Chapter 14: Secrets Spilled

SAESHA POV

The ride back to the mansion is quiet. Not the peaceful kind—no, this is thick, heavy silence. Veeraj’s hand is still on my thigh, his thumb lazily tracing circles over the sensitive flesh like he owns every inch. My core aches from what he did in the car, and my body’s still humming with the mess he left in me.

I should feel ashamed. Instead, I feel drunk on him.

The gates swing open when his driver pulls in, and for a moment I think I’ll just crawl upstairs, collapse into his sheets, and sleep until my body forgets the way it’s trembling.

But then I see her.

A figure waiting at the foot of the marble stairs, arms crossed, hair tied up in that messy bun that screams impatience.

Levirena.

My best friend.

My heart drops.

“Shit,” I whisper, panic flooding me as the car slows to a stop.

Veeraj notices instantly. His dark eyes cut toward me, sharp as a blade. “Who is she?”

“My… friend,” I choke out. “Levirena.”

His jaw flexes once, and then his hand tightens on my thigh, possessive, a warning without words.

The driver opens the door. Cool night air rushes in, but it doesn’t help the heat flooding my cheeks.

Levirena is already marching forward. “Saesha! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you all day.”

I step out, legs shaky, dress wrinkled, and I know I look ruined. Her eyes flick over me, confusion flashing across her face. “You look—” She stops herself, frowning. “Different.”

I force a smile. “I—I was busy.”

Behind me, Veeraj emerges. Tall. Imposing. His presence swallows the night, and I swear Levirena’s jaw slackens for half a second before she schools her expression.

“Mr. Kapoor,” she says carefully, like even she knows better than to meet his eyes for too long.

He gives her a curt nod, but his hand slides to my lower back, a subtle claim that makes my knees weak. “It’s late,” he says, voice smooth but sharp. “Your friend should head home.”

Levirena blinks, glances at me, then back at him. “Actually, I wanted to talk to Saesha. Alone.”

My stomach twists. I can feel Veeraj’s eyes on me, daring me to say no. Daring me to send her away.

But Levirena’s already stepping closer, grabbing my wrist like she used to in school hallways. “Five minutes, Sae. Please.”

I look up at him. His jaw is tight, his stare unreadable, but I know exactly what he’s telling me.

Five minutes. That’s all she gets.

And I’ll pay for it later.

———

“Saesha. Roy.” She uncrossed her arms slowly, disbelief painted all over her face. “What the actual fuck?”

My stomach twisted. “Levi, I—”

“Don’t even,” she cut me off, stalking closer, eyes scanning me head to toe. “Your dress is wrinkled, your lipstick’s gone, your hair looks like it had a fight with a wind tunnel, and—” she squinted, lowering her voice—“tell me that’s not a bite mark on your neck.”

Heat shot up my face. I touched my skin instinctively. Of course there was a mark. That bastard had sucked me raw in the car, laughing when I gasped.

Levi’s mouth fell open. “Oh my God. It’s true.”

I swallowed hard. My best friend, the girl who knew every shade of me since high school, the only one I trusted with my secrets—now she was staring at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Levi…” I whispered. “Please don’t freak out.”

She let out a laugh, sharp and incredulous. “Don’t freak out? Saesha, you just crawled out of Veeraj Kapoor’s car looking like you got wrecked.”

Her words sliced through me, but the worst part? She wasn’t wrong.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold onto something. “I didn’t plan it, okay?”

“You didn’t plan it?” Her voice pitched higher, hands flying in the air. “He’s your dad’s best friend!”

“I know!” The word tore out of me, desperate. My chest rose and fell fast. “I know it’s wrong, Levi. I know exactly what this looks like, but I—”

“But you what?” Her eyes softened, but her voice was still sharp. “You let him fuck you?”

My throat went dry. The word burned. But I couldn’t deny it. Not when the taste of him was still on my tongue, not when my thighs still trembled with the memory.

I nodded once, small.

Levi covered her mouth with her hand like she couldn’t believe it. “Holy shit, Sae…”

The silence stretched, heavy. I felt it settle over us like a blanket I couldn’t shake off.

Then she dropped her hand, eyes narrowing. “Tell me everything.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You heard me. Start talking.” She crossed her arms again, tapping her foot. “How the hell did this even happen? Because last week you were whining about being bored, and now you’re out here with bite marks.”

My face flamed. My pulse raced. But the dam had cracked open already.

So I told her.

The midnight delivery. The file. The dress. His eyes, his mouth, the chair, the way he tied his wrists because I made him. How he took my virginity and whispered I was his. How every touch, every word since then had ruined me in ways I couldn’t undo.

By the time I finished, my voice was shaking.

Levi just stared at me.

And then she whistled low. “Fuck. He’s got you bad.”

I swallowed. “I know.”

“You’re not just… messing around.” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re hooked.”

I couldn’t argue. My silence was its own confession.

Levi sighed, dragging her hand down her face. “This is insane. This is dangerous. And if your dad finds out—”

“Don’t.” My voice cracked. My chest ached at just the thought. “Please, Levi. Don’t say it.”

Her eyes softened at my plea. She stepped closer, squeezing my arm. “Hey. I’m not gonna tell him. You know I’d never.”

Relief flooded me, but it tangled with guilt.

She leaned in, lowering her voice. “But, babe, you need to be smart. Like… very smart.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Her brows shot up. “What do I mean? Sae, you’re having raw, crazy sex with a man who probably doesn’t even know where the condoms are in his house.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “Levi—”

“No. Listen to me.” Her grip tightened. “First thing tomorrow, you’re getting the pill. Oral contraceptive. No excuses. Because if you end up pregnant…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “You think it’s forbidden now? Imagine your dad finding out that.”

Her words hit like a slap. Pregnant. The thought made my stomach twist, not with disgust but with a kind of terrifying, secret thrill. The way Veeraj always growled about me being his. The way he’d shoved himself deep and whispered about ruining me so I’d never forget him.

I clenched my thighs together. “I’ll get it,” I whispered.

“You’d better.” Levi’s tone softened, but her eyes stayed serious. “Because this isn’t a game anymore, Sae. Not when he’s the kind of man who doesn’t half-do anything. If he’s in, he’s in. And if you’re in…” She sighed. “You’re already in too deep.”

My chest tightened. “I don’t know how to stop.”

Her lips curved sadly. “That’s because you don’t want to.”

Silence settled again, heavy but true.

I leaned against the car, head spinning, body aching with exhaustion and want all over again. Levi stood beside me, watching me with those sharp best-friend eyes that saw everything.

“You’re glowing,” she muttered finally.

I blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.” She smirked faintly, shaking her head. “Ruined, marked up, walking around like your pussy owns the world—but glowing. I hate it, but I can’t even deny it.”

A laugh slipped out of me, shaky but real.

Levi nudged me. “Go shower. Sleep. And tomorrow, we’re going to the pharmacy together.”

“Fine,” I murmured.

“And Sae?”

“Yeah?”

Her gaze softened. “Just… be careful. Dangerous men don’t play fair.”

I nodded, but deep down, I knew the truth.

I didn’t want to be fair.

I wanted him.

END OF CHAPTER 14