Nandini swallowed hard. She should push him away. She should demand to know who he was. But when his hand rested against her waist, fingers firm yet reverent, her body betrayed her. He leaned in, his breath fanning over her ear. “Your silence speaks louder than your words.” Her nails dug into his tunic as his lips hovered over hers, teasing, waiting—as if daring her to close the distance. They were so close, breathing each other’s breath, drowning in a haze of unspoken desires. His scent—earthy, musky, intoxicating—wrapped around her like an invisible chain. His dark eyes held hers, pulling her deeper into a trap she was more than willing to fall into. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her fingers tightening around his tunic, as if anchoring herself to reality. And then… she surrendered. Her lashes fluttered shut as she leaned in, her lips parting ever so slightly, waiting… expecting. But she never felt him. Instead, she felt a sudden loss of warmth. Her brows furrowed as she opened her eyes, only to see him—a wicked smirk playing on his lips, a silent challenge burning in his gaze. And before she could speak, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her breathless, aching… A storm raged within her. He was forbidden, unknown… yet everything about him felt terrifyingly familiar. She was a princess of Rajputana, raised within the golden walls of the palace. He was a nameless man wrapped in mystery. But in this moment, under the intoxicating spell of flickering firelight and stolen breaths, he was the only thing that felt real.