Chapter 110: chapter 110

MADHAVIT IS FINALLY HERE.THE DAY I’VE BEEN WORKING TOWARD FOR THE PAST MONTH.The jewelry exhibition starts tonight and concludes on Sunday evening with the closing ceremonies. I’m excited and nervous, like anyone would be before a big event. I just want everything to go smoothly, with no mishaps along the way.Sruthi stirs in my arms, and I glance down at her. She snuggles closer, her familiar lavender scent grounding me. Just moments ago, I felt jittery, but now I’m calm. The sun hasn’t risen yet, and I know I should get up and start preparing for what’s sure to be a hectic day. But I don’t want to leave this cozy, peaceful place by my wife’s side. Her even breathing lulls me, and for a moment, I consider closing my eyes for a little longer.Just as I’m about to give in and take a quick nap, my phone blares with the alarm I set. I groan and stretch out one hand, trying to silence it without shifting too much so that I don’t disturb Sruthi. My fingers fumble on the bedside table, but before I can reach it, Sruthi’s eyes open, startled by the noise. She glances at me and then at my outstretched hand. Still half-asleep, she leans over and switches off the alarm for me. Then she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me closer.Perfect. Now I really don’t want to get out of bed. The function doesn’t start until six in the evening, so I’ve got a good twelve hours. Surely an extra hour of lying here won’t hurt.“Don’t even think about it,” Sruthi murmurs, her fingers playing with my hair, eyes still closed.“About what?” I ask, brushing my fingers along her jaw.“About sleeping in,” she replies, opening one eye and giving me a lazy smile.“I wasn’t thinking about it,” I lie.“When you lie, you blink twice, you know,” she says, grinning.“No, I don’t.”“You do,” she says with such certainty that I try to prove her wrong.“I wasn’t trying to sleep in,” I say carefully, making sure not to blink. “See? Not even once.”Her grin only widens. It takes me a moment to realize I’ve walked right into her trap. She sits up, and I suddenly feel the chill in the air as she leaves my side. Her hair is messy, her clothes wrinkled, but to me, she’s the most beautiful sight in the world.“Stop being lazy and get going. You’re the host of the country’s most sought-after expo. Be responsible,” she says, giving me a playful poke.I groan. “Okay, okay, I’ll get up—just stop poking me. It’s annoying.”Her grin turns mischievous, and I realize my mistake in telling her that. She starts poking me relentlessly, and I have to grab both her arms to stop her. One second, I’m lying on the bed with her sitting beside me, and the next, I’m on top of her, pinning her wrists above her head.“Now you’re at my mercy,” I whisper in her ear. She shivers, her eyes darkening. Her breathing quickens, and I feel my own pulse race. She’s like an addiction I can’t get enough of—the more I kiss her, the more I crave her. I can see she feels the same way. Is this what people mean by the honeymoon phase?“What are you going to do?” she whispers back, licking her lips. My eyes are drawn to them.For the past four days, all we’ve done together is talk, cuddle, make out, and then do it all over again. When we're together, it feels like we're in a world of our own. And when I’m away from her, she fills my every thought. I count down the hours, restless, waiting for the moment I can finally be with her again.“Punish you,” I reply, holding her gaze so she knows exactly what I mean.She blushes and closes her eyes, tilting her head toward me. Just as I lean in, loosening my grip on her hands, she suddenly opens her eyes with a wicked grin. In a flash, she breaks free, and before I know it, I’m on the floor.“What the hell was that?” I ask, glaring up at Sruthi, who’s sitting on the bed, smirking.She used a move I taught her in our self-defense class. She’s been training hard since the recent threats against her, and I can’t deny—she’s mastered it. But I didn’t expect her to use it on me. “Sorry,” she says, sliding off the bed to kneel beside me. I rub my back, which took the brunt of the fall. “I didn’t mean to throw you that hard. I just wanted to see if I could actually do it. I could never manage it in class.”“That’s because I was ready for you then,” I reply, sitting up. “Even the best of us have weaknesses when caught off guard. That’s why I keep telling you to stay alert.”She nods, looking guilty. “Does it hurt a lot?”I sigh dramatically. “Only my pride.”She laughs softly and helps me up. “Good luck with the exhibition. Be an amazing host. I’ll see you at the venue after six.”I pull her close, breathing in her lavender scent one last time. I have a long day ahead, and I want to carry this moment with me.“I can’t wait to see you in that black dress,” I murmur in her ear.“Tonight is black, tomorrow red, and Sunday blue. Right?” she asks, repeating the color scheme I shared with her. As the host, the media’s attention will be on me—and on my wife. I wanted us to match, so I gave her my wardrobe plan for the event.“Exactly. I’ll be busy with the inauguration and ceremonies, so wait for me in the guest area. I’ll find you once things settle down. Or… you could join me…”I trail off, hoping she’ll say yes. We have different plans for the evening—while I’ll be in the spotlight, Sruthi wants to blend into the background. She’s still nervous around the media and prefers to avoid attention.She hesitates, then gives me an apologetic smile. “I think I’ll stay behind. I’m not good at handling the press. I’d rather watch from the sidelines.”I try to hide my disappointment, but she catches it and says, “I’m sorry I’m not better at this media stuff.”I shake my head. “It’s fine. I just want you to enjoy yourself.”“I will,” she assures me with a bright smile.“Fair warning: I’m a jealous man. If I see anyone hitting on you, I might not behave.”She laughs. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure every man I talk to knows I’m yours.”I’m yours.I grin at her. “And I belong to you, Sruthi. So don’t get jealous of any women there.”She bursts out laughing. “Thanks for the reassurance, hubby. But I’m a sensible woman. I think I can handle it.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