The Rose of the Beast

Summary: Veer Pratap Singh - I want you, all of you.

◇◇◇

The air crackles with held breaths and barely restrained emotions whenever there is a canvas between them. Amrit had felt it that night at the boathouse for the first time and the onslaught of feelings had scared her. Now they creep up along her spine like a warm familiar brush of fingertips, and the shudder she presses down with a long exhale is one of thrall not fear.
If Amrit saw herself in a mirror she would blush. That is the only coherent thought Veer manages to hold on to. 

They had for about a couple of hours of this peace before the world came calling, before he had to stop anything from happening. He had no intentions of letting his mother play with his wife, take advantage of her good intentions to her own detriment. Veer would not allow Amrit to be given a choice between him and her brother, where to choose either would leave her scattered. No, Veer had made a promise never to allow that and he intends to keep it.

Watching her over the edge of his canvas, as she sat in that rightful place as a queen, Veer wonders what Amrit is thinking of. Her eyes had darkened just so, with an inviting sort of promise that made his blood stir. 

The light of the dying day hits her in an angle that brings a warm glow to her buttery skin and the depth of her eyes is touched with a hint of magenta, folding into the molten chocolate. He adds a dash of red to blue and ocher and folds with the pelt knife, creating that perfect hue of old wine.
Veer knew this would not turn like the picture before. That Amrit at the boathouse, flushed with anticipation and eyes full of laughter. There had been the tangy freshness of a girl exploring love, the sweet curiosity of venturing into the unknown. She had been simple, breathless, not quite aware of the power she wielded. 

But the Amrit before him is all warm, fuzzy undertones of a matured wine, just like that hint of colour in her eyes. She knows and revels in the power she has over him, like a siren, the right mixture of desire and doom. She has the glow of a woman well loved, whose passions were received and reciprocated in full. If he had yearned for the one before, he craves the one before him now. This complete woman, so free with her affections, so warm and gentle, had chosen him to give herself to.

Amrit's cheeks colour as his gaze sweeps over them. Veer wonders if she'd ever stop blushing, it wasn't like he hadn't caressed that very expense of skin with his hands, his mouth, so many times over. Still the brush of his gaze brings heat to her flesh. If possible her eyes darkens further and unwittingly she draws her lashes over them, dropping her gaze. The sound he makes from the back of his throat is unintentional and basal, almost a low growl.

"Look at me," he purrs. 

If possible her colour deepens and her gaze refuses to rise. Veer keeps away the palette, giving into the itching urge of his finger tips. He needs to touch her, taste her, as if his next breath depended on it. If he is forced to leave her in a while, he wants to make sure he carries her existence impressed upon himself, her taste in his mouth, her scent on his skin. More than anything as long as he is before her, he wants her eyes on his.

His fingers curl beneath her chin and raise her face to meet his eyes. That dash of wine in her irises is not a trick of light, it truly is there- snuggled in all that molten chocolate hues, an intoxicating ring of magenta. Some genetical throwback which Veer hopes would be passed down the line, made immortal in many generations to come. Their union impressed upon the family they would create, her presence steeped and entwined into the Pratap Singh bloodline. 

"Kabhi kudh ki nazroon mein matt jhankna, tumhe kudh se mohabbat hogayi toh humara kya honga?" 

His thumb caresses her cheek in slow, semi-circular motions back and forth, Amrit's lashes flutter and her lips part rather invitingly. 

"Bohut kubsoorat hai aanken tumhari," he says lowering himself to his knees by the side of her high chair, drawing himself closer yet to those intoxicating eyes, that inviting mouth. 

Amrit places a gentle hand over his heart, she doesn't quite push him away yet Veer holds himself there watching her questioningly. 

"Don't you think we've come too close too fast?" 

The sound he makes at that soft spoken question is half anger and half desire. This girl and her innocent hesitation will be the death of him someday. Veer draws her down with a hand splayed on the back of her head, brushing over the pallu she had drawn to complete her look. 

"We are not close enough," is his reply muttered against her lips. He kisses the corner of her mouth, runs his tongue along the seam of her lips. "Ab bhi bharosa nahi?" 

Her lips tremble before closing over his rather full lower lip, sucking gently on it. Veer's hands tug her closer, groaning into that slow kiss. Amrit pulls back. 

