“What? Why? I mean, why are you asking me all of a sudden? Is something the matter?” Tanya’s words tripped over one another.
“Relax! Breathe.” Neil caught her lips with his in an easy kiss. “I just thought…” Neil was interrupted by his mobile. He sighed and went to the other side of his desk. “Hi, mom! Yes. Tomorrow? But…” Neil clicked his tongue in impatience. “Mom, no. I mean...Mom!” He sighed and finally answered in a resigned tone “Okay.”
“All okay?” Tanya crossed the distance and looked into his dark eyes.
“Yes. I need to leave for Mumbai tonight.” Neil was obviously distracted.
“What? Why?” Tanya felt a chill go up her spine at the thought of his leaving.
Neil noticed her shiver. “It’s...huh...something that I have to sort out back home. I’ll be back in a couple of days.”
Tanya caught his shirt, unwilling to leave him. She felt an irrational fear at Neil’s impending trip. Would he leave her altogether?
Neil caught her hand on his shirt, noticing her worried expression. “I’ll be back in a week, sweetheart. It’s just a couple of days.”
Tanya didn’t bother to reply. She simply went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Neil was surprised and more than turned on at the unexpected kiss. This was the first time she had initiated after they started making love. Neil caught her waist and slanted his mouth over hers. She tightened her arms around his neck, slipping her tongue into his.
“Tanya.” Neil tried to move, applying caution. They were in his office, after all.
Tanya refused to let him talk. She slipped her fingers into his silky hair and sank her teeth into his lower lip, her hands moving over his zipper at the same time. She was more than delighted to find him ready.
Neil tore his mouth away from hers. “Wait.” He pulled her towards the door, locking it with undue haste.
Tanya pulled him towards the desk once again. Her hands ran over his torso, frustrated with his shirt and the all too many buttons. Her hands directly went to his belt. She moved a step back to unbuckle his belt. She heaved a sigh of relief when she undid it successfully. With trembling hands, she finally pulled his zipper down.
Neil could hardly believe what was happening in his office. He lifted Tanya and made her sit on the edge of his desk. Pushing her hands away, he drove into her skirt.
Tanya arched, already anticipating his movements. “Please, quick!” She bit her lip when Neil’s lips nuzzled by the side of her neck. He tore her lacy underwear and touched her. He growled when he found her hot and ready. He kissed her hard when she panted “Can’t wait.”
Neil hurriedly donned on protection before he entered in a single thrust. He caught her hips, holding her by the edge of the huge desk. He moved fast and hard, intent on taking what she offered. Before either of their brains could kickstart, they were touching the finishing line. Neil collapsed on her, finally pausing to catch his breath. He pushed himself away from her when Tanya wiggled under him. “Whatever brought that, I’m not going to question it. Wow! Just wow!”
Tanya blushed at his dazed expression and at the shit-eating grin on his face. “Neil!” She turned her face away.
Neil caught her chin and kissed her lips lightly. “You can still blush after what we did?” He laughed softly, before straightening his clothes.
Chapter 17
Time moved slowly when you were pining for someone, Tanya thought to herself. She almost pouted when she realized Neil had hardly spoken to her in the last 24 hours. Realizing that she was hardly concentrating on the work at hand, Tanya locked her system and got up. She wanted to go out for lunch. Maybe with Natasha?
With her Dolce & Gabbana red high-heeled pumps clicking on the floor, Tanya moved to the parking lot where her shiny red car was parked. Despite the traffic, she reached Natasha’s boutique in half an hour. Greeting the woman at the counter with an easy smile, Tanya walked towards Natasha’s designing room. Just as she stepped towards the doorway at the back, she heard voices.
“How could he do that to Tanya?” Natasha’s clear voice rang with worry. Hearing her name being spoken, Tanya stopped abruptly.
A deeper voice answered her friend’s question. “I am sure there is an explanation for all this. He probably wouldn’t have realized he was being called for bride hunting.”
He? He who? Tanya trembled at the sudden pain against her heart.Were they talking about Neil? Should I go inside now?Before she interrupted them, she once again heard Natasha’s voice, this time angry and bitter.
“Really? How convenient! I’m sure all you men have various such reasons to break women’s hearts. Even if the woman wears her heart on her sleeve. Literally!”
“Natasha…” Arjun’s voice had a note of warning.
“Don’t! I am so sick of men, of you. I have a good mind to tear him into pieces. Doesn’t he realize she loves him? Tell me, do all men find it pleasurable to take a woman for a ride?”
Tanya stepped forward, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She saw Arjun go forward, catching her friend’s shoulder in a bruising grip.
“Don’t! Don’t touch me!” Natasha’s harsh whisper was the last thing she heard before Arjun’s back blocked her view. Realizing she was standing there in tears, almost barging in on the couple who were now kissing, Tanya turned around and ran.
She drove to her apartment, collapsing on the couch. After nearly an hour, her phone rang. She simply ignored all the calls and messages and lay down on the couch. Feeling like a sixty-year-old woman, Tanya slowly got up when she realized it was almost night.
