Taimoor

𝕴 slammed my fist into the bag, reveling in the sharp burst of pain that jolted up my arm at the impact. The smell of sweat and violence stained the air. My muscles burned and sweat dripped down my forehead into my eyes, blurring my vision, but I didn't stop.

I'd started boxing seven years ago to regain some of the shape I'd lost after my accident, but it had since become my catharsis, my sanctuary. This was the only place I could unleash my feelings I kept under careful wraps in all other areas of my life. And a necessity when I had to deal with assholes like Daania's shit piece of a cousin. A necessity when I thought of Altamash, my father, and of Azaan. Of Seher's betrayal. Of my father's hatred for me. Of the pain my mother was going through now, mourning her son all over again and battling the fear of losing another one. Of the wounds, Zeenia was nursing, her guilt at failing her brothers nearly crushing her.

She hadn't said anything.

They never did.

And if you looked from the outside, it looked like we had moved on. But we never did.

And Daania.

The outlier. The unexpected caveat in all of this. Somewhere along the way, I'd started to care. The realization that I no longer wished to use her against her father had already slammed into me the night I'd torn the contract, sucking the breath from my lungs and making my tortured heart skip a beat. But her hesitation and the near panic attack had made me pull back. If I gave her freedom, she would run far, far away from me. She would be wise to. I'd been the reason why her family was nearly destroyed. But would I let her? Did I have that in me? Could I let her leave? Better yet, did she want to?

That night had barely been enough to satisfy my craving for her. I still replayed the memory of her writhing beneath me, her lithe supple body spread out in invitation, small perky breasts, those expressive eyes boring into my face, her hands grasping at my hair and legs holding me to her. They were enough to send me over the edge. The signals she'd sent me over the last few days were confusing, and I was out of practice with reading women. I was an observant man and I'd cataloged all the times she'd glanced in my direction when she thought I wasn't looking. And, of course, there was the way she reacted whenever I touched her.

Like I burned her, and she wanted to burn.

There was no way to know. No one to turn to. By the time I finished pummeling the bag, my body was a mess of aches and sweat, my mind still spinning.

"Ready sir?"

Reality threatened to overtake my high, but thankfully, Scorpio quickly stepped onto the mat, slapping his fists together and bouncing on his toes. This mat was the size of a regulation boxing ring in the middle of the space, providing us plenty of room, the equipment organized along the sidewall, while racks of weights and heavy bags took up the rest of the space.

"No headgear?" I mumbled through my mouthguard.

He shrugged and took his place. He was a man of few words. Ex-military. Highly recommended.

Highly dangerous.

Thus an excellent sparring partner.

Scorpio and I tapped gloves.

"Take it easy on him sir," Akbar joked just as he swung.

Feet moving, we exchanged rapid-fire blows to the torsos. I ducked when he took a swing at my head and threw an uppercut. Sweat sheened my torso and dampened my hair. My muscles were burning with exhaustion.

This is what I needed.

I needed to shed the civility of a suit and step into the barbaric energy of the ring. To turn my mind off and become a shapeless blur.

"Taimoor!"

The voice was sharp and authoritative. And decidedly familiar.

"Uh-oh," Scorpio said, in the clinch, his arm frozen mid punch.

All action came to a halt.

Already amped from sparring, I felt the quickening of my pulse.

Daania stood next to Akbar coolly imposing in heels, tightly cropped pants, and a full-sleeved sweater that managed to be both demure and sexy. Everything about her was alluring, even the control, the temper, that radiated from her. Her arms were crossed, and that sexy line of her jaw was tight, red lips pursed.

"Daania, what a lovely surprise," I was curious how she'd found me. Had she missed me? Had she asked around for me?

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to talk to my husband," she said tersely. "Now."

Scorpio ducked his head immediately, his hands snapping off his gloves and placing them on the small bench. Akbar bit back a smile, that insufferably cheeky man, and closed the door softly behind him.

