“Lakshmi!” Anika called out, struggling to close the zipper on the back of her blouse. She stood waiting in the middle of the closet, feeling the weight of the embellished skirt. Lakshmi had disappeared a few minutes ago to borrow an eye shadow to match her skirt.

It was the day she and Abhay had to go to the temple as part of the Singham tradition.

I've been married for twenty-one days…

The thought should have terrified her and made her go into a nervous breakdown. If she hadn't been doing the things she did in the last three weeks, she would have definitely broken down in tears of misery.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her blouse threatened to slip down her chest. She wished she could have worn something else. It wasn't her plan to get decked up for the temple, but the entire household was extremely excited, especially Lakshmi. Anika couldn’t say no.

“Lakshmiii—” She let out another call, and froze when she saw Abhay Singham entering the room. She wasn’t expecting him to return so soon.

He watched her quietly, until she was compelled to talk.

“I-I uh needed help…” her voice trailed off not wanting to give him the details.

“Help with?” He seemed ready to go, wearing a traditional maroon turban and an ivory silk tunic. The attire made him appear even taller while giving him a majestic look.

Majestic? What is wrong with you?

Her thoughts confused her and she stood rooted to her spot, even as he walked towards her and stopped inches from her.

“Nothing. I-I don't need help. I’m good now,” she took a step back to flatten her almost bare back to the wall.

His eyes traveled over her, and when they rested on the exposed skin of her midriff, she held her breath. She didn't move and was very thankful when Lakshmi returned..

“Sorry, I forgot about your blouse.” Lakshmi stepped into the bedroom with a smile and froze when she saw Abhay Singham.

He didn’t turn to look at Lakshmi. His eyes continued to explore lazily. “Close the doors on your way out,” he instructed softly.

“Yes. Yes. Of course. Sorry.” Lakshmi murmured and was gone in a flash.

“What do you need help with?” he asked with a hooded look.

“I don’t need help, I’m fine.”

He continued staring, making her extremely aware of his presence. She held her breath and controlled the urge to squirm.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“I just need to do a few more things. I’ll be done in ten minutes.” The back of her blouse was open, and she crossed one hand over her chest to keep the blouse from falling off her shoulders again, and revealing a good portion of her breasts.

Something flickered in his eyes, and he slowly stepped closer.

Her heart began to thud wildly. Was it fear, or anticipation, or both, she didn't know.

He was less than a couple of feet away from her, but he didn't stop. He continued to walk closer. “Remember, you are supposed to convince people that this marriage has been consummated. Can you do it?”

“Yes.” Her voice came out in a whisper.

He stopped in front of her, and placed his arms on either side of her on the wall, caging her in. She raised her head and kept her eyes locked to his as her breathing turned uneven.

Her body jolted in surprise when she felt his fingertips graze the skin on her midriff.

“You need to stop fidgeting every time I touch you.” His breath threatened to burn her skin, and his fingertips left a trail of goosebumps. She also felt her nipples pebble as an involuntary response.

“I’ll be fine,” she said with a slight tremble in her voice.

“You are jumpy right now. That’s not very convincing.” He spoke in a deep, seductive tone.

She wanted to say something, but her voice got caught in her throat when he pulled her off the wall, and turned her to push her against it. Before she could process anything, she felt him tug on the stuck zipper on the back of her blouse, ultimately parting it completely.

She remained frozen, trying not to show any reaction. There was nothing supporting the blouse now. All he had to do was to push it off her shoulders, and she would be left completely naked from above the waist.

“The zip was stuck,” his warm breath murmured in her ear. She felt a hot and wet trail left behind by his tongue on her ear. His tongue teased her skin, tantalizing her entirely. She bit down on her lower lip to suppress a moan that was threatening to escape. Her breathing got heavier as he continued tracing the tip of his tongue down to the nape of her neck.

Remember, he's a monster!

But you know why he does some of these things…

Are you crazy? He forced you to marry him!

She clenched her teeth, refusing to give in, although all she wanted to do was turn around to pull his lips to hers. She gathered up all the willpower she could muster, not to give in to her natural urges. But still her breath came out in a hiss as he nuzzled the sensitive skin on the back of her neck, and then continued lower.

“Abhay… ” His name rolled off her lips for the first time as she addressed him directly. “We’re running late to the temple,” she managed to say in a steady tone.

His lips froze, and then he let go of her waist. He pulled the ends of the blouse together and zipped it smoothly before stepping away from her. She felt a keen loss of his warm touch. Her knees had turned to mush, but she turned and looked at him.

His eyes were blazing hot and he ran his eyes over her.

“Fifteen minutes.” He stated curtly, before striding out of the bedroom.

Ten minutes later, she sat next to him in the back seat of his SUV on their way to the temple. She felt the awareness and lingering sexual tension within the car.

She looked out of the window, trying to ignore his presence, remembering the last time she had been in the car with him. At that time, she had wanted to jump out of the running car to escape, but stayed put, only for her family’s safety.

    However, at the moment, his proximity stirred something within her, something she wasn’t prepared for. She felt confused. A part of her mind was trying to rationalize the violence. Everyone had said that in order to protect what was rightfully theirs, they had to resort to violence. In the civilized world, violence was never justified even if it was to protect.

This is not the usual civilized world. People make and follow their own laws. So maybe it is justified.

She shook her head to get rid of such thoughts. She couldn’t help but notice that the entire household, and seemingly the entire region, respected him and treated his wish as their command. He was more or less their ruler.

But what made an educated man like him to turn into a brutal ruler?

“How is the setup of the clinic going on?” he asked, making her jump at his sudden voice.

She turned towards him, expecting him to be annoyed by her jumpiness. But he had an impassive look on his face.

She cleared her throat that seemed to always get stuck in his presence.

“I need more medications. I also need access to a computer with a video set up so I can get the people treated by doctors online—doctors with specializations.

He watched her closely as though to check her sincerity in wanting to help his people. He knew that his people hated Prajapatis and also the other way around.

“I’ll have a computer ordered for the clinic,” he said. Then there was a glint. “You want me to order one for your personal use too? Or are you happy breaking into mine each day?” he asked.

She was stunned because she had made sure he had not seen her using his computer.

“I--I was getting bored and I needed something to do.” She was embarrassed, and it didn't help that his eyes continued to watch her in mild amusement.

“You can use mine. But it would be easier if you had your own computer.”

“Thank you.”

There was more silence, making her hyperaware of him.

Her cheeks heated as she recalled the feel of his lips and hot breath on her bare back, an hour ago.

A part of her, had desperately wanted her to turn at that time, to know how those soft but firm lips would feel on her bare midriff, and also to know how they would feel as they moved higher. 

She rubbed her arms conspicuously to get rid of the goosebumps that appeared on her skin. She had to make an effort to sit still and not gravitate towards him within the car.

She sighed internally in relief when they reached a visibly crowded temple.