Chess & Checkers

20. Teasing Temptations

SMUT WARNING!
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As Murtasim sank into the couch, he felt a wave of relief wash over him, the tight knots that had plagued his muscles for days finally loosening as the much-needed, relaxing shower he had just took eased the tension that had gripped him over the past week, mentally and physically. His stomach rumbled, signaling the return of his appetite that he had lost, and as he sat down on the couch after Mai left, his eyes landed on the spread in front of him. His eyes lit up instantly.

Biryani, Kheer and his favorite salad. A small, knowing smirk tugged at his lips. He instantly knew she had done this on purpose. She had promised to do everything in her power to win him back, and of course she had chosen to begin with the surefire 'mard ke dil ka raasta uss ke pait se hou ke jaata hai' route. And as she settled next to him, he couldn't help but cast a sidelong glance in her direction, amusement dancing in his eyes that he struggled to hide.

Taking her place beside him, Meerab feigned innocence, but her eyes sparkled with a mixture of pride and anticipation. She beamed with excitement as she hovered over the table, as if she had single-handedly prepared the feast laid before them, when in reality, her only creation was the finely chopped salad he loved so much, doused in a simple olive oil and lemon dressing.

"Healthy ass," she had muttered under her breath earlier that day, her frustration palpable as she diced vegetables in the kitchen. She had saved the worst for last—the onions—and that had nearly cost her a finger as her eyes burned, her vision blurred and she became teary eyed. A sharp pain had elicited a moan of agony, and she had cursed Murtasim to hell and back with every ounce of her being. After all, she was doing all this for him. But then she thanked the Lord that she had Mai and the chef to help her prepare the rest of the meal otherwise she was sure she'd have an emotional breakdown right there in the middle of the kitchen. Without their help, she would have been a sobbing mess among the pots and pans.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to only allow positive thoughts into her mind because she needed him to be in a good mood for phase two of her plan—which was something she hadn't ever, in her wildest dreams, imagined she would do. But as she thought about it, the idea of seduction sent a thrilling shiver down her spine, filling her with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation.

Images—explicit images filled her mind. His lips on hers, kissing her like he hadn't before, his hands exploring her body like they had never before, the taste of his tongue, the feel of his skin on her, as their bodies collided. She could almost taste the heat of his breath, feel the urgency of his touch, as their bodies melded together. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she imagined his lips trailing down her neck, lingering at the base of her throat, just as he had done in those stolen moments of passion in their bed.

But it had never gone further than that; Those kisses had always been just a prelude, a teasing promise of what could be, but he had always stopped, sensing her hesitance to go further.

She had seen the look of reluctance on his face as he pulled back, but it was always quickly replaced by a gentle understanding and a silent promise that he would wait for as long as she needed.

But now, in an unexpected twist, it was Meerab who had begun to feel an overwhelming need for him. She craved his presence, his touch, his very essence. It was no longer enough to simply be near him; she yearned for all of him, every part of him. She wanted to be consumed by him, to lose herself in the depth of his embrace, to feel as if they were the only two people in the world, and for him to make her feel like they were the only two people in this world.

No one or nothing else.

Just them.

As her thoughts began to consume her, sucking her in deeper and deeper, she was abruptly brought back to reality by Murtasim calling her name loudly. Startled, she snapped back to the present, jumping slightly and letting out a tiny yelp. She frantically scanned her surroundings with wide eyes, realizing she had been staring at him all this time.