ASYA FF 'REVENGE' - Chapter 19, Page 128 24/09/2014 - Page 25

Poor she at least want to feel to have somebody ...by meeting
humaira she hope things change...

Clearly zoya is making plan... before asad...

Wow still feel he own her... that angry kiss...

Wow he kissed and look like nothing happen... he is crazy..

Zoya cant stand this anymore... angry ..

"So, how many lovers have you had since me?"😡

"What do you mean since you?😡 We never slept together. And what does a number matter to you?"😡

She could see him clenching his jaws at her answer.😡 Good for him. 😡What did he expect? That she wait for him all her life? That she would mourn her lost love forever?😡

"Then what are you doing here at the sight of me in the arms of another man? 😛If I mean nothing, why are you so angry?"😡 😡

"I am not angry at you.😡 😡 I am angry at the woman you've turned out to be."😡 😡 🤢

"I hope you know that the credit goes to you," she spat back with venom.😡 😡

"I disagree. I won't take the responsibility for that.😲😡 Life throws challenges your way but ultimately you chose who you want to be." 🤢 😡 - ya right after you completely destroy her you still can say that...

already chapter 8 4 times,

Chapter - 9

Finally Some Confrontations!!!!

The moment Asad said those words, he wanted them back. He should never have said that. Zoya was looking at him as if he was some disfavoured child. He did not want her pity. But once he had started, he could not stop. Even if it was only once, he had to get it out from his chest. He'd never talked to anybody about his past, about his mother's death.

"It was one late afternoon when I was visiting her in her shabby apartment when I knew something was wrong before I was inside. Ammi used to make me kabaabs when I came over during some weekends."

Asad took a deep breath and stayed quiet for some time. But Zoya didn't probe. For that he was grateful. He was expecting her to ask many questions which he was sure must be trotting in her mind.

"The last time I had visited her she had been so happy. She had told me that she was finally going to be married to the man she loved. I was happy for her too. Even if she was divorcing my dad. At that time, I never understood the reason why she left my dad. Hell, I don't understand it now."

Zoya stood still with no emotion showing on her face and Asad felt a sense of comfort. He had expected sympathy which would have stopped him but her silence was encouraging him to go on. It was the outlet he needed and the words which had been so difficult to express flew out of his mouth.

"I was determined to make peace with her and let her live her dreams. I had been fighting with her a lot since she had left my dad and it was a nightmare. Imagine my state when I entered the apartment and found her dead. With her hanging from..." he faltered and had to swallow hard before continuing. "...the fan. Looking as white as a ghost."

A tear escaped and rolled down his cheek and he wiped it off impatiently.

Would he ever be able to clean that memory from his mind? Was it possible to have so much agony from one dramatic event of his life?

Zoya finally spoke but she kept her distance. "Did she left anything?"

Asad shook his head. "Nothing. No suicide note. But there was no need. Really. It was on your father The great Gaffur Siddiqui had his Nikaah that day. So I guess the message was pretty clear."

That made Zoya flinch as if she too was in pain. Asad continued to narrate to her what followed the tragedy; how the police came in to interrogate him. His father was in a sorry state when he learnt the news. They had to lie to everyone to stifle the affair. They couldn't possibly splash the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Rashid Ahmed Khan was divorcing because his mother was having an extramarital affair.

So they told everyone what they had wanted to hear. That the couple had a big fight and their marriage was on the rocks. They were on the verge of divorcing and hadn't realized how depressed Dilshaad was.

Rashid ahmed Khan had taken all the blame, had been the one rendered responsible for Dilshaad's death. While Gaffur Siddiqui had celebrating his Nikaah with Razia.

"I am sorry," whispered Zoya finally in a small voice which made Asad angrier.

Why the hell was she sorry for? For what her beloved father had done to him? To his family? What the hell was he supposed to do with her apology?

"Oh yeah?" he vented sarcastically. "Well, you know what, you being sorry doesn't annihilate what your father had done to us."

"I know. There is no excuse for what he did."

Surprised, Asad looked at Zoya to see if she was serious or not. He had expected her to defend her father, to defend the man who had been her father. For that matter, he had even expected her to demean the fact that Dilshaad had committed suicide because the Gaffur Siddiqui had married someone else.

