Accidentally Ever After Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Blurb

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other Books by Mariyam

  Bonus Chapters - The Love Flight

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Accidentally Ever After

  by

  Mariyam Hasnain

  All Rights Reserved

  Copyright 2019 © Mariyam Hasnain

  www.mariyamhasnain.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages embodied in critical articles or in a review. The information in this book is distributed on an “as is” basis, without warranty. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imaginations or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Any opinions of the author have been rendered based on specific facts, under certain conditions, and subject to certain assumptions, and may not and should not be used or relied upon for any other purpose, including, but not limited to, for use in or in connection with any legal proceeding.

  To my beta reader Miranda Knight and to all my awesome readers.

  Heartfelt thanks!

  ~Mariyam

  Blurb

  Vikram Jaysingh doesn’t do one-night stands. And if he ever does, the only thing he cares about is to keep his partner safe from accidental pregnancy.

  The woman he meets at the pub is beautiful. Vikram can’t take his hands off her gorgeous curves. Breaking his rule for the mysterious young woman could probably be the biggest mistake of Vikram’s life.

  But he doesn’t regret it at all. Except that this time his one-night fling has gotten under his skin. Except that the sultry female disappears the next day without even uttering a word to Vikram.

  Would Vikram ever be able to find the mysterious woman he spent a night with?

  If yes, would she reciprocate Vikram’s feelings?

  What would be the outcome of Vikram breaking his rules for the night?

  Chapter One

  Christmas Eve

  The woman dances and shimmies against her partner. Her black dress glints in the thin neon lighting of the dance floor. She twists and turns, gliding, swaying, twirling around like a maddened whirlpool. Her head tilts back as she turns around, slamming and grinding herself against the man in rugged denim jeans and leather jacket. She rests her head on the man’s shoulder. Her dusky skin shines lighting up the stage forcing Vikram to keep his eyes fixed on the face that glows like a beacon. Transfixed, he stares at the sultry vixen dancing mere feet away from him.

  Vikram enjoys the sight sitting on the barstool and downing his third shot. His tongue feels bitter from the aftertaste of the liquor. Removing the lemon slice from the glass rim, he sucks on the rind. Hooded eyes are still not ready to leave the dance floor, still fixed on the siren who’s now caged in the man’s arms.

  She looks familiar, yet it’s hard for Vikram to recognize her.

  Who’s she?

  Vikram swivels in his seat and orders another round of beverages. Alcohol is the best remedy to keep the worries at bay, though momentarily. The moment Vikram drifts his eyes away from the female and faces the bartender ordering his drink, thoughts bounce back in his head. It’s only been a few weeks since he’s taken the charge of the crumbling enterprise and here, he is sitting in a pub downing one shot after another.

  “Alabama Slammer.” A husky female voice vibrates the tympanum of Vikram’s ears and breaks his thoughts. He shifts his gaze from the gleaming wooden counter to the owner of the sexy voice.

  The same temptress who a while ago was teasing Vikram’s resolve slides into the chair next to his.

  Long locks of golden hair form a sort of curtain hiding her face and most of her admirable features. Vikram resists his urge of sweeping those silky tendrils away from her face. He resists himself from tucking those rowdy locks of golden hair behind her ears and admiring her glowing face. Face that glows like a star in the gloominess of the pub.

  “Hey,” sipping his drink, Vikram speaks.

  The woman swivels in her chair and faces Vikram.

  Who the hell is she? I’ve seen her somewhere.

  She tilts her head to the side, gazes at Vikram, puckers her lips and smirks. “Hi.” And then she drifts her doe eyes to the bartender.

  “Alabama Slammer, Pretty,” announces the shaggy-haired, bartender. His tattooed arm flexes under his slim-fit black T-shirt as he sets the long-stemmed wine glass on the counter.

  “Thanks.” Full red lips curve into a smile as thin long fingers wrap around the glass. She grabs the glass and raises it to her luscious mouth, kissing the rim of the tumbler, sipping her beverage.

  The woman finishes her drink, slams the wine glass on the gleaming wooden counter and wipes her pert lips with the back of her hand. She’s about to open her leather clutch and pay for the drink when Vikram speaks, “that drink is on me.” With that said, he swivels in his chair and stuffs a few five-hundred-rupee notes below the stem of the wine glass.

  Getting down from his seat, he gazes at the woman who’s now staring him with wide-open eyes. “Are you done here?” Vikram offers an arm to the lady.

  Without speaking anything, she also gets down from her seat and loops her arm with his.

  “Looking for a company?” the lady asks as they stroll out of the club.