"Miss me already?" I asked, picking up my water bottle, watching her control her reaction at my needling. We'd had a very interesting morning when I'd caught her out cold with her head on my chest, and her arms wound tightly around my waist. Daania was a hugger. She needed to hold onto something to fall asleep. A little fact that was enjoyable and frustrating on equal levels.

"I had a very interesting call with Jibran," not him again. Irritatingly, that boy was infatuated with my wife, following her each and every word down to the tee. If he wasn't so competent, I would have fired him weeks ago.

"And what did he say?" I said, deliberately turning away from the woman who was ready to breathe fire.

"I was going over the things I needed to do before we popped in the office on Wednesday. Imagine my surprise when he told me I was supposed to be preparing for my presentation in Italy. Mind explaining which presentation I'm supposed to be presenting?"

Fucking Jibran and his overly enthusiastic attitude.

"The one I was going to give you?"

"Not good enough."

"I just thought you'd be better at explaining the project you worked on."

"You're the CEO, you're supposed to explain it."

"And I will-"

"Not individually. You represent the company."

"I don't get where you're going with this."

"Don't you? I highly doubt you'd need help reading between the lines," touché.

"But I like reading between the sheets."

I saw the tiniest flash of amusement and embarrassment in her gaze before it went serious again.

"Stop that. Don't change the topic."

"Make me."

The dragon stirred behind those fiery brown eyes. "What?"

"You heard me."

"We're not children."

"Thank God for that," I muttered turning away to place the bottle back. "I have some very adult games planned for you."

"Are you even listening to what I just said?"

"Uh-huh."

When I turned my attention back to Daania, she was stepping through the ropes into the ring, her shoes neatly tucked in the corner. She took a step forward and lifted that stubborn chin. Slowly she bent down and picked up the spare gloves. Putting them on, she stepped back and waited for my signal. We were standing too close. She was in my space, and I could smell whatever delicate perfume she wore, feel the energy crackling off her.

"Hope you're ready to present-" she flared red, her eyes flashing.

That was my last warning.

She aimed for my jaw, threw a body shot, and nearly clipped my side.

I dropped to the mat to sweep her legs out from under her and rolled, sliding her body over and around mine, making sure she didn't hit her head or injure herself in any way. Trapped, she moved to try to throw my weight off, her chest heaving with the effort. The feel of her beneath me was toying with the part of my brain that wasn't fully civilized. A hard shiver ran through her frame, and I lowered my face so our lips hovered, not touching as I breathed her in.

"Is this what you wanted?" she enunciated.

"Not really, but with the force you put behind that single shot, I feel like you've wanted to do that for a long time," her eyes blazed with heat but she let out a low breathy laugh. The little dragon was awake and possibly even enjoying herself.

"You know the answer to that."

She hitched her hips and wrapped her legs around my waist, locking them behind my back and pushing to move me off of her.

And then she realized her mistake.

Those eyes widened again.

We lay locked together, our breathing heavy. My weight was pressing her into the mat, my very attentive member hardening to concrete between her open legs where I had her pinned. I could feel the heat from her core.

Taste her sweetness in the air around us.

Pushing myself past rationality, I hoped my will was stronger because I knew the reward was worth the brief denial. Emphasis on the brief.

"Give up."

Her legs never lessened their pressure.

"No," she squeezed tighter, and my vision grayed a bit around the edges. She wasn't playing fair.

"Daania-"

I never saw the right hand that she plowed into my face. It wasn't hard enough to hurt me but had enough force to shift my balance, and then we were rolling and grappling again.

This time she was at the top.

"Stop hiding things from me and stop interfering."

I outweighed her. I could throw her off.

Probably.

But she was straddling me, her thighs squeezing my hips, her hands on my chest.

"I was going to tell you."

"When? The day we landed so you could spring it on me and I could prepare my presentation hours before the conference?" her chest was heaving with the effort.

"No."

She dipped lower until we were nose to nose. I felt her soft exhale against my lips... too close.

"Liar."

"I would have given you the slides, all you had to do was talk through them..."

"And you thought they would have been enough?" she arched an eyebrow.

"They are my slides."

I groaned at the sudden friction against me knowing that she was feeling the bulge and grinding against it. Stars burst behind the backs of my eyes.