Her eyes shone like clear water and they looked at him with something he could not define. It was not pity. It was not mockery. It was more like sincerity and compassion. Which made Asad's anger evaporate and he wanted to take her there and then and to hell with the consequences.

Asad was in deep trouble. During the last so many years, he had never even wanted to share his pathetic story to anyone. But with Zoya, it was different. He wanted her to understand what he did. To feel what he had been through. To even forgive him for what he had done to her.

Except that he was too proud to show her how much he regretted what he had done. To show her how much he cared. There was also the fact that he would never be able to forget that she was the daughter of the man who had killed his mother. He was a wounded soul and would not be able to overcome what had happened in his life to move on. Not with Zoya.

Maybe after he got back Sheikh Mansion, he would be able to forget the injustice that had happened in his mother's life and his retribution will be accomplished. He was sure he would not be emotionally involved with another woman but will settle for a marriage of convenience.

Naturally, he would need a heir to league his dynasty, the Ahmed Khan saga would not end here. For that he would have to give TALAAQ to the "Humaira Khan" and made sure there was no foul in his marriage. He had already prepared his contract so that the half-sister would not get a penny more than she should be getting.

Humaira Khan was a Siddiqui after all; and who knew that lineage better than him?

"Asad," Zoya was saying and he was forced to focus back to the present and to hide his thoughts to her, he looked at her with arched eyebrows. "Do you really think that by getting your properties back, you would finally be able to put the past behind you?"

He was shocked. She was trying to tell him to let go of the properties now? What the hell? She had been the one offering her help to find her sister.

AAK - "What do you mean?"

Zoya - "No, don't get me wrong. I am just asking you whether you are sure that some lost mansion would help you make peace with yourself? That it would make you feel better if you get it back and you will avenge your mother's death or something."

AAK - "So what do you expect me to do? Are you negotiating with me here?"

Zoya let out a loud sigh. "Stop getting me wrong. I am just warning you that it might not happen the way you've been thinking all along, ok?"

AAK - "And what the hell do you know what I have been thinking all along?"

Zoya gave him one of her deep looks before answering.

Zoya - "You are a stubborn man, Asad. Once you get a fixation on your mind, it's really difficult to deter you from that direction. Even if along the way you have doubts, you will still carry it out anyway and when it gets apart, you just..."

AAK - "You don't know me, Zoya. How can you say such things about me?"

Zoya - "Oh, I do know you. Better than you think. Take our wedding for example. You had to get married to me because according to you, by doing that you would be able to avenge my father. And then when your deal fell apart, you still haven't let go of the idea of marrying a Siddiqui daughter to get back your property."

AAK - "It is the only way..."

"How do you know?" she questioned challengingly.

AAK - "How do I know what? Zoya you are not making sense."

Zoya - "How do you it is the only way? You haven't even met my sister. How do you know she wouldn't be able to negotiate with you about the property?"

Asad narrowed his eyes at her in a menacing way but she stood her ground. Even back in the days when she had been in love with him, she had always said what had been in her mind. Had never hesitated to defy him. And Zoya had been right. Like she was right now.

But Asad would never admit that to her. Not now. Not ever.

"So, is that what's worrying you? That I might get married to someone else?" Asad prevaricated and watched as frustration marked her face making her look like a fallen angel. He had to grin inwardly, it was fun getting under the mask of the ice queen.

"Really, Asad?" she tried in a bored tone. "I was so sure you wouldn't be admitting your fault. Anyway, I am trying to dissuade you from destroying your life and my sister's. Why don't you strike a deal with her first? Like the one you had with my father?"

Asad breathed sharply. So she had known about that deal? Gaffur Siddiqui must have told her after Asad had called off the wedding. He had never intended Zoya to know about his transactions with her father. One thing Asad was sure of during the time of his courtship Zoya Siddiqui had truly loved him. Not for what his name was or what he could offer her. But she had loved him for who he was. Which had made his unscrupulous plan more worthwhile. But he had not intended to hurt her in the process. Not like he had done

The bas***d Siddiqui must have put all the blame on him when he had refused to give him more of his Dilshaad Enterprises shares and had called the wedding off.

"So he told you about the deal," Asad observed and was surprised to see Zoya shake her head in a negative answer.

