Royal Enemies

CHAPTER 4 - AKSHITA AND ABHISHEK

"Not you, you stay."

And a current ran through me from the touch, the first time he touched me after eight years. My heart lost it's cool and raced. It needed somewhere to escape; it beat so tightly against my chest that I couldn't help but swallow. My eyes met his. He had his jaw clenched and instantly let go. He looked at Trisha. "Leave." And I also turned my eyes to her. She flexed her jaw and then nodded. She gave me both, a teasing smirk and an apologetic look. I watched as she left.

He let my wrist go the instant she disappeared. I stepped away from him and held my wrist right where he held it. The warmth from his hand was still lingering. They were gentle, but a little rough. I gulped replaying the memory over and over again. I pursed my lips before tucking them in and meeting his stare.

"Don't touch me again." I said, contrary to my thoughts. He sighed and looked away uncrossing his arms and placing his hands on his hips instead. His eyes narrowed as if he was tired. He should be from acting like an ass.

"You're going to complete the walk with me and then we go back. Do me one favor of keeping your mouth shut for once." And the prince from yesterday disappeared. He sounded rude too.

I scoffed. "Was that a request? Didn't sound like one." And folded my arms on my chest. He eyed me up and down, taking a step closer. His hands now tucked in his pant's pockets. I raised my chin up with a questioning stare.

"Please take a walk with me Ms. Chakraborty." The tone was still cold, his jaw was still hard and those eyes of his were blazing with anything but respect.

"Why?" I cocked a brow at him and he smiled.

"Because my mother wants us to." His smile didn't really reach his eyes. I knew it was a smile of mockery or maybe one of amusement too. I inhaled a breath and looked towards the table where everyone was now gathered, including his father and brother. I nodded. Their eyes were on us and when I turned to face him, I found him staring at me too, a little too intensely that I thought I'd melt under his obvious observation.

I nodded. "Right." And then as soon as we started walking, a sigh left his lips.

I looked down at my wrist. The feel of his rough pads, the heat of his blood, and a little bit of sweat that lingered on his palm was embedded in my skin. I couldn't help but rub the spot again and my mouth was drying. I stole a look at him and he was looking straight and nowhere else. His jaw was tight, flexing every now and then. His frown relaxed completely into disinterest. My eyes observed him and then he turned his head slowly and raised a brow at me. I instantly looked away. My heart rushed; my blood heated in embarrassment.

"Stop staring at me with an obvious want Miss Chakraborty." He added, a little too cocky, but he has always been that.
I returned his remark with a stare of my own. "Want? I was just trying to figure out what has gone wrong with your princely act because you clearly seem out of the lines today." And he looked away this time. A small frown on his face as my words took time to register.
"What makes you think that?" he sighed looking down at his feet as if he was bored. There was a part of me that wanted to shake off that mask he was wearing. No way I told him I could see through him and he acted like he didn't care about what I thought. He needed to care like I did. He needed to be bothered by my presence as much as I was with his.

"Your eyes. In-fact the arrogance that now has made a way into your words, rather rudely." I kept walking, matching his slow pace. He inhaled another breath, now looking at god knows what, but definitely not at me. And not a word I said was false, each one I said was the truth. He sounded arrogant, and more like an asshole than a stranger.