"Someone's cocky," Daania whispered.

"Is that a pun?" I gritted the question out.

Soft lips pushed against mine, my hands unlocked themselves from my sides, and found the soft skin of her waist at the edge of her sweater, pulling her hard against me.

This kiss wasn't angry, but it was just as devastating.

I licked and breathed every inch of her sassy mouth and in return, doused her with my kiss. Her fingers curled into my chest, leaving marks that mirrored the scars on my body. I could never tell her that her presence drowned out the anger, drowned out the pain, and eased the fire. I could never tell her that I was captivated by her imperfect strength and exquisite ferocity. I could never tell her because she'd give me more until there was nothing left.

She was a writhing form of smooth muscle and soft curves, her hips jerking against mine. Daania whimpered against me and every silent alarm went off in my head as I pulled my mouth back, our breaths fighting for the air rights in the small space between us, satisfied to see that her lipstick was smeared.

"I don't like being left in the dark. And I don't like things being last minute."

"Understood. I just wanted to save you all the anxiety-prone nights."

"We have a week before we leave."

"Exactly," a week of her overthinking and over planning. A week of her shooting me death glares and doubting her competence.

"You're not as smart as you think you are," her chest rose and fell with every breath, and she stared at me with nothing but trust in those big, brown eyes. "You've done so well so far, don't tell me that you want to avoid the crowds. You will have to take the stage at some point."

She laid her head against my chest, making a happy, contented little sigh, and my heart twisted inside my chest. I leaned forward and pressed my face into her sweet-smelling hair. Shit. What was she doing to me?

"I'm not avoiding anything."

"You know exactly what I mean," she moved away and that movement felt like stepping onto shards of glass. "Your uncle wanted to see you. Thought it'd be nice to have a little meeting before he left."

Nodding, I stood straight, my hand reaching out to help her rise as well. She put her fingers in mine, allowing me to lift her from the floor, and I tugged her body against mine, my palm splaying across the width of her lower back.

"I'll be in my office in thirty minutes."

"Great," her breathing stuttered as I skimmed my mouth across her lips. "Taimoor?"

"Yeah?"

"Baba's leaving today," she gave me a small smile and continued. "Just thought you should know."

Message received.

By the time I showered and changed out of the shorts and un-taped my hands, Akbar was already waiting outside the door. I smirked at his expression as I buttoned my suit jacket, adjusting the cuffs while I walked to my office.

"Any updates?"

I slowed my pace, and we wove through the corridors.

"Your team is waiting for your orders."

"Perfect, I'll send them an email setting up a meeting first thing tomorrow."

"Shouldn't you let Jibran know?"

"No," the corners of his lips turned down and he nodded. "He's busy with Daania and her projects. I'll handle this on my own."

I entered the room and waited for the light click that would let me know that the office door was now closed. My uncle stayed seated in one of the chairs, across the mahogany desk, his hands together on his lap, legs crossed.

"You're late," I gazed down at him, his black eyes staring sharply at me. That was not a good indication. Dread wormed through my system, but I didn't allow it to show.

"What's going on?"

"I've compiled a list. You've got a very long road ahead of you dear boy," he pushed the file to me and fury corded in my body, twisting until I was rigid.

"What is this?"

"Twelve, that's half of your board of governors, who have seen a significant increase in their wealth in the past two years. Six of them have been tied to several offshore accounts, with family members spread around the world."

"Who's the-"

"It's not who you thought it was."

"That's good isn't it?"

"No."

"What do you mean?"

He was masterful at delivering a look that said exactly how aggravated he was with me. And right now, he was pissed.

"They have no leader. We have no proof. On paper, everything that they've done, the money, the investments are all legal. But when you start observing the patterns, the movement of the money, their change in positions, you'll see the different ways they've been stealing from you," I looked away from him, recognizing the corner I'd been pushed into and realizing I needed to get out of it. "While you've been building the company, they've been selling trade secrets, ratting out and manipulating stocks to benefit themselves."

"Since when?"

"Before you became the CEO, under your father's administration."

