Beyond Destiny ~ A Saga Of Timeless Love

35 ~ The Seduction

"I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw you were not perfect and I loved you even more."

Ruhanika

Read at your own risk; 18+ content.

His stubble tickled my skin as he rubbed his cheek against mine, the roughness sending shivers down my spine. My hand instinctively went to his chest, fisting his kurta just above his fast-beating heart. The fabric bunched tightly under my grip as if it could anchor me to the moment, yet his overwhelming presence made it impossible to steady myself.

A shudder coursed through me as his hot breath fell on the sensitive curve of my neck, the warmth sinking into my skin as he snuggled impossibly closer. I couldn’t pinpoint what had sparked this change in him, but his aura had shifted entirely. He wasn’t the gentle Dev I had come to know—the man who touched me with careful reverence, as though afraid his affection might bruise me. Today, he was someone else entirely. His movements were bold, unrestrained, and unapologetically intense, radiating an aura both dark and dangerous.

I had always known he held himself back around me. I could read it in his eyes, the way they burned with an emotion too potent to be contained. When he kissed me for the first time, I caught a glimpse of what he had been hiding: a ravenous, insatiable desire simmering just beneath the surface. His restraint was a mask, one I now saw slipping away.

Dev was a man of contradictions. His charm was magnetic, luring me into his orbit with effortless ease, but beneath that beguiling exterior lay a cunning manipulator. He calculated every move, orchestrated every step with precision, and wielded his influence like a weapon. The name "Beast" suited him perfectly. His methods were brutal, his revenge lethal. I had heard whispers of what he had done to Avanti—manipulating alliances, driving kingdoms to crisis. I wanted to confront him about it, to question him, but there had been no time.

His love for me was a force so profound it often frightened me. It was consuming, relentless, and capable of transforming into something darker if mishandled. Though imperfect, with insecurities and anxieties that mirrored my own, Dev had a way of speaking to me that drew me closer. His occasional rudeness melted away when it came to me; his voice was never raised, his eyes always softened. Yet, the depth of his love sometimes left me breathless. If I ever left him—if I returned to my own time—what would become of him? The thought of his shattered heart weighed heavily on me.

“Mmm-hmm, Dev,” I moaned as his sharp teeth grazed my neck. The gentle bite sent a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins, and my body betrayed me, arching into him. He groaned low in his throat, a primal sound, and began trailing kisses across my neck, his lips leaving a searing path in their wake. His tongue darted out to taste my skin, and I couldn’t suppress the shudder that wracked me.

His hand slid to my thigh, his fingers grazing the bare skin with deliberate slowness, each touch igniting a fresh wave of heat within me. When his hand gripped my thigh and pulled me closer, I gasped, my breath hitching as our bodies pressed together. My soft curves molded against his firm chest, every point of contact wreaking havoc on my senses.

His free hand reached up to grasp the nape of my neck, firm yet gentle, tilting my head back so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. His pupils were blown wide, darkening his olive-green eyes with a hunger that mirrored my own. The intensity of his stare made my stomach flip, and I felt his fingers brush higher on my thigh.

I gulped, unable to look away. My lips parted instinctively, drawing his gaze. His hold on me tightened, his hot breath fanning over my mouth. The tension was unbearable, and I yanked at his kurta in desperation, needing his lips on mine or I might lose my sanity entirely. His pink lips, so sensual and inviting, hovered maddeningly close. I tried to close the distance, but his grip held me in place, his smirk deepening.