Free You Can't Fight a Royal Attraction by Ruchi Vasudeva Page A

close her eyes to feel again the beat of the music, the heat and hardness of his body moving to the rhythmic notes, the deep knowledge in the dark sherry eyes. More intoxicating than wine. More potent than anything she had felt passion to be.
    She had known it before. The chemistry between Munish and her had been undeniable. The pity was, it had only lasted until things began to go wrong. That was how unreliable attraction was. It could fizzle out in a minute, leaving you with nothing but the acrid burn of the residue.
    In his study, Rihaan paced soundlessly on the carpet, frustration riding high. She was coming too close and he was letting her. He’d never talked to anyone like that about his upbringing. Or even mentioned his family. Why was he doing it now?
    And to her? Whatever sympathy he might feel for her ruined marriage, surely it wasn’t enough to exonerate her of hurting and deceiving her sister. Where did he go, thinking that?
    Saira had accused him of painting her black in his mind, but how else did you define total indifference towards someone who cared for you? Impossible to squeeze out any sympathy for what he considered to be a betrayal of the family. As his people had spurned him without compunction,she had turned her back on her sister, a declaration that loyalty to family ties had no sanctity in her book.
    Yet his mind was sneakily insisting she couldn’t have been totally at fault. So lively, so open… that he had found himself letting his guard down. No, he didn’t need the added complication of sharing his past with her.
    Just the attraction she exerted was intense enough. He had known that since he’d enjoyed the way she had checked him out. And today it had gone too far. The way he had felt his heart pound in a knee-jerk response to her sensual movements to the music. The way his gaze had hooked to her moistened lips. Even now he was imagining the taste of them beneath his, feeling an ache for more, much more, possessing his body.
    Was he mad? He didn’t give a hoot for her beyond taking her out of the path of two people he did actually care for. This was what it was all about. Not catering to his illogically reactive libido.
    Easy to read himself a lecture.
    If only it was as easy to quiet the raw surge of desire overtaking his reason.
    Dinner was a quiet affair. Saira tried to control the huge sense of let-down she felt. The
biryani
wasn’t the mouth-watering fare she usually made, though the aroma was distinctive. Her fault for not attending to it properly. Which made her remember exactly why she hadn’t.
    It wasn’t till the quietness began to wear out her nerves that she realised subconsciously she had been hoping for—for what? His friendliness? That irresistible smile?
    What did he think of himself? He could orchestrate his moods and everyone was supposed to jump accordingly?
    Yet she couldn’t think of anything to break the monosyllabic and infrequent requests to pass this or hand that. Why had they even chosen to eat together? It was reallyinsulting to food to eat it without enjoying the company. Mainly because your appetite left you. Because your stomach churned.
    Yes, their kiss had been a game-changer for them. But who had initiated it? He shouldn’t have been so enthusiastic about it if he didn’t want to take things any further, she thought crossly.
    Take things further? Oh hell, what was she thinking? She didn’t want
anything
with this man, let alone
further.
    ‘No, let me take these.’ More monochrome sentences as he took the dishes. She stared morosely into space then looked up in surprise as he re-entered the dining area with two plates.
    ‘Ice cream?’ Doubtful pleasure stained her voice.
    ‘You provided food. So I provide the dessert.’ He half-smiled. ‘Granted, I haven’t actually made it…’
    ‘But when did you get this?’ She took it. Wow, not vanilla even. Cashew and raisins and rich sweet cream.
    ‘I rang the shop in town for home delivery when you