"Kya aap ko bharosa hai?" 

Veer doesn't even attempt to answer that. Amrit too doesn't wait for a reply. Instead her fingers trail along his jaw, enjoying the pricking sensation of his beard before reaching into trace the shape of his mouth with her warm breath. 

His resolve falters. 

Oh where did she learn that? 

Of all the possible kisses in the world that almost kiss takes his breath away. 

"You are keeping things from me. Shaayad aap mujhe apna maante hi nahi. Shaayad aap mujhe itni qaabil samajhte hi nahi ke mein aapke zindagi baatt loon. Shaayad hum kuch zaada hi paas aagaye. Shaayad -"

She continues to speak against his skin, on his temples, across his forehead, over his eyes, down his nose and along his jaw puffs of her warm breath leave scalding trails. When she returns to his mouth she lingers there, her hand slips in from his collar and her fingers dip into the flesh at his nape, scratching lightly, drawing him ever closer. 

Siren. 

Veer tries and fails to draw her close, she slips just enough to keep a breath hoovering between their lips. Those dark eyes search his. 

"Aap ne wada kiya tha," she tells him. "Har gham, har gila, har shiqwa. Mujhe chahiye. Abhi. Issi waqt. Mujhe aap chahiye poora ka poora, har raaz, har saans, har dard. Jaisi maine kudh ko de di. Like I gave you all of me - "

 A finger, sharp and cool, she draws down his bobbing throat, her hand bunches at his collar and tugs him forward, closer yet. 

"Veer Pratap Singh - I shall have all of you in return." 

Oh he has no doubt about that. She had him thoroughly wasted the moment she took his full name with that decadent tongue, it rolled off her tongue like some sort of an enchantment- that did away with his good sense. Never before had his name sounded so delicious. 

"Have you tried wine?" 

Amrit draws back, innocent eyes blinking, drawn to a blank by his abrupt question. The siren with her decadent authority gone, replaced by sweet confused Amrit. Veer takes her hand in his and draws her up to her feet as he rises. 

"Come." 

"No - kuwar sahab I- I don't drink," that confidence from before slide off her tone, hesitation  creeps up on its place. Veer mourns the loss for a moment. He likes the surprisingly bold Amrit who tries to coax his secrets from his lips more. He gives her an intentful smile. "I confess I need a drink. Especially after that rather enlightening display." 

"Oh," Amrit's eyes narrowed rather suspiciously. "You are trying to get me drunk, so that you don't have to worry about keeping your secret? Very unfair of you kuwar sahab-" 

Veer placed a finger on her luscious mouth, and unable to help himself drew it along the supple flesh. 

"A glass of wine won't make you a sinner biwi sahab. Nor will it get you drunk. Hum tum se kuch nahi chupa rahein." 

"But you are not telling me what's in your mind." She repeats rather petulantly, mind made up to know what he kept from her at any cost. The adamant nature makes her all the more captivating.

Veer traps her against the counter, trails a hand along her arm. Flush against him, he could feel the softness of her chest having with her inhales. Veer dips his head to drink that beloved scent of jasmin and sandalwood that never fail to stir his blood. 

"Teek hai, humare mann mein kya hai bata dete hai. Ab sun ke, sharmana matt," he allows his voice to trail off rather huskily, and brings his mouth to her ear. "I want to drink from your mouth." 

The said mouth opens in a gasp, her eyes darkening further. He strokes her cheek and tugs off one of her heavy earrings. 

"Let's do away with these," he tells her, deft hands taking off the other has well. Veer leaves them carelessly on the bar counter, unmindful of the valuable heirlooms. The woman before him occupying all his attention instead. He loosens her choker, pulling that off as well. He wastes a second grimacing at its weight before tossing it away to join the earrings. 

That darkening mark against her pulse is uncovered, he brushes his thumb over it lightly and her pulse throbs beneath his fingertip. That lush mouth parts again, those wine coloured eyes flickering up to hold his. Her face is washed in an endearing blush. Veer massages a gentle hand along her throat, across her nape. 

"I won't get you drunk," he promises. "I want you to want me in all your senses." 

