A Kiss Of Love

2

Rose

My hands were shaking as my brother and I rode up the elevator. It had been years since Kiran and I met, since we had talked. We both had changed, had lived our lives and made plans for ourselves. Plans that were now ruined.

I had agreed to marrying Kiran ages ago. I must have been around thirteen when my father told me I were to marry Kiran when I turned twenty-five. I wasn't necessarily upset about it. At first I tried saying no; tried to earn myself the freedom I deserved. I wasn't someone to be bound to rules, but arguing with my father was like arguing with a wall. But then again, I kind of liked the thought back then. However, I was someone that would do anything for her dreams, that included someday marrying Kiran Pari.

Once my father informed me about all the things I'd get for it, I was in. Alright, maybe I was in before I've been told I'd get something in return. Money wasn't the factor, I didn't care about that. But I wanted my fashion boutique, like my mother had always dreamed of. She hadn't died, she had just fell victim to a car accident and was now paralysed from the waist down.

As I was in love with fashion, may it have been designing or just putting outfits together, it didn't matter. I knew everything about the fashion industry, hyped brands and ones that had too many scandals to even get in touch with anymore. I followed every trend, studied them, too. I could tell if an outfit was expensive by just a quick glance, so it was quite obvious I liked fashion with a passion.

Anyway, I didn't think the marriage-thing would actually go this far. But here I was, seconds away from re-meeting Kiran Pari.

The elevator doors opened, granting Chris and me access to a penthouse. A fucking penthouse. I figured Kiran lived the fancy life, I wasn't bad off myself, but damn. I had not been living in a penthouse. All I was stuck with, was my childhood home because god forbid a grown woman living by herself.

No, seriously. My father thought it was better that way. I didn't. I wanted my privacy, meet boys and do what every teenage to young woman would want to do. Never got that far, which I did think was my fathers plan.

"Rose," I heard my name, and judging by the older man approaching Chris and me, it was probably Mr. Pari. "It's nice to see you." He held out his hand for me, and I shook it. He then moved on to greet my brother.

I had to bring someone, and that someone sure wasn't going to be my father. If my father came to discuss my marriage to Kiran, I would've ended up with no rights whatsoever. Chris just wanted what's best for me, so he was my only reliable option, mostly anyway. I wished I could've brought my sister, but she lived too far away.

"Kiran is—"

"Right here." He came walking around the corner, stopping in his tracks when he spotted me. And honestly, I would've too.

Kiran no longer looked like an innocent little boy. He was all... man. Tall, muscular, tattooed. His green eyes were a little darker than what I remembered, but still just as blinding. He even had stubbles, but I wasn't sure if he would ever grow out his beard fully or just kept a keen shaven-unshaven look.

His tongue darted out a little as he licked his lips, his eyes were traveling up my body as he took me in. I would've given everything to know what he was thinking. Did he like what he saw? Was he ready to open a window and jump out?

It was a little condescending, yet nerve-wrecking.

He walked closer to me, kept our gazes locked. "Rose," he said, his voice deep, low. He had the kind of voice that sent shivers down people's spine for multiple reasons. One being that it was intimidating, another that it was sexy as fuck.