Zoya - "No he never did."

AAK - "Then? How did you know about it? It was between the two of us only."

Zoya - "I overheard you talking in the study that day."

Asad felt his jaws sag with shock. She had overheard them? Damn he hadn't been too kind on that day because he had been so angry on being duped by Siddiqui. Mortified, he racked his brain to remember what he had said about Zoya but in vain.

Her smile was sad and cynical, both emotions showing on her face.

"I heard you dealing with him and at first I thought nothing of it. I intended to ask you later about it when you said..."

She took a deep breath and as soon as she said the words, Asad remembered them. I had to tolerate your bas***d daughter for six months...

He had not meant to say that but he had been so angry. Gaffur Siddiqui had him fooled till the very last moment that he had not been prepared for his bargain a week before the Nikaah. When he had gauged his enemy's intentions, Asad had been furious and had decided to call off the wedding then.

What would he carry out the marriage then? He did not know whether he would ever get back his mansion and shares of his mother's company. So he had preferred to call off the Nikaah. But not before pouring his heart out to the old man, not before he had told him in explicit terms how much he hated him and his family.

AAK - "I am sorry you had to hear that. So you must have heard me calling off the nikaah too?".

Zoya shook her head again.

Zoya - "I.. I.. No, I ran from there. I was so shocked that I could not stand to hear more."

Asad nodded in understanding not knowing what to say more.

Zoya laughed in a self-deprecatory way which made Asad's heart constrict as he felt her pain even if she was trying hard to hide it from him.

"I never even knew the nikaah was off," she whispered in a voice so low that Asad had to strain his ears to hear. But he wanted to hear more so he preferred not spoil the moment and he stayed quiet like she had done some minutes earlier.

Zoya - "I was phoning you like mad during the week that followed. To demand an explanation for I believed it was what I deserved after all."

Asad winced at her words. She was right. He had taken off to his father's sanctuary in London without a backward glance. Without even wanting to see her again.

Zoya - "But you did not reply my texts or any phone calls. I was desperate. I had no one to talk to and everybody was preparing for the nikaah. Nobody knew that the nikaah was called off," she said in a stricken voice.

Damn! Damn! Damn! That was why Zoya had been all ready for Nikaah anyway. She had never known that he had called off the nikaah. But he had been specifically clear to Siddiqui that he would not go on with the sham as he had only been after his properties.

"And my father...he knew all along. But he never even bothered to tell me. I was so sure that you would come because even if the deal went off, I tried to convince myself that you loved me. I stood there in my bridal lehenga for five hours. Five whole hours looking ridiculous and desperate. Can you imagine me in a Red Legenga, all decked up, standing there like a fool? Can you even imagine the humiliation I went through when somebody whispered uncomfortably that the groom may not be coming? Can you imagine the pitied looks that were coming my way? Even the Maulavi Sahab was looking at me with that damned sorry look..."

Zoya - stopped when her breath caught and she wiped off the tears that had been falling on her cheeks

Zoya - "I was blaming myself over and over and it would not stop. Even if you had been two hours late, I would have forgiven you."

Asad stood there listening to her and feeling like the worst worm ever. He had not meant it to happen that way. He'd no idea of the damage he had done when he had left. At that time, he had been too busy licking his own wounds of the cancelled deal to bother about how Zoya had felt.

"And you know what's even more pathetic?" she asked him with hate in her voice now and not actually waiting for an answer. "Even if you had been marrying me only for a deal, I would have gone through that damned marriage anyway."

Humbled at how much this woman had loved him, Asad felt her pain as if it were his own. He wanted to undo the past but could do nothing much about it now. How was he to know that would have ended up like that anyway?

When he had left, it had been up to Siddiqui to tell his daughter about what had happened. He had read in the news that the Zoya Siddiqui had been left at the altar. No pictures had been taken then but he had not felt sorry at that time. Instead, he had felt satisfied that the poor bas***d had believed that he would still show up to concede to his outrageous demand.

He had been too happy about winning a small battle that he had not bothered to wonder about how Zoya had felt. About why she had still gone to the altar if she had known that the nikaah was off. And he had thought that the media had meant the "left at the altar" part literally.

It made sense now. Why she hated him so much, as much as he hated her. He had inflicted her the worst kind of pain when he had wanted to spare her that very fate.

