Hey Pearlies, thank you very much for your votes, comments and adding my book to your reading lists. A special shoutout to   for your lovely comments. 

...

My eyes kept opening and closing on their own. I saw Manik shouting at someone while not leaving my side. He brought me inside the bathroom and tried to remove my jacket which I refused. 

"Do not touch me Monster!" I said using all my strength. 

"Shh... it's okay! Let me remove only your jacket. You are burning and you need some air." He said puling me close to his body to support me from falling down. 

I pushed him a little and hugged myself to provide myself some warmth. I am feeling cold and he is telling me that I am burning. Bloody liar! I need this jacket so that I don't shiver. 

This time he did not care for my response and removed the jacket forcefully leaving me in my vest and trousers. Goosebumps appeared all over my exposed skin and I began shivering. He turned on the shower making my situation more worse for me. The cold water hit my body drenching me completely. 

"Manik!" I moaned softly. 

"I am here." He replied putting his hand under the shower so that the cold water won't prick my skin like needles but would fall smoothly. 

His long fingers touched my waist and I immediately turned back feeling hot and cold at the same time. I can't let him remove my trousers as well. I am already semi naked infront of him. The vest is also sticking to my body making it like a second skin on my chest. I covered it with my arms feeling so shy and helpless. 

"Manik... I...  please..." I could not complete my words as it's my first time standing a situation like this - semi naked infront of a man, in his shower and fully drenched. 

Suddenly the room started getting dim and I peeked through my lashes to see Manik shutting down the blinds making the room as dimly lit as possible. I can't see anything around me but could feel everything, the darkness is making me more alert. 

Manik stood behind me and trailed his fingers from my lower spine to the waistband of the trousers. With this proximity I can say Manik is also drenched just like me. He pulled trousers from my body with both his hands making it fall just around my feet. 

"Step out." He ordered and I obeyed. 

He kicked the trousers aside and now I am wearing only his black vest which was hardly reaching my upper thigh. The cold water is now moving freely from my waist and legs. My breath started getting heavy and heartbeats were erratic. Will he remove this only piece of clothing as well? Should I stay naked in front of him under his mercy? 

My thoughts came to a halt as soon as I felt Manik's arms around me. He wrapped his shirt on me which covered me modestly till my knees. I found a little confidence and turned to face Manik who is now standing only in his trousers under the shower along with me. I could not clearly see the details but since he was just a few inches away from I could makeout things. 

His body was liberating warmth which I am so much attracted to right now. I want to feel the warmth, to be engulfed in the warmth and remove the coldness from myself. I did not know from where I got the courage but I stepped towards Manik removing the little space between us and rested my face on his chest while my arms are holding the shirt covering my body. The water is not falling on me directly now and we are sharing it equally.

Manik's breath hitched as soon as his skin came contact with mine. I could hear his heartbeats racing as rapidly as mine against my cheek. He wrapped his arms around me pulling me closer which I happily welcomed to remove every little space between us. We are both same right now, drenched, semi naked, hot breaths, racing heart beats, and a desire to stay in each other's arms. 

Feeling comfortable I slowly gave into my weak body and lost my consciousness. 

...

"You did the right thing, Boss. Cold shower prevented from rising her temperature." I heard a man's voice some where near me.

I tried to block the little bit of lighting entering into the room by closing my eyes as tight as possible but it was of no use and my head throbbed on its own pace.

"Come to the point! Will she be alright?" Manik yelled and I winced at his tone. My movement brought his attention to me and in a second he was by my side. "It's okay, I am here." He pulled me into his arms and rocked me like a baby.

The man smiled a bit looking at us. He was middle aged, with white coat and plastic pipe around his neck. I forgot it's name, was it heart radio machine? "She will be completely alright in some time, Boss. Please don't worry."

"She is burning dammit! What the hell are you doing?" Manik yelled again but the doctor did not lose his cool.

"It is summer, Boss. My guess is the lady wasn't hydrated enough and stayed outside for a long time." The doctor said folding his hands.

If only he knew what I witnessed! I literally saw this monster killing an innocent man. Manik did not even let him explain his side of the story. He just shot him! Those images flashed in my mind and I started feeling dizzy once again.

