Hey lovely readers! 💕 Welcome to another chapter of Mine Yes! Forced to be Yours Mr. Devil. In this chapter, we're diving deeper into the evolving dynamic between Anaya and Rudra. As emotions intensify and unspoken words linger, you'll get to witness the tension building between these two. This chapter holds a special moment where Anaya begins to unravel the layers of Rudra's teasing, and it leaves her—and hopefully you—wondering what's next. I hope you're ready for the ride!
Thank you all for the love and support! Your comments and feedback really inspire me to keep writing, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts after reading! 😊 Now, let's get into the chapter!
~Penola.S.
—————AUTHOR'S POV :~~~
Anaya stood up from the couch, her body feeling restless and unsettled. The soft glow of the evening light filtered through her curtains, casting a golden hue across her room. She slowly made her way toward her bed, hoping to drown out the noise of her own thoughts by lying down and closing her eyes.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the memory of Rudra's words from this morning.
"Do you want...?"
The sentence kept replaying in her mind, but the rest of it was a blur. It felt incomplete, unfinished. Her heart began to race as she tried to piece it together, forcing herself to remember his tone, the way he looked at her. His eyes, dark and unreadable, had been fixed on her. His voice held a hint of something she couldn't quite place—mischief, maybe? Or was it something more?
Anaya frowned, confusion creeping in. "What did he really mean by that?" she muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a surge of curiosity gnawing at her, but no matter how hard she tried to think, the answer remained just out of reach.
With a huff of frustration, she gave up on trying to sleep and returned to the couch, picking up the book she had abandoned earlier. She opened it again, attempting to lose herself in the fictional world.
But as she read, her mind wandered back to the morning again, retracing the steps of that odd conversation with Rudra. His voice echoed in her ears—Do you want...?
Her eyes skimmed the words on the page, but she wasn't really reading anymore. Instead, her brain was drawing parallels between the book's male lead and Rudra. There were moments when the cold, distant man in the book would say something that felt eerily similar to how Rudra had spoken to her that morning.
As the scenes in her mind replayed, her memory sharpened, and she began to recall more of the moment. Rudra had been standing in the doorway, his eyes fixed on her with that signature smirk playing on his lips. And then, his right hand had moved subtly, pointing toward himself as he said the words...
Do you want... me?
Suddenly, it hit her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened. That's what he meant. The realization dawned on her with a flash of heat spreading across her cheeks, the color rising from her neck to her face.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she replayed the scene, now seeing it through a different lens. That smirk, that subtle gesture—he had been teasing her. He had asked her if she wanted him. The meaning behind his words crashed into her all at once, and she could feel her entire body heat up in embarrassment and... something else she couldn't quite name.
Her face flushed so hard, she could barely breathe. She was overcome with a rush of emotions, her mind racing, her skin tingling with the awareness of what he had implied.
Without realizing what she was doing, she clutched the book tightly to her chest, her hands gripping the soft fabric of the pillow next to her as she hugged it for comfort. The warmth in her face deepened, her heart pounding wildly. Her thoughts were spinning out of control, her emotions twisting and turning inside her. How had she missed it? How had she not seen the teasing glint in his eyes?
"Why would he say something like that?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible as she buried her face in the pillow. Her mind flooded with conflicting feelings—confusion, frustration, and a growing sense of... desire?
She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought, but it was too late. The memory of Rudra's smirk and his deep voice haunted her, making her blush even more. She held the book and pillow tighter, almost as if they could shield her from the overwhelming feelings coursing through her.
As she sat there, blushing furiously and lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the soft creak of the door behind her. She was too absorbed in her own embarrassment to hear the quiet footsteps that approached.
Rudra leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her with an amused expression. His dark eyes were fixed on her, taking in the sight of her flushed cheeks, the way she clutched the pillow as if it could protect her from her own thoughts.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched her, completely unaware of his presence.
Anaya, lost in her embarrassment, shifted slightly on the couch, hugging the pillow even tighter. Her mind replayed his words again and again, each time making her cheeks flush deeper.
