Page 71 of Every Move You Make
Kabier returned with a bottle of champagne, a maid following close behind with a tray of flutes. He popped the cork with a practiced flick and began passing the glasses around himself.
Once everyone had one, he lifted his own and grinned at the two of them. “To Akash and Shauna,” he said warmly. “May this marriage give you a lot of strength, a truckload of patience, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.”
Glasses were raised, and the toast was echoed back. Soon, everyone resumed talking. Dates and venues were being discussed. Someone was already arguing about guest lists. Plans were forming at alarming speed.
Shauna moved closer to him. “Of all the scenarios I painted in my head, I hadn’t expected this.”
“This was too easy, wasn’t it?” Akash said, sipping from his glass.
She chuckled. “Don’t sound so suspicious. Let’s accept this as our good fortune. I’m glad they are on our side and have made it so easy for us to do this.”
“Yeah, but?—”
She pressed her fingers against his mouth. “No buts. Take the win. The road ahead isn’t going to be easy. You and I living together… every day? Seeing each other at work and at home?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I really hope I don’t end up killing you.”
He caught her hand before she could pull it away, lifting it slowly. He pressed a kiss to the center of her palm.
Her eyes flared, and her lips parted on a soft exhale.
“If that’s the risk,” he murmured, “then I’ll consider it worth it.” His thumb brushed over her knuckles. “Besides, I’ve always had a weakness for dangerous women. Andyouare the most dangerous of all.”
Her breath faltered. The air seemed to thicken, charged with everything they’d never said out loud. When she looked back up at him, there was confusion there, yes, but also raw and unmistakable want. And for once, she wasn’t hiding what she felt from him. She was openly showing him that she wanted him.
That hit him harder than he’d expected. There was an unguarded vulnerability in her eyes now. It mirrored exactly what he was feeling. His heart stuttered. This pull between them wasn’t new. It was old. Familiar. Like something that had been waiting patiently for them to stop resisting it.
When she touched his cheek, his breath slowed. The warmth of her palm grounded him even as his pulse kicked up.
“What is happening between us, Akash?” she asked softly. “Why now?”
“We’ve been circling each other for years,” he said quietly, leaning into her touch. “We kept choosing to fight.” His thumbbrushed over her wrist. “Perhaps the timing was wrong before. But now, it feels… right.”
Her lips parted on a soft exhale.
“I want to go on a date with you,” he added quietly.
“A date?” Shauna echoed, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Yes.” He held her gaze steadily. “We’ve spent too much time fighting. Let’s see what happens when you and I are alone and not fighting.”
She looked away briefly, her teeth catching her lower lip.
He eased it free with his thumb. “I promise not to be too naughty.”
“Maybe I like it when you’re naughty.”
It was his turn to be shocked.
Fuck. Shauna was flirting with him, and he liked it a lot.
His thumb lingered at the corner of her mouth, unable to help himself. “Then I promise to be very naughty.”
Something hot and charged passed between them.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening after work,” he said. “Let’s do dinner.”
“A date on a Monday night,” she chuckled. “Will you be able to get away from work on time?”
“For you, I will make time.”