It was a good thing in a way; he had hurt Zoya so much that she would never be able to forgive him and he hated her father so much that he would never be able to forgive her. Basically, they were on the same footage. Which was quite handy.

Since they hated each other, they would be able to put the past behind them and therefore move on with their lives when the whole story was over. Maybe years after, they would even be able to laugh at what had transpired between them, each of them happy in their own world to bother about past enmity or regrets.

He could offer no explanations or false pacifications as he knew Zoya would never believe him anyway. Even if he had never intended for his plan to work that way, he had sought her out with the intention to deceive her.

Zoya - "You have hurt me so much Asad that I will never be able to forgive you. Not in my whole life."

He smiled ruefully at her words. As she uttered them he had been thinking along the same line. He would never be able to forgive her for what her father had done. And he told her so.

He watched as Zoya got a grip of herself and pinned him with an icy look which could freeze hell over.

"I'm so glad we've finally cleared the air," Zoya said in an even colder voice. "Let's find my sister so that we can finally put the past where it should be; behind us."

Asad couldn't agree more to her words. He firmly believed that if they finally achieved what they had set out to do, they would be able to put it behind. And he was glad that Zoya was on the same wavelength as he was. It made matters simpler, he would be able to leave her behind without much guilt this time.

Satisfied with this decision, Asad nodded in approbation pacified now that he was able to understand better why Zoya had turned out to be the woman she was. He could hardly blame her as she was the outcome of what he himself had taught her.

And in some way he knew that Zoya must somehow understand what he had gone through to do what he had set out to do with her three years ago. The tension was no longer that thick between them and he felt lighter, his conscience less guilty when she asked him the question that threw him off-balance.

"So, tell me Asad, Would you still have married me if the deal had gone through?"

It was a question he had asked himself a thousand times over. He had the time to think about it during three whole years. He was sure that Zoya would not appreciate whatever answer he would give anyway. If he said yes, it would make him ruthless meaning he had meant to carry out with his deceitful plan after all. If he said no, it would make him even more deceitful meaning that he had intended to steal from them and not go out with the plan anyway. So, whatever, he was going to answer he was going to be the "villain" in the eyes of Zoya.

Asad decided to come out with truth this time. Todays' encounter had left him with a sense of guilt and he wanted to make sure Zoya to know what he had thought about the entire Nikaah thing.

"Yes!!!", he answered her giving her a look which warned her to avoid any further questions!!!

****************************************************

Chapter 8 Chapter 10

Chapter - 10

I never Stopped loving you...

Zoya's breath caught when she heard his answer. A mere yes with no explanations, no beating around the bush. So, Asad had been that desperate. To have to marry someone he hated to achieve his goal.

And now he was ready to marry a complete stranger, someone he know nothing about except her name. He was going on his self-destruction mode.

Zoya was even more determined to stop him from meeting her sister first. She made up her mind that she would leave for Hydrabad as soon as he left. Her things were packed and flight already booked. Involuntarily her eyes flew to the tickets that laid on her mantelpiece and automatically Asad's eyes followed hers. Asad frowned and then his eyes flew open in shock.

Damn! How could she be so stupid?

"You little liar. You are going to Hydrabad alone, aren't you?"

She shook her head vehemently and tried to get the tickets but Asad was quicker. He anticipated her move and lurched forward to grab the tickets before her. It was inevitable; they collided and fell.

Zoya closed her eyes preparing herself to feel the impact when Asad grabbed her in their fall and she fell on top of him instead. He let out a loud humph" and at the same time a thud was heard as he fell on her carpet absorbing the full impact.

Zoya opened her eyes and saw that Asad was close.

"Asad," she nuzzled his face trying not to panic as he let out a moan. Damn, he must have broken something. She nudged him gently again. Nothing. Asad was still lying on the ground with his eyes closed with her atop him. She found herself caressing his face and heard him moan again.

Now she was worried. Asad had never been one to fuss; he'd always been ready to stand up when he was knocked down. Alarmed, Zoya tried to get up but was instantly brought back into his arms when she felt a strong pull around her waist.

"Asad," she said again except this time she was scolding him.

