Page 76 of Okay Boss
He forced himself to step back before he did something foolish. Like bury his face in it. Like wrap it around his fist. Like...
“There.” His voice came out rougher than intended. “You can change now.”
She stood quickly, grabbing the fresh clothes from the chair. “I’ll just... in the dressing room...”
“Take your time.”
She practically fled.
Vikram stood alone in the bedroom, his hands still warm from her hair, his chest tight with the memory of how she’d stopped talking, stopped thinking, justfeltwhen he’d touched her.
Good.
He wanted her feeling. Wanted her aware. Wanted her unable to retreat into professionalism when his hands were on her.
He shrugged off his sherwani, kept his kurta on. Sat on the edge of the bed. Stood. Paced.
The dressing room door opened. Divya emerged in simple cotton pajamas, her hair braided loosely over one shoulder, glasses back in place, looking so determinedly composed that it was almost endearing.
“You should take the bed,” he said immediately, already moving toward the couch.
“I’ll take the couch.”
“Divya.”
“...it’s your room and you’re much taller...”
“We’ll alternate.” The compromise came easily. “Every other night. You get the bed tonight, I get it tomorrow. Fair?”
She studied his face, looking for the catch. “You’re serious.”
“Completely.” He guided her toward the bed with gentle pressure. “Now go. Sleep. You’ve had a very long day of accidentally becoming my wife.”
She almost smiled at that. Almost.
But she still hesitated. “Boss...”
“Goodnight, Divya.” He kept his voice firm but not unkind. “We’ll figure everything else out tomorrow.”
She finally climbed into bed, still looking like she was doing something wrong. Pulled the covers up. Removed her glasses and set them carefully on the nightstand.
“Shall we turn off the lights?” Her voice was small.
He moved to the switch, turned off the lights and paused. “Divya?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” For what, he didn’t specify. For saying yes. For being here. For not running when she still had the chance.
“Okay, Boss,” she whispered back.
The nickname landed different in the dark. Soft. Almost intimate.
He settled on the couch that was too short for his frame.
Through the darkness, he could hear her breathing. Quiet. Steady. Eventually evening out into sleep.
He lay awake much longer.