  “Beyond gracious but don’t expect anything beyond drinking and dancing.”

  “And why not?”

  “I don’t do one-night stands,” Vikram answers.

  “What’s the big deal about that?” The woman tosses a lock of golden hair on her shoulder as a Mercedes steadily halts in front of them.

  In answer to her question, Vikram smiles as he ushers the lady into the car befor
e stepping inside. The door closes with a soft click. Next moment, they are riding inside a chauffeur-driven plush car.

  “Where do you want to go?”

  “Can we just drive for a while?”

  “Of course, we can.” Vikram smiles trying to read the expressions carving on the woman’s face, but she has her face to the window. Vikram notices that the woman sniffs and dabs the corners of her eyes. She then shifts her head from the window to Vikram. In contrast to the pub, now her face is gloomy. She looks pale. Vikram doesn’t fail to notice the sparkle of her eyes. Perhaps, fresh tears have again started to cloud those beautiful eyes.

  “You okay?” Vikram asks.

  The woman nods and then looks away.

  No matter how hard Vikram tries, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looks vulnerable, at the edge of falling apart.

  What’s wrong with her? Few moments ago, she was dancing like the happiest woman alive on earth. Whereas now, she looks all sad and depressed.

  “Should I drop you somewhere?” Vikram whispers edging closer to the woman, resisting his urge to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

  “You said you’re looking for a company,” she hisses. Her head drops down as she wipes some more tears with the tip of her fingers.

  “I still am.”

  The woman never speaks after that.

  They drive and drive some more. And when it feels like she has no definite destination in her mind, Vikram requests the driver to pull over in front of Kingston Continental. The plush five-star hotel where Vikram is a regular goer. He visits Kingston often for crucial client meetings but mostly for seeking solitude.

  Chapter Two

  The room smells of jasmine and lavender. It’s dimly lit. The queen-sized bed boasts a sparkling white bedspread, several cushions and pillows arranged neatly against the giant wooden headrest.

  A wave of dread lances through Natasha as she recalls her first night with Rishabh. But before her mind dwells back into her painful past, soft click of the door forces her to turn around.

  The man in sleek black suit shuts the door. He throws a sharp glance at her before swaggering to the window and drawing away the curtains. He loosens his tie knot and takes off his jacket, wrapping it around the sofa that faces the window. He goes back to the window and gazes out. Natasha follows his gaze. The vast skyline and the reflections of the passing by vehicles. The ocean churning at a distance. All remind her of her relationship with Rishabh.

  “Feeling any better now?” the man speaks spinning around, his jaded stare pinning Natasha from across the room. And though his voice is soft, it has an impact. A sort of commanding effect that makes Natasha go weak in her knees.

  She nods.

  “Try to get some sleep.” With that said, the man saunters to the sofa and whisks away his jacket, grabbing it in the crook of his arm.

  “I’m next door,” he speaks and then he marches to the door.

  But before he presses the knob and clicks the door open, Natasha mumbles, “Please. Stay.”

  The man turns around and his dark eyes glitter like two shiny marbles in the faint light of the room. For a moment, his brows entwine on his broad forehead but then he smooths out the confusion crawling on his face. Jaded eyes study Natasha for a while before long legs stride back to the solitary sofa next to the window. Again, he wraps his jacket around the back of the sofa. Sliding into the sofa, he stretches his long legs on the carpet. He leans back, his arms resting at the armrests, head thrown back at the headrest.

  “Sleep. You need it,” he commands and then he closes his eyes.

  How could Natasha sleep with all those dark memories playing a film in her head? She wants to flush everything out of her system. She wants to forget everything. Forget that she ever dated Rishabh. Forget that she ever let that son of a bitch play with her heart, her emotions, her feelings. Natasha needs to move on from her painful past. She needs to wipe all the memories of her abusive relationship off her mind, her heart, her soul.

  She needs a distraction. She wants to dissolve all the ill memories of her past into the darkness of the night and start afresh. Tomorrow is going to be a new day for she’s going to put the final nail in the coffin of her charred dreams.

  Natasha saunters to the sofa. She takes in the man. He’s as handsome as he was years ago. In fact, sexier than ever before. The maturity and strength and command he is displaying now was missing when she saw him last. Now, he’s more mature and a hell lot hotter than he was ever before. Time has indeed added more to his masculinity. Natasha studies the man for a while, waiting for him to open his eyes. But he is adamant. He never opens those sexy dark pools. For a moment, it feels as if he’s gone to a deep sleep that he doesn’t realize Natasha’s presence near him. Natasha edges closer and just as she places a hand on the top of his huge and warm one, jaded eyes open at once.

