BOOK 1 OF THE UNEXPECTED SERIES
In a world where tradition clashes with modernity, Vaidehi is a modern-day princess bound by society's rigid expectations.
Saransh, a brooding prince with a shadowed past, one he's not keen to reveal. Despite his nobl...
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She breaks the hug excitedly, practically bouncing on her toes, and I can't help but chuckle—seeing her this happy does something to me I can't even explain.
I grab her hand and twirl her around once, making her laugh, before gently tugging her towards the bedsheet fort.
We duck inside together, brushing past the fluttering sheets and duck-taped fairy lights. I sit down, legs spread out, and call her over.
"Come here," I say.
She steps closer, standing near my legs, clearly unsure where to sit since I'm hogging all the space inside our little fort.
Without saying anything else, I reach for her hand and gently tug her down. She stumbles a little but falls into place perfectly—right between my legs.
And God—she fits like she was made to be here.
Her back presses lightly against my chest, her weight settling into me. At first, she seems a little surprised, stiff even—but then I wrap my arms around her, and she exhales, leaning back into me.
Peaceful. That's what this is. That's what she makes me feel.
I take my time pushing her hair aside, slowly brushing it from her ear to the other side of her neck, letting it spill over her shoulder and down her front. My fingers trail lightly over the curve of her neck, and then I press a soft kiss to her shoulder blade—right before I hit play on the laptop.
She watches the opening scene—and then suddenly twists around to look up at me.
"Tangled?" she asks, wide-eyed. "How did you know this was my favorite movie?"
I smile.
"I guessed."
Yeah, right. I didn't guess shit. I had to call her arrogant brother for that. 'Saransh who?' Aayabada. I'll show him Saransh who.
The movie starts, and she turns back around, completely into it already—but me?
I can't focus on anything.
Because Vaidehi is sitting in my lap, her body soft and warm against mine, and her night suit? It's made of fabric so thin, I can feel almost every inch of her skin through it. Every subtle movement of hers sends sparks up my spine.
I tighten my arms around her instinctively, pulling her closer, needing more of her weight on me, needing her closer.
She tilts her head up slightly and looks at me, suspicious.
"What?" she asks.
I shake my head, trying to act casual. "Nothing."
She turns her body just a bit, raises one hand, and places it gently on my face. Then—without warning—she pushes my face to the side, away from her and towards the laptop.