Page 86 of Every Move You Make
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Akash woke to the sharp, insistent ringing of his phone. The sound cut through the unfamiliar heaviness of sleep, dragging him back to awareness. With a groan, he reached for his cellphone, eyes still half-closed, and brought the screen into focus.
Reema. Why was she calling him?
He frowned, then glanced at the time.
10:02 a.m.
He shot upright instantly, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. He’d never slept this late in as long as he could remember. He woke up unfailingly at seven every morning. It had been his routine for years. He never even needed an alarm clock.
He raked a hand through his hair as memories of the previous night came rushing back. Picking up Shauna for their date, going to the new house, seeing his father’s image, going to Janak’s house, and then returning here with her.
God, his father. He’d killed someone. He’d been imprisoned, and now he was out.
All of that had been disturbing. The weight of it had lingered, leaving him tense, restless, and on edge, which usually guaranteed a sleepless night. And yet, for the first time in what felt like forever, he’d slept deeply despite his stress and anxiety.
And it had all been thanks to her. Shauna.
His heart pounded as he remembered how she hadn’t left last night. She’d seen him distressed and stayed. She’d held him and given herself to him to ease his pain and fear. And he’d selfishly taken all she had to offer him. He’d lost control thoroughly with her. He’d been wild and unrestrained, and now he suddenly feared he might have hurt her in the process.
His gaze swept the room, searching for her. But she wasn’t there. The other side of the bed was cool, the faintest trace of her scent still lingering on the sheets. His phone buzzed again in his hand.
Shauna
Hope you’ve woken up feeling good. I’ll see you at work.
I am good. Thank you for staying. I don’t remember the last time I slept so well or fell asleep so quickly.
Well, he was more than good, thanks to her. He stared at the screen for half a second. She sounded okay, right? He had to know. He typed quickly.
Are you okay? Did I hurt you last night?
Her reply came almost instantly.
Shauna
I’m not made of glass, you know.
He exhaled, but it didn’t fully ease the tension in his chest.
I wasn’t in control last night…
Three dots appeared. He stilled, watching them, his heart rate picking up as he waited for her response.
Shauna
Maybe I like you not in control.
Something in his chest shifted at that. A smile tugged at his mouth. He really had met his match with her. He kept rereading her message, his heart racing at the implication in her words. His finger hovered over the screen.
Shauna
Did I really manage to silence you, Akash Karia?
He barked out a laugh as he read her text.
Lifting his phone higher, he angled it slightly and clicked a selfie. For a second, he studied himself. The image captured him exactly as he was—bare-chested, the morning light cutting across the planes of his shoulders and chest, his hair mussed from sleep, the sheets gathered at his waist. He sent it to her without a second thought.