"Why were you going to Hydrabad?" he asked with his eyes closed and keeping her in the same position. Flustered, she fidgeted to free herself but all she was able to do was putting herself in an even more awkward posture still in his hold.

Zoya - "Asad..."

AAK - "Answer me."

Defeated, she looked at him sagging her shoulders but he kept his eyes closed, his face looking like it had been chiselled out of stone. Zoya felt desire course through her veins.

"Asad", she again called out... This time with huskily and with more need

Asad opened his eyes with a jerk. There was no show of surprise in his eyes and he was looking at her with desire filled eyes.

Their eyes met and the impact was explosive. The kiss that followed was to satiate their hunger but instead it served as a catalyst to exacerbate their desires for each other. Zoya felt like she was drinking from him, seeping out his very essence. The essence that had been etched in her mind ever since she had understood what desire was. Asad was matching her every demand with his own. It was as if they were having a battle of will, unable to decide whose desire was more ferocious.

Possessed by a long suppressed desire, Zoya grinded harder against him and heard his lustful moan. For the first time in her life, she felt powerful as a woman. She was the one who was making the man beneath her moan with desire. Desire for her.

Time seemed to stop as their kiss went on and on as they consumed each other their craving still not appeased. It was as if they had been starving, hungry for three long years. They came up for air and both were panting looking at each other with blatant sexual awareness in their eyes. Zoya swallowed hard and looked away.

Asad was looking at her like a feral going for her prey and she felt her heart constrict at the expression she found in his eyes. Zoya did not know what to say and was bracing herself for him to demean what they had recently experienced together. Asad would never agree that what was between them was something special, not when he had openly admitted that he hated her and would never forgive her.

Zoya was totally unprepared for what followed.

Asad turned her round abruptly and she shrieked at the impact of her skin against the carpet. He mounted her and pinned her to the floor. He was still looking at her in a brooding way and she could find nothing in his enigmatic eyes except desire and she could still feel his hard part of his body against her belly. There was really no escape now; she was trapped.

He kissed her again more gently this time taking his time to savour her mouth and lips. She felt herself melt and returned his kiss with all fervour she could muster. It was futile denying herself the only pleasure she would be getting in her whole cursed life. And she had discovered that where Asad was concerned, her will had a mind of its own.

She inhaled deeply his scent and deepened the kiss by entangling her fingers in his hair and pressing his mouth closer.

Another moan escaped and she never knew whether it came from her or him. They were one. The way they should be. The way they should stay. As those thoughts entered her desire fogged mind, she was already regretting her moment of elapse.

With as much force as Zoya could she pushed Asad away and he seemed to be getting the message. They broke apart and Zoya gulped as she looked at him not knowing how to defuse the situation. She did not want to talk about the kiss. Not even want him to mention it. So instead she told him about her trip to Florida.

Zoya - "I want to meet my sister first."

Asad narrowed his eyes at her as if questioning her about her avoiding the subject of their recent escapade. Finally, he conceded silently letting it go and replied her statement.

"That was why you've been planning to sneak off to Hydrabad behind my back? You could have asked Zoya. I understand that you would want to meet your sister first before I talk to her. Trust me if this whole situation could be easily dealt with, I will be the first one to be happy about it."

He was making sense. And Asad added.

AAK - "And I thought about what you said about trying to negotiate with her first instead of antagonizing her."

Zoya was stunned. What was he trying to say? Was he willing to make a deal instead of destroying her sister's life?

AAK - "Don't look at me like that Zoya. I am not the monster you seem to think. I was the one willing to make a deal but your father got too greedy, so I am the one most eager to finish this whole drama without much ado. And besides there is no longer any need to avenge your father since he is no longer alive."

Zoya nodded to show her consent and was wondering how Asad could keep his cool. She was out of breath and her mind was still focused on the hot scene they had just shared. Maybe he wasn't so affected by the kiss as she had been. But it was impossible. He would never have allowed her to touch him like that if he had felt nothing.

"And please Zoya, I'm warning you. No more sneaking behind my back and getting any ideas for the coming week. I'm back in Bhopal tonight to attend some meetings and will be back next Thursday for our trip."

Feeling like a puppet, she could only nod her assent not trusting her voice. Hell, she was even having difficulty standing on her feet feeling her knees trembling in such a way that they could crumble at any time.

