EPISODE 5: A NIGHT OF CONFESSIONS
1299 Words
The storm had finally calmed, leaving behind the faint patter of raindrops against the window. But inside Rudra Malhotra’s mansion, the air between him and Anika remained thick with something unspoken, something neither of them dared to name.
Anika sat on the edge of the large bed in the guest room, gripping the silk robe tightly around her. She had managed to escape from Rudra’s intoxicating presence, but the heat of his touch still lingered on her skin.
She could still hear his deep, husky voice whispering against her lips.
"This is the first time I’ve wanted something I can’t have."
"Then don’t want me."
"Too late."
Her heart pounded as she replayed the words in her mind. She had kissed Rudra Malhotra—the ruthless billionaire who never let anyone close. And worse? She had kissed him back.
She shouldn’t have.
She had spent her entire life avoiding complicated men. And Rudra? He was the definition of dangerous.
With a frustrated sigh, Anika stood up and walked towards the balcony, hoping the fresh air would clear her mind. The cool night breeze kissed her flushed skin as she wrapped her arms around herself. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, the sky painted in dark hues with occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the clouds.
Just as she let out a slow breath, a familiar voice cut through the silence.
“You shouldn’t be out in the cold.”
She stiffened.
Turning around, she found Rudra standing at the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. His shirt was still unbuttoned at the top, revealing the sculpted lines of his chest. His sleeves were rolled up, and his hair was slightly tousled—giving him an even more dangerous edge.
Anika swallowed hard. “I couldn’t sleep.”
He stepped forward. “Neither could I.”
She turned away, gripping the railing tighter. “You should go back to your room.”
“I should,” he agreed, taking another step closer. “But I won’t.”
Anika exhaled sharply. “Rudra… about earlier—”
“You regret it?” he asked, his voice softer than she expected.
Her breath hitched. Regret? No. Confused? Yes.
“I… don’t know,” she whispered.
Something flickered in his eyes—something raw, dark, and unreadable. “Honest. I like that.”
Anika clenched her fists. “But it doesn’t mean it should happen again.”
Rudra smirked. “Then why are you still thinking about it?”
She stiffened. “I’m not—”
He reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her cheek, his touch igniting a wildfire beneath her skin.
“Liar,” he murmured.
Anika’s breath caught.
She tried to step back, but Rudra moved faster. With a swift motion, he lifted her onto the railing, trapping her between his arms.
“Rudra!” she gasped, gripping his shoulders for balance. “You—you can’t just do things like this!”
His smirk deepened. “Can’t I?”
“You—”
Before she could finish, he leaned in, his lips barely brushing against hers. It wasn’t a kiss. It was a tease. A slow, torturous temptation.
“I warned you, Anika,” he whispered, his breath mingling with hers. “You’re playing with fire.”
Her pulse raced. “Then let me burn.”
And that was all it took for Rudra to lose the last shred of control.
His lips crashed onto hers—not desperate, but slow, deep, and possessive. This kiss wasn’t just about desire. It was an unspoken confession.
Anika moaned softly as his hands tightened around her waist, pulling her against him. Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding onto him as if he were the only thing keeping her steady.
This was madness.
And yet, she didn’t want it to stop.
The world around them faded—the night, the storm, everything. It was just the two of them, lost in a kiss that neither of them could deny anymore.
But just as the kiss deepened, a loud knock on the bedroom door shattered the moment.
“Sir?” A servant’s voice echoed through the hallway. “You have an urgent call.”
Rudra exhaled sharply, his forehead resting against hers. “Damn it.”
Anika’s eyes fluttered open, her lips still tingling from his kiss.
She had no words. No thoughts.
Rudra reluctantly pulled away, his gaze lingering on her swollen lips before he stepped back. “This isn’t over,” he promised.
And then, he was gone.
Anika clutched the railing, trying to catch her breath.
No, this wasn’t over.
It was only just beginning.
---
Later that night…
Anika lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Her body still felt the imprint of Rudra’s touch, her lips still tingled from the intensity of his kiss.
She had kissed a man she barely knew. A man she had sworn to keep her distance from. A man who made her feel things she wasn’t ready to feel.
Frustrated, she sat up and ran a hand through her hair.
She needed a distraction.
Wrapping the robe tightly around herself, she decided to go downstairs to get some water.
The mansion was eerily quiet, the dim hallway lights casting long shadows. As she reached the kitchen, she heard the faint sound of a lighter clicking.
She turned her head.
And there he was.
Rudra stood by the glass window, a cigarette between his fingers, though he didn’t smoke it. He was deep in thought, his sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight.
He looked… different.
Not the ruthless businessman. Not the arrogant billionaire.
Just a man.
A troubled, complicated man.
Anika hesitated. She should leave. She should pretend she never saw him.
But before she could turn away, Rudra’s deep voice broke the silence.
“Can’t sleep either?”
She swallowed. “No.”
He exhaled and turned to face her. “You shouldn’t be roaming around at night.”
“You shouldn’t either,” she countered.
A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips. “Fair enough.”
Anika took a hesitant step forward. “Are you okay?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking me that?”
She nodded.
For a long moment, Rudra just stared at her. Then, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know.”
Anika blinked. She hadn’t expected honesty.
Something inside her softened.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked gently.
Rudra chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t talk about my feelings, Anika.”
She tilted her head. “Maybe you should try.”
He studied her for a long moment before looking away. “I don’t know how.”
Anika hesitated, then took another step closer. “Then let me listen.”
Rudra turned to her again, his dark eyes holding something she couldn’t quite read.
And in that moment, something shifted between them.
It wasn’t just tension.
It was trust.
Rudra set the cigarette aside, stepping toward her. He reached out, brushing his fingers against her cheek.
“Why do you make me feel this way?” he murmured.
Anika’s heart skipped a beat. “Feel what way?”
“Like I’m losing control.”
She swallowed. “Maybe… you don’t have to control everything.”
His jaw tightened. “That’s not who I am.”
Anika placed her hand over his. “Then maybe it’s time you learn.”
For the first time, Rudra Malhotra—ruthless, untouchable—felt vulnerable
And for the first time, Anika felt like she was falling.
Not just into danger but into him.
To be continued…...
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