I clenched my jaw and held back the curses on the tip of my tongue.

"I thought I'd fired those guys?"

"You did, the financial guys. You can't remove a member of the board. You'll have to have concrete evidence and the power to do so. Only the President of the company can remove the member of the board."

"All the money we tracked..."

"Stolen. You've got moles in the company," I typed a quick text to Zeenia and waited for her to get here and join in. "You should reconsider your investments..."

"All of my investments are handled by Affandi's firm. I also shifted a majority of the company's investments and financial portfolio into his care as well," I said, conceding.

"That explained the dip a year and a half ago," he quipped and chuckled.

"Taimoor? What's going on?"

Zeenia stood at the threshold and as expected, she rushed into the room but unexpectedly so did my mother and brother. I looked up into the face that was so similar to mine, sometimes I hated it. A constant reminder of what I'd had and was stolen from me. Azaan's eyes were widely different than mine and concern and shame lurked in them now.

"Never thought I'd have to deal with the whole bunch."

However, alarm made them tense when I strode to one of the couches and sat, pointing to the others across from me.

"We're part of the family Taimoor, we have a stake in this too," mother coaxed, her eyes big and pleading.

Imran uncle swiveled in his chair his gaze hooded. "They need to know."

"We're in a crisis," I summarized and summed up the whole problem in a few sentences.

"That's, I don't know what to say! Those bastards, those ungrateful little brats-"

"Zeenia," there was an edge of panic that my mother tried to keep out of her voice."Taimoor, look if worse comes to worst, I'll transfer my shares to you to make you the undisputed owner of the company. The majority shareholder. Until you get that seat and are formally nominated, there is nothing you can do but they won't be able to edge you out either."

Maybe it was the lack of sleep, maybe it was emotional exhaustion, maybe it was simply the shock of the age-old secrets seeing the light of days and carrying over into today, but I could not stop the shock of her words from being displayed on my face.

"You can't do that. Those shares are a part of your pre-nuptial agreement."

"Of a marriage that should have ended a long time ago."

"You'll be left without a source of income-" I said in my usual gruff tone and stood up. This family was going to give me a headache.

"Mughal Co. was never my only source of income, I expected better from you Taimoor."

"Daada Jaan gave those shares to you for a reason," Zeenia jumped in.

"I'm afraid I'm with the kids on this one Rania," Imran uncle interrupted before I could answer. "You can't just transfer them all to Taimoor. And what about Haider and his position? You'll be diluting his shares."

"They were placed under my name to protect the family legacy. I was the deterrent that would stop Haider from messing up. Seems like he's managed to do that either way," she said, leaning forward."My son needs me, my family needs me, I don't see a problem with it."

"What can I do?" Azaan chimed in.

"Take care of yourself. Where are you in your studies?" Azaan threw a panicked look my way but I stayed quiet letting our uncle deal with him.

"I'm in my third term-"

"Have you looked for an internship at a firm?"

"I-" he went red and looked at his feet."No, not yet."

A prickling sensation formed in my chest, causing a quick intake of breath. I considered him carefully, taking pity on him."The best thing you can do for your family right now is to focus on your education. We need you in the future. We need you to hold the fort."

Zeenia looked over at me. The look wasn't entirely pleasant."I on the other hand am going to dig up blackmail material. We can use it to threaten them."

Imran uncle clapped his hands and got up. "Well, guess that solves it. Taimoor, I'll be in touch. Can't wait to see how you handle this," he paused before Azaan and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Something our father had never done. "You'll be fine, kid. Just make sure to reach out if things get out of hand, your family is there to help."

"I'll walk you out," mother said, following Zeenia out the door.

"Azaan, stay back for a minute."

"Sure," he didn't say it with force, but I couldn't accept it regardless. I halted and turned to face him. There weren't tired lines etched at the corner of his eyes, but he looked fatigued, and when he rubbed his fingers at his temple, I saw that the cuffs of his shirt were dirty.

"What were you up to?"

"Went to the greenhouse, thought I'd spend some time with the flowers."

