The Devil’s Desire: A Passionate Romance Page 2

“This is not the time to argue!” her father more or less shouted. “We might end up in jail or be killed like the others if you don’t agree.” Her father looked not only angry and frustrated, but there was an underlying fear on his face.

  Naina clenched her jaw. “I’d rather die or go to jail than marry him.”

  Her father looked beyond angry and frustrated. “Sign the damn papers!” he roared. “You have no choice! Unless you want me to do as I always threaten!”

  Naina froze momentarily at the threat. She tried not to show any reaction and appear indifferent, but her father caught the momentary freeze. He slowly smiled with satisfaction. He knew her weakness.

  “If you don’t sign the contract, I will call the dean of your university and let him know that you won’t be continuing your studies. Oh… I’ll also call the nursing facility.”

  “You have no right to do that,” she whispered.

  Her father’s eyes hardened. “I have every right. I am your father, and you will respect my word. Sign the contract!”

  Naina felt trapped. Not even for a moment, she doubted whether or not her father would do as he threatened. He didn’t care for her, and he hated her. He was also powerful enough to sway her university to stop her from finishing her studies. Only three more months were remaining for her to graduate. Three months, after which she could be independent and earn a decent living without relying on anyone. And she desperately needed to be independent.

  Tears of angry frustration filled her eyes which she promptly blinked away.

  She glared at the men in the room—the so-called powerful men who were bullying her into a commitment she didn’t want for their own selfish needs and gains.

  She hated them all, but she hated him the most. It was because of him she was in the current situation.

  “Fine,” she said through clenched teeth.

  The lawyers scrambled around and got the papers readied as though they were worried she would change her mind, and there would be another showdown.

  “Please sign here, Naina,” one of the lawyers pointed.

  Gritting her teeth, Naina signed her name blindly on the assigned spots. As soon as she was done, she dropped the pen and was about to leave.

  One of the lawyers tried to stop her. “Wait, Miss Bhasin. You haven’t gone through the papers to ask any questions or doubts you might have about the marriage.”

  Naina clenched her hands into fists at her sides. She wanted to lash out, but she controlled herself. She turned slightly until her profile was facing Shiv Jaipal. She refused to look at him.

  “I don’t care what I signed. I would have signed even if it said I was marrying a faithless, rabid dog.”

  There were gasps, and the lawyers looked shocked at her rudeness. But Naina didn’t care about any possible retaliation. She pulled the office door open and swept out of the room with her head held high.

  But when she reached the safe space of her bedroom, she locked the door and crashed on her bed. Shock, anger and betrayal bubbled through her.

  One thought ran through her mind in a repeated loop.

  Shiv Jaipal. The man who had betrayed her. And also the man she knew she would hate for the rest of her life.

  ***

  There was another knock on the bedroom door. Naina didn’t want to answer, but she heard the urgent voice of her stepmother.

  “Naina. Open the door!”

  Naina wanted to ignore her, but her stepmother was insistent. “Please, open. I must tell you something important.”

  Wiping the angry tears from her face, Naina got up from the bed and answered the door. Her stepmother stormed into the bedroom looking agitated and angry.

  Naina had expected her stepmother to be happy about the forced marriage. Her stepmother had always been gloating about the fact that Naina would be forced to marry someone terrible for the sake of gaining more power for her father.

  “I heard you are getting married.”

  Naina didn’t answer. She was sure Monica already knew what was happening.

  “I was also told that the ceremony is going to be held right now in an hour.”

  That shocked Naina out of the numbness she was slowly feeling. “What?”

  It was two o’clock.

  “Yes, the devil seems to be indecently hasty. But then, he is not exactly known for doing things conventionally…”

  Naina had no idea what her stepmother was saying. She was too shocked.

  “You know what I find extremely puzzling?” her stepmother continued. “Shiv Jaipal rejected you before. Last year, when Anirudh Shaurya married someone else, your father had asked the other devil to marry you. But he wasn’t interested.”

  Naina felt sick. She shouldn’t care that her father had bargained her as though she didn’t matter or even her feelings didn’t matter. But she did care. She felt utterly dehumanized.

  “It wasn’t surprising at that time because Shiv Jaipal is known for his unnatural desires. A man who is accustomed to having threesomes and shocking orgies would turn down a tame marriage proposal, even though it would help his dirty money become clean. Many celebrities, socialites and even businesswomen tried to get him to stay but failed.”

  Naina felt her stomach churn. The man her stepmother was describing sounded exactly like her father. A cheat. A corrupt man with no morals.

  Naina’s stepmother looked at her with fake sympathy. “He’s going to break your heart, darling. Or worse, he’ll torture and abuse you. Right now, you might not have a choice because he will destroy your father if you don’t agree. But we will find a way to keep you with us. You will be safe with us.”

  Naina remained silent. Even through her shock and numbness, she didn’t trust anyone. The last person who would ever help her or wish her well was her stepmother. Monica hated her.

  Naina knew she had to fend for herself.

