Page 92 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Rajesh smirked. He couldn’t hide the glimmer in his eye. The thought of kissing her was almost a little too pleasing. Flames, if he knew that the last time he was going to be with her was the last time, he would’ve held on a little longer.

Leela’s brow lengthened. “No.”

“I didn’t even say it.”

“You don’t need to. I am not kissing you. Not when we’ve both got vengeful Flames.” Leela scoffed. “Do you have a death wish?”

“I can leave if you need me to…?”

Rajesh and Leela snapped to Tanmay, who sat tapping his feet away on the bench. A sheepish look crossed Tanmay’s features as he stood. Rajesh had forgotten he’d asked his second mate to watch and make sure the Viperess didn’t come out, and if she did, to attack.

“No. You’re staying,” Rajesh said, waving at Tanmay to sit back down. He turned back to Leela. “Maybe I can teach you a thing or two too, May.”

“Don’t act like you’re doing this for him.” Leela shot him a pointed look. “You… You…”

“What?” Rajesh’s cheeks were getting tired from how hard he was trying to control his smile, but he couldn’t help it. He had missed this. The teasing. The banter. The way he made her squirm with a simple look. There was almost a thrilling edge to being near her this time because he couldn’t touch her.

It made it all the more enticing.

Leela shook her head and headed for the door.

Rajesh caught her arm, stilling her.

Leela tugged, trying to pull herself out of his grip, but he only tightened his hold.

He leaned down and skimmed his lips along the length of her ear. Her body tensed against his. Blood rushed to his nether region, and he had to suppress his urges with her being this close.

“You need to do this. You know you can’t do it on your own,” Rajesh whispered.

Leela locked her gaze on his, and he held it.

A flicker of gold crossed her eyes, and he loosened his hold.

“What are you suggesting?” Leela said.

Her eyes flickered to his lips, and he forced back the lump forming in his throat. It was like he was thirteen all over again, wondering if it was okay to kiss her. Like they were young teenagers once more, navigating the early realms of their love.

“I suggest the Viperess wants the Scorpion. Why don’t we let her have some fun?”

“Use you as bait?” Leela gawked.

Rajesh gave her a look that meant ‘yes.’

Leela shook her head. “No. The thought of her taking over again is… is… No. I won’t let her!”

“You can’t draw her out on your own, and we need to get this under control. Or she will take over, and you won’t have a way back,” Rajesh said firmly. There was no point consoling Leela right now. They were on a time limit, and he didn’t want to wake up one night with the Viperess staring down at him, knife in hand. All he had to do was try to get her to come forward enough for Leela to calm her mind and suck her back in.

Leela eventually sighed. “Fine.”

Rajesh let her go and stepped back. “Tanmay, stand by. If she makes a move, you know what to do.”

Leela spun around to Tanmay. “What? What is he going to do?”

Rajesh shrugged. “I can’t tell you that, otherwise she will know. Won’t she?”

Leela paled. “Rajesh!”

“I can’t tell you,” Rajesh said. He backed away, hands held out while quirking a smile. “Now come on. You know you want this.”