Gesturing for him to sit, I observed him with a keen eye. "Missing getting your hands dirty?"

The first hints of a genuine smile broke across his face."You know I love spending my time in the dirt. Growing things, nurturing them."

"I know," like how I enjoyed fixing cars. Piecing the parts, feeling the rush when the machine fit together.

"Look I know what you're going to say, and I know you're disappointed. I'm not like you, I'm not like any of you," displeasure heated the marrow of my bones, some of it self-directed, most of it directed at the cards he'd been dealt with."But I tried. I really did. No one bothered to check in with me. Sometime's it felt like I was an afterthought. The three of you were the brightest stars in every room, no one bothered to look at the younger, less accomplished Mughal."

You need to see how not admitting that leads to people bottling up their emotions and feelings inside, Daania's words echoed in my mind.

Pent-up frustration clouded his expression. I'd underestimated the level of hurt Azaan was going through. I softened my tone.

"I never knew you felt that way."

It punched a cruel laugh from him, which made me wince. A vein bulged in Azaan's neck. Brusquely, he cleared his throat."How could you? How could any of you? You were busy in your own lives."

"We'll try to be better."

Azaan looked like he'd been knocked off balance. He looked so surprised that I felt guilt seep into the cracks of my heart. His eyes were too bright and hectic. Looking at him was like looking at a younger version of myself, without the brakes. All the destructive impulses acted on instead of hidden. How many times had I looked for guidance? For someone to look at me? To understand the problems I was going through? To help me? To listen? And my brother was looking for the same thing. Trying to find some answers. Some peace.

A brief knock hit the main door and Akbar peeked in. "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Mansoor Khan Sahab is here."

I nodded and the door closed.

"I'll leave you to it then-" Azaan stood up.

"Remember this Azaan, we all have our demons. We just need to find a healthy way to fight them."

"You've changed," he jammed his hands in his pockets."The older version of you wouldn't have cared. Is this all because of her?"

I raised an eyebrow. When had he grown up?

"What do you think?"

"I think she's an amazing girl, and you're lucky to have her."

"Get ready to go back to school, I expect you to perform exceptionally well. Attend your therapy sessions diligently, you have a full life ahead of you. I have complete confidence in you. Seems like we do need a nurturer in the family."

Azaan backpedaled from the door and glanced toward me, the man behind the door lifted a hand and knocked his knuckles against the doorframe to announce himself. Azaan left, winking at me and closing the door, the slump of his shoulders now much less noticeable.

"Mansoor Sahab-"

"I didn't approve of her decision to marry you," my jaw tensed but I was sure that not a single flicker of my feeling passed over my face. This was hardly breaking news."I still don't. You don't deserve her. She's far too good for you. Far too pure."

He was right, I wasn't good enough for his daughter. Seher had been everything I could have wanted. Seher was the kind of person I'd deserved. Vindictive and calculating. And she was that way because that's how she'd been made. How she'd been raised. Daania was nothing like her. Pure, fierce and a force to be reckoned with. Loyal to a fault.

"You won't find me disagreeing, why would anyone want a monster like me?"

Something flashed in his eyes- something I had rarely seen, a mix of sympathy and regret. Sympathy for my appearance. Regret that he hadn't been able to stop it. A flash of the warm mentor I had come to trust.

"It's not about your physical appearance," he said, begrudgingly. "It's how she fought to marry you. How you've... corrupted her."

"Corrupted her?" I leaned back in the chair, linking my arms over my chest. The corners of his lips turned down and he nodded. "I don't think anyone on planet Earth can make your daughter do anything she doesn't want to. Including but not limited to, corrupting her."

He gave a grudging nod.

"No, they can't make her do anything. But they can influence, threaten or manipulate her."

"She's not a dumb child," I broke in, making it clear I would be the one to protect my connection with Daania, to keep it away from such sentiments.

"She's my daughter. She will always be a child for me. And despite our previous relationship, I did not deem you to be a suitable husband for her."

"But your nephew was?" Mansoor Khan cleared his throat and looked away.

"That was a mistake."

He'd admitted his mistake.

