Part 2

Aisha told herself she wouldn’t think about Vihaan. She failed miserably.

For the next few days, every touch, every look, every damn word between them replayed in her mind. And the worst part? He knew. He could see it in the way she hesitated before speaking, in the way her breath hitched when he got too close.

And Vihaan? He was having the time of his life.

At gatherings, he’d sit beside her, his knee brushing hers under the table. When she reached for something, he’d be quicker, his fingers lingering against hers a little too long. And when she spoke, he listened—really listened—his dark eyes drinking her in like he enjoyed watching her unravel.

It was a game. A slow, wicked game.

And tonight, Aisha was done pretending she wasn’t playing too.

Her best friend had invited her over for a movie night, and of course, Vihaan was there. He was stretched out on the couch, one arm draped over the back, his gaze finding hers the moment she walked in.

“You made it,” he murmured, voice smooth as silk.

Aisha smirked. “Disappointed?”

“Not in the slightest.”

The air between them crackled, but she ignored it, settling on the opposite end of the couch. If Vihaan was going to play with fire, she’d make damn sure he got burned too.

Halfway through the movie, the lights were dim, and their friend had fallen asleep in the recliner. That’s when it happened—Vihaan shifted, stretching his leg out, his foot nudging against her ankle.

Aisha didn’t move.

He did it again, slow and deliberate, his bare skin brushing against hers. She swallowed, pulse spiking, but she wasn’t about to let him win.

So she turned slightly, her fingers drifting to the edge of his knee, tracing just enough to make him notice. She felt him stiffen, his breath hitching—just for a second.

Good.

“Careful,” Vihaan murmured, voice low. “You don’t want to start something you can’t finish.”

Aisha’s lips curved. “Who says I won’t finish it?”

His eyes darkened, and suddenly, she wasn’t so sure she was in control anymore.

Vihaan shifted forward, his hand resting on the cushion between them. Close. Too close. “You like pushing me, huh?”

“I like winning.”

He exhaled a quiet laugh, but there was something else in his gaze now—something heavier, more dangerous.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until he finally murmured, “Then tell me, Aisha—who’s winning right now?”

Because as much as she wanted to believe she had the upper hand, the truth was crystal clear.

They were both losing.

Or maybe, just maybe… they were about to lose themselves to each other.

---

The air between them was tight, charged with something neither of them wanted to name. Aisha could hear the sound of her own breathing, shallow and unsteady. Vihaan was watching her—no, studying her, like he was waiting for her to crack first.

And she almost did.

Almost leaned in. Almost let herself fall into whatever wicked trap he was setting.

But then—buzz.

His phone vibrated on the coffee table. The spell broke.

Vihaan exhaled, tilting his head, his tongue running over his bottom lip like he was biting back words he shouldn’t say. Then, just as lazily, he leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head.

Aisha hated how good he looked doing it.

“Looks like you get to escape—for now,” he murmured.

She scoffed, standing before she lost whatever common sense she had left. “Escape? You wish.”

His smirk widened, but he didn’t stop her when she grabbed her bag and left.

But she knew.

This wasn’t over. Not even close.

---

Days passed, but the tension never faded.

At her best friend’s house. At casual hangouts. Even in places Vihaan shouldn’t have been, somehow, he was.

Like now.

Aisha stood at the café counter, waiting for her coffee when she felt it—the weight of a gaze burning into her back. She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

“You stalking me now?” she teased, grabbing her drink.

Vihaan, leaning against the counter, took his own coffee with a smirk. “Maybe you’re just always where I want to be.”

Aisha rolled her eyes, ignoring the way her stomach flipped. “Try harder, Vihaan.”

“I am trying.” His voice was quieter now, lower. “You’re just stubborn.”

Aisha took a slow sip, buying herself time. “And you love a challenge, huh?”

Vihaan leaned in slightly, his fingers ghosting over the back of her hand—light, teasing, but enough to make her heart slam against her ribs.

“You have no idea,” he murmured.

Aisha swallowed hard, but she didn’t pull away. She should’ve. She knew she should’ve.

Instead, she asked, “What exactly are you trying to do here?”

Vihaan’s eyes darkened. “You tell me, Aisha. Because the way I see it…” He took a step closer, forcing her back against the counter, his voice dropping to a murmur. “You’ve been playing with fire just as much as I have.”

Aisha sucked in a breath, the scent of him clouding every rational thought she had. “And if I have?”

His lips curved, wicked and slow. “Then maybe it’s time you let yourself burn.”

Her fingers clenched around her cup. The heat wasn’t just in his words—it was everywhere. In the way he looked at her, in the way his breath brushed her cheek, in the way her pulse pounded so loud she swore he could hear it.

And then, just as casually as he had trapped her, Vihaan pulled back, taking a sip of his coffee like he hadn’t just turned her entire world upside down.

“See you around, Aisha.”

And with that, he walked away—leaving her standing there, breathless, heart racing, and completely wrecked.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***