Rudra raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the way she seemed to be reacting to something. He took a silent step closer, his gaze never leaving her as he leaned slightly forward.
Anaya's thoughts were spiraling. She couldn't believe she was blushing this hard, all because of him. The very idea of Rudra teasing her so casually, so confidently, left her flustered beyond measure. She buried her face deeper into the pillow, unaware of the fact that the man responsible for her flushed state was standing just a few feet away, watching the whole scene unfold with growing amusement.
Rudra's eyes sparkled with mischief as he continued to observe her. He took another step forward, his voice low and filled with humor. "Thinking about me, Mrs. Singhaniya?"
Anaya's heart jumped in her chest, and her head snapped up in shock. Her wide eyes locked onto Rudra, who was now leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, and an infuriatingly smug smirk on his lips.
Anaya's mind was swirling with thoughts as she sat curled up on the couch, hugging the pillow tightly to her chest. The book she had been reading lay forgotten on her lap, her cheeks flushed as she thought back to Rudra's words from that morning.
"Do you want..." His voice echoed in her mind, and the more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became. The way he had pointed to himself with that smirk—it finally clicked in her head what he was implying. Her heart fluttered, and her face grew even redder as she realized just how clueless she had been in the moment.
Without thinking, she squeezed the pillow tighter, burying her face into it to hide her embarrassment. Her body tingled with nervous energy, and she let out a small sigh, trying to push the thoughts away. Why am I thinking about him so much?
Suddenly, a low, familiar sound broke through the haze of her thoughts.
"Hmh…"
The sound of a throat clearing startled her, and she jumped slightly, looking up in surprise. Rudra was standing behind her, leaning casually against the doorframe. He watched her with an amused expression, his dark eyes filled with mischief.
"Anaya," he said, his deep voice pulling her fully back to reality.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her face heated up even more, if that was possible. She hadn't even noticed him enter the room. How long had he been standing there?
"Rudra…," she stammered, quickly sitting up straight and tossing the pillow aside. Embarrassment flooded through her as she scrambled to act normal. Her thoughts were still swirling, but now she was acutely aware that he had caught her in a vulnerable moment.
"When did you… when did you come?" she asked, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice. She stood up from the couch, smoothing down her clothes, her fingers fidgeting as if they could somehow erase the flustered state she was in.
"Just now," Rudra replied casually, his smirk never leaving his face. His eyes lingered on her for a moment, clearly enjoying the way her face flushed under his gaze.
Anaya swallowed hard, feeling self-conscious under his scrutiny. She didn't know what to say or how to act, and the silence between them only made her more nervous. Her mind raced for something, anything, to say to break the tension.
"Did you... eat?" she blurted out, her voice a bit too eager as she looked away, trying to focus on anything but him.
Rudra raised an eyebrow at her sudden shift in topic, but he played along. "Not yet."
Anaya nodded quickly, biting her lip as she tried to hide the fact that her heart was still pounding in her chest. She glanced around the room, her eyes darting everywhere except toward Rudra, hoping to calm her racing thoughts.
"I can—um, I can call for something if you want?" she offered, her voice still shaky. Her fingers nervously fiddled with the edge of her shirt, betraying her flustered state.
Rudra chuckled softly, stepping closer to her. "There's no need. I'll take care of it."
His calm, confident tone made her heart skip again. She dared to glance up at him, only to see that same teasing glint in his eyes. He knew exactly what effect he had on her, and he wasn't shy about it.
"Why are you so nervous, Anaya?" he asked, his voice dropping to a softer, more intimate tone.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she quickly shook her head. "I'm not... nervous," she mumbled, though the red flush on her cheeks told a different story. She took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but her legs brushed against the edge of the couch, and she stumbled slightly.
Rudra's hand shot out, catching her wrist before she could lose her balance. His touch was firm, steadying her, but the contact sent a jolt of warmth through her. Anaya froze, her eyes widening as she looked up at him.
"You should be more careful," he murmured, his smirk softening into something more sincere. His fingers lingered on her wrist for just a moment longer before he let go.