He strode towards the door and just before reaching he said "No more gallivanting around the city as well."

The week that followed passed without any mishaps as Asad was in Bhopal completing his work and Zoya took advantage of the reprieve for her charity works and modelling projects. Thankfully, there was no party for her to attend which solved her "gallivanting" problems.

Nikhat still tried to dissuade Zoya from the trip as she was convinced that Asad Ahmed Khan was poison for her. But Zoya tried hard to persuade Nikhat in turn that she wanted to put the past behind and they had agreed that they would work out on a deal which would help both of them to forget and forgive.

It was already afternoon by the time Asad came to pick her up from her posh apartment. He was wearing sunglasses and it was difficult to judge his mood so Zoya preferred to stay quietly during the trip to the airport.

They reached Hydrabad late afternoon and they decided to spend the night at the hotel and postpone their meeting for the next day. They checked in at a hotel near the place where the next Humaira was supposed to live.

Since, they had not made any reservations it was difficult to get any rooms and Asad managed to get a single room with his usual charisma and charm.

Zoya however was not impressed.

Zoya - "How do you think you're going to sleep tonight?"

"Relax," he said talking to her the first time since they had met. "I'll sleep on the couch or something. Don't make a big deal out of it, please."

Zoya - "Can you imagine the scandal if the media got to know that I'm spending the night at a hotel with a man?"

AAK - "I reckon this is not the first time you would be spending the night in the company of a man and the news got to the media, right?"

She frowned at him. What did he mean now?

AAK - "I read some articles about you. Your career has not been boring during the last three years princess. So, I think it's too late to act prudish now."

He'd read articles about her? Well, she'll be damned! Zoya had never read articles about herself. Never knew what had been written about her. As far as she had been concerned, the person they were talking about was not her and she was not interested.

Zoya could not resist provoking Asad.

Zoya - "So, you've read articles about me? I never bothered to read them, you know. So what did they have to say about me?"

He stopped in his walks and turned to look at her with a serious expression.

AAK - "Trust me you're better off not knowing."

Zoya shrugged and put on her sunglasses not answering him. She'd always known that what was written about her was not something she would like and she did not care.

"Let's go then," she said instead.

Even if the room was small, it was luxurious. The dcor was simple with light blue and pastel green color and of course the Mountain View was fabulous. It consisted of a double bed with white satin bed sheets which blended in the light color dcor.

The problem was that there was no other furniture for Asad to sleep in. Apart from the bed.

Asad opened his mouth but Zoya put up her hand to halt him.

"Don't even think about it Asad," Zoya said irritably. "You are sleeping on the floor."

Zoya watched as Asad swallowed his protest and bowed mockingly. "Yes madam." Her heart warmed at his nonchalant behaviour, it was as if he was happy. Happy to be finally reaching his ultimate goal in life she presumed.

As the night settled, they were both engulfed in the latest technology gadgets. Zoya was typing furiously on her iPad and Asad writing something on his laptop. Thankfully, the room had Wi-Fi connection which helped them communicate with their staff to resolve their pending business issues.

They were interrupted by room service and after diner, Zoya prepared herself for bed. When she came out of the bathroom, Asad was standing with his back turned wearing only his black track pants.

Asad's back was so perfectly shaped that she felt she is looking at a greek god. She gulped.

"You're not going to sleep like that!" Zoya shrieked in annoyance.

At the sound of her voice, Asad spun round and Zoya gulped harder. Damn he was even sexier from the front. He was not huge like most of the contemporary male models his muscles subtle showing only when he was stretching.

Asad seemed surprised at Zoya's statement. "Aren't you models supposed to be comfortable with nude bodies all the time?"

Asad was right. Zoya was used to seeing naked bodies all the time. Except none had the effect that this semi naked body was having on her. Asad seemed to pick up her mood and grinned.

AAK - "Besides, am not totally naked, you know. Usually, I don't sleep in anything at all. If you want, I can remove my..."

"Aaahh, no thanks," Zoya interrupted and darted towards the bed not before hearing his mischievous chuckle. Snuggling under the quilt as far as she was allowed to, she squeezed her eyes shut but the vision of a man was still in her mind. As gorgeous as ever. She felt her mouth water.