He takes her hand and places it on his shoulder, where it clenches when he lifts her up to place her on the tall stool by the counter. Veer indulges himself with nuzzling against her cheek, before drawing back to look into her eyes. 

"Darro matt."

"Main aapse nahi darr thi," she shakes her head, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. Veer arches a brow, yet raises the glass he had taken on that. 

"Good," is all he says. Amrit is reminded of another conversation where he had given the same reply to something totally opposite. 

The measure he pours is small, not even half of the glass nestled in his hand. As she watches Veer dips his index finger in to the wine and draws it along her lower lip. Her mouth parts unwittingly in a hushed exhale. 

The extent to which he has invaded her senses scares Amrit witless. Veer is all she could think of, see, hear or feel. He hand takes hers and makes her grasp the glass. 

"Taste," he says, holding her eye. Sight of the tip of Amrit's tongue swiping at her lower lip is maddening that Veer tears his eyes away. Most of what she tastes is rouge on her lips Amrit swirls the content in the glass. 

"Sip." Veer's hand presses hers against the glass. Amrit breathes through her mouth, looking up at him. 

"Kya?" He asks her, drawing closer enough to drawn in her eyes. "Hmm?" 

"Main aap se nahi darr thi," she repeats her voice hushed into merely a breath. "Aaj kal kudh se darr thi hoon. Main aisi thi nahi pata tha, aisi hoon jaan ke darr thi hoon. Aap itne qareeb hai nahi pata tha, aap itne qareeb hai toh door jaane se darr thi hoon." Thoughtfully she raises the glass to her lips, only to have Veer's hand halting her. 

"If you are doing something you don't want to because you think it will please me, don't do it - Jaan. Jaan ho hum aapse door kaha jaayein?" 

Amrit lowers the glass, holds his gaze instead. 

"As I said, I never knew I had it in me. Any of this - that you stir in me. I wish to learn more, I want to indulge more. Agar yeh barbaadi hai, toh iss mein itni sukoon hai ke main kushi kushi rakh ho jaau." She says and offers him the glass. "Peela dijiye jaisa aap chahte the."

The inhale he draws is fire within him. The same fire roars inside Amrit as she watches his eyes darkening to an impossible decree. The spark that crackles, makes her shiver with anticipation as Veer sips from that glass. He draws her to him, his mouth presses against hers. The moment Amrit tugs at his lower lip, that sweet and warm liquid seeps into her mouth, invading her senses with its stinging aftertaste. A drop that escapes trails down her chin, Veer brushes it with his thumb, his tongue brushing against hers in a sensual slide. She breathes him in, swallowing the offered intoxication all the same, and tasting more of him in the after taste. 

He kisses her deep and slow, heated strokes of his tongue gathering the traces of wine left on her soft compliant mouth before drawing back. 

"More?" 

"Hmm," Amrit purrs, lost to the sensations he awakened in her. Feeling rather heady already.

 The wine is sweet, slightly tangy, slightly bitter - it left a buttery burn on her tongue that Veer sooths with his. Amrit isn't sure if she is drunk on the wine or on him. He returns with another sip, this time it is more heat and less sweetness. The heat spreads everywhere he touches her. Veer's hands move down her spine, comb through her hair, press into her hip. She sighs into his mouth as he kneads her, strokes that building fire within her. She couldn't draw him close enough. Veer groans, his hot mouth moving to capture another drop that trickles down her chin. He nips at her jaw, his tongue laves at her throat. 

"More?" He hums against her pulse, mouth latched to that already raw patch of skin. 

"Vee - eer," her voice shatters in a scattered exhale, her hand clenches at his hair. Her bosom heaves. "Jaan." 

His head shoots up, his eyes seeking. 

"What did you say?" 

Amrit draws his mouth to hers, with her hands clenched in his hair, those wine coloured eyes drink him in with a fever that makes his throat run dry and his heart clench. 

"Jaan," she mutters against his lips before kissing him chastely. Veer crushed her to him, heaving a breath before she kisses him again. "Jaan, kitna sathaonge? Bata dijiye, bata dijiye na." 

She pauses after each word to press upon him a wine flavoured kiss, her soft frame molding into his. "What was in that box? Who send it? Why wouldn't you tell me? Kya mujh par itni bhi bharosa nahi ke -"

"Ma sahab send it," he confesses. 