Anaya's heart was racing, her thoughts jumbled as she tried to process what was happening. She couldn't understand why Rudra had this effect on her, why his presence made her so flustered.
She cleared her throat, trying to regain some sense of control. "I was just... reading," she said, pointing vaguely at the book on the couch, hoping to change the subject again. She quickly sat back down, grabbing the book and holding it in front of her as if it could somehow shield her from the intensity of the moment.
Rudra chuckled softly, his eyes glancing at the book before returning to her face. "Reading, huh? You seemed pretty lost in thought when I walked in."
Anaya's face turned even redder. She clutched the book tighter, feeling like she was on the verge of melting from the embarrassment.
"I wasn't... I mean, I didn't realize you were there," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She could still feel the weight of his gaze on her, and it was driving her crazy.
"Clearly," Rudra said, his smirk returning. He took a step closer, leaning down slightly so that they were eye level. "What were you thinking about so hard that you didn't even notice me?"
Anaya's breath caught again. His question felt like a trap, and she wasn't sure how to answer without giving herself away. Her mind flashed back to the morning, to his teasing words and the way he had looked at her then. Do you want me?
She quickly shook her head, trying to push the memory away. "It's nothing," she said, her voice barely steady.
Rudra didn't look convinced. "Nothing?" he echoed, his tone playful. "You've been avoiding me all day. Now I'm starting to think there's something on your mind."
Anaya's heart pounded in her chest, her pulse quickening as she realized he wasn't going to let this go. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come. All she could think about was the way he was looking at her, the way he made her feel.
Before she could say anything, Rudra straightened up, his smirk fading into a more thoughtful expression. "It's okay, Anaya. You don't have to tell me. Just... think about it."
He turned toward the door, pausing just for a moment to glance back at her. His gaze softened, and for the first time that night, his eyes held something other than amusement.
"I'll be waiting."
With that, he left the room, leaving Anaya alone with her racing heart and the confusing swirl of emotions that had taken over her.
_______
As soon as Rudra left the room, Anaya collapsed back onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. "Why am I like this?" she groaned, her voice muffled. She replayed every awkward moment from the last few minutes in her head, wincing at each one.
"Seriously, Anaya. You're a grown woman and yet... you freeze up every time he's near." She sighed and peeked out from between her fingers, still feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck. Her mind wouldn't stop replaying his smirk, the way he'd leaned close, his teasing words echoing in her ears.
" Do you want me? Think about it."
She let out a soft, frustrated laugh and shook her head. "Great, just great. Could I be more obvious?"
Realizing she had to do something to distract herself, Anaya got up and decided to head to the kitchen. Cooking or preparing something always helped calm her nerves. After a moment of thinking, she decided to make Rudra's favorite: paneer tikka with rice.
" Maybe this will help me... apologize?" she muttered to herself as she gathered the ingredients, her hands moving quickly to prepare the dish. While the paneer was grilling, she smiled to herself. If there was one thing she was good at, it was making food that brought people comfort. Rudra loved her cooking, even though he rarely expressed it openly.
Once everything was ready, Anaya arranged the paneer tikka and rice on a plate, making sure it looked perfect. She spotted a chocolate bar in the fridge and smiled mischievously, tucking it into the pocket of her jeans. "Just in case I need a peace offering," she thought.
Balancing the tray, she carefully made her way upstairs, heading towards Rudra's office. As she moved through the house, her steps quiet, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her. Turning slightly, she saw Rakhi, her mother-in-law, standing in the hallway, watching her with a knowing smile.
Rakhi's warm, brown eyes sparkled with understanding as she gave a small, approving nod. "Go, darling," Rakhi whispered softly from the distance, her voice so gentle that it felt like a secret. "You can heal my boy."
Anaya's heart fluttered at Rakhi's words, her hands tightening slightly around the tray. She felt a sense of both responsibility and warmth. It was no secret that Rudra carried his own burdens, and even though he rarely showed it, she knew there were things that troubled him. Maybe, in her own way, she could help him. Maybe even through something as simple as food.
With that thought, Anaya continued toward Rudra's office, her nervousness slowly fading into quiet determination.
##To be continue...**