Sleep was impossible. Not with a half-naked Asad Ahmed Khan across the room which was sending signals to parts of Zoya's body she had never known existed before. She could hear some noise as he was making his place on the floor.

Zoya knew it was going to be uncomfortable for Asad but it was impossible for her to lie with him on the same bed.

"Are you asleep yet?" Zoya heard him ask and did not reply hoping he would take the hint.

And he did! Zoya heard the bed squeak beside her and she flung her quilt aside sitting up with a jerk.

Zoya - "WHAT ARE YOU...?"

"Ssshhh," Asad said silencing Zoya with a finger on her mouth. "Am not going to sleep for a minute on the floor. The bed is wide enough to accommodate the two of us. If you feel so outraged at having your modesty being violated, please feel free to hit the floor."

Zoya humped at Asad's words because no words were getting out anyway. When he removed his finger, she turned her back to him promptly and scatted as far away as possible.

"Goodnight then," Asad whispered in a husky voice.

Twenty minutes later, Zoya was still wide awake and she heard regular light snorts from the man across the bed. She relaxed. Asad was sound asleep; now she would be able to sleep a bit. But still thirty minutes later, sleep still eluded Zoya and she turned round carefully to ease the stiffness of her right side.

It was her undoing. Her side of lamp was still on and she could see his face clearly. He looked a lot younger in his sleep, every trace of cynicism and mockery gone. A lock of hair had fallen on his forehead making him look sexier than ever. Zoya lost track of time as she rested her head on his side watching him in open admiration. When he stirred, she was caught unaware and closed her eyes in haste but it was too late.

"Don't look at me like that unless you are prepared for what follows next," Asad whispered in a husky voice and Zoya still kept her eyes closed.

When Zoya felt a hand on her cheek, her eyes flew open and saw Asad looking at her like he wanted to eat her up. Was that the look she had been giving him too? She never knew who made the first move but seconds later, she was in his arms and they were kissing. Again.

Hungry kisses rained between them until the passion became too acute to bear. Zoya was feeling an excruciating heat profuse all over her body and her mind had stopped functioning. Her hands were everywhere on him touching him, feeling him.

She whimpered when his hands went inside her nightdress, caressing her naked skin just below her dress. She stopped their kiss looking at him with fire engulfing her and saw a question in his eyes. He wanted to know if she was sure.

To confirm what Asad was asking, Zoya brought him down closer and flicked her tongue on his left nipple. Desire overwrote Asad's eyes and he groaned in response as if in fever.

Inspired, Zoya took it in her mouth and licked it lovingly with the tip of her tongue. Asad was letting Zoya take the lead all the time watching her with his eyes filled with an emotion so conspicuous that it was hard to miss.

Finally, Asad stopped her hand by placing a hand over hers and rolled over Zoya pinning her under him and kissing her palm. Zoya felt a zillion sensation zing through her and she closed her eyes ready to let her heart take over.

"Open your eyes Zoya," Asad said and she did. It was as if they were connecting.

When Zoya felt Asad's mouth on her nipple, she shivered as she felt goose bumps down her arms. Zoya licked her lips at the feeling of a hunger she had not known she was capable of.

"Asad," she said.

"I know," he replied back and from that time onwards they didn't need words. Talking would be a blasphemy for this moment.

With impatience, Asad's lips and tongue were everywhere as he suckled first one breast and then the other. Zoya felt his hands roam around her waist and moved lower lifting her dress. In one swift movement, he yanked his briefs off and she felt a moment of doubt at his dexterity. Should she warn him?

It was too late. Asad straddled Zoya's hips and his erection found her heat and drive hard and deep in one thrust. Zoya bit her lips at the pain but felt Asad go rigid and knew that he had found out the truth. She sensed his mental withdrawal and she took the initiative and thrust forward in turn. A shudder rippled through his body and she knew the exact moment he gave in.

Looking at her, he thrust deeper and drove into her over and over until she felt the most exquisite pleasure in her life which subdued the initial pain. She was flying higher and higher until she finally exploded into a mass of sensation and felt Asad's hips jerked before collapsing into her in exhaustion.

Almost immediately, he rolled over and was looking at her in an almost angry way.

"You're a virgin!" he spat accusingly.

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Chapter 9 Chapter 11A