Bound By Contract

The next chapter will be published ONLY when the target is completed.

Votes: 390+

Comments: 300+

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Rudra's Pov

"Aww, Murphy, I missed you so much!" Amayra says, scooping up the puppy the moment we get back from dinner.

The dinner plan had been unexpected. I hadn't planned on going out tonight, but with the evening free, I decided to take her out. Because I had only added the date rule with one purpose in mind, to make people around us believe us,  to make it look like we were happily married. But tonight was different, there was no audience, no one to convince. It was just me and her.

And it was scary, because, for once, I actually enjoyed being with her tonight And, she talked non-stop, seriously, she started talking about the pasta, and somehow, within minutes, we were on the topic of how scary the ocean is. I don't even know how she got there, because first, I wasn't really listening to her words. And not because I didn't have my attention on her, but because I was too busy just listening to her voice. Something was calming about it, like a music you don't want to end. I'd never realized how much I liked it until tonight.

And second, for some messed-up reason, I couldn't stop staring at her lips. I felt like some kind of starving man, just watching them move, completely lost in the thought of how they'd feel, how they'd taste. I wasn't even drinking, just sipping a soft drink, but I was this close to asking the manager if he'd slipped alcohol into it. Because I couldn't believe I was sitting there, having these kinds of thoughts, completely sober. 

And yes, I was surprised when I walked into the hotel and saw the setup. Kanishk had recommended this place, but that idiot didn't mention how romantic it would be. The soft lighting, the cozy vibe, everything about it felt like it was made for couples who couldn't get enough of each other. And here I was, stuck in that setting, fighting off these thoughts I shouldn't be having about my temporary wife.  

I came out of my thoughts by the little barks at my feet. I glanced down at the puppy. "Why does he keep barking at me?" I muttered, shrugging off my suit jacket and watching as Amayra removed her earrings. She looked beautiful, and no doubt that she was actually beautiful but I had never thought about her the way I had been thinking about her since after the marriage. This contract marriage has sure messed up my mind.

Amayra chuckled, her gaze meeting mine in the mirror. "I think it's his way of showing his love to you," she said, smiling softly before turning to head toward the closet.

I found myself following her without even realizing it, my eyes drawn to the way her hair fell softly over her shoulder. Each step she took made her hair sway, and every now and then, she'd bite her lip thoughtfully, pulling me deeper into my thoughts. I was so lost watching her that I didn't notice when she suddenly stopped. I bumped into her, and as she wobbled, my hand instinctively reached out, grabbing her shoulder to steady her just before she lost her balance.

She froze for a moment, glancing up at me with a mixture of surprise and something else that made my heartbeats quicken. 

I swallowed, realizing how close we were standing, my hand reached up, almost on its own, to gently tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at me, her expression soft and innocent, and I had a sudden urge to run my fingers through her hair, to feel its softness, to see if it held that same sweet vanilla scent that always lingered whenever she was near.

"Sir," she whispered, her voice barely audible as I realized how close we were standing. My hand had instinctively settled on her waist, steadying her when she almost fell before, but now, I was suddenly aware of the softness beneath my fingers. My other hand rested on her shoulder, and our faces were so close that I could feel her breath mixing with mine.