Because the thought of her kissing someone else while he was right next to her made him irrationally enraged. Even now, the mere idea of it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“You’ve been begging me for a kiss,” he gruffed, trying to make it seem insignificant. “I felt charitable today.”
“I do not beg!” she hissed, fire flashing in her eyes. Her anger only served to arouse him, wanting to see what else he could do to make her lose composure.
“You would.”
“Don’t be so sure of yourself.”
“How many decimals of pi did you count when I kissed you?” he asked, his slow smirk growing when her ire turned to surprise.
Aditi realised, stupefied, that her overactive brain had not been working while kissing Rian. Pi? She probably couldn’t have told him her name if he’d asked her thirty seconds ago.
Rian placed both palms on the wall beside her face, trapping her between his arms. The cool wall dug into her back, her heart flapping around like a caged bird in anticipation of what he woulddo next. Her eyes closed involuntarily when he leaned down, his breath warming her face. He traced the curve of her cheek with the tip of his nose, deliberately going slow until he licked one earlobe, flicking it teasingly, causing her breath to hitch.
“R-Rian,” she gasped, feeling woozy, his scent seeping into her.
“This is how I know, Aditi Krishnan,” he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. “If I wanted you to beg, you would.”
Her eyes opened to the rush of cool air as he backed away and walked off. She wanted to stalk after him and smack him for daring to tease her. But the embarrassing heat in her underbelly told her that despite her denial, Rian was right.
For him, she would beg.
15
Safe Words
Rian
“Pick a safe word.”
Aditi stopped halfway to taking a bite of her toast, blinking at the suddenness with which Rian had declared this. She sent a panicked glance where Nanamma had just disappeared, the sound of her morning prayers floating down the hallway.
The serene chanting ofSuprabhatamas a backdrop to discuss safe words for sexual exploration felt morally unsafe. It was also the crack of dawn and she had not slept the night, reliving his kiss over and over again until her body and mind had been so aroused that she’d had to indulge in some self-love.
She’d never orgasmed that quickly to the memory of just a kiss. So, if Rian wanted to discuss safe words at 6:30 a.m. on a Thursday while his grandmother prayed to all the lords of the Hindu pantheon, then Aditi would find a way to live with that.
When she didn’t reply fast enough, Rian spoke again. “A safe word is—”
“I knowwhat a safe word is!” she furiously whispered, crunching down on her toast for emphasis.
“You do?” Rian hated the idea of a dickwad like Harish ever having touched Aditi. He didn’t deserve to lick dust off her feet, and knowing all the ways in which he’d offended her, Rian was certain he must have been a selfish bastard in bed as well. He passed Aditi her latte, unable to help himself from adding another diss. “Your ex didn’t seem adventurous enough to need one.”
“He wasn’t. But I’m a woman in my prime.”
Rian’s brow lifted.
“And I’ve read books,” she added, a becoming blush gracing her skin. He adored that she couldn’t lie well. It fit her personality.
He leaned over the counter so that he was face to face with her. “One of these days, I want you to read these books to me.”
Her blush deepened.
“Read them yourself,” she suggested, trying to sound annoyed. She looked away, and that was the only reason she didn’t see the momentary loss of his teasing smile before he shook it off.
“No. I’d rather have you do the honours. Or we could listen to the audiobook together.”
She raised her half-eaten toast and waved it at him. “That’s not part of this deal we have going on here.”