Page 65 of Claimed By the Maharaja
Heat crept up her face as the previous night replayed itself in her mind like a B-rated movie. She recalled the way he had claimed her with absolutely no hesitation or awkwardness. And the way her body had responded far too eagerly, and the sounds she had made.
But now, he was back to ignoring her again.
He didn’t even remark that she was late by ten minutes. She was sure he could see the time on the tablet and also heard the grandfather clock, which struck each hour.
This contract marriage is just a business transaction to him.
She reminded herself that he didn’t even kiss her.
Clenching her jaw, she sat down, only to wince at the soreness between her legs.
Just as she glared at his perfectly styled hair, a maid appeared.
“Chai or coffee, maharani?” she asked.
“I’ll have chai,” Yamini said, her eyes falling on the gold-rimmed tea cup next to Bharat Jogra with steam rising over pink-hued tea. Somehow, she imagined him to be a black coffee drinker.
The maid poured rich pink-hued tea into a cup and set it on a saucer beside her.
Yamini murmured thanks before picking up the teacup and taking a mouthful of chai to get her morning fuel. But the moment the pink liquid touched her tongue, she nearly spit it out.
What the hell?
The pink-hued chai was salty.
She almost thought someone had mistakenly added salt instead of sugar to the chai until she saw Bharat Jogra pick up his gold-rimmed tea cup and take a sip of the pink-hued chai while he continued reading on the tablet.
Ugh, even the Jogra chai is unpredictable like its maharaja.
There were several types of bread on the table. She reached for the thin, crisp flatbread and poured a generous amount of honey before taking a bite. It was delicious and got the salty taste of chai out of her mouth.
Across from her, Bharat’s breakfast plate was arranged neatly with a fragrant meat item along with fruit. He ate methodically without haste.
The efficiency irritated her more than it should have.
Without lifting his gaze from the tablet, he spoke.
“A security team has been assigned to you. A car and a helicopter will be at your disposal at all times.”
Yamini stiffened. “That won’t be necessary.”
“It is,” he replied.
She looked at him, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. They didn’t.
“I don’t need guards following me everywhere,” she said.
Bharat finally paused, set his cutlery down, and spoke in a tone that brooked no discussion. “You are my wife. You will follow royal protocol.”
Her fingers curled against the edge of the table at his command.
Before she could respond, he reached into his jacket pocket and placed a sleek black card beside her plate. “Use this for your expenses.”
She stared at it.
Embarrassment flared first. Then anger.
“I don’t need your money,” she said sharply.
