HER SAFE PLACE

Caught

60+ comment and 200+ votes

Mature content ahead
------------

Shivangi's POV

Silence.

Dead silence.

I felt the weight of it in the air, thick and suffocating, as the realization of what he'd just said settled in. No way... How does he know? My heart pounded, racing faster than I could keep up with. Oh shit…

Embarrassment flushed through me, hot and overwhelming. I was certain I'd been careful, playful, teasing him just enough to keep him on edge, but now… he knew. I swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze, my mind spiraling. He knows I’m not drunk? How the hell does he know?

The seconds felt like hours as my pulse thrummed in my ears. This is so embarrassing. What do I even say now?

I could feel my cheeks burning, my breath caught in my throat. He smirked, clearly enjoying the fact that he had caught me. Damn it!

"No, no… I—I'm drunk," I stammered, forcing the words out, hoping they sounded convincing. My voice betrayed me, though, shaky and unconvincing. My heart screamed at me to come up with something, anything, to make him believe I hadn’t just been caught in my own game.

But his knowing smirk didn’t fade.

Suddenly, I felt the overwhelming need to escape the situation, to shut this down before I embarrassed myself any further. I yawned dramatically, stretching out a little in my seat as if exhaustion had just hit me all at once.

"Oh, I’m so sleepy," I mumbled, blinking slowly, forcing myself to look as convincing as possible. "I think I’m just gonna sleep it off."

Without waiting for him to respond, I leaned back in the seat, turning my head away from him and closing my eyes. My heart was still racing, and I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all him. But pretending to sleep felt safer than facing his smug expression.

Maybe if I stay like this long enough, he’ll drop it. Please, let him drop it...

As the car sped through the quiet streets, I kept my eyes shut, focusing on the rhythm of my breathing to keep up the act. I wasn’t asleep—far from it. My mind raced with thoughts, replaying the moment he’d seen right through me. How did he know I wasn’t drunk? The embarrassment burned deep, but I didn’t dare open my eyes. Not yet.

The hum of the engine filled the silence, and I could feel his gaze on me every now and then, as if he knew I was pretending. My heartbeat pounded in my chest, a steady reminder that I was stuck in this ridiculous game I had started.

Then, the car slowed, eventually coming to a stop. I felt the engine cut off, and the next thing I knew, the driver’s side door opened. What’s he doing? My mind raced, but I kept my eyes shut, my body still.

Suddenly, I felt the door next to me swing open, and before I could process what was happening, I was lifted off the seat—his arms strong as they wrapped around me, pulling me up effortlessly. He was carrying me. Oh god, what is he doing?

My heart raced faster as I felt his chest against mine, his warmth enveloping me in bridal style. I forced myself to stay limp, to keep up the act of being asleep, but curiosity got the better of me. Just for a second, I peeked—opening one eye slightly to steal a glance. His face was focused, his jaw clenched, and he didn’t even glance down. He just kept walking with me in his arms, as if this was completely natural.