Ishita’s Perspective

The air in the room had turned thick and electric. Rudra’s weight over me was a warm, heavy reminder that I was finally his. His **ocean blue eyes** were no longer icy; they were burning with a look that made my toes curl against the silk sheets. He leaned closer, his lips just a breath away from mine, when—

**BANG! BANG! BANG!**

"Bhaiya! Bhabhi! If you don't open this door in three seconds, I’m calling the locksmith!" **Ahana’s** voice pierced through the heavy oak door like a siren.

Rudra froze. I saw his jaw tighten, and he let out a frustrated groan, dropping his forehead against my shoulder. "I am going to disown her," he muttered into my skin. "I swear on the Rathore empire, she is getting sent to a out of country in the North Pole."

I giggled, my hands still trapped in his grip. "She’s your sister, Rudra. And I think she’s brought reinforcements."

"Bhabhiii!" This time it was **Drishti**. "Maa is getting worried! She said it's 4:30 PM and you haven't eaten! Come down now or she’s coming up with a tray herself!"

"And we have to talk about tomorrow's **Muh-Dikhayi**!" **Reet** added loudly. "The guest list is huge, and we need to pick your jewels!"

Rudra slowly rolled off me, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. He looked completely ruffled—a sight the business world would never believe. I sat up too, smoothing down my suit and trying to tame my **long curly hair**, which now had a few pillow feathers stuck in it.

"We're coming!" I shouted back, my voice still a little shaky from laughter.

Rudra stood up, his **bare, muscular chest** glowing in the afternoon light. He walked to the door but didn't open it yet. He turned back to me, his expression turning into that familiar **ruthless smirk**.

"You're lucky they saved you, Mrs. Rathore," he said, pointing a finger at me. "But the Muh-Dikhayi discussion won't last all night. Go get ready. I'll tell them we'll be down in ten minutes."

He cracked the door just an inch—enough to see Ahana’s curious eyes peeking in.

"Back off, Ahana," Rudra growled, though there was no real bite in it. "We heard you. Tell Maa we’re coming. And if I see even one of you hovering in this hallway when we come out, I’m canceling all your credit cards for a month."

"Ooh, someone’s grumpy because we interrupted his afternoon nap," Ahana teased, her voice receding as she ran down the hall. "Hurry up! The snacks are getting cold!"

I walked over to Rudra, standing on my tiptoes to touch his jaw , my **chooda** clinking softly. "The 'Ice King' is back, I see."

"Only for them," he murmured, catching my waist and pulling me in for a quick, hard kiss. "For you, I’m just a hungry husband who's tired of sharing his wife with the world."

I smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement. The private time was over, but my life as the daughter-in-law of the Rathore family was officially beginning.

I spent a good forty minutes getting ready, choosing a soft, baby-pink silk saree that felt like a second skin. I kept my look simple but elegant—my **long curly hair** left open in waves, the red **sindoor** bright against my forehead, and my **chooda** clinking with every move. When I stepped out, Rudra was waiting for me, looking sharp in a fresh charcoal shirt that made his **ocean blue eyes** pop.

As we walked down the grand staircase, I could hear the clatter of plates and loud laughter from the dining hall. Most of the distant relatives had finally left, leaving only the core Rathore clan.

The moment we stepped into the dining area, the noise stopped for exactly one second before exploding.

"Look who finally decided to join the land of the living!" **Jay** hollered, banging his spoon against a glass. "Bhaiya, Bhabhi, welcome to Tuesday! Or is it Wednesday? I’ve lost track."

I felt my cheeks turn as pink as my saree as we took our seats. Rudra sat beside me, his **muscular frame** relaxed, though his expression remained mock-stern.

"Shut up, Jay, and pass the parathas," Rudra commanded, though his voice lacked any real bite.

"Oh, we can't just 'pass the parathas', Bhaiya," **Akshat** chimed in, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We need an explanation. We’ve been awake since 7:00 AM handling the guests, while you two were... what was the 'official' reason again? Resting?"

