Kidnapped - A Beautiful Blessing

ainst his tanned skin, though the dark stain of drying blood had already begun to seep through. Her fingers, now trembling slightl

he waste bin. The weight of what had just happened pressed heavily against her chest, but she forced hers

imson before fading to clear. She scrubbed harder, as if she could wash away the entire ni

nd already set-she had done her part. He was still alive.

teady, almost studying her. Then, a slow smirk curl

ement, but there was something el

don't expect a thank-you. Help comes from the heart,"

range." He paused, as if considerin

head. "What is it with you and your questi

itely not." His voice was smooth, teasing. Then, with deliberate

t up, turning to him with a glare

the washroom, the sound of running water filling the room. She let

the pillows, she clenched her

moved with that same unshaken confidence, his presence filling the room even when he s

in that silence lay the weight of their impending wedding-a fut

e cut through

'with a gun'? Why was

e tried to outsmart you with just a gun, then he was a fool. He should have considered your men-who'd kill

ment carried a darker undercur

is proves that all m

t 'all men.' I am the Pakhan. Do you think this position was handed to

m, her gaze sharp and unyiel

something colder. "Because girls are not meant for wea

d into her like a slap, but instead of retrea

l the 'men with we

is jaw clenched, his eyes narrowin

d, victoriou

nd the corners of his lips twitched. "Even if women birth

y? I didn't know you st

ality, it remains true. In your so-called modern times, what's the crime ra

is gaze. "

slightly, but no

g moment before both turned away, n

ration simmering beneath his skin. *What do

er in Mumbai when that bastard touched her, not he

ds to win an argument. No one can ever win against

d toward her sleeping form. The fire in her eyes, the sha

, was what unsett

ant chirping of birds stirred the air, weaving nature's lullaby around her. Sasha shifted beneath the silk sheets, the warmth of sleep st

emptiness pressed against her se

ace where he had been. The faint scent of him-dark spice and mus

r. She reached for her slippers, slipping them on with a sigh, then padded across the room. The sheer curtains bill

clinging to the leaves, and the golden glow of the early sun cast

h effortless strength as he lowered himself into another push-up, the slow rise and fall of his body almost hypnotic. The bandage

"That won't help your wound," she murmure

s with the ease of a man who was always aware of his surroundings. A smirk

under her breath, her fingers tighte

brow. "Did you

ng her head slight

playful suspicion. "I

nnocence. "Well, I'm capab

"Oh? I didn't know you had *that* skill t

e. "Shut up, you perve

sent an uninvited warmth crawling up her spine.

pped, folding h

n* my body?" His voice dropped slight

h before she scowled. "I m

lf up into a standing position. His toned chest gleamed under the sun, the sweat from his

d her fists

*," he said smoothly, tiltin

. "Talking to you is like ban

zed. "Then who told you to talk

e curtain shut with unnecessary force, blocking out the

eep chuckle, the sound linger

trast to the turmoil inside her. Every now and then, she stole a glance at Darius, who stood by the window, speaking into his phone in fluid, commanding French.

on in her shoulders refused to ease. Darius always had t

The silence that follo

ow," he stated, his vo

slow, cold wave crawled up her spin

orr

in her mind like

t of the priest?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral. B

t hesitate.

said smoothly.

is amusement, something that made her pulse quicken for all the wrong reasons. He wasn't bluffing. I

d, replaced by something colder. His next wo

or if I introduce you." His tone darkened, his gaze locking onto hers with an

e a damn trophy wife,*

etter than to

rous storm gathering within them. "Don't forget my rules," he murmu

ight of his words settling d

ye contact first. She wouldn't cower, but

arius turned slightly. "The designer will be here in an hour," he

lf-hearted, "Okay," before sinking ba

furious at him or at herself for

orr

o figure out what the he

esigners flitting in and out with fabric samples, florists debating over centerpieces, and

from endless skincare treatments, and her patience was stretched thin. When she finally stumbled int

lips as she buried her

her with weddings?" she mu

s. *They treat their words like law. They could just

ressing her further into the mattress. Her li

ationships without all this ceremony..

moments, sleep pulled her under, her bo

pent most of the evening handling last-minute security arrangements, ensuring there would be no interruptions during the cere

ge, her dress slightly twisted from tossing around in her sleep. Her brea

haking his head.

sly, he lifted her, repositioning her fully onto the mattress. The unconscious shift of her

t, his gaze linge

ted, her brows relaxed. In sleep, she looked at peace, stripped of t

forcing himsel

ck played by his own mind,

skin branding his own. The night she had surrendered to him, the way

w clen

h restless energy. With a frustrated exhale, he tu

old himself.

uld fully settle

ctively seeking warmth. Within seconds, she had curl

stiff

n now wrapped around him. One arm tucked under her cheek, her fin

to pry

clung t

s jaw ticked.

just enough to slide a small pillow into her arms instead. Almos

led, shakin

esome w

es to close. Sleep came easier this time, though somewhere

verything w