"Are you keeping any of your power or something a secret from me?"

"What?" Swara was taken aback by the unexpected question. She had been enjoying a romantic moment, but his words abruptly busted the bubble of her excitement. "Is that what you intend to ask after being so close and affectionate?" she asked, bewildered.

"Of course, or what else did you expect?"

Sanskar leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, a hidden smirk playing on his lips. Swara let go of his collar, stepped back, and tightened the belt of her nightgown; her cheeks puffed with an unknown irritation as she tried to compose herself.

"Nothing?" She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, lowering her gaze as embarrassment washed over her.

"Hmm, liar. Everything about your stunning outfit and the atmosphere screamed your expectations." Sanskar swiftly grabbed Swara's arm, spun her around, and pinned her against the wall.

"What could I possibly expect from an old man like you?" Swara shot back, her expression turning grumpy as she pushed against his chest.

She was making her way to the bed, but Sanskar pulled her back with a frown. "What? Me, an old man?"

"Or what? Just look at yourself and the things you care about."

Swara had just been teased by Sanskar. There was no way she could let him get away without giving him a taste of his own medicine. Her provocation worked like a charm, prompting Sanskar to scoop her up into his arms.

"I'll show you exactly who I am and what piques my interest. Are you game for a dare?"

"A dare?" Swara pondered, her earlier intention to play hard-to-get giving way to confusion as she scratched her head.

"Yes, let's play a game. Answer my questions right; if you get them wrong, you will strip for me."

"What?"

"Why, just that little guts you had?"

Indeed, Swara was momentarily taken aback, but catching sight of Sanskar's playful smile, she chose not to fall victim to his teasing again and promptly embraced the challenge.

"Okay, I'm in, but it's got to be fair game. Questions and consequences fly both ways, and the winner gets to make a wish." Swara was itching to get back at Sanskar for his teasing. "So, are you up for it?"

Sanskar guided Swara to the bed, excitement evident in his every posture. "More than anything, feel free to ask any questions you've got," he said, settling himself down in front of her, close enough for an intimate conversation.

"Let's see how much you know about me and my community. So, tell me, what is an Athame?"

"What a basic question. It's a ritual knife used in Wiccan practices."

Swara mentally facepalmed for asking such a universally known question, despite her efforts to come up with something more challenging.

"Now it's my turn. What is the traditional bonding ritual during a lunar eclipse for a werewolf pack?"

"A collective howl at the eclipse's zenith, followed by a sacred dance under the moon's glow."

"Not quite, my dear. It's actually a silent meditation ritual where we channel our energies inward to strengthen the pack bond during this rare lunar alignment," Sanskar corrected, giving the right answer. With a deft move, he untied the knot of Swara's nightgown's robe, causing it to swiftly fall.

"Ahh..." Swara gasped, her hand instinctively gripping the hem of her robe near her chest. "I was right there..." She protested and inwardly chided herself, annoyed at losing on what she thought would be an easy question, already plotting her strategy for the next round with Sanskar.

"No excuses; you have to be completely right. Now, brace yourself for the decided punishment."

With a mischievous smile concealed beneath a facade of seriousness, Sanskar untied the silk robe Swara wore, and she reluctantly complied.

"Next, for which spell is cinnamon used?"

Sanskar's sexy lips formed an alluring smile at Swara's question before he answered, "For love and lust spells."

'I was born and raised among werewolves as a wizard, yet he knows more about my community than I do about his,' Swara thought with a grumpy pout.

"How would you conceal a werewolf's true identity from Muggles?"

As Sanskar posed his next question, Swara responded without hesitation, "A simple Obliviate spell should do the trick, wiping away any memories of their transformation."

Sanskar shook his head. "Incorrect again, honey. The true method involves wearing a special talisman enchanted with a Muggle-repelling charm. It projects an illusion that diverts their attention."

The moment Sanskar uttered the correct answer, he moved closer to Swara. She tilted her head to the left, holding onto the strap of her nightgown on her shoulder, while Sanskar leaned closer from her right side.

