“Do you know how tempting you look, Malyshka?”

Her heart races at his words. A teasing smile plays on her lips as she leans in.

“Then show me.”

That’s all the invitation he needs.

 His lips crash onto her skin, trailing a path of possession. A breathy moan escapes her as she tilts his face up, her fingers tangling in his hair. Their mouths collide, tongues battling for dominance. 

He lifts her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carries her toward the bed. He lays her down, hovering above her, his darkened gaze locked onto hers.

And then—his phone rings.

A groan of frustration escapes him as he ignores it, dipping down to seize her lips again.

The phone rings again.

Maya laughs breathlessly, pushing against his chest. “Go.”

He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair before answering. Meanwhile, she walks toward the closet, slipping into a soft kurta and palazzos.

“Sir, you have a meeting at 3. It’s important. With the Rajvanshis,” Dhruv informs him over the line.

Adranksh clenches his jaw. “I’ll be there.”

Maya settles on the bed, opening her laptop. When he turns, guilt flickers in his eyes.

“It’s okay, Ansh. I understand.” She offers him a small smile.

He steps forward, cupping her face as he kisses her forehead, then her lips. “I’ll make it up to you, Malyshka. I promise.”

She watches him leave, sighing softly before dialling a number.

“Did you find a building?” she asks as soon as Shreya picks up.

“Yes, ma’am. Right opposite Sir’s company, actually,” Shreya replies, sounding surprised.

Maya’s brows lift. “When did they vacate?”

“Yesterday. Someone named Dhruv bought the property and wants to sell it to us.”

Maya’s mind races. “Alright, meet me there at 4.”

“There’s more, ma’am,” Shreya hesitates. “A lot more.”

Maya sighs, already bracing herself. “Go on.

My Malyshka. My Maya.

The only thought consuming me. Her. Maya. My Maya.

Fuck everything, I said before. If she’s fire, I’ll burn willingly.

She’s mine. She can either come to me willingly, or I’ll make damn sure she does. She belongs to me—mind, body, soul, existence—every inch of her is mine. Till death do us part and beyond. Even if my love for her drags me to hell, I’ll pull her down with me. She is mine to claim, mine to love, mine to possess. I love her, and now, she has to be mine.

I’ll bend every rule for her. Even the ones I made for myself. I would lose myself completely if it meant having her.

I will be whatever she needs, whatever she wants. I am hers. Completely hers. ONLY HERS.

I remember what my mother once said—first love is attachment, second love is real. The first teaches you what love is; the second teaches you that you can be loved too. But for me, there is no first and second.

There is only Maya. My past, present, and future. Every lifetime, every world, any version—I will only choose her.

She makes me whole. She makes me feel content, alive, and invincible. She brings out a side of me I never knew existed.

She’s everything I need. Everything.

I can’t lose her. Not again.

When I left her, I didn’t realize how much I would miss her. I never realized she hadn’t just taken a place in my heart—she had engraved her name onto my soul. There’s no escaping her. Not now.

Forget burning the world—I would burn myself for her.

I just want to go back to her. I already miss her. The image of her in the kitchen floods my mind—her kohl-lined eyes, the mangalsutra around her neck.

My wife.

Mrs. Maya Adranksh Singh Rajput.

Everything about her is perfection. Her face—so beautiful, so delicate. Those hazel eyes—captivating. Her hair—soft, silky, untouchable by anyone but me. Her body—mine. Flawless.

Twenty years.
240 months.
1,043 weeks.
7,305 days.
175,320 hours.
10,512,000 minutes.
631,152,000 seconds.

I can’t wait any longer. She’s finally here, with me. And I refuse to waste another second.

A voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Sir, we’ve arrived.”

My jaw tightens. “Let’s go.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adranksh takes his private elevator to his office.
“Mr. Rajvanshi and his team will be here in five minutes, sir,” Dhruv informed him as they walked toward the conference room.

Inside, his employees stood with their heads slightly bowed, the tension thick in the air.

“Good afternoon, sir,” they greeted in unison.

He gave them a curt nod. “Sit.”

One of the men hesitated before speaking. “Sir, would you like to review the presentation once?”

“Go ahead.” Adranksh took his seat at the head of the table, leaning back with an air of control.

