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“What if she makes a move on me?”
Rithwik’s eyes widened. “Fuck. You are attracted to her. I knew it. I just knew that’s why you offered the job to her.”
“I thought you said I offered the job to her to annoy her sister. Make up your damn mind, brother.”
Rithwik studied him for a short moment, his fingers rubbing his lower lip. Rohan felt a twinge in his chest at the insane similarity between them.
“I think it’s both…” Rithwik finally said. “Nonetheless, I will not allow you to use Jiya as a pawn in this age-old battle you’ve got going with Raashi and Keya.”
Rohan pursed his lips. “I promise not to use her as a pawn, Rithwik. You ought to know me better than that.”
“I’m sorry…” Rithwik gentled his tone. “Please just let her be, okay? She’s young and dreamy. She believes in rainbows and fairy tales and happily ever after, while you don’t. So, for my sake, stay away from her, please?”
Rohan sighed. His brother was right. Jiya wanted different things in life than he did. And even though the chemistry between them was off the charts, he’d never be able to give her a happy ending if that was her dream. He wasn’t that kind of a person. Hence, he’d have to put a stop to whatever it was that was brewing between them.
“Fine, Rithwik,” he said. “I will steer clear of her. You have nothing to worry about, I promise.”
His brother smiled. “Thanks, brother. Now let me go outside, and you can talk to Arnav and Aisha.”
Rohan spent the next few minutes chatting with his sister-in-law and his nephew. When he hung up the phone, his mind was clearer. His brother’s words made sense. Nothing good would come by indulging in a dalliance with Jiya because that was what it ever could be—a one-time dalliance. A one-night stand that would never become more because he’d never let it.
Besides, she worked for him. It would make their interactions at work extremely awkward once they’d slept together. Hence, for both their sakes, it was best they didn’t start something that had a predetermined end. His mind made up, he turned to his laptop to finish his work for the day.
8
That night, Jiya tossed and turned on her bed. She was unable to sleep. It was two in the morning, yet each time she shut her eyes, her mind was assaulted with images of Rohan and her. She recalled every minute detail of their passionate encounter. Her stupid mind shamelessly painted vivid images of them entangled on a bed together, him moving over her, making love to her. Her nipples pebbled, and liquid heat warmed her core. She shot upright, pushing the blankets off her. This was not good. She went to the kitchen and gulped down a glass of water, composing herself.
She exhaled. Her rash and impulsive nature had gotten her into trouble several times in the past, but this… There was no returning from this. For the rest of her life, she’d remember how his mouth had moved over hers. How his lips had felt against her skin and the way he’d worshipped her breasts one by one until she’d been a writhing mess in his hands. And his body… Hot damn! Her fingers itched to run over his rock sharp abs and that fabulous chest. Her mouth watered, even thinking about him like that. That man had a body carved like one of those Greek statues she’d seen at the Met Museum in New York. And that scar—that slight imperfection on his skin made him even more perfect. She longed to run her fingers over that mark. How had he got it? What had happened to him? She didn’t know, but she yearned to find out.
She’d crossed a line with him today when she’d made the first move and kissed him, but she didn’t regret it one tiny bit. Had they not been interrupted by Rithwik’s phone call, she knew she’d have been willing to take it all the way with him.
She paced in her living room. She’d accepted that she was drawn to him from the second she’d laid eyes on him during Rhea’s wedding. She had thought of him often, even wondered if he returned her interest, and truth be told, she had even imagined how it would feel if they ever kissed. Now she had the answer to all those queries, but it had only led to more questions.
Where were they going to go from here? How was she going to face him tomorrow when their mouths had been dueling less than a day ago? What did she even want to happen between them now?
She pressed her temples. Why couldn’t she be one of those sane people like her sister who acted only after thinking and weighing through dozens of combinations of options and solutions before they ever did anything?
She really was an idiot. She was normally very confident about everything, but one look into his icy grey eyes when she’d left his office had destroyed all her self-assuredness. He’d given away no emotion, not even a hint of what he’d felt. And now she wondered, if indeed, she’d been the only one impacted by the kiss and him.
Her mind was buzzing, and her nerves were like live wires. She exhaled. It sucked to be alone, especially when your mind was in a mess and unable to point you in the right direction. However, it was the middle of the night, and just because she was up and unable to sleep, it didn’t mean those closest to her would be up as well.
She thought of her sister. She missed her so much. She ached to confide in her and tell her what had happened. But she couldn’t. There was no way in hell she could tell Raashi she’d kissed Rohan. That would cause a bigger war between them. Their relationship was already strained, and this would only make things worse.
Although Raashi had finally texted her back, she was still mad at her. Nevertheless, Jiya sent her a text.
“Hi, sis. I miss you.”
Her phone rang immediately. Raashi was calling her on video. A smile lit her face as she answered the call.
“What’s wrong, Jiya?” Her sister’s worried face came up on the screen. “Is everything okay?”
“I was just missing you.”
“At two in the morning?”
“Yes. Why are you awake?”
“I was checking on the babies.” Raashi shut the door of a room and climbed a few stairs down before she sat on one of the steps. “Sameer took them swimming with Keya’s kids, and now they’re sneezing since.”