"Why the rush, my darling?" he whispered huskily into her ear. His hand slid to the back of her head, gently removing her hair clip and letting her long black hair cascade down. Placing a soft kiss on her right shoulder, he sent a nervous shiver through her. Stepping back to his spot, he began to playfully toss her hair clip with a mischievous smile.

Swara took a few deep breaths to compose herself. She had been the one to provoke Sanskar first, and now she had to continue the game. With great caution, she posed her next question.

"According to the Wiccan Rede, what should Wiccans do when the Moon is new?"

"Kiss the hand twice," Sanskar responded, taking Swara's hand and gently placing two kisses on the back of her palm. Swara swallowed nervously, struggling to maintain her composure and not let her desire overwhelm her and get wet.

"So, what's the most revered artifact in our community, said to possess great power?"

Swara scratched her head, pondering Sanskar's question. Caught between the Moonstone Amulet and the Amber of Dawn, she ultimately settled on the Amber of Dawn.

"Wrong again. It's actually the Moonstone Amulet, a relic passed down through generations believed to amplify lunar magic," Sanskar said enthusiastically. He traced his finger along her shoulder and wrapped the strap of her nightgown around it. "Now, will you do it, or do you need my help?"

"I'll do it." With lowered lashes and a racing heart, Swara shed her nightgown, revealing black and red lingerie that complemented her sexy attire. She hurriedly reached for a comforter to cover herself, feeling awkward with Sanskar fully dressed while she stood almost naked in lacy lingerie and hardened nipples, all thanks to the air conditioner.

"Don't spoil the fun of the game," Sanskar said, gripping her hand. "What's wrong? Weren't you bold before?" He arched an eyebrow, mischievousness dripping down his face.

'I've brought this upon myself. I could either press forward or retreat, but damn it, I won't retreat,' Swara thought, steeling herself as she fired her question. "What type of tree is known as 'the Lady's,' and what should a Wiccan do to it according to the Rede?"

"Sisterly, it should not be cut down." Sanskar was unsure of his answer.

"Ahh, you missed that one. The correct one is Elder; do not burn it."

Swara felt a surge of excitement when Sanskar gave his first incorrect answer, only to realize it was a ruse as Sanskar promptly took both of her hands, placed them on the hem of his t-shirt, and pulled it up. "Punish me however you see fit..." he murmured, guiding her hands to rest on his chest.

Swara's heart skipped a beat as she consciously felt his well-defined chest beneath her hands for the first time, her senses tingling with excitement as she squeezed it unconsciously.

"How does that feel?"

Sanskar's naughty question jolted Swara. She withdrew her hand and cleared her throat to ask her next question. "Tell me..."

Sanskar swiftly drew her closer by the waist, causing her breasts to brush against his, and whispered near her mouth, "Do you want to keep playing?" He locked eyes with her, then slowly lowered his lashes as if peeking through her cleavage.

Swara caught Sanskar's gaze, her eyes widening in sudden understanding. "Alright, you got me," she admitted sharply, giving him an abrupt shove.

Sanskar tugged on her slender leg, causing her head to rest against the pillow as he hovered over her. "Now it's time to grant my wish. Let's pick up where we left off," he urged, capturing Swara's trembling lips with his own.

Although Swara was initially shy and trembled at Sanskar's new provocative maneuvers, she quickly collected herself and returned his kiss with equal fervor.

"Sanskar, take it easy..." Swara gasped, pausing to catch her breath amidst their passionate kiss, but Sanskar promptly pulled her back into the embrace.

As they kissed, he trailed his finger from her shoulder to her breast, teasing her nipples until they pulsed with sensation. Continuing down to her stomach, he left a tingling heat on her skin before playfully dipping his middle finger into her belly button, stroking around with his thumb. Suddenly, he pinched her. "Ahh..." She moaned, her body arching in surprise and pleasure.

"Don't get too excited too early, babes. Tonight, I plan to savor every moment."