up, and Dev’s dark gold eyes clashed with hers again.
“Don’t you have anything to ask me?” he queried.