  He isn’t sleepy at all. He looks all alert and awake, his dark almond eyes bright and shiny. He gazes at Natasha for a while and then rises from the sofa holding her cold hand in the huge and warm one of his.

  “If I say break your rule for the night would you do it for me?" Natasha edges closer, her fingers playing with the buttons of his crisp white shirt, gaze dipping to the expanse of his broad chest.

  “I don’t break my rule for perfect little strangers like you.” He sounds determinant and inflexible as he smirks.

  Natasha lifts her head and looks inside his eyes. Dominance dances inside those puddles of sheer blackness. Dominance that could destroy every single shred of grief. Command that has the power to rule over Natasha’s head and heart, deleting the ill memories of the past. Strength that can build a new woman from scratch. If only the owner of all these is willing to award his kindness on a shattered soul like her. He’s a man that Natasha needs at this moment. He’s the one who can help her rid of those painful emotions if not for eternity at least for tonight. If only he’s ready for the ride. Something which isn’t happening tonight. Because besides all the dominance, the command, and the strength, his dark gaze is unwavering, unrelenting, immutable.

  This isn’t going to happen tonight. Natasha must carry the baggage of her painful past for days to come. Had she hooked up with some other man, things would have been different. She must be wallowing into sheer pleasure. Dissolving all the trauma, the assault in the moans and groans while enjoying a sexy little one-nighter with the man she would have picked from the pub. But here she is, alone in a room with a man who she knows but still he's no more than a stranger to her.

  Disappointed, she steps back and turns around. Next moment, she is treading to the bed.

  “But you don’t look like a stranger.” Sexy baritone vibrates every pore of her body. She spins around only to find him staring at her from mere feet's distance.

  “Do we know each other? Have we met before?” The hunk in black pants and crisp white shirt chews the distance. He comes closer, his dark eyes narrowing, scanning, studying Natasha’s face, perhaps trying to recall the past.

  “I don’t think so.” Natasha smiles as she kills the remaining distance. Placing her hand on the chiseled expanse of his gorgeous chest, she traces the curves and ridges of his sculpted torso and washboard abs.

  He still flaunts those six-packs that used to be every girl’s fantasy back in those days. Natasha smiles, peeking inside those dark as night eyes.

  “Why do you look familiar?” He again narrows his eyes as his jaded gaze sweeps across Natasha’s faces, taking in every single expression lurking inside her eyes.

  “Adventure is my second name.” Natasha brushes a solitary finger across his temple all the way to the angle of his scruffy jaw and to the corners of his sinfully sexy mouth.

  The man grits his teeth as if annoyed with his own self, that he’s not able to recall whether he knows Natasha or not. Whether the sexy woman in his arms is a perfect stranger. A mischievous seductive stranger challenging him to go against his rules. Or a long-lost friend, perhaps an acquaintance, beggi
ng relief, seeking refuge.

  Strong arms clasp around Natasha’s back the moment her finger reaches the nape of his neck and feels the bristles of tiny hair there.

  “I’m not sure about this,” he hisses.

  Natasha burrows her fingers in the dark and sexy mess of his raven black hair, her breast pressed hard against his rock-hard chest. “Stop pretending that you don't want me,” Natasha whispers.

  Huge hand grabs Natasha’s derriere. Another one cups her head. Next moment, parched lips come crashing down at hers, sucking all the air between them. Tongues dance and lap. Teeth bite and nibble. The kiss deepens transforming from a passionate to a violent one as clothes are shed. And soon, there is no turning back neither for Natasha nor for him.

  Chapter Three

  Sun seeps in through the glass of the large window. Sleeping in the room at a height of 150 feet has its own charms. You can sleep with your curtains open, not bothering that neighbors will enjoy the view from their windows or balcony. It’s like sleeping on the clouds, not giving a fuck to those prying eyes of invaders.

  Vikram masks his face with an arm as morning sun plays ruthlessly with his sleep. He turns side not only to avoid the sun but also to glance at the sultry siren sleeping next to him.

  It was one hell of a crazy night. It has been quite a while since Vikram has exercised his desires. Of late, he’s been avoiding sex. It could be his system has gotten saturated with overdoses of sex that he has started hating the idea of having one-night stands with just any woman. But the woman he met last night was far away from all those glitzy females he has dated in the past. There was a charm, a magical force that drew him closer to her. And despite being on strict abstinence for the past several months. Despite being bound to his own rule of not indulging on one-nighters anymore, Vikram willingly gave himself into the charms of the sexy stranger.