His princess

I stood in front of the mirror, my breath catching as I took in my reflection. The black saree draped around me like a shadow—elegant, bold, and unapologetically daring. The backless blouse clung to me perfectly, the deep-cut adding just enough mischief to the mystery. My hair cascaded in soft curls over one shoulder, and my kajal-lined eyes held a quiet fire.

My heart thudded against my ribcage. I wasn’t just getting ready for Tanya’s engagement. I was getting ready for him.

Rudra.

I picked up my phone and opened his message.

“Ready?” he had texted.

I smirked and typed back, “Yes. And it seems like someone is going to lose their senses tonight…”

Almost immediately, he replied, “Oh? Then give me that pleasure and meet me…”

I bit my lip, heart skipping a beat. My fingers hesitated before replying:
“Wait for a while.”

I chuckled softly, putting the phone aside. The thought of him seeing me in this saree—it made my stomach flutter and my cheeks flush. God, why did he have that effect on me?

Silently, I slipped out of Tanya’s room, the soft chiming of my anklets echoing faintly in the hallway. I padded toward the stairs, then stopped as I reached the corner near Shivansh’s room.

There he was.

Rudra.

Standing in front of the mirror, buttoning the collar of his black kurta. The sleeves hugged his forearms, veins prominent, jaw sharp. His dark eyes glimmered as he glanced at his reflection—and then, as if sensing me, he looked my way.

Our eyes met.

The air thickened instantly.

My breath hitched, but before I could turn away, his lips curved into a slow, devastating smirk.

“Leaving without saying hi, Bella?” he asked, voice smooth as velvet.

I swallowed hard, my heart thumping wildly. Turning slightly, I gave him a teasing glance over my shoulder and whispered,
“You weren’t ready to lose your senses yet, remember?”

His eyes darkened.

And he stepped toward me.