He tilted his head to the side bringing his face close to hers.
“Tell me Raashi, does being this close to him make your blood sing? Does being next to him and not touching him make you ache? Can he make you feel all that you are feeling right now?”
He knew, the damn man knew how he made her feel. Her heart skid and her pulse raced wildly. She couldn’t think clearly.
“Sameer,” she said breathless, “you promised not to touch me.”
He chuckled softly. “Look again, sweetheart. Who’s touching whom?”
Raashi’s eyes widened in disbelief as she saw her own arms curled around his neck. Sameer’s hands were on the glass wall. He wasn’t touching her at all.
She was touching him.
God! She didn’t even know when she had reached for him. He smiled wickedly at her. Her eyes went to the cleft of his that she had been dreaming about and without thinking she leaned forward and put her tongue on it.
Sameer fought for a breath. Raashi was kissing his chin, licking the slight indent there. He let out a strangled sound as his blood heated and he struggled to keep his hands pinned on the glass wall. Her lips touched his softly, gently, but in the very next instant, she pushed him away and started collecting her things from his desk. He folded his hands and leaned against the wall watching her.
She turned to him. “I have to go.”
“You didn’t answer me.”
She slowly backed towards his door wanting to escape.
He came forward and put his hands in his pockets. “Are you going to marry him?”
She studied him for a second. “Maybe.”
Raashi swiveled and sauntered towards the door, her hips swaying.
She threw him a glance over her shoulder and said, “Maybe not.”
Then she grinned that beautiful, mischievous smile of hers and left him standing there, smiling in return.
Raashi grinned all the way to her car. Being close to him, teasing him, felt so good. She refused to make any sense of her reaction to him today. There was no point. She craved for him. It was plain and simple. There was no possibility of her moving on in life as long as he was invading her thoughts and dreams. Maybe what she actually needed was to have an affair with him, to get him off her mind. Hell! She was almost twenty-eight. If she wanted, she’d very well do it, but on her terms this time. If he wanted her then she would be willing but not for a one-nightstand. She wanted more and she needed to see how far this thing between them could go.
As she readiedherself for bed that night, her phone beeped. It was a text from Sameer.
“After today, all deals are off!! Sleep well.”
Raashi knew she had changed the game when she had touched him. He had warned her and now he was going to come after her. She felt giddy with anticipation, delighted at that prospect. She was ready for him.
18
Tonight was Sheena’s party and Sameer was late. The annual hotel conference was being held at The Marquis and the hotel bustled with people. Hoteliers from all over the world came for this annual meet and the days were filled with conferences, workshops and banquets. Sameer was the keynote speaker today and hence he couldn’t leave early. He checked his watch as soon as he had finished his presentation. It was past seven and even if he left for the party now, it would still take him two hours to reach Sheena’s house considering the crazy Mumbai traffic.
Just as he exited the hotel, there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned and came face to face with Jiten Arya.
Sameer greeted him and shook hands with him.
“You’re a hard man to reach, Mr. Arya,” Sameer told him.
“Well, these are busy times for us hoteliers as you surely know,” the old man replied.
Sameer nodded and walked back inside the hotel. He guided Jiten Arya to an empty sofa in the lobby and sat across him. Ever since Sameer had ended things with Natasha he had been trying to get hold of her father. But the old man had always beenunavailable. But since he had sought Sameer out today, it was apparent he wanted to talk.
However, more than fifteen minutes had passed and Jiten Arya had spoken about everything under the sun but had deliberately avoided the topic of Natasha and him. Sameer was losing patience. He was getting late.
He was looking forward to tonight. His brother, sisters, cousins and everyone near and dear would be there. And most importantly, she would be there too. He had taken her advice and changed his approach to Rhea and although his sister hadn’t yet opened up to him, at least she didn’t fight with him for everything. She even looked happier than before. He hoped his sister trusted him enough to confide in him soon. But thanks to Raashi, at least they had reached a better understanding with each other. He smiled; tonight would be a real fun night.