My hand dropped and I slowly looked at him, shocked that he was willing to do that in front of me. The Mansoor Khan that I'd known, or known of, my entire life would sacrifice anything to maintain his rules.

"We've all made mistakes here," his chin clipped down in agreement. "I will be the first one to say that I've made one as well. It's time we put that past us and move on."

His lips curled into a sneer."Is that your apology?"

"What happened in the past, my behavior to you, everything that came out of that discord, was wrong. I only hope that we will be able to put it past us."

He stayed silent though his expression spoke his disagreement loudly. I cleared my throat and he sighed.

"There's no reason to drag it out. It would only hurt my daughter. Against her better judgment, she's chosen to spend her life with you. I want to respect her wish to do so."

Discomfort settled in my chest.

"That's all I ask."

"However, once she realizes who you are, not the version you've chosen to show her, but who you really are, I will not hold back," I exhaled deeply, letting the small but unsettling fact seep into my bones. He got up and walked to the edge of the room. "You're not good enough for her. And sooner or later, she will come to learn this."

༻✺༺

I poured myself the second cup of coffee, leaned against the counter, and took a leisurely sip before responding. "No Abdul, I think not. You've been incompetent so I really don't see a reason why I should keep you on board."

"I've got children! A wife. Please!" his voice turned pleading.

"You should have thought of that before you started to lie and steal from your investors-"

"I didn't, I swear I didn't."

"Here's the thing Abdul, my legal team will be in touch with you soon," I said conversationally the pen in my fingers swinging back and forth. "You can inform them of your deeds. Meanwhile, I'll salvage your shit show of a company. You know? The one you ran into the ground?"

"No-"

I hung up before he could make another plea for mercy.

"Torturing souls before noon, that's a new low for you. Even the devil waits till three," I rolled my eyes at his entrance. He was late and dramatic as always.

"Always a pleasure to see you Affandi."

"Who'd you fire?"

My groan shifted into a brief laugh as I replied caustically. "A CEO of the small incubator lab I've acquired. Honestly, I should have done this years ago."

"You could have. I didn't see this in your portfolio."

"Personal purchase. Sort of a pet project."

"And you're not going to tell me?"

"It's not an investment. It's a new toy."

"You're behaving oddly. Maybe Zeenia should have been here. Is there a reason I'm here with you and not back at Mughal Manor with my wife and kid?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes."

"And in your office? Really? Where's Daania?"

"Out."

"Please tell me you haven't fired her. She's the best person you'll have on your side."

"I haven't fired her."

"Good because Rania thinks she's good for you."

"Will you stop calling my mother that?"

"That's what she's asked me to call her."

"Don't," he drew his shoulders back with surprise. "And when did she say that? She barely managed a smile for her when we left two days ago."

"After you left. You don't believe she'd say that to you?"

"No, she would not."

"So what's the problem here? Has Daania decided to leave your sorry ass and figured out that she deserved better?"

"I mean Zeenia's still with you so I can't say."

"Woah, you're getting personal. Is it that bad?Oh shit. You like her? You like her!" he said, as if he wasn't surprised although he sounded anything but. "Don't give me that look, you're all growly and annoyed and you don't know what to do! You like her. To be honest, when Zeenia told me that you were into her I thought it was a spur of the moment thing, like when you throw two young hot blooded people into a room."

"You thought I was attracted to her?"

"I mean who wouldn't be, she's a stunner," he laughed as my expression clouded over. "It's a fact Taimoor, calm down."

"I am calm."

"Sure. Anyways, so what's the problem? This is your best-case scenario! Her father wasn't the reason why you're you, she's a brilliant girl and you're attracted to her, your family approves... you're already married-"

"The girl herself is a mystery."

"Explain."

"She's hesitant. Doesn't want to talk about us having more. Apparently, there are logistics to consider."

"Logistics such as her future? Your future with her? Your place in her life?"

"All of that."

"I mean that's not a bad thing to talk about..."

"She's also skidded all forms of conversation-"

"Aren't the two of you sleeping in the same room now?"

