It was one of those quiet, sultry evenings at Khan Haveli. The heat lingered in the air, making the atmosphere heavy with a mix of tension and unspoken desires. Meerab had been glued to her law books for hours, furiously jotting down notes, preparing for her law program assignments. Murtasim, on the other hand, had been watching her all day. Her focus, her refusal to acknowledge him, and her complete dedication to her studies were both admirable and frustrating. He admired her determination but couldn’t help feeling neglected.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he watched her from a distance, arms folded, eyes narrowed in concentration. She hadn’t given him more than a few passing glances all evening, and that, to him, was unacceptable. There had been subtle moments earlier—her teasing remarks, the way her fingers brushed his arm without a second thought—but she had immediately turned her attention back to her books.
He stood up, slowly making his way over to her. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning over her notebook with her back to him. Without a word, he crouched behind her, his hands slipping around her waist, pulling her gently into his chest.
“Still ignoring me?” Murtasim whispered into her ear, his voice low and teasing. The deep timbre sent a shiver down her spine, but Meerab remained focused, tapping her pen against her notebook as if nothing had happened.
“I’m not ignoring you. I’m just busy,” she replied casually, her voice steady but laced with challenge. “This law program isn’t going to complete itself, you know.”
Murtasim’s lips brushed the side of her neck, his breath warm and teasing. “You’ve been driving me insane all day, Meerab. Acting all innocent with your work, but I can see that smirk every time you shut me out.”
Meerab tilted her head, giving him a side glance filled with playful defiance. “Oh really? If I’m so distracting, why don’t you leave me to finish my work then?”
He chuckled darkly, his grip around her waist tightening slightly. “You know I’m not the kind of man who leaves things unfinished. Especially when someone’s been begging for attention all day without even realizing it.”
Before she could retort, Murtasim effortlessly lifted her off the floor, tossing her onto the bed. She let out a small gasp, more from surprise than from resistance. Her pulse quickened, but she kept her cool, watching him with narrowed eyes as he loomed over her.
“Murtasim…” she began, half-serious, half-teasing.
But before she could continue, he grabbed her wrist and gently but firmly pulled her across his lap as he sat on the edge of the bed. Meerab squirmed but didn’t resist, her heart pounding in anticipation.
“You’ve been far too cheeky today,” Murtasim murmured, his fingers tracing slow, deliberate patterns on her lower back. “Ignoring me, teasing me... you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“I wasn’t teasing!” Meerab protested, though her voice was filled with mock indignation. “I was studying!”
“Uh-huh,” Murtasim replied with a smirk, his hand coming down with a soft but deliberate smack against her backside. The impact sent a sharp thrill up her spine, though it didn’t hurt. Not really. But the action was enough to spark something electric between them.
“Murtasim!” she yelped, but the fire in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. He could tell she was enjoying the playfulness just as much as he was.
“That’s one for ignoring me,” he said, delivering another light smack. “And this one’s for that smirk you’ve been hiding all day.”
Meerab bit her lip, trying not to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. But the truth was, the mix of frustration and desire was making her pulse race. She wasn’t used to Murtasim being this bold, this assertive—and, if she were honest, she liked it.