The employee presented nervously, voice slightly shaking under the weight of Adranksh’s intense scrutiny.

The room fell silent when a voice echoed through the hall—confident, amused.

“Adranksh, you haven’t changed a bit.”

A smirk tugged at Adranksh’s lips as he turned to face Abhimaan Rajvanshi, who strode in, exuding authority.

They shook hands, a silent acknowledgment of power between them.

Both sides presented their ideas, exchanging thoughts and negotiating terms until the deal was finalized. Contracts were signed, and the meeting concluded.

Afterward, they retreated to Adranksh’s office.

Abhimaan pulled him into a brief hug. “Kaise ho, bhai?”

“Happier,” Adranksh answered simply, taking a seat on the sofa.

Abhimaan chuckled. “Accha, I’m guessing it’s because of Bhabhi.”

Adranksh nodded, a rare softness flickering in his usually unreadable expression.

A knock on the door interrupted them.

“Sir, coffee,” a soft voice called.

“Come in.”

A young woman, around twenty-three, entered cautiously, balancing a tray with two cups. Her hands trembled slightly as she placed them on the table, eyes darting nervously toward Abhimaan as she handed him his cup.

His demeanour shifted instantly. “Keep it there and get out,” he snapped, irritation lacing his voice.

She flinched but obeyed without a word.

Adranksh observed his reaction, his brows lifting. “Aaj itna gussa kyun?”

Abhimaan exhaled sharply. “Bhai, it’s because of Prerna. Forget it. She gets on my nerves.”

Adranksh didn’t push, sensing there was more to it.

Instead, Abhimaan changed the subject. “So, what’s next?”

A slow smirk played on Adranksh’s lips. “You’ll see.”

Meanwhile, Maya was behind the wheel of her new car, driving toward her destination.

“Ma’am, take the next left, and we’ll be there,” Shreya instructed.

They soon arrived at a towering building, its grand architecture catching Maya’s attention. Parking her sleek sports car in front, she stepped out, slipping on her sunglasses.

She looked stunning.

Dressed in a white kurta and black palazzos, she was a striking contrast—tradition wrapped in luxury, power cloaked in elegance. The sight of her arriving in a red Ferrari turned heads. The whispers began, but Maya didn’t spare anyone a glance.

She walked into the building, inspecting the interiors with an approving gaze.

“It’s perfect,” she murmured.

Right opposite his company. Ironic. Or intentional?

She turned to Shreya. “Bring the papers. I’ll sign them. Transfer some people from the Bangalore office, and hire new staff. I want this place to be fully operational within two days. Also, mail me all the upcoming projects.”

Shreya nodded, handing her the documents. Maya signed them swiftly, sealing the deal.

As they exited the building, Maya adjusted her sunglasses and reached for her car door when a familiar voice caught her attention.

“Adranksh, let’s go out for dinner. Call Bhabhi, I want to meet her.”

Her fingers froze midair. She turned slightly, spotting Adranksh and Abhimaan a few feet away.

Adranksh, who was about to respond, stilled. As if sensing her, his gaze shifted—and met hers.

She leaned against the Ferrari, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Abhimaan nudged him. “Your wife is waiting for you at home.”

But Adranksh wasn’t listening. His focus was locked on Maya.

He took a step toward her, but she raised her hand, stopping him. A silent command.

Her phone rang. She didn’t look away as she answered.

“Ansh, let’s go to a café nearby? Amma and Appa are coming today, so we need to leave early.”

Her voice was smooth, teasing.

He nodded. “Okay.”

They hung up.

Shreya approached. “Ma’am, I’ll take my leave.”

Maya gave a small nod before getting into her car.

Adranksh turned to Abhimaan. “Change of plans. Café instead of dinner.”

Abhimaan frowned. “We just had coffee.”

Adranksh arched a brow. “Kya tum apni bhabhi ko dekhna nahi chahte?”

Realization dawned, and Abhimaan’s curiosity piqued. “Haan, kya woh bhi aa rahi hai?”

Adranksh only smirked, sliding on a mask of indifference.

The cars moved.

Abhimaan glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing Maya’s Ferrari tailing them.

“Adranksh… exactly how many wives do you have?”

Adranksh gave him a blank look and said nothing.

The café had been emptied—booked for the day.

Maya stepped inside, removing her sunglasses as she walked toward their table.

