Part 4~
It was when her hand finally rested in his that his fingers span around her wrist, tugging her and dipping her at once so his other arm was around her neck and he was pushing on a pressure point he knew would knock her out, his hand dropped to wind around her waist when she fell against him. In the heat of emotion, he had released her many years ago, allowed her to keep running even though the mark of deceit had tainted both him and his career, it was a burn that scarred his skin, yet nothing burnt more than the bloody betrayal that broke his heart and left him empty and desolate, craving for the sensation of her lips against his and her small hand in his hair. Upon coming across her again he had told himself to leave well enough alone, but the second his boss had been made aware of his findings he was placed beneath strict orders to take her away until he could work out how much she really remembered about her life before, it was of vast importance that he didnât inadvertently remind her of a past he would rather forget himself, but until he could work out with complete assurance that she was as innocent as she seemed, she would be his captive. Rishabh wanted to believe more than ever that this new innocence was the truth and not another round of lies that would cut him in two, but with a woman like Prerna, no one could ever really know.
A few hours later, Prerna drummed her cuffed hands on her legs to the beat of the music playing on the stereo âUsually when someone is kidnapped theyâre thrown in the boot, Iâm taking you placing me in the passenger seat as a kind of exclusive abduction, does this rare form of kidnapping librarians include getting them doughnuts? Because I am hungry and when Iâm hungry I get really angry, hangry I think is the correct terminologyâ she turned her head, soft, doe brown eyes surveying the way his hands clenched around the steering wheel and his jaw ticked.
âUsuallyâ he mimicked, âKidnapped librarians donât ask for doughnuts when theyâve just been kidnapped, the only reason youâre not in the boot is because I have weapons there, youâre not some sort of special packageâ he kept his eyes on the road, knowing even one glance her way would leave him sucked into her spell again.
She released a very loud and over-exaggerated gasp âOf course Iâm special, thereâs no one quite like me like there is no one quite like you, Iâm rare and so are you, that means I am unique and therefore special, I would say Iâm surprised you donât know that but good looks donât equal a smart brain, so Iâll let you offâ she shrugged, âHey, at least youâre prettyâ she leant toward him and squeezed his cheek between her finger and thumb, then settled back into her seat.
âDonât touch meâ he growled, hand rubbing his cheek, âYouâre like an older, desi aunty, whatâs next, asking me,â he made his voice girlish, âWhen are you marrying, beta?â
Prerna giggled into her hand âThereâs nothing more lethal than a desi aunty with an unwed sonâ her eyes dropped to the silver cuffs adorning her wrists âStick some gems on these and youâll make some nice braceletsâ she shook them for extra effect.
Rishabh allowed his eyes to shut for a second, hand massaging his forehead âDo you ever shut up?â
âNopeâ she made a popping sound, âYou should know that by nowâ. Prerna squealed loudly when he jammed his foot on the brake causing her to nearly hit the front âOuch, are you crazy?â
âWhat did you mean by that?â Had she been playing him? Faking memory loss to weaken him? His fist tightened around her hand, âAnswer meâ he ordered, voice thick with emotion, slightly hoarse from the shock of the car nearly crashing.
âCrazy as in mental, delirious, you knowâ she pulled a face, âLa laâ her index finger tapped the side of his head.
âNot thatâ his teeth gnashed together, âThe other thingâ his patience was thinning, he wasnât sure how long he could continue to be around her without actually turning la la himself.
âOh, well youâve met me when you fell into my library, if shutting up was something I did, I would have been quiet by now, did you lock up by the way?â Her brain really did run a hundred miles a minute, imagination land was home and this was an adventure sheâd only ever dreamt about, so of course, she was excited, the whole experience was exhilarating.
âRightâ Rishabh nodded as he restarted the car. âItâs not like anyone would steal your books, calm downâ.
âHeyâ she waggled a finger at him, âBooks are information and information is intelligence, never underestimate the quality of a good book, some are rare copies that cost thousandsâ. Prerna turned toward the window, finger tracing the rain as it slid down beside her âWhat did you think I meant about you knowing me?â She didnât expect an answer, he didnât exactly seem like the type for a heart to heart.
~~~
Awaking to Mr Bajaji-Baji pulling open her door, a small smile crept to her lips when he began to uncuff her âOh, finally, these things have been so-â her jaw dropped when he only undid one and cuffed it to his own wrist. Scrunching her nose up, she followed him to the boot, blatantly admiring the way his muscular arms tightened against his shirt as he stuffed two revolvers into the inner pockets of his suede blazer and shoved a penknife into his sock.
Turning toward her âNot one comment when we get inside, no snarky or sarcastic jokes and do not speak to anyone or Iâll lock you back in the car, are we understood?â
âYou know itâs illegal to lock someone in a carâ she pointed out, moving her hair from her necklace.
âItâs illegal to leave a minor in a locked car, itâs also illegal to leave a dog in a locked car, act like a child or a dog and get treated like a child or a dog and if breaking the law was something I worried about, do you think Iâd be doing the job I do?â
âAnd what job is it you do?â Prerna eyed him carefully âYou ruin my library, kill two men in front of me, give me a concussion, knock me out, cuff me and kidnap me, donât I deserve an answer?â
âYou deserve nothing, Prernaâ he whispered under his breath, hating himself for once upon a time wanting to give her the world.
Prerna threw her head back, ombre hair whipping his cheek as he spun her around âYou did all of this for me?â
Allowing her to slide down his body, he cupped her cheek âAnd I would do it all againâ then he was dropping to one knee, eyes watery as he looked up at the young woman he had come to adore. âMarry me, Prerna? Up until I met you my life was nothing, every night was the same, my bed cold and my heart even colder, you brought warmth to my life, you made my heart beat again and now the only thing I want when I wake up every morning is you, when I sleep itâs you I want beside me, I donât want to be separated from you, I donât want to think of a life without you, now I have you, living without you will be impossible, so pleaseâ he almost begged, âMarry me?â His voice cracked.
Shaking himself from the memory, he thumbed the plain silver ring on his finger, he had wanted to remove it, throw it deep into an ocean that would drown it away, but heâd never had the heart to rid himself of the one thing that reminded him of better times. The rough engraving of her name still scratched at his skin, an everlasting reminder that roses have thorns. Even now his heart still beat for the crazy woman who had invaded his dreams and made herself the best reality heâd ever had, it hurt him to admit that heâd go through it all again, all the pain, all the torture just to have her once more, but he was stronger now, no longer that weak individual who had lost it all just to fall at her feet.
You have no idea just how sorry I am for taking 5 months to update, unfortunately I had a lot to deal with in my personal life, so I'm sorry for the disappearing act, but I hope this chapter makes up for it xxx
Edited by -Rehanna- - 5 years ago
Cricket
