“Language!” Meghna laughed, then cocked her head to the side. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you curse before.”
He fumbled with a button, then threw his hands up in frustration. “Well, you’re about to hear a whole lot more in a minute.”
“Here, let me,” she said, taking a step toward him.
He almost stopped breathing as her fingers came to his chest, slowly undoing one button after another. She trailed lower, the backs of her fingers brushing against his abdomen. He hissed.
“Sorry,” she said with a mischievous grin and another brush of her hand. “Complete accident.”
“I’m sure.” He’d intended to say the words sarcastically, but they came out pleading and desperate instead.
She continued her progress, and after what felt like an eternity his shirt was finally off, lying on the floor next to hers.
“Meghna?”
“Hmm,” she said, her eyes slightly glazed over as they traveled across his body.
But he barely registered her blatant appreciation. He couldn’t think straight. He couldn’t think at all.
“Can I touch you?” he asked hoarsely.
“Yes,” she breathed.
He gently, almost reverently, cupped his hand over her breast. She immediately arched her back, pressing farther into him. He brushed his thumb over her nipple, bent his head, and took it into his mouth.
Meghna moaned, her hands moving at once, her fingers getting tangled up in his hair.
“Don’t stop.”
“I’m not,” he whispered, blowing against her nipple, then moved across her chest to pay the same attention to the other one.
—
How is he so good at this?Meghna tightened her fingers, holding his head against her. He swirled his tongue, and her body grew weak. Karthik’s arms suddenly came around her waist as he half caught her and half joined her in her tumble to the floor.
Her back pressed into the carpet. His face hovered over hers. She’d never seen so much emotion in his eyes: a mixture of laughter and admiration and raw need. She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and dragged his mouth down, kissing him more softly than before, a lazy exploration of lips and tongues. And then the pace increased. Quicker. Faster. Frantic. He settled his weight on top of her, and it was like something clicked into place. Like she’d been waiting for this moment, and now it was finally here.
He reached for the top of her pajama shorts and held his hands at the waistband, ostensibly waiting for permission to push them down. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to say yes so badly, but she hesitated. She’d never been good at casual sex. She tended to catch feelings even when she didn’t want them.Especiallywhen she didn’twant them. She wasn’t sure if she could go down this path with Karthik and not get hurt. She’d fallen for the wrong person once before, and those feelings still haunted her. She didn’t want to go through that again.
He sensed her hesitation and moved one of his hands to the top of her head, tucking an errant curl back behind her headband.
“We don’t have to do anything. We can just go to sleep.”
Her heart squeezed, but she didn’t say anything. That also wasn’t a good idea, given what had happened last time they’d shared a bed. She couldn’t allow herself to grow too attached to him. None of this was real. Not when they had an expiration date.
He waited a moment, but didn’t protest or argue any further. He got up, extending a hand to lift her to her feet.
“I can sleep on the couch,” he said. He propped one of the throw pillows against the arm of the sofa, then toed his shoes off, one after the other.
Something about his response softened her resolve. She wanted to sleep beside him without a pillow barricade in the way. Wanted to know what it would be like to tuck into his warmth in the middle of the night. To wake up beside him without any panic or worry. Even if this was the only time she’d ever experience it.
She picked her top up from the floor, slipping it over her head before walking to stand in front of him.
“Karthik, come to bed.”
His head shot up. Surprise was written across his face. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, offering him her hand.
