Fixation (Fatal Attraction #3)

Chapter 33

33

R eina frowned. Why were her sisters talking to Vedant? She chewed her lip, her entire focus on that one man who made her feel every emotion known to mankind. She’d spotted him the minute he stepped inside the house. Though she’d been outside on the lawn, she’d seen him through the glass doors, interacting first with her parents, and then with all the media personalities in attendance. Vedant Oshnov was a famous man, and his interactions with all those people confirmed it. He had an easy, relaxed way of talking to people that clearly put them at ease. Everyone who met him left with a smile.

Case in point her sisters, who were now laughing with him. She breathed out. How the hell had he managed to charm them? Until a few minutes ago, they were firmly team Reina, and now they were behaving like they were on team Vedant.

She inhaled. Her heart was a mess; her mind even more so. Like a fool, she’d waited for Vedant to show up at the pool again. She eagerly wanted to hear the fantastic yet unbelievable story of his life. But he hadn’t shown up, and she’d been so bloody disappointed. Her heart was melting for him, especially after all his confessions to her, thus leaving her more confused than ever. The urge to give in to him and accept what she felt for him had become a burning need that became more urgent as each day passed. And while those swim sessions in the past used to calm her, now they only served to make her anxious because he hadn’t shown up. The blasted man was ruining everything for her.

The music changed to a slow song, and Aditya pulled her close, dropping his hands to her waist. She put her arms on his shoulders as they began to sway.

Reina smiled at the man dancing with her. “I’m glad you could make it tonight.”

Aditya Wahi, owner of Gemini Group of Companies, was an old friend of Sheena and Rajiv. He and several others from their circle in Mumbai visited Dubai often.

“Me too. Good thing I was in town,” he replied with a warm smile. “I’m happy to meet you. It’s been ages.”

It had been a long time since she’d met him. She’d barely visited Dubai in the last few years and, unfortunately, had never bumped into him during those times. But she did know him well. In fact, there had been a time when Navya and she had crushed on him. However, now she felt nothing when she was in his arms. Not even a tingle. Much unlike all the tingles that assaulted her whenever she was with Vedant.

“I still can’t believe Navya is engaged,” he said, distracting her.

“Armaan is great. Have you met him?”

Aditya grimaced. “I have; he’s an odd, moody fellow.”

Reina laughed. “That is so not him.”

“Perhaps, it’s only with me then,” Aditya shrugged. “What about you? Do you have someone special in your life?”

Her eyes darted to Vedant, who was walking across the lawns in her direction. Her heart stuttered.

He chuckled. “The look on your face says it all.”

“It’s um…complicated,” she finally said.

“It always is…” He shook his head. “Sheena told me that you’ve moved to Dubai now. Are you looking for a job?”

She liked that he didn’t probe and had changed the topic graciously.

“Not yet; perhaps soon.”

He studied her. “Is there a reason you’re holding back on the job hunt?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because during all the time I’ve known you, you’ve always spoken passionately about your work, and now you’ve moved back to Dubai, yet you haven’t sought a job out. It’s quite unlike you.”

Aditya had quite cleverly gotten to the crux of her problem. So, she told him the truth. “I do want to work, but just that I haven’t wrapped my head around working in Dubai.”

“It doesn’t feel like home, does it?”

God, yes. Exactly that. Dubai definitely didn’t feel like home, but even returning to London didn’t feel appealing. So, if both London and Dubai didn’t feel like home, then where was home?

She looked beyond Aditya and saw Ananya approaching her, Vedant right behind her. His gaze was zoomed in on her. Her heartbeat accelerated.

Someone stopped Ananya to talk to her, but Vedant kept moving toward Reina, until he was right in front of her. The music changed to a sensual love song.

“That’s my dance, I believe.” His deep voice rumbled through to her bones.

Aditya turned. His eyes alternated between Vedant and her, until he arched a brow at her.

Before she could even consider what to reply, Vedant added, “I wasn’t asking, beautiful.”

Her jaw dropped at the sheer arrogance in his words.

“And she hasn’t agreed,” Aditya replied, his voice hard.

Vedant’s eyes finally narrowed on Aditya. Danger glittered in their very depths.

“Release her at once.” It was not a request. It was an order.

“Or what?” Aditya retorted.

“I’m happy to create a scene for you to find out,” Vedant countered. “In fact, I’ve been itching to do it for far too long.”

This man and his fucking caveman behaviour. It made her blood simmer.

“Enough.” Reina shifted out of Aditya’s hold.

She glared at Vedant. Her fingers tingled with the urge to hit him and wipe that supercilious smirk from his face. She looked at Aditya, who was watching her carefully. He didn’t know her story, but he definitely deserved her respect. Hence, she tried to diffuse the tension radiating between the two men.

“Aditya, this is Vedant Oshnov, Armaan’s youngest brother.” To Vedant she said, “And this is Aditya Wahi, a long-time friend of our family.”

“Armaan’s brother, hmmm…” Aditya remarked. “Well, now all that arrogance makes sense.”

Vedant’s eyes flashed, and then his entire body stilled. Even the air around her shifted. Right in front of her eyes, his entire aura changed from calm and composed to that of a man who knew how to wound and kill.