"Please take rest dear. Do not stress yourself." The doctor said walking to my side.

I faced Manik with my hooded eyes. "I do not want to be next you. Please, get out!" My voice was hoarse and I doubt if it was my voice.

"No. I can't leave you like this." He said cupping my face.

Something felt different on my skin and I looked down to notice I am dressed in the bath robe. How dare he remove my clothes? I can feel my blood boiling with anger but I couldn't present it physically as I was completely weak. "How dare you change my clothes?"

Manik rolled his eyes at me. "Seriously? At this situation?" He paused but continued looking at my serious face. "It's the nurse!"

I relaxed knowing my privacy is respected but still I didn't back off on other topics. I am still in his arms which made me want to cuddle with his warm body as well as pull myself away from his cold heart. I chose the later one and tried to move away but Manik pulled me back not at all caring about the middle aged man in the room staring at us.

"You are not going anywhere." He raised his voice at me.

"Or what? Will you kill me? By yourself or with the help of your men?" That took all my energy as I fell back on the bed. "Manik, please get out." I said softly.

He sat there for a while before leaving the room along with the doctor. I brought the duvet closer to me and imagined the situation once again. Manik killing that man!

What's happening to his family? How are they coping with their family members death? What about those kids? Are they crying like me? Who will look after them?

Fresh tears formed in my eyes and I let them flow freely. My throat was paining badly and I tried to sleep to heal my self. But I could not sleep as it was not normal for me to see a murder in the broad day light!

A few minutes later Manik came into the room and I pretended to sleep. I don't want to speak or see him, it's better for both of us. I felt the mattress beside me dip with Manik's weight as he leaned over me. He wiped the sweat on my forehead with his sleeve and gently stroked the hair on my head.

"You are scaring me, Nandini. Please be fine and run around the house with all your energy." Manik placed his lips on my forehead. "I can't see you like this, I want you to be healthy." He whispered against my skin.

I want to believe him so much. His words so real and his emotions moved me as well. But it's Manik Malhotra we are talking about who is known as the Monster who doesn't think twice before killing anyone.

He placed his palm within mine and held it close to his chest. I could feel his heart thumping against my fingers.

"Manik!" Cabir barged into the room.

"Quiet! Nandini is sleeping." Manik said with gritted teeth.

"Nandini, Nandini, Nandini! Can you stop chanting her name?" Cabir said with the same loud voice and I pretended to be fast asleep unaware of their conversation but I paid all my attention to them.

"Get to the point Cabir!"

"You killed the worker but why aren't you killing her?" Cabir questioned.

Her? Are they speaking about me?

"Nandini wouldn't steal the map. She has no motive to manipulate the minefield."

Shit! They are speaking about me.

Cabir laughed. "Really? I saw her in your room along with the worker and you still won't believe?"

"That alone won't be enough to accuse her, Cabir." Manik argued.

"Listen to yourself Manik! You are sounding like a love sick puppy and not the Mafia Boss. What did she do to you? " Cabir pulled Manik from my side and made him stand facing him. "Where is the Manik who would scare the shit of others?"

"Enough!" Manik yelled. "Remember whom you are speaking with Cabir! I have complete trust on Nandini so stop blaming her. She is a victim!"

"Alright." Cabir's voice went low. "If that's the case, will you blow her head as soon as she's proved guilty? Can you do that as a Mafia Boss?"

There was no sound in the room. Everything was silent.

"Tell me Manik! I need to know if you are being rational or dumb. I need to know if I can trust the Boss for everyone's safety. I don't want you to think with your dick and harm everyone in your territory.."

"Enough!" Manik yelled. "If Nandini is the one behind this situation I will shoot her with my own gun."

"What if you take your words back due to your personal favoritism? How can we trust you?" Cabir questioned him once again.

"Manik Malhotra never breaks his words." His voice was extremely serious which made Cabir happy and scared me to death.

...

Precap

How is the update? This is my first time writing something steamy lol. Did you like the shower scene?

Are you comfortable reading steamy updates or shall I continue only comedy-thriller?

Will Manik keep his promise after knowing it's Nandini who stole the map?