‘Who’d have thought you royals know how to dress like regular people!’
‘I’m regular.’
‘Very regular.’
As I move further into the room, Vedveer clicks on the remote, and the curtains pull away. A plunge pool is chilling in the evening light.
Norah Jones’s ‘Come Away With Me’ comes alive on the sound system.
Vedveer stretches his hand out, asking me for a dance.
My heart stills, and my stomach turns as I put my hand in his. He tugs me, and I fall into him. His chest is hard, and his arms are tight as they wrap around me. There’s just enough space for air to pass between us.
His breath warms my neck as we turn, slow and close.
The thickness of my fitted denims clings to me, and I feel the pressure of his hand on my waist. We aren’t dancing – not really – just swaying, lost in rhythm, in sentiment, in what we’ve said… and maybe something unsaid.
Come away with me, and we’ll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me, and I’ll never stop loving you
Vedveer adjusts my hair, moving invisible strands behind my ears as we move. He’s looking into my eyes, and I look at his coloured irises.
He’s a spectacular physical specimen.
The more we move, the more I get into him. His tall frame, his lithe step, his warm breath and his freshly worn fragrance.
I could run away with him, but right now, it feels like I have run to him.
Norah’s sweet notes run out of words, and Vedveer takes a deep breath. I wonder if he’s inhaling fragrant Jasmine.
He leans into me and kisses my lip.
His groan makes me giddy. I giggle.
‘I can’t get over how you have no recollection of the kiss,’ hesays.
I kiss his lips back and enjoy the luxury of gazing into his eyes.
‘Lavanya, who was also quite high that evening, thought we had kissed, but she couldn’t really tell,’ I say.
‘Should I take offence? Or maybe I’ll just remind you.’
‘You could just refresh the page,’ I say.
Vedveer brushes my cheeks with the back of his hand.
The strokes aren’t rushed; it is like he’s memorizing texture, the physical and the emotional. Trying to mediate between every unspoken thought I have held these past weeks and months.
His eyes are bright.
He takes my hand in his, dropping kisses on the inside of my wrists, on my bare shoulders, on the corner of my mouth and on the tips of my clavicle.
I feel a rush of stirrings inside me. I’m delirious with desire and longing and everything in between.
Vedveer lifts me onto his lap, and we kiss, his lips taking mine in an urgency I recognize inside me.