“Say that again,” Vedant said, his voice all steel.

“There you all are,” Ananya said cheerfully, barging right into the middle of that heated situation. Reina heaved a sigh of relief.

She gave Aditya a naughty wink. “I believe you owe me a dance, handsome.”

Aditya looked between Vedant and Reina, and realisation dawned on him. “Oh, so he is the complication that you didn’t want to talk about.”

Reina lowered her chin a fraction.

Aditya leaned forward and kissed her cheek. A growl erupted out of Vedant. Looking absolutely unconcerned, Aditya gave him a mischievous look before facing Reina. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

Ananya took Aditya’s hand and wound it around hers. “Come with me. These two need to sort things out.”

Giving Reina a playful wave, Ananya steered Aditya to the other end of the dance floor. Good God, her sisters were definitely Team Vedant now. Annoyed by everything, she whirled and faced the man who was the source of all her problems.

“Are you mad?” she began. “You were ready to fight with Aditya over a dance with me?”

“Not just fight. I was ready to kill.”

Her eyes widened. A tremor shot down her spine. She studied him. He really did mean what he said. And why did that thrill her so?

“You were jealous?”

“Yes.”

“Good, now go away.” She crossed her arms on her chest.

“Never. I like that you like it when I get jealous. It means you care.”

Reina rolled her eyes. “I don’t.”

“You do,” Vedant leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “I will never like another man having his hands on you. Have you forgotten you belong to me, moya prekrasnaya ?”

More tremors slithered down her spine. She lifted her jaw. “I belong to no one.”

He chuckled. “Still so damn stubborn. I’ve always loved your defiant attitude.”

She glared at him. He held a hand out. “Dance with me, beautiful.”

“Are you asking me or ordering me?”

“Now that it’s just you and me, I am requesting ardently.”

She put a hand on her hip. “And if I refuse, will you go ahead and create a scene like you threatened?”

His eyes shimmered. “Do you want to find out?”

She sneaked a glance around her. Several people were looking at them. At one edge of the dance floor, she found her brother standing aside, watching her carefully. Rajiv arched a brow in question. She’d only have to nod, and he’d come her way. But she wasn’t a damsel in distress who needed her brother to rescue her. She could and would deal with Vedant by herself. It was only a dance after all.

Hence, she put her hand in his and allowed him to fold her in his arms. By now, she ought to be prepared for his impact, but she wasn’t. In her anger, she’d forgotten that spark, that raw electricity that rushed between them whenever they touched. She’d forgotten how her body always tilted towards his on its own, as if seeking his warmth. She was shocked by the way her heart was sighing in relief now that his body was so close to hers, touching hers.

What was happening to her? She inhaled, and his warm masculine scent flooded her nostrils. It reminded her of the nights spent in his arms, days spent chatting with him, and simply spending time with him. It made her feel safe and cherished. It reminded her of… Oh God, it reminded her of home.

Her head spun for a moment. This was insane. She was absolutely crazy to associate the feeling of home with Vedant. He couldn’t be her home. But being in his arms, she felt like she was finally home.

Schooling all her rioting thoughts, she looked up. As always, he was watching her carefully. He lifted her hand up in the air and twirled her. She fell against his chest. She quickly backed a step, keeping a healthy distance between them. He chuckled and yanked her back to him, once again making her feel everything she felt only with him.

“Are you ever going to forgive me?” he asked a long moment later.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She sorted through everything she was feeling. Attraction, desire, want, need, all of it swirled below two very important emotions, happiness and love. Being with him made her happy. Vedant made her happy. Him being in front of her settled her heart and mind.

She loved him, and the need to give in to him was becoming stronger with every second he held her in his arms and told her the things her heart ached to hear.

“You hurt me, Vedant. Am I supposed to forget that? What if you hurt me again?” She voiced out that one thought that was stopping her from surrendering to him.

He watched her for a long moment. “Reina, I’m human, and yes, I made a mistake. Even though I will try my hardest to never hurt you, unknowingly, I may do or say something that will make you mad. The same goes for you. But isn’t that what a relationship is about? We will make mistakes. The important thing is that we talk to one another to clear things out and then forgive each other. Thanks to you, I got a second chance at life. I want to live my life with you because I love you and because love should be above and beyond all the mistakes that we each will make going forward.”

Her heart lurched. Oh God, she so wanted to agree with everything he said.

Vedant caressed her cheek. “Aren’t you going to say anything, beautiful?”

She finally looked up at him, her mind made up. “I want you to finish your story.”

He blinked. “What? Now?”

“Yes.”

He flicked her nose. “You are deflecting.”

“Maybe, now finish your story.”

“I thought I told you I’ll finish it when you and I are alone next.” He rotated a finger to indicate the crowd around them.

She smirked. “Come with me.”

Without waiting for his response, she stepped out of his arms and weaved her way through the people, confident that he’d follow her anywhere.

Her heart lifted. She’d been miserable for weeks, and it had all been because she’d been heartbroken that he didn’t feel for her what she felt for him. She loved him so much, and she was tired of battling him and everything she felt for him.

He was all she’d ever wanted, and she finally believed he loved her too. That didn’t mean she’d make it easy for him, though. No way.