STARLIGHT

I didn't think twice. The rage bubbled up within me went untamed as I stormed towards him and grabbed the collar of his leather jacket.

'You bastard!' I growled, and without hesitation, my palm cracked against his cheek. 'How dare you drag my family into this mess?'

His face turned slowly back to me, the red print of my hand blooming on his cheek like a badge. His dark eyes narrowed, jaw clenched but he didn't say a word. Instead, in one swift motion, he caught both my wrists in his hands, and before I could blink, I was shoved against the cold brick wall beside us.

His body pressed close; close enough for me to feel the heat radiating off him, the tautness of his chest behind his open jacket, and the roughness of his breathing brushing my cheek. His grip on my wrists was firm, his thumb unconsciously stroking the inside of one.

'Beware of what you want when you put your hands on me.' He said, his voice low and edged with something dangerous... something thrilling.

His eyes flickered from mine to my lips, lingering and I swear, I could feel my skin tingled where his chest brushed mine. His breath was warm, laced with cigarette and something darker. My heart hammered so loud I thought he could hear it. I hated him, wanted to hate him; but what I felt right now said something else. The way his fingers flexed just slightly against mine, how close his mouth was to my neck... I just didn't know how to react. I swallowed hard, my breath caught somewhere between fury and... need.

And then just as quickly, he let go ..roughly, and stepped back. He lit a cigarette, his eyes not meeting mine, and took a long drag as he walked off like none of this had happened.

I stood frozen, heart racing, lips parted, still feeling the wall behind me like his phantom presence. What the hell had I just done? What had I just started?

Dealing with Bollywood superstar Ivaan Sharma was a fire I'd just dared to touch. And I wasn't sure I'd survive the burn.