“It’s too much,” she argued, trying to tamp down that ridiculous bubble of pleasure that seemed determined to rise up every time Vihaan did something unexpectedly sweet.
“I disagree.”
“Do you know how much a bagel and a croissant costs?! I could eat vada pav off the street for an entire week for the price of one!” She glared at the unbothered lump of a human who continued to smile at her like she was an entertaining clown putting on a private show for him. “Cancel that order!”
“No.”
“The coffee! And bagel? I’ll be ostracised as an Indian,” she groaned dramatically, almost talking to herself now. “I’m a Punjabi kudi. I should be eating aloo ke parathe for breakfast and—”
“I can order that for you, too.”
“Quit being obtuse!” She stomped her foot, heartily tired of being the only one with sense. “People in my position cannot afford this kind of luxury everyday.”
“I guess I need to review your salary,” came his immediate offer, one that had her biting back a frustrated growl.
“Don’t you dare! And, how did you know about my coffee with cinnamon?”
“We’ve been in enough meetings together,” he explained, as if it was obvious. “I notice things.”
“Stop noticing things about me!”
“I don’t know if that’s possible,” he replied quietly, his gaze locked on her.
As quickly as her temper had risen, the fight drained out of her at his response. Being around him was too confusing. She recognized his thoughtfulness, but she hated that she liked it. All week long, she’d reminded herself that he was used to giving lavish gifts to all the lovers he was pictured with. But the mere knowledge that he’dspent time calling in these gifts put a dent in her armour. He was slipping through the cracks in the shield safeguarding her heart, and she didn’t want to find out what would happen if he succeeded.
“Why are you doing this?” she tiredly asked, unable to resist him when he reached out to pull her closer till she was standing between his knees, both hands on his shoulders.
“Get one thing clear,” he said, his thumb rubbing soothingly along her hip bone, right above where his hands rested. “I will not be asking permission to buy you something. For as long as we are together—”
“Shhhh!” she panicked, checking around her to confirm that all the blinds were drawn. “People could hear.”
“Am I your dirty little secret?” he asked, looking offended.
“Yes!”
“Calm down. I soundproofed my office after that incident with Olivia overhearing our argument. Happy?”
She growled grumpily in acknowledgment.
“Now, like I was saying, when we are toge—”
“We arenottogether,” Vera exasperatedly interrupted him, slapping her head with one hand when he stared impassively at her. “We fucked each other. That’s it.”
“You’d have done it again if my annoying friends hadn’t crashed into my apartment.”
“Do you think I owe you a round because the last one got interrupted?” She stepped away, unprepared when he stood up to follow her.
“Now who’s being ugly?” he tsked, closing the distance between them till her back was up against a wall. His arms came to cage her on either side while he bent low, bringing his lips to her ear. “You don’toweme sex, Princess. But if you expect me to turn you away when you all but climb me, you’ll be disappointed. I’m a selfish man who takes what I want, and Iwantyou.”
Goosebumps erupted across her skin at his declaration.
“I’m not sleeping with other women right now,” he murmured, raising his head to see her once more. His gaze traced every curve of her face, noting every minute reaction to his statement. “I plan to keep you too busy to pay attention to anyone except me. I’m not ready to end whatever this is. So, while it lasts, I will be buying you flowers, food, coffee, and whatever the hell else suits my fancy. You don’t like it? Throw it out. But be warned, there will be something bigger and flashier to replace it.”
“Just because you have money doesn’t mean you should be irresponsible with it.”
His gaze bored into her. The subtle tension in his shoulders would have gone unnoticed if she hadn’t been so keenly aware of him.
“It’s my money, Vera. Not my father’s. I could burn it if I wanted to—I’ve earned the right. You don’t get to judge me for how I choose to spend what’s mine.”