She ducked her head, trying to hide her discomfort with hispraise. “Thanks,” she said again, and tried to crack a joke. “That’s nicer than what your mom said.”
Krish squinted at her. “What did she say?”
“Something about how even a magician should be ambitious.”
“Do you think you’re not ambitious?”
Sejal made a face. “I never thought too hard about my future. I try not to plan more than a few days out.” Everything she had was short-term. Her place, her clothes, her relationships. Ken was the only person, place, or thing she had that was long-term, and he was an ocean away from her.
Maybe not for long, though.
“What if you didn’t have to live like that?”
Scary thought. Scary and seductive. But if she was going to bring Ken back to live near her, she’d have to think forward. Put down roots.
She could attempt it, couldn’t she? For someone she loved. “I don’t know what that would be like.”
“You could try taking it a week at a time at first. Then a month.”
How had this man gone from her reluctant bodyguard to her motivational speaker so quickly? “You’re a good egg, Krish.” No wonder his mom was so protective of him.
“You are, too.”
She scoffed. “I’m not bad, but I’m definitely not good.”
“Don’t say that.” He paused. “You’reinteresting. And unexpected.”
Those were not the compliments a woman dreamed of getting, but she also hadn’t dreamed of getting any compliments from a man who had started their relationship with handcuffs. “Um.”
“And now I think I—” He cut himself off.
“You think you what?” She jutted out her chin. “Like me?”
“Yes.”
“Rethink it.”
“It wouldn’t change anything if I did.”
Warmth spread through her.
“Excuse me, is everything okay here?” Their waiter popped up at her elbow and surveyed the mostly untouched food on their table.
“It’s fine. We decided we’re not very hungry. You have our room number for the bill?” The waiter nodded. After he left, Krish tilted his head. “Move over.”
She did, and he came to sit next to her. He angled his big body toward her, his shoulders blocking out the rest of the restaurant. His gaze dipped over her breasts, pushed up by her bra. His hand rested on her thigh, then inched up, taking her hem with it.
Her heart accelerated. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Showing you that you can be both good and bad.” His fingers crept higher, and he snuck them under the hem of her panties. “I didn’t think you were wearing underwear,” he murmured.
“It’s seam-free.” His fingers traced her lips. When they danced over her clit, she jumped and grabbed his hand.
They shouldn’t do this. They were on a mission, and a sex break could put them in a vulnerable position.
The security guards will alert you if Alexei shows up.She smiled. “This may be Vegas, but we’re still in public. Why don’t we go up to the room and take advantage of that big soft bed?”
She didn’t have to ask him twice. The next few minutes were a whirlwind of settling the check and coordinating with their security and rushing to the elevator.