Envy snaked through me. Not jealousy, but pure bitter green envy. I hated the fact that someone else had something I didn't and I hated them for having it. Zeenia and Affandi's bond was enviable. They trusted each other. Shared everything with each other. Had no past obligations or commitments. Nothing holding them back.

"Yes, but we're both working late hours. She's finishing up all the work we'd had to catch up on and I'm clearing up the work that's coming up."

His eyes went so wide, they were impossibly white, and he gasped.

"Taimoor, if you want a relationship to succeed and to grow, you need to communicate. You need to find the time to talk to one another, life doesn't stop for anyone. You can't just revert to being a workaholic."

"I know that. Which is why I asked you to come."

"Maybe she needs assurance, that you're not playing with her, that it's not a one-time thing."

I glared at him, willing him to make sense. My self-control clung by a gossamer thread. I didn't trust myself to speak.

"What do you suggest I do?"

"Woo her," when faint disappointment materialized in my expression, it confirmed his suspicions. "You've never done that before? Of course you haven't. Women practically threw themselves at you."

"You're not helping..."

"Look if you want to make her yours, you'll have to court her, woo her, charm her."

I reeled with this information, not sure where to look or what to say.

"This... is a lot to take in."

"Take your time, I'm here to help," he offered me a brilliant smile. "Never thought I'd see this day. I can't wait for you to make her yours."

I dragged in another deep breath, trying to cage the beast that gnawed inside me.

"I don't just want her to be mine," I darkened my time. "I want her to choose me."

She wasn't mine.

I'd kissed her. I'd touched her. I'd shared pieces of me with her that I hadn't shared with anyone else.

I'd saved her.

But in some ways, it seemed like it was too late.

The monster in me had marked her. Owned her. Had claimed her.

My heart swelled with the need to make her see. To show her how I felt because I'd never been good with words.

Not the ones that mattered anyway.

His eyes went down to slits. "As long as you don't do anything that's you... you'll be fine."

"I won't."

I wanted her to choose me.

༻✺༺

When I came back home, I looked for her. Mrs. Khan had told me that she was out strolling in the gardens and I followed the path she'd indicated. I moved at a fast clip, my shoes crunching on the pebbled path. I bypassed the turns that would lead me toward the statues or decorative urns placed at dead ends. I made the final turn, and the hedges parted, revealing the circular space and the round fountain bubbling in the center of the maze. Each of its grey stoned tiers was lit in the falling amber light of the sun, making the falling waterdrops shine and sparkle.

What I didn't know was that she'd be standing directly in front of the fountain, staring at the sky, the late-dusk light staining her in dusky tones, orange, pink, and brushes of red.

I stopped, the greeting on my lips stalled by the stillness, by the heavyweight of the silence, of the peace. I felt every kiss of air across my skin as I walked closer to her, heard her every exhale, and when I reached her, I saw how goosebumps peppered her arms. There were a thousand things I could say, but I couldn't bring myself to interrupt whatever moment this was. Except that it wasn't truly interrupting, because I felt invited into it like I was supposed to be part of it, and I did what felt right, I wrapped my arms around her.

She leaned back into me, her eyes still pinned to the sunset, and I just held her as we both let the moment wash over us, bathe us in the dying light and the silence. Shadows crept along the floor and pooled around our feet, we drew incrementally closer, until every inch of her back was pressed against me until my nose was in her hair and her hands were twined through mine.

I didn't believe in magic.

Not even after the stunning display Zeenia had commandeered on New Year's Eve. But if there was ever a feeling that came close to some mythical spell, it was her. It was the siren that occupied my mind day after day and night after night. It was her face that haunted me, the one I'd forced myself to turn and walk away from before, but I knew, I knew that I was already too far down the road I might not come back from. I couldn't look away. She was lit up. Radiant. Genuinely happy. The closeness of her was euphoria, bliss, and I was almost dizzy with it, feeling intoxicated by her. Calm.

"Do you feel this?" she asked.

"Yes."

"It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful," I whispered.