  “I have a dress you can wear to the wedding,” her stepmother said. “I only wore it a few times—” She broke off where there was a knock on the door.

  It was one of the security men. “Madam, you are asked to wear these for the wedding.” He placed a large package carefully on the bed. The outside of the package had the name of a popular exclusive designer.

  “Well…” her stepmother said with surprise. “I forgot you are getting married to a rich and powerful criminal. I suppose he wants his wife to look the part of an underworld kingpin’s wife.”

  Along with anger and betrayal, for the first time, Naina felt fear.

  ***

  It was barely the crack of dawn when the wedding ceremony was concluded.

  “You are now husband and wife.”

  Listening to that statement, Naina wished she could go back to feeling numb instead of the bubbling fury and resentment along with hate that threatened to erupt like a volcano.

  As though sensing her feelings, the two priests who were conducting the ceremony began to fidget nervously. The two priests most likely expected her to lash out at everyone.

  Married.

  She was married to a man she now hated. A man, who apart from being a corrupt, powerful criminal, was also a liar and a thief. He had lied to her about his identity and stole her heart under false pretenses.

  She truly hated him with everything inside her.

  How could she have fallen for him? She should have gone with her lifelong resolution of not trusting any man. During her childhood and formative years, having a terrible role model as a father, she knew that love and happy marriages were only a myth.

  Men were not to be trusted. They were selfish creatures who hurt and betrayed despite the love and affection showered on them.

  Then why the hell had she fallen for the handsome stranger with a wicked yet endearing dimpled smile?

  “The ceremony has concluded. The bride and groom may get up now.”

  Naina got up mechanically. She suppressed every instinct to forcibly pull her arm away from her so-called husband, but the large, warm and rough hand held hers in a
firm grip.

  Her father and stepmother looked angry and tense. Even the several armed guards who belonged to her father and the groom looked tense, as though waiting for the opposite side to open fire at them.

  It was far from a happy occasion.

  “I’d like to go inside,” she said. She didn’t turn to look at the man holding her hand, but she sensed his burning gaze on her.

  “Excuse us,” she heard him say in a deep voice before he led her inside her father’s home.

  As soon as they were inside, she tried to wrench her hand out of the firm grip. He let her hand go.

  “Naina, we need to talk,” his deep voice rumbled from behind her.

  She ignored him. She was about to walk past him when he held her elbow and stopped her.

  Awareness and electricity coursed through her skin, which she hated. She was reminded of their first meeting in the nightclub when he held her elbow to stop her from leaving. He had wanted to ask her something then.

  Sucking in a breath, she tried to wrench her hand free once again, but he held her with an effortless grip.

  “Let me go!” she hissed, looking at him.

  “I want to talk first.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk to you. I thought that was obvious.”

  She saw a flash of something dark in his eyes. She should probably be scared because he was powerful and dangerous. According to her stepmother, he was even called the devil.

  But all she felt was anger and betrayal along with hate.

  Before she could tell him to leave her alone, he dragged her inside a guest bedroom on the ground floor and shut the door before locking it.

  Her heart began to thud hard. “Open the door and let me out.”

  “No.”

  He pushed her against the wall next to the door and trapped her by placing his palms against the wall on both sides of her, until she had no other choice but to look at him and listen to what he had to say.

  At such close proximity, an unexpected bolt of desire coursed through her, making her angrier. She brought her hands up and tried to push him away. But he didn’t budge.

  The anger, hurt and betrayal that had been bubbling inside her since she found out about the truth finally erupted. She wanted to hurt him, hit him and do as much damage to him as possible.

  “Naina. I—”

  She slapped him hard.

  His head turned sideways with the force. When he turned back to her, there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

  She didn’t care. She continued to attack him.

  She raised her hand and bent her fingers like claws, going for his face again. But this time, he easily caught her hand in his and placed it on top of her head against the wall. She tried to kick him, but he crowded her enough to block her knees and restrict her movement by placing his leg in between hers.

  “Stop,” he warned.

  But she didn’t heed his warning. She punched him hard on his side using her free hand.

  He didn’t even flinch at the contact. He wasn’t hurt by her effort, but his eyes continued to flare with a dangerous glint. He watched her like a hunter who enjoyed trapping her in every way—physically and emotionally.

  She felt truly helpless against him.

  She hated him.

  She hated that despite her past hang-ups, he could fool her so easily and make her fall for the imaginary man.

  She hated that despite loathing the very idea of his true identity, her body still continued to react to his presence and desired him.

  He stole it all. Her will. Her dignity. And soon, he would steal her body and make it his. She would have nothing left that she could keep from him.

  She wanted to insult him. She wanted to tell him that he meant nothing to her, and that he would never own the parts of her that actually mattered.

  There was one insult she could think of right then. The kind that would send the message loud and clear without having to even use any words.

  Keeping her gaze locked on his, and taking a deep breath, she spit on his face.

  He froze. There was a momentary shock on his face.

  Her heart pounded out of her chest in fear when his shock was replaced by a dark, predatory promise of retaliation.

