‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Neel, just tell me …’ she urged.
‘I could show you,’ he replied.
She searched his face and then her eyes widened. She finally caught on.
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she reached to the hem of her sleepshirt and pulled it over her head. She threw it on the floor.
‘Show me,’ she said.
Neel was not expecting that.
‘Are you sure?’
She nodded.
‘I need you to say it, Kaavi.’
‘I want you to make love to me, Neel Naran,’ she said.
Kaavi stepped out of her panties.
That was all he needed. He pulled her close, holding her tightly. No rush. No kiss. Just the quiet thud of his heart against hers. Then, finally, he kissed her.
She pulled at his clothes, but he gently pushed her hands away. He removed his clothes, eyes never leaving hers.
Slowly, he guided her to the bed, eyes still locked on hers, full of want. He gently spread her legs, his mouth trailing kisses along her thighs until he reached her centre. She moaned softly as his mouth teased her. Each slow, deliberate stroke of his tongue drew a sharp breath from her, her body arching towards him. Her hands gripped the sheets. Her breathing grew shallow. And then she shattered completely.
When he finally entered her, it was quiet. No words. Just breathing and the weight of everything they’d been holding back. His hand reached for hers, fingers locking and they found their rhythm.
She whispered his name once, barely audible and he paused for a moment. He pressed his forehead against her shoulderand then kept going. When it was over, he stayed inside her for a while before rolling onto the bed beside her and pulling her against him. She rested her head on his chest and they said nothing.
‘You don’t have to drive me there,’ she said.
‘We’ll meet Sen there. I’m taking you,’ he insisted.
She rolled her eyes and slipped on her sandals. She wore a blue dress with a beaded belt. Her hair was up in a casual twist and she wore almost no makeup.
‘Stop looking at me like that,’ she said.
He took two steps towards her.
‘I’ll always look at you like that. I can’t help it,’ he said. He pulled her closer.
As their eyes met, the world seemed to dissolve around them. He cupped her face gently, his touch warm and tender. Slowly, their lips brushed together. The kiss deepened, filled with an aching tenderness. Time seemed to stand still as they melted into each other, the connection between them electrifying.
Kaavi was the one to pull away first.
‘We’re going to be late,’ she said.
He went over to the nightstand and picked up the car keys.
Ten minutes later, they were on their way to her father’s lawyer’s office. Kaavi was aloof. Any other man would have assumed that it had something to do with the passionate night they’d shared, but he knew her better. She was wearing a mask. Too many people had witnessed her vulnerability at the funeral. She had to reclaim the image she’d put on when she arrived a couple of days ago – the cold supermodel.
‘I don’t even know why we’re going,’ she suddenly said.