She turned in my arms and tilted her face to mine. I slid my fingers under her chin, keeping her face angled to mine, and leaned down just enough so that our noses brushed together, forcing her to face the truth, that this was more than a truce, this was more than lust. This was something raw and real and undeniable and it was not going to go away.

She was trembling against me now, her lips parted and waiting, and I allowed myself a narrower margin now, lowering my mouth to a mere fraction of an inch above hers, tightening my arm around her lower back. I brushed my lips against hers once, just to feel the softness of her skin glancing past mine, and then pressed my mouth to hers in earnest, tasting her in the slowest, deepest way possible, until I felt her knees weaken. I kissed her until I saw spots at the edges of my vision. She made little sighs into my mouth, the way her fingers twisted in the fabric of my shirt told me that she was as far gone for me as I was for her. Moving back, I kept her in the circle of my arms and took in a stabilizing breath. I leaned my forehead against hers, appreciating the moment.

This moment where she was curled in my arms, her head on my chest, breathing contentedly against me. She slid her fingers up my chest, resting them on my collarbone, and I held her close as if I could press her straight through my skin and into my soul.

"We're leaving in a couple of days."

"I'm almost caught up on everything... there are just a couple of reports that I need to get through."

She cast her eyes back down, looking so lovely and yet so tired, and I wanted to hug her. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and feel her breathe into my chest, and I wanted to tuck her face into my neck as I kept her safe and protected, away from her ambiguous future. I wanted to tell her and have her know, really know, that it would be all right.

"You're working too hard," I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and she relaxed.

"Says the man who's just fallen dead asleep the past three nights."

"And the woman who can't leave anything unfinished."

Her cheeks warmed up a bit, and she fingered the neckline of her shirt, a subconscious act that made her more attractive."You know that drives me insane."

"I know," now I laughed. There was a furrow between her brows now that I wanted to smooth over with the tip of a finger, and then trace the contour of her cheek before cupping her chin and kissing those lips. The need to possess her was crushing. I was desperate to show her how powerful her effect was on me, and how it rivaled any power I held over her.

"I thought about what you said," she went still like she worried if she moved, she might not be able to hold herself back any longer. "And you're right. I should be the one representing the company, I can't hide any longer, not when there is so much at stake."

With two dainty fingers, she traced the top of my collar and leveled me with a serious stare.

"And you decided this because?"

"Because you were right?" I muttered, almost angry at how easily she pulled me to the edge and caught my attempts at charming her. My hands caressed her head before stroking the long tresses, holding her there."I thought about it."

"You want something."

"I always want something from you," that earned me a small laugh. "Let's go inside."

"Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Mughal?"

"Taimoor," it was full dark now, and there was nothing but different shadows from the low-intensity garden lights. "Just Taimoor."

She peered at me, her eyelashes cresting over her cheeks."Okay then, just Taimoor, what's on your mind?"

So much. More than she knew. More than she could imagine. I was a Mughal, which meant I had to win at all costs. She had no idea about the pressure that came with the name. The same pressures that had driven my brother to suicide. The same pressures that were driving the other to alcoholism.

"Run away with me."

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. I'd plotted this conversation in my head but the moment she'd given me her full attention I'd veered off course.

"This is a little out of the blue."

A hot ember formed in my throat, and I lowered my hand.

"But not out of consideration?"

She puffed out a breath of air. "No, it's not."

"So you wouldn't mind a quick getaway, just us? For a few days? Away from the rest of the world?"

"Are you suggesting that we could do that? Ditch everyone and everything for a few days?" hope glimmered in her eyes and everything shifted.

Electricity skimmed down my spine, her mouth parted.

She felt it too.

"Exactly," my hands were shaking. My thoughts were incomplete fragments. "So I'll ask you again, will you run away with me?"

"Yes."

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I'd run away with you too Taimoor 🤍 I know it's a comparatively shorter chapter, but I was so in my feelings with this one, I had no idea where I stood. I was actually feeling the connection with the two of them this time. And I felt extremely alone! 😭😭😭😭

The next chapter is being written. You'll have that soon as well 🥰 Lots of love ✨

Until then, thoughts, comments, feedback?

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