  “No! Let me go!” she screamed, trying to push him away.

  But his free hand caught her face, his fingers gripping her jaw. The next moment, his mouth crashed on top of hers.

  The kiss was brutal. It was completely opposite of their first kiss.

  The sole purpose of this kiss was domination, possession and punishment. He stole her breath while his tongue plunged deep into her mouth. She tried to bite his tongue, but he held her jaw open. She struggled while emitting angry noises, but he didn’t let her go. He kissed her brutally and relentlessly, his tongue swiping hard against hers, tasting her and battling her.

  Despite the anger and hate, a spike of lust burst deep inside her. She felt each dominant swipe of his tongue all the way between her legs. Her breasts ached and felt heavy with arousal. Her breaths fractured, and a deep moan escaped from her throat.

  When her body softened under his, he let go of her jaw and slowly raised his head. There was a dark look of satisfaction when he saw her flushed face. His eyes glittered as he slowly wiped the spit off his face using the back of his hand.

  “I hate you,” she whispered.

  She thought there was the barest of flinches, but she must have imagined it.

  Because he smiled darkly. “Hate me as much as you want, but it’s not going to change the fact that we are married.”

  She fell quiet as he revealed his true colors. The playful, sexy and romantic stranger from the club who had broken into her bedroom and stolen a passionate kiss was an act. This was the real him—the dark, dominant and dangerous criminal who wanted to own her.

  ***

  “Where are you taking my daughter?” Naina heard her father demand.

  “I’m taking my wife to my home.”

  Her father threw her an angry, helpless look. “She still has a few more months to finish her studies. Let her stay here with me until then.”

  Had it been an outsider listening to the conversation, they would think Narayan Bhasin was concerned about his daughter and her education. But Naina knew that wasn’t the case. It was never the case. Her father hated her and didn’t care about her education. He knew how important her education was for her and always used it as a means to bend her into submission. She recalled the time when he had almost stopped her studies after agreeing to a marriage alliance with another politician’s son. The man she was to marry was jailed for brutalizing and killing two teenage girls. It was only sheer luck that the guy committed suicide soon after his release.

  A deep voice cut into her thoughts. “She can attend the university from her new home.”

  Naina gritted her teeth as her father and so-called husband discussed her as though she were an inanimate object with no feelings or opinions.

  “She hasn’t packed any clothes,” her stepmother said with a soft purr. “The wedding was rather sudden.”

  Naina felt disgust coiling in her stomach watching the blatant lust on her stepmother’s face while she spoke. She recalled her stepmother mentioning a long time ago about how she found all the devils attractive. At that point, Naina hadn’t understood what that meant.

  “She’ll have new clothes.”

  Naina hated the fact that she would have to rely on Shiv Jaipal’s money for basic things. Her father had always kept a tight leash on her when it came to money too. She was forced to use her stepmother’s hand-me-downs. In her eyes, her father and the man who married her were no different in wanting to control her using any means they could find.

  “Let her stay one more day,” her father insisted. “It’ll make everything much simpler.”

  Looking at her father’s desperation, Naina knew there was something else going on. Something she didn’t know, but her father and stepmother did.


  Shiv Jaipal looked at his watch. “No. We are leaving now.”

  Naina clenched her jaw as he placed a hand on her back and led her outside her father’s house towards a waiting car.

  He waited until she got in before getting in from the other side to sit next to her. The doors were shut by two security men who got into the driver and passenger seats.

  The ride was silent.

  She inched away from him and rested her head on the windowpane. The ride was smooth as there was no traffic at that time. Slowly, her eyes fell closed. She tried to open them, but couldn’t due to stress and exhaustion. She decided to rest for a few moments.

  ***

  When she opened her groggy eyes, she noticed that she was no longer in the car. Shiv Jaipal was carrying her inside the confines of an elevator.

  A strange sense of déjà vu ran through her. She controlled the impulse to curl her arms around his neck and snuggle into his chest. Blinking rapidly, she pushed the irrational impulse away.

  “Let me down,” she rasped.

  He looked at her with an unreadable look. “We are almost there.”

  “I can walk on my own!”

  His eyes flared at her tone, but he slowly let her down on her feet. She swayed slightly because of the grogginess, but instead of holding him for support, she clung to the cold steel bar in the elevator.

  Soon, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened to a sleek granite and marble foyer. He stepped out first. She followed him when he entered his fingerprints and a code on the keypad next to the main door of his apartment.

  He pushed the door open, and a blast of cold air inside the apartment made her shiver. Rubbing her arms lightly, she took in the wide-open space of his apartment that overlooked the city through a huge glass wall at the back. It was still dark enough for the city to be lit up in lights.

  The apartment appeared to be on top of a high-rise building. It was most likely a penthouse.

  She jumped when she felt his warm hand once again on her back. There was silence as he continued to lead her somewhere. They passed through a hallway, and he stopped in front of a large door and pushed it open. It was a bedroom.