Abhimaan leaned forward. “Who is that woman to you?”

“Meri biwi.”

Abhimaan’s head snapped toward him, then back to Maya as she took a seat across from them.

She smiled. “I’m Maya.”

Abhimaan exhaled, still processing. “Bhabhi, wait—so you’re Maya Kshatriya? The one who signed a deal with those stubborn bastards?”

Maya’s smile widened. “That would be me.”

“How did you pull it off?”

She shrugged. “A simple deal. If I won the race, they’d sign. I won. End of story.”

“Since when do you race?”

“Since London.”

Abhimaan whistled, impressed. “Bhabhi, recently I’ve been trying to track down the hacker Blue. Ever heard of him?”

Maya tilted her head, smirking inwardly. “No.”

Abhimaan sighed. “Blue doesn’t need days to find information—he does it in hours, sometimes minutes. Super talented.”

Before she could respond, their food arrived.

Maya reached for her sandwich, but Adranksh was faster, taking it for himself. She frowned but grabbed her drink instead.

Minutes passed, their conversation flowing effortlessly.

Then, a plate slid in front of her. The sandwich—minus the tomatoes.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Her gaze lifted, meeting his.

He was already watching her. As if his entire world revolved around her.

A slow smile tugged at her lips. She lifted the sandwich and held it toward him.

Without hesitation, he leaned in and took a bite.

A fleeting moment. But in it, a silent promise.
Maya noticed a smudge of sauce at the corner of his mouth. Without thinking, she wiped it with her thumb—then sucked it off absentmindedly.

Adranksh stilled, his gaze darkening.

The moment was broken when Abhimaan got a call and excused himself.

Soon after, Maya and Adranksh left as well.

The night had only begun.

Maya passed the keys to Adranksh and slid into the passenger seat.

“Ansh, I really like Abhimaan,” she said with a teasing smile.

His face darkened instantly. He turned to her, eyes burning with something primal, before yanking her onto his lap in one swift motion.

“What did you just say, Maya?” His voice was low, dangerous. “I dare you to repeat it.”

She laughed, leaning against the steering wheel, but before she could finish, he pulled her in and crushed his lips against hers.

Maya forgot everything the moment his mouth met hers. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer. One of his hands gripped her waist, the other cradled her neck, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin beneath her jaw. His kiss was urgent yet controlled, dominant yet soft. He kissed her like she was his oxygen, like he was desperate to devour every breath she took.

She whimpered as his lips trailed down to her jaw, feathering kisses along the delicate curve before moving to her neck. He lingered there for a moment, breathing her in, then pressed a firm kiss against her pulse before biting down.

A soft moan escaped her lips, and he groaned in response, his grip tightening. His hand slipped beneath her kurta, palm searing against her skin as his fingers skimmed upward. The thin fabric of her bra was the only barrier between them. He rolled his thumb over her nipple, sending jolts of pleasure through her, and she gasped, arching into his touch.

In retaliation, she nipped at his ear, delighting in the way he groaned.

His breathing turned ragged. “The only man you’ll like or love is me,” he murmured against her lips. “I’m the only one you’re going to kiss, love, and fuck. Do you understand?”

His words sent shivers down her spine.

But just as his lips found their way back to her collarbone, she suddenly laughs softly, pushing at his chest.

He pulled back, confusion flashing across his face.

“Your beard,” she said between laughs, pressing a hand to her neck. “It tickles.”

His jaw tensed; his frustration was evident as he ran a hand over his face. She bit her lip, barely holding back another laugh at his expression.

He exhaled sharply, then smirked, reaching over to press a lingering kiss to her forehead. Without another word, he started the car and drove them back home.

The drive was peaceful, filled with the warmth of silence and stolen glances.

As they pulled into the driveway, a teasing voice called out from the porch.

“Maya aur uski Ansh aa gaye!” Shreshta announced, making the whole family burst into laughter.

Maya felt her cheeks flush, scrunching her nose in an attempt to hide it.

Adranksh simply watched her with an amused smile, his dark eyes filled with something soft. Something only for her.

“Accha, leave all that,” Shreshta said, waving a hand. “Maya, your family will be here in two hours. Go get ready, beta.”

Maya nodded, stealing one last glance at Adranksh before heading upstairs to her room.