"Badi Mumma! Bade Papa!" little **Krish** suddenly shrieked, jumping off his chair and running toward us. He climbed into Rudra’s lap without a hint of fear. "Why were you sleeping so long? Did you have a dream about chocolates?"

The table erupted in laughter. I hid my face behind my hand, my **chooda** jingling. **Drishti** and **Reet** were giggling into their dupattas, while **Vardaan** nudged Akshat.

"Yeah, Bhaiya," **Vardaan** added, grinning. "Was it a dream about chocolates? Or were you just busy 'negotiating' the terms of the marriage contract?"

"It’s 4:30 in the evening," **Ahana** teased, piling extra snacks onto my plate. "Maa was about to send a search and rescue team. Bhabhi, I hope you’re well-rested, because tomorrow's **Muh-Dikhayi** is going to be a marathon. Half of Rajasthan is coming to see the girl who finally melted the Ice King."

Rudra wrapped an arm around Krish, his other hand finding mine under the table. He squeezed my fingers, his touch a silent, **possessive** support.

"If any of you utter one more word about the time," Rudra said, his **ocean blue eyes** scanning his brothers with a **ruthless** calm, "I will personally ensure that your 'Muh-Dikhayi' gift is a bill for the wedding catering. Am I clear?"

"So defensive!" Jay laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. "Bhabhi, see? This is what happens. One day of marriage and he’s already turned into a protective lion."

"Let them eat in peace, you monkeys!" **Maa** scolded from the head of the table, though she was smiling. "Ishita, beta, have some kachoris. You look a bit pale. And Rudra, don't scare your brothers today, it's a happy occasion."

I started eating, the food tasting like heaven after the long fast. But the teasing didn't stop. Between Krish trying to feed Rudra his vegetables and the brothers debating who got to drive the new cars first, the table was a chaotic mess of love.

"Bhabhi," Reet whispered, leaning toward me. "Don't listen to them. But seriously... did Bhaiya actually sleep? Or was he just staring at you the whole time? We caught him looking at you during the Pheras like you were a rare diamond."

I nearly choked on my water. Rudra didn't even look up from his plate, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. He heard everything.

Just when I thought the teasing couldn't get any more intense, **Bebe** set down her tea cup and looked at me with a knowing, maternal glint in her eyes. The whole table went quiet, waiting for the matriarch to speak.

"You know, Ishita," Bebe started, her voice echoing in the large dining hall, "in our family, the men have always been... intense. But Rudra? He’s always been the most stubborn. I remember him saying he’d never marry because no woman could handle his 'schedules'. Yet here we are, and it’s 4:00 PM, and the 'schedules' seem to have been completely forgotten in favor of a closed bedroom door."

"Bebe!" I gasped, my face turning a shade of red that probably rivaled my wedding lehenga. My **chooda** clattered as I accidentally bumped my glass.

"Oh, don't 'Bebe' me, beta," she chuckled. "I saw how he was holding your hand during the rituals. He looked like a man who was afraid you’d vanish if he let go for even a second. And the way he carried you upstairs this morning? My, my... I didn't know my grandson was such a romantic hero. He didn't even wait for the servants to help with the bags!"

"He was just being... efficient, Bebe," I stammered, looking down at my plate.

Rudra, who had been surprisingly quiet, suddenly smirked. He leaned back, his **6'3" muscular frame** looking far too comfortable. He decided that if he was going down, he was taking everyone with him.

"Efficiency is important, Bebe," Rudra said, his **ocean blue eyes** darting toward **Drishti and Reet**. "But if we’re talking about 'closed doors', maybe we should ask **Drishti** why she and **Akshat** were two hours late to breakfast on their first month of marriage? Or **Reet**, who 'lost' the keys to her room three times in a week just so **Vardaan** would have to stay with her?"

