Fixation (Fatal Attraction #3)

Chapter 14

14

R eina stared out of the window of her room, looking at nothing in particular. Coward. She was an utter coward. Once again, she had successfully managed to avoid him for a whole day. She’d again gone to him only when he’d been sleeping and had left before he woke up in the morning. But she couldn’t avoid him forever.

She was his chief doctor, and he was awake for most of the day now. She had to meet him at some point, perhaps even alone. She exhaled a rough breath. How was she to face him when she’d literally ordered him to kiss her? How could she look him in the eye when his scent still lingered in her nose, his touch still burned on her body? His hot mouth, his clever fingers—God, even now, simply thinking of him made her body melt. Their encounter in the pool had been so passionate, so intense, that she hadn’t been able to get her mind off of it. Well, she couldn’t seem to get him off of her mind.

She covered her eyes with her hands. She, Dr. Reina Singh, was getting fixated on her patient. And not just any patient, but undeniably the most attractive man she’d ever come across.

Stop. She had to stop being infatuated with him. It conflicted with everything she held dear. And it had all started with that one kiss. She never should have initiated the first kiss. Had she stayed away from the sinful temptation he presented, she’d never be in the position she was in now.

Vedant, too, didn’t make it any easier. He teased her mercilessly, and enjoyed watching her squirm. He provoked her constantly, and like a fool, she reacted to him every single time. No other man had ever challenged her the way he did. Perhaps, that’s why she found him so different and tempting. But she’d never given another man a chance—a small voice in her head said. Then why him?

Her heart plunged. Fuck, that was true. Why was she so ready to jump into the wild unknown with him when she’d never given another man a chance before?

God, she was so doomed.

Vedant Oshnov had her completely under his spell. His laughter, his talk, his naughty banter, his voice… the way his R’s were so pronounced when he spoke, the Russian words he used in between his sentences, the way his eyes heated when he watched her—all of it was too much to handle.

Her phone beeped on the side table. Her eyes flew to her door, ensuring it was locked. Navya was calling her.

She disconnected the call. There was no time to talk to Navya now. Her weekly meeting with Dr. Williams was to begin in a few minutes, and if she didn’t show up, then one of her colleagues would surely come to fetch her.

Reina typed a message to her.

I can’t talk now.

Her sister’s reply was instant.

Are you safe? Are you okay? Armaan told me everything.

If Navya knew where she was, then it meant that Armaan and she had sorted their differences. Thank God. Navya had been sad for too long without Armaan, and he too had looked miserable without her. Reina was so happy for them.

She smiled while typing her next reply.

Which means you and he are back together, am I right?

Yes, but Reina, I’m worried about you. Armaan’s promised me that he will get you out of there.

He’s promised me the same, but I cannot leave my patient right now, Navya. He needs me. Once he’s better, then I will leave.

Are you sure?

Yes. Besides, I like the break from the hospital. I’m eating well, I’m sleeping on time, and the place is great ;)

I’m still worried.

Why? Aren’t you in love with the brother of the man who is my patient? Why would any of them hurt me? Relax. Go be with Armaan and stop bothering me. I’m working. I’ll call you in an hour.

She’d finish her call with Dr. Williams and then return to speak to her sister. Switching off her phone, she hid it once again before leaving. On reaching the ground floor, she heard a commotion coming from the direction of Vedant’s care room. Worry for him overwhelmed her, and she ran to him.

“What happened?” she asked Su Min, who was standing outside the care room, arguing with Tyrion.

“He’s not here,” she informed her.

Ice spread through her veins. “What do you mean he’s not here? Where can he go?”

“I don’t know,” Su Min replied. “This guard refuses to tell me.”

Dozens of worst-case scenarios filled her mind. She addressed Tyrion. “Why is he not in his room? Where is he? Is he okay? Is he injured?”

Tyrion gave her a smile. “He’s moved back to his bedroom.”

“What?”

“Yes. His instructions were to only tell you when you asked, and no one else.”

“Oh my God,” she breathed out.

All that concern and fear that had been coursing through her evaporated and was now replaced with raw anger. He’d moved to his room without consulting her or checking with her. What if he’d injured himself in the process? She’d just about freed him from all the various screens and tubes connected to him, and he’d decided to shift to his own room. How careless was that?

“Which one is his room?” she calmly asked Tyrion.

“First floor, the wing across from yours. Just climb the stairs, take a left, and go to the last room at the end.”

She handed her notes to Su Min. “Take these and present them on my behalf to Dr. Williams. I need to have a talk with our patient.”

Su Min caught up to her as she began walking away. “Dr. Williams won’t like it if you’re not there in person to address him. You know how difficult he can be.”

“Right now, I don’t care about him very much. I only care about ensuring my patient doesn’t do something stupid and hurt himself, and thus take us back days in his recovery.”

Pivoting, Reina marched up the stairs.

“Reina, wait,” Su Min called out.

But Reina ignored her. She was so damn angry right now. Just what the hell did Vedant Oshnov think of himself? She was going to give him a piece of her mind.