Veer buries his head in the crook of her neck and kisses her throat. 

"Bharosa hai, issi liye darr gaya. I've seen the things you do for loved ones. Tum kissi ke liye humein qurbaan na kar de, yeh soch kar darr gaya. Woh tumse sauda karna chahti hai. Humari sauda karna chahti hai. Hum yeh hone nahi denge."

"Veer -!" Her voice is sharp and abrupt, her hand clenches at his shoulder. Her eyes are distant, her grip is faltering. 

"You promised," her words are hushed with disbelief and heavy with intoxication. "Please tell me you didn't- please," she hiccups. "Please you can't have spiked that wine. Please Jaan tell me you did not."

His large hand strokes her cheek and she burrows into it, her vision turns hazy her tongue is heavy on her mouth. 

"Please, you can't do this to me," a tear of betrayal seeps into his palm. "Chhod - kar - jaa - rahein - ho -Kya?" she heaves for breath. 

Veer shakes his head, gathering her close, pressing his mouth to her hair. 

"It wasn't me. I didn't do anything. It wasn't me." His hands shake, as he collects her into his arms. 

Her body leans against him, her breathing deepening. It was just two sips of wine. Whatever in it had been so potent that, Amrit is barely conscious. Veer isn't a fool. He knows it almost immediately. It isn't meant for her, it is meant for him.

Has his liquor always been spiked? Or has it been done today to make sure he did not intervene in whatever they had planned for Amrit? Has the dose been increased over the time that whatever level this wine is tempered with no longer affected him? It is an old bottle, stashed in an old manor he rarely visited. The drug had no effect on him for he had probably grown resistant or addicted to it over the time, but Amrit - Amrit had no prior experience. 

She shudders when he touches her, more tears trickle down her face. Her eyes are half open, unseeing, her lips mumble something incoherent. She had trusted him implicitly, trusted him with all of her. This isn't something he had planned. But the broken accusation leaves him burning.  

"Please jaan." She had begged him. So betrayed, so broken, so afraid. "You cannot do this to me." 

You cannot do this to me

Him. 

The one she had trusted against every warning, advice, threat. The one she had supported despite everything. 

He cannot do that to her. 

He had fed her that. Thank the merciful God it is simply spiked with a higher intoxicating substance, or that's what he thinks it is. But the implied threat is not lost on him. It could have been poisoned. 

If it was, Amrit would have - the thought breaks him apart and leaves his soul bleeding - she would have breathed her last. Just like that, curled in his arms, giving into her trust on him, sipping from his very mouth, kissed into death. 

Veer feels himself going rigid with the thought. With Amrit in his arms he sinks into the ground, trying to catch his breath, trying to expel that thought. 

"Don't go..." she mumbles against his throat, her hand bunching up a fist full of his shirt. "Don't go Veer. Main - main jee nahi paaungi." 

What has he done? What has he done to this girl? This girl who was too pure, too good, too kind - too much for him? 

A keening cry leaves his mouth. Why? Why can't he live a moment in peace? He didn't want to hurt anyone, he didn't want to drag on this conflict with Prem or Ma sahab. All he wanted was Amrit, that too with her willing to be his. Why couldn't they just let them be? 

Something inside him snaps.

Veer gathers Amrit close and presses a kiss on her hair, makes a vow upon her, the only sacred thing in his world. 

He would ruin them. 

Each one of them. 

The time for peace and mercy was over. 

It was time for them to see the teeth of the monster they had created.

It was the beginning of the end.  

**

I'm not sure how many chappals and jhoothis are coming my way, so I'm ducking out nevertheless. As I said before this is a phase of the story, the dark times and tests of fire that a love has to go through if it is true. And as Amveer are meant to be together in this universe they will only emerge all the more stronger for all these trials. 

Therefore, I'm shamelessly begging you to keep reading. Even this cloud has its silver lines. (Like Amrit turning tables on Kuwar sahab and trying to seduce him for a change ;-)

Thank you for reading. Do vote and comment and let me know if you liked the chapter or not. I have noticed a slight drop in votes for Monday chapter ...wonder if it was not up to the mark? And if you are busy I hope your schedule eases up. 

See you again soon!