"Bhaiya!" Drishti and Reet shouted in unison, their faces instantly turning crimson.

"And **Maa**," Rudra continued, his **ruthless** teasing now turning toward the elders. "I remember Papa telling me that when you first came to this mansion, he had to 'negotiate' with **Chachi** just to get ten minutes alone with you because you two were always gossiping. It seems the Rathore men have always had to fight for their wives' attention."

Maa blushed, swatting Rudra’s arm playfully. "Rudra! Have some shame! I am your mother!"

"I’m just stating facts, Maa," Rudra said, his thumb lazily stroking the back of my hand under the table.

**Chachi** laughed, shaking her head. "He’s got you there, Didi! These Rathore boys might be 'cold' to the world, but once they find their Queen, they become the most shameless creatures on earth. Just look at him—he’s holding Ishita’s hand under the table right now, isn't he?"

I tried to pull my hand away, but Rudra’s grip only tightened **possessively**.

"So what if I am?" Rudra challenged, looking at Chachi with a **shameless** grin. "She’s my wife. I paid a very heavy 'ransom' to Jay and Ahana to get her through that door. I intend to get my money’s worth of her company."

"Bhaiya is so bold!" **Ahana** squealed, clapping her hands. "Bhabhi, how are you handling him? He’s so 'Ice King' in the office, but here he’s like... a hungry lion!"

"I... I think I need more water," I whispered, my heart racing. The warmth of the family, the constant teasing, and Rudra’s intense presence were overwhelming in the best possible way.

**Krish** looked at my red face and then at Rudra. "Bade Papa, why is Badi Mumma pink? Did she eat a strawberry?"

"No, Krish," Rudra murmured, leaning in and finally letting go of my hand to ruffle the boy’s hair. "She’s pink because she finally realized she’s stuck with me forever. And she’s very, very lucky."

"Actually," I found my voice, looking up at Rudra with a spark of my own mischief, "I think *you're* the lucky one, Mr. Rathore. Because now you have someone who knows all your 'Ice King' secrets."

The table erupted in "Oohs" and "Aahhs," the brothers cheering for my comeback. For a moment, we weren't a billionaire businessman and a middle-class model; we were just a family, loud and full of life.

👑 Rudra’s Perspective

I watched with a mix of amusement and a lingering sense of possessiveness as the women of the house—Maa, Bebe, Ahana, Drishti, and Reet—practically swarmed Ishita. The teasing had done its job; my wife was a beautiful shade of strawberry pink, her **brown eyes** wide and sparkling with the newfound warmth of the Rathore chaos.

"Alright, enough of your interrogation!" Maa announced, standing up and taking Ishita by the arm. "If we don't start picking out the jewelry for the **Muh-Dikhayi** now, we’ll be doing it at dawn. Ishita, beta, come with us. The vault is waiting."

Ishita looked back at me, a silent plea for help in her eyes. I just leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest, a **ruthless smirk** playing on my lips.

"Go on, Jaan," I said, my voice dropping to that low, **possessive** rumble. "They’ve been waiting to play dress-up with you since the day we got engaged. Just make sure they don't bury you under too many diamonds—I’d like to actually see my wife tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Bhaiya! We’ll make her look like the Queen she is!" Ahana chirped, practically dragging Ishita out of the dining hall.

As the sound of their bangles and laughter faded toward the wing of the mansion that housed the 'Gems Vault', the atmosphere at the table shifted instantly. The feminine energy was gone, replaced by the heavy, masculine silence of the Rathore brothers.

I reached for the coffee pot, pouring myself another cup as **Jay, Akshat, and Vardaan** all turned their chairs toward me. The playfulness was still there, but there was business in their eyes now.

"So," Jay said, leaning his elbows on the table. "Now that the 'Gethin' merger is closed and the wedding of the century is done... what’s the next move, Big Brother? Or are you planning on extending this honeymoon until 2026?"

"The 'Gethin' merger was child's play," I replied, my **ocean blue eyes** turning cold and sharp, the businessman back in full force. "I’ve already looked at the Q4 projections while you were all sleeping off your hangovers this morning. We’re moving into the Paris tech sector by next week

"Next week?" Vardaan whistled. "Bhaiya, you just got married. Maybe take a breath? Spend some time in the gardens? Look at your wife’s face instead of a spreadsheet?"

"I can do both," I countered, my voice **cold and flat**. "I’ve built this empire so that Ishita never has to look at a price tag again. That requires work. But don't worry, I’ve delegated the Singapore trip to a virtual team. I’m not leaving this mansion for at least tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Akshat laughed, shaking his head. "The 'Ice King' is actually taking a vacation. The news will crash the stock market."

"It's not a vacation," I corrected, a **shameless** glint returning to my eyes as I thought of Ishita currently surrounded by emeralds and rubies downstairs. "It’s a strategic investment in my marriage. Now, tell me about the security for tomorrow. I want double the guards at the gates. Half of Rajasthan's elite are coming, and I don't want a single uninvited camera lens anywhere near my wife."

"Already handled," Jay said, his voice turning serious. "Laksh has the perimeter locked down. No one gets in without a biometric scan and a personal invite."

I nodded, satisfied. I took a sip of my tea, my mind momentarily wandering back to the 'Gems Vault'. I knew exactly what they were doing down there—opening the heavy iron chests that hadn't been touched since Maa’s wedding.

My mother would want her to wear the royal rubies, but I knew Ishita. She was a dreamer, a makeup artist with an eye for elegance. She’d want something that looked like it belonged to a Goddess, not just a billionaire.

"Bhaiya?" Jay nudged me. "You’re smiling at your tea. It’s creepy. Stop it."

I looked up, my expression instantly turning into a **ruthless** glare. "Jay, do you want to keep your new sedan, or should I donate it to charity before sunset?"

"Coffee ! I was talking about the tea! It's a great blend!" Jay scrambled, making the other brothers roar with laughter.

I leaned back, feeling a strange sense of contentment. The business was moving, the brothers were in line, and my Queen was currently being draped in the history of my ancestors. Life was finally exactly where it was supposed to be.

💖 Ishita’s Perspective

The sun had long since set over the desert, and the mansion was glowing with golden chandeliers as the night air turned crisp. After the jewelry selection—which left my head spinning from the sheer amount of diamonds and heritage emeralds—Maa and Chachi took me to the formal sitting area.

"Ishita, beta, come meet the rest of the family," Maa said, her hand resting warmly on my back.

I spent the next two hours in a whirlwind of introductions. These weren't just business associates; this was the Rathore inner circle. I met Maa’s side—her brothers (my *Mamas*), their wives (*Mamis*), and a sea of cousins who looked at me with curious, admiring eyes. Then came the paternal side—stern but kind *Mousa jis* and *Mousi jis*.

Every time I bent down to touch an elder's feet, my **chooda** made a rhythmic melody against the floor. "Sada suhagan raho," they blessed me, their hands resting on my head. I felt the weight of my new title—not just a model or a dreamer anymore, but the *Bahu* (daughter-in-law) of Rajasthan’s most powerful family.

I was just finishing a conversation with a particularly chatty Mami when **Jay and Ahana** swooped in like a pair of rescue agents.

"Okay, okay, that’s enough family history for one night!" Jay announced, sliding between me and a group of aunties. "Maa, Choti Maa, can we please borrow Bhabhi now? We have 'official' business to attend to."

"What business, Jay?" Maa asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The business of being cool, obviously," Ahana giggled, grabbing my arm. "We haven't even shown her the behind-the-scenes footage yet!"

Before Maa could protest, they whisked me away to the smaller, more comfortable family lounge where the brothers and sisters-in-law had gathered. They had a huge tablet and a laptop set up on the coffee table.

"Look at this one!" Ahana squealed, showing me a high-definition video of the *Varmala*.

I watched the screen, my breath catching. There I was, looking like a dream in red, and there was Rudra—his **6'3" muscular frame** towering over everyone, his **ocean blue eyes** fixed on me with such **ruthless devotion** it felt like no one else existed in that crowded garden.

"See that?" Jay pointed at the screen, pausing the video. "Look at Bhaiya’s face when you were walking down the aisle. He looks like he’s about to either cry or buy the entire world for you. The 'Ice King' was melting in 4K resolution!"

"And look at this photo!" Reet swiped to a candid shot taken right after the Pheras. Rudra was leaning in, whispering something in my ear, while I was blushing furiously.

"What was he saying there, Bhabhi?" Akshat teased, leaning in. "He looks very... intense."

"I... I don't remember," I lied, my face heating up as I recalled him whispering that I was finally his "property" and he didn't plan on sharing.

"Liar!" Ahana laughed. "You’re turning pink again! Honestly, watching the two of you is like watching a Bollywood movie, but with more expensive cars and a lot more brooding."

We spent the next hour scrolling through hundreds of photos—the laughter, the tears, the moment the brothers lifted Rudra up so I couldn't reach him with the garland, and the moment he finally grabbed my waist and pulled me closer.

"Bhabhi," Krish said, climbing onto the sofa next to me and pointing at a picture of me and Rudra at the temple. "Bade Papa looks happy here. He usually looks like he's thinking about math."

"Thinking about math?" I laughed, hugging the little boy. "He does, doesn't he?"

"Hey," a deep, **velvet** voice rumbled from the doorway.

I looked up to see Rudra leaning against the frame, his sleeves rolled up, watching us with a softened version of his **ruthless** gaze. He had been listening to us the whole time.

"Are you guys dissecting my personal life again?" he asked, walking toward the group.

"We’re just showing Bhabhi the truth, Bhaiya," Jay grinned, holding up the tablet. "The truth that you are a complete goner for her."

👑 Rudra’s Perspective

The clock on the wall of the grand lounge struck ten, and Rudra didn't wait for a second chime. He didn't say a word; he simply walked over, took my hand in his large, warm palm, and gave his siblings a look that said their time was officially up. Jay started to whistle, and Ahana blew me a kiss, but Rudra was already leading me away, his pace steady and purposeful.

When he opened the double doors to our master suite, I gasped. The room had been transformed. If it looked beautiful this morning, it looked like a fairytale now. Dim, amber-hued candles were placed in crystal hurricanes, casting a flickering, romantic glow against the cream-colored walls. Thousands of fresh white roses and fragrant tuberoses—my favorite—covered every surface, their scent so thick and sweet it felt like a dream.

But Rudra didn't stop at the bed. He led me toward the massive French doors that opened onto the private balcony.

The night air of delhi was cool and crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the room. Below us, the palace gardens were bathed in moonlight, and in the distance, the city lights of delhi twinkled like fallen stars. I leaned against the marble railing, finally feeling the silence of the night settle into my bones.

Suddenly, I felt his heat behind me. Rudra stepped close, his **6'3" muscular frame** shielding me from the breeze. He wrapped his arms around my waist in a slow, **possessive back hug**, pulling my **slim build** flush against his chest. I felt the steady, powerful thrum of his heart against my back, and I instinctively leaned my head back onto his shoulder.

"Finally," he whispered, his voice a low, **velvet** rumble that vibrated through me. "Finally, the world has stopped talking."

He tilted his head, his lips finding the sensitive spot just below my ear. He pressed a slow, lingering kiss there, his stubble grazing my skin and sending a trail of fire down my spine. I closed my eyes, my breath hitching as his kisses trailed down to the curve of my neck and shoulder.

"Rudra..." I breathed, my hands reaching back to clasp his forearms. My **chooda** clinked softly in the quiet night, the sound rhythmic and intimate.

"I told you once, Ishita," he murmured against my skin, his grip on my waist tightening just enough to let me know I wasn't going anywhere. "I don't believe in God, and I don't believe in fate. But standing here, with you... I think I finally understand why people build temples. Because I would build a thousand of them just to keep you exactly like this."

He turned me around in his arms so I was facing him. In the moonlight, his **ocean blue eyes** didn't look cold or ruthless—they looked deep, like a vast sea I was happily drowning in. He reached out, his thumb tracing the red **sindoor** in my parting, then moving down to brush my lower lip.

"You look beautiful in my home, Ishita," he said, his voice dropping to a **ruthless, devoted** whisper. "But you look even better with my name attached to yours. Mrs. Ishita Rudra Singh Rathore. Say it for me."

"Mrs. Ishita Rudra Singh Rathore," I whispered back, my heart overflowing.

He didn't wait for another word. He leaned down, his mouth capturing mine in a kiss that was slow, deep, and filled with five years of unspoken longing. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a seal on a soul-deep contract. As he lifted me slightly, my **payals** jingled against the marble, a silver melody celebrating the fact that the dreamer had finally found her King, and the King had finally found his heart.

I didn't need the moonlight anymore. I needed her.

I scooped her up, her **slim build** feeling like silk against my **muscular arms**, and carried her back into the warmth of our suite. I lowered her onto the center of the king-sized bed, the white rose petals cushioning her as she sank into the mattress. The sight was enough to make a man lose his mind—the baby pink saree draped over her curves, her **brown eyes** wide and inviting, and the heavy scent of tuberoses hanging in the air.

I didn't hover. I lay down beside her, propping myself up on one elbow. I took her right hand in mine, marveling at the intricate, dark mahogany patterns of her mehendi.

"Chlo, naam dhundo (Come on, find the name)," she whispered, a playful, sleepy challenge in her voice.

I knew exactly where I had instructed the mehendi artist to hide my name. I had supervised the sketch myself. But as I looked at her—my wife, finally in my bed—I realized I wasn't in any hurry to finish the game. The stakes were too high. The deal was simple: for every letter of "RUDRA" I found, I earned a kiss.

And I was feeling incredibly greedy.

"This is complicated, Ishita," I murmured, my **ocean blue eyes** fixed on her palm, though I was tracing the line of her wrist with my thumb. "Did you have them write an encyclopedia on your hand? I see a peacock, I see a lotus... but where is the man who owns all of this?"

"Rudra, it's right there! You're the top businessman in the world, surely you can find four letters," she giggled, her **chooda** jingling as she tried to point it out.

I gently caught her finger and kissed the tip of it. "Patience, Jaan. I’m a strategist. I don't just find things; I savor the search."

I leaned in closer, my chest nearly brushing hers. I let my eyes wander slowly over the patterns, acting as if I were stumped. I found the 'R' hidden near the base of her thumb.

"Found one," I whispered. I didn't wait. I leaned down and pressed my lips to her forehead, lingering there until I felt her relax beneath me.

"That's one," she breathed, her hands coming up to rest on my bare shoulders.

I moved my gaze to the center of her palm. I knew the 'U' was tucked into a floral pattern, but I chose to ignore it for a moment. Instead, I traced the 'D' hidden near her pinky finger.

"And there's the second," I murmured. This time, I didn't go for her forehead. I trailed my lips down to her cheek, my stubble grazing her soft skin. I felt her heart hammer against my chest—a wild, beautiful rhythm that I had finally tamed.

"Rudra... you're cheating. You found the 'D' before the 'U'," she teased, her voice breathy.

"I told you, I don't follow the rules," I growled softly, my hand sliding from her wrist to her waist, pulling her closer until there wasn't a breath of space between us. "I find what I want, when I want it."

I "struggled" for another few minutes, intentionally passing over the letters just to hear her giggle and feel her squirm. I watched her lips—the way they curved, the way she bit her lower lip when she was nervous. I was far more interested in the taste of her than the ink on her skin.

"Okay, okay, I see the 'U' and the 'R' and the 'A'," I said, my voice dropping to a **ruthless, velvet** frequency.

"Then finish it," she whispered, her **brown eyes** searching mine. "Collect your prize, Mr. Rathore."

I didn't need to be told twice. I abandoned the mehendi altogether, pinning her hands gently above her head on the pillow. I looked down at her—my dreamer, my Queen, my Ishita.

"The letters were just the beginning, Ishita," I murmured, my gaze darkening with a **shameless, possessive** hunger. "I’ve spent five years finding my way to you. A few kisses won't even begin to cover what you owe me for the wait."

I leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, soul-searing kiss that claimed everything. The mehendi, the rituals, the family downstairs—it all faded into the background. There was only the scent of roses, the jingle of her **payals**, and the heat of the woman who had finally turned the "Cold-hearted Prince" into a man who believed in a miracle.

I looked down at her, the dark ink of my name finally fully traced on her palms, but my mind was miles away from games and rituals. I hovered over her, my **6'3" muscular frame** casting a shadow over her in the soft amber glow of the candles. The white rose petals were crushed beneath us, their fragrance mingling with the scent of her skin.

"May I?" I whispered, my voice sounding like a raw, **ruthless** growl even to my own ears. I wanted her to know that even though I was her husband, her soul was still hers to give.

Ishita’s face turned a deep, beautiful crimson, her **brown eyes** shimmering with a mixture of shyness and a fire that matched my own. "You don't have to ask, Rudra," she breathed, her voice trembling slightly as she reached up to cup my face. "You have every right... I am yours."

That was the only green light a predator like me needed.

I leaned down, my mouth capturing hers with a hunger that had been simmering for five long years. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a reclamation. I felt her breath hitch as I tilted her head back, my tongue tracing the seam of her lips until she opened for me. I sucked on her lower lip softly, a low moan escaping her throat that vibrated right through my chest.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, her **chooda** clinking frantically against my nape, pulling me closer as if she couldn't get enough of the friction. Her fingers tangled in my hair, her **slim build** arching up to meet the heat of my body.

"R-Rudra..." she gasped between kisses, her chest heaving. She looked up at me, her eyes dazed. "Suniye... (Listen...) What if someone hears? The family... the rooms are so close..."

I broke away for a second, my lips hovering just an inch from hers, a **shameless, arrogant smirk** spreading across my face.

"Jaana," I murmured, my thumb tracing the swollen curve of her lip. "What is the point of being a billionaire if you can't have a soundproof bedroom? I designed this wing of the mansion myself. I could scream your name from the rooftops in here, and Jay wouldn't hear a whisper in the hallway."

Her eyes went wide, another wave of a blush hitting her cheeks. "Means... our room is soundproof?"

"Completely," I growled, my hand sliding from her waist to the small of her back, pressing her flush against my heat. "Which means you don't have to stay quiet. I want to hear exactly how much you’ve missed me."

I didn't give her a chance to process the blush. I dove back in, my kisses turning more **intense and possessive**. I moved from her lips to the sensitive line of her jaw, then down to the pulse point at her neck. Every time my teeth grazed her skin, a loud, broken moan escaped her, echoing through the silent, protected room.

"Rudra... please," she whispered, her voice a melody of surrender.

"Say my name again," I commanded against her skin, my hands roaming over her curves with a **ruthless devotion**.

"Rudra... My Rudra," she cried out, her voice rising as I made sure she felt every bit of the power I had been holding back.

The world outside could have been ending, the stocks could have been crashing, and the sun could have been rising, but inside these soundproof walls, there was only the sound of her gasps, the jingle of her **payals**, and the rhythmic heartbeat